10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,070 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #12

May 232020

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 197,000 miles
Ignition switch binding up and the switch will not start the car when turning the key in the switch! vehicle was repaired.

- Clanton, AL, USA

problem #11

Oct 092016

Focus

  • 93,000 miles
My daughter was driving 35-40 mph, and attempted to make a right-hand turn on a county road. The steering wheel either locked, or the power steering failed, making it impossible to negotiate the turn. She ran off the left side of the road and hit a light pole straight on, causing her minor injuries, but totaling the car.

- Apollo Beach, FL, USA

problem #10

Aug 312015

Focus

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 70 mph on a highway, the steering wheel failed and the check steering warning light illuminated. The contact exited the highway and drove to an independent mechanic. The technician was unable to diagnose the source of the failure. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- St. Johnsbury, VT, USA

problem #9

Mar 092015

Focus 4-cyl

  • 37,000 miles
The power steering goes out and I can not control the vehicle.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #8

Feb 192015

Focus

  • 123,000 miles
When I drive my car it jerks when I drive a certain mph.. I was on the free way and it felt like I wasn't going to be able to stop or didn't no if my car would stop... my power steering is not working when I turn a corner it makes a grinding noise and when I found out what the problem which was my power steering pump I got it fixed an now the power steering leaks out an still makes the noise.. I feel really unsafe in my car an am afraid to drive with my son in it.

- Maple Heights, OH, USA

problem #7

Dec 062013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 58,000 miles
My son was driving in the car pool lane when the car came to an abrupt stand still. It turns out the compressor failed and threw its parts all over the engine compartment damaging parts of the engine. When the engine failed, he lost braking and steering abilities. Compressors do not last forever. However, when a compressor quits working that should be the extent of the failure. This compressor failed and basically came apart. The car not working in the middle of a car pool lane put my son and his wife in danger as there was no where to get out and no way to move the car.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #6

Jan 222014

Focus

  • 33,946 miles
2/21/14 to whom it may concern, my name is [xxx]and I would like to raise an awareness to an issue that is reoccurring without any permanent solution. I set out in this endeavor to get a car in 2009 and needless to say the rocky road that had lead to this point in time has been rough. The car in question is the 2010 Ford Focus that I was told, at the time, would be a suitable vehicle to fit the required modifications I"D need fully operate a motor vehicle. The modifications that were made are as follows: 1. zero effort steering, 2. a hand control for acceleration and braking, 3. a backup steering pump in case the steering went out I would still have control of the vehicle, 4. a ?V? grip handle with counterweight on the steering wheel, 5, a pedal guard over the gas pedal. Not but 6 months after the fresh install did it give me operating issues. The issue was that the stock pump is a light duty part and with the added stress of the additional backup steering pump it would make the main pump work too hard and allow air into the system. About 11 months later after this issue was ?resolved" it happened again, and 2 more times after the second incident in about the same time frame of every 11 months (almost a year but never quite exact) up until just recently when the steering system failing in early January(bringing the total to 4). There was a lot of back and forth "he said, she said" in regards to the problem between Ford, drive master, and the company that had installed the modifications (mc mobility). I would like to make the appropriate people aware of the incompatibility issue so that it does not happen to any future individuals and this combination is not recommended in any future circumstances [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- North Ridgeville, OH, USA

problem #5

Dec 162012

Focus 4-cyl

  • 54,100 miles
This car was just purchased. Parked car in driveway and the next morning my wife could not start the car. I called seller and he said to 'wiggle" steering wheel and car would start.wife could not accomplish this feat. I tried and with much force got the wheel to move and then car started. Problem seems to be in steering wheel. This seems to be a real poor design. I am taking the car to : locksmith and then Ford dealer to see what the "fix" actually is. Have seen many complaints on this site and others.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #4

May 072012

Focus

  • 16,754 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 5 mph, the contact noticed a clunking sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician advised that all four tires would have to be replaced. After the replacement of the tires the failure continued. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The technician then advised that the front and rear tires would have to be replaced a second time because an alignment was not performed in time. Additionally, whenever the vehicle was driven over an uneven road surface, there was a loud bang coming from the front end of the vehicle. The contact stated that the tire wear was not because of the alignment but because of a safety defect within the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 16,754.

- Saline, MI, USA

problem #3

Nov 012010

Focus

  • 61,000 miles
Purchased vehicle October 2010, driver side seat belt unbuckles and key sticks in ignition and steering wheel locks.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #2

Nov 302010

Focus

  • miles
Mom and I was driving a rental. 2010 Ford Focus. Earlier that day she was driving the car an complained it was wobbling when the steering wheel still. For me, at first when I was driving I thought it was the wind making the car wobble, but as I was driving down the highway and notice my back right tire rotation was very unusual (it just didn't feel right) so I slow down to feel the same reaction. When I did my car fishtailed into the median wall of the highway (smashing in the right side or driver side of the car) (when hitting the wall, the breaks and steering wheel locked up) and bounced me across to the left side of the highway hitting the metal rail that help me stop rolling, ended up with minor injuries, serious headaches, and a so called ticket of $130 failure to control my vehicle I don't know if Ford Focus function that way, but I will never advise anyone to ever get a Ford!

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #1

Jun 092010

Focus

  • 3,040 miles
Driving with my family in my new Ford Focus 2010 and the steering wheel lock is like a stone, I could not turn either to the right or left. In the instrument panel appeared "assisted steering failure". fortunately for my passage by a quiet road and I stop. Turn off and restart it and the failure disappeared, but listen to hum turn the steering wheel. Take it to Ford dealer and only reset the computer to delete the witness of fault and told me that is ready now. How can I drive safely after the lived?

- Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, 00, USA