7.3

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$360
Average Mileage:
69,350 miles
Total Complaints:
30 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (22 reports)
  2. replace the entire stereo system (4 reports)
  3. replace gps/radio system (2 reports)
  4. local salvage yard $60. 4month warranty (1 reports)
  5. reset the system (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.

problem #30

Nov 012019

Focus SE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 168,000 miles

The radio started to static through the speakers and has done that since November of 2019 - and now the radio won't work at all.

- smgjbarks520, Beersheba, US

problem #29

Mar 042020

Focus S 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

I was not in an accident but I dang sure could have been. This radio system is very dangerous, it randomly Makes these extremely loud screeching sound while I’m driving even if the radio is off. It even randomly does it when the car is off. I disassembled the stereo as soon as I got home. Now I know why the previous owners had it unplugged.

- Sara L., Homer, AK, US

problem #28

Jul 012017

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,000 miles

When you turn the radio on, it displays 1-hour mode and the radio will play for about 5 seconds and then turn off.

- Stacy H., Lindale, US

problem #27

Aug 222018

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,000 miles

One day the radio just started making this really loud static sound then a pop that scared the hell out of me on the highway. It is a good thing that it was very early in the morning when there is not so much traffic or I would've definitely had an accident, because I swerved the car. It sounded like I was being shot at. The radio went off and hasn't worked since. Nor has my electronic dash (i.e. phone/library services).

I was told by 2 different mechanic shops that the radio electrical system has to be redone. I've seen many complaints about this and just am baffled why this isn't a recall. Ford should pay for these repairs since there are so many complaints about them.

- Leon T., Baltimore, US

problem #26

Oct 092017

Focus SEL 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles

The radio would make a loud thump and then shut off and when I would turn the car off and restart it would come on. Recently it started making a crackling sound and then would shut off, now no radio or Cd nothing so I turned it off and it still is crackling. Why doesnt the warranty handle this?

- Jhimprovements .., Fleetwood, PA, US

problem #25

Dec 072017

Focus SEL 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,100 miles

This is a well documented problem in various Ford forums,etc. The Focus and Fiesta radios tend to fail with a lot of loud popping noises while sometimes still working intermittently. On mine, it would give loud (gunshot) pops and then turn off entirely until I restart the vehicle. More recently it just sounds like a very loud (amplified) popcorn popper that is so loud you have to turn off the radio. Sometimes it still makes noise with the radio turned off. Based on reports from others, dealers charge about $100 to diagnose then $500-$600 to install a replacement which sometimes also fails in the same way. Apparently, Ford has not fixed the root problem in the units they are making.

I would say that this problem could be dangerous in that the noise is so loud and abrupt that it could startle a driver causing an accident.

- Chad C., Boiling Springs, US

problem #24

Oct 232017

Focus SE 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,000 miles

My radio does not turn on - I would start car and sometimes it would go back on again but now it has not worked since yesterday and I have used my car 4 times today and not working at all - I see this is a major problem with this car - FORD needs to do a recall on these radios!!!

- Barbara C., East Weymouth, US

problem #23

Mar 162016

Focus SEL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

The Microsoft Sync radio problems were so scary that I had to remove the fuse because it completely stopped playing any type sounds other than an extremely loud and frightening thunderbolt that would come out of no where and scare the heck out of me while I was driving. I decided that it was too dangerous. So now my clock doesn't work either. This is only my complaint about my radio. You can also find my complaints about my air conditioning, my horn, the leaks, oh and the foil on my steering wheel peeling too.... I bought my for focus with 30,000 mile on it in 2014 thinking i was steering clear of costly repairs by buying a newer car. So upset now stuck with this total piece of crap because I can never get back what I paid and have put into it. NEVER BUY A FORD!!

- otherannie, Penland, US

problem #22

Feb 152017

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

I took my Focus to the dealer to have the transmission serviced under warranty. When I next drove it - to work - the radio shut off when I had come to a traffic light and had shut the engine off. I know now that the "One Hour Audio" mode is not working correctly anymore. It shuts off after about 3 minutes, and WILL NOT TURN BACK ON unless I start the engine. Period.

I'm a musician, and I just like to listen to the radio, too, so this is extremely annoying.

The dealer said they would contact the Ford Technician Hotline and get back to me. Over a week ago. Ford customer service said they couldn't help; I had to have a dealer's tech look at it.

Today, the dealer said that it's just a "coincidence" that the radio stopped working correctly, they did nothing to it. Of course, they DID connect a computer to it, through the OBD port. SOMETHING got changed.

I called Ford customer service again, and they say I could take it to another dealer, for a "second opinion", but I'm pretty sure they'll want to say the same thing. Meanwhile, the first dealer is going to give me a quote for replacing the radio. Wow.

Anyone have issues like this with their stock Ford radio? It's the one without the sync or phone options, just 6 preset buttons on the right button panel.

Please help. I need my tunes!

Thanks!

- Tim S., San Antonio, TX, US

problem #21

Mar 252016

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 133,000 miles

radio turns on unintentionally, with vehicle off

- bbischoff, Warren, MI, US

problem #20

Nov 042016

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles

loud static and complete failure of control and buttons on radio. popping and static occurs spontaneously whether driving or not, any rate of speed or parked position and whether or not the car is on or not.

- Leigh H., Wheeling, US

problem #19

Sep 082016

Focus SEL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,000 miles

Radio/speakers made a faint "pop" then went out. After shutting car off and restarting it worked again. Now after this happening for about two weeks it is completely out. - Replaced fuse, nothing - No sound - Can not change volume, even though no sound - Can not change station, even though no sound - Can not turn off - Stay's on one screen - Shutting down the car and restarting does nothing anymore - Sync is not working either

Update from Dec 1, 2016: Still randomly goes out. I had a audio guy check it out. He can't find a solution. He checked all the speakers as some have indicted new speakers solved their problem. He suggested two options 1) having the BCM checked. however this is about $50 and hour and approximately a two hour job and may not solve the problem. I think this is to much for just a possibility. He suggested this because I sometimes have issue with the key fob locking the doors. 2) an after market radio at about $250. Meanwhile I purchased a cheap bluetooth speaker and we use that as a backup when it goes out.

- Keri K., Racine, WI, US

problem #18

Mar 112016

Focus SEL 4 cylinder

  • Automatic transmission
  • 87,000 miles

radio popping and cracking

purchased my car on trade. they fixeddae in at mt. view chrysler dodge in ringgold ga drove for little while then i have popping and cracking in the radio and speakers .they fixed recalls picked the car up on 7-8-16 still has popping and cracking it got better and started again they have messsed with my wiring trying to do recalls now my light switch inside the car doesnt work and i have a red flashing light on dash panel when car is cute on and doors locked cant turn air condioner temp down either now i have take it back to ford place on 7-13-16 again for them to fix the problem they have messed up any sugestion on this problem

- patricia clayton, Dalton, GA, US

problem #17

Jan 252016

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

The radio made a loud noise and stop working five months ago. Still no radio!

- Lou S., Kissimmee, FL, US

problem #16

Sep 012015

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

Radio system quit working all together. But every once in a while it would give out a ear-shattering squawk. I'm now using my cell phone for a radio. No more Fords for me. I now know why Ford is in the 4 letter language.

- Marilyn M., Waterford, MI, US

problem #15

Aug 052014

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

Before my radio stopped working first I noticed that my speakers, all of them were making an extremely LOUD and annoying popping, screaming, etc noise....sounded like fireworks. After that my radio started cutting off my music and I would have to mess with it to work again, then it started popping and screaming even while the car was off at times and at that point would play no music at all....then the popping and screaming stopped after months and months of not being able to afford to fix it. Now I drive around with no music and the radio screen is stuck at "ford audio welcome", won't let me push any buttons for it to work, nothing!

Now after a year of all of that I think I finally have enough money to FINALLY replace the whole radio with a brand new one that I believe was manufactured badly. But I guess if they don't make it with some mistakes then the car services doesn't get any money. Oh and then they want me to pay them $200 to run tests and see what the problem is when the problem is I need a new radio. My fuse is perfectly fine and not burnt, and when my car broke down a few months ago they did other things to see if it would fix the problem and nothing happened. Not paying an extra $200 for a problem I already know of.

- courtneytn, franklin, TN, US

problem #14

Mar 012015

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Manual transmission
  • 90,099 miles

At first, the volume of the radio was increassing or decreasing by itself without me touching the buttons. It stopped so I did not tell my mechanics. Weeks after, the radio went off whille driving making a loud blast, heavy noise then nothing. The only way I found I could restart the radio was by stopping the car and removing the key for few seconds. Starting the car again would fix the problem until it's doing it again. Few weeks after, the radio, CD, blue tooth auxiliary had stop working totally but sometimes I could hear a blast so loud I had to stop the car.

Now, all radio functions are not working anymore, no more blast. My dealer and Ford Canada, both told me the warranty has ended and that there is no recall on that matter, so they can't repair unless I pay around 700-800$ + time/job for a new radio. A specialist who repairs car radio said the processor is probably dead and that he may be able to change it but the problem, the car companies do not release the plans to allow such a repair. At the end, you need to change the whole radio.

It was my first Ford, it's the last one as well. The overall quality of the 2012 Focus is not bad, but it's a shame that Ford don't accept they have a quality issue with a specific part.

- félixqc, Saguenay, QC, Canada

problem #13

Jul 012015

Focus Titanium I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,000 miles

Bought this car new, a month ago the XM radio & cell phone sync stopped working. First it was a "software update" which should be $50 & a short wait...didn't work. Next it was "1 of the 3 radio units" covered under warranty. Free, but would take 3 days for parts. Didn't work. Now it's "a different radio unit" NOT covered under warranty, going to cost $850 "or maybe less if we can work something out" but the car's been in their shop for ELEVEN DAYS with no end in sight waiting for parts. WTF?! 2 weeks for a RADIO?! They say the part "is special order." Again, WTF?! What part on a Ford car purchased new from a Ford dealer, never modified, and brought back to the same dealer for repair isn't a Ford part?

So very pi$$ed off. Haven't bought a Ford since 1985, and will NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER make this mistake again.

- Jeffrey R., Muncie, IN, US

problem #12

Sep 212015

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles

click to see larger images

radio not working properly

Rice Crispy's has nothing on my 2012 Focus SE, AM FM single CD/MP3 Audio System. Uncontrollable sound that would make you swerve and duck to miss" imaginary foe". With 42,000 miles and two more years of payments the near $700 fix is not easy on my pension. I'm just one more in a list of numbering people

- William F., Fairmont, WV, US

problem #11

Jun 222015

Focus SE 2.0L-Liter I-4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

Last month as I was driving the radio went silent, I tried the volume knob but it wasn't visible so I was really confused. When I stopped for gas and cut the car off and restarted the car the radio came back on. After that occurrence I noticed that it was happening at least once a week but yesterday I heard a loud pop before the radio went out. I called the dealer and of course he told me that if there is an issue I would be liable for the cost which is crazy. I have had several cars in the past and I have never had a radio completely go out after 3 years. Since I have had my Focus there is issues with transmission now this. I doubt I will buy another Ford in the future because I am very disappointed with the quality.

- dlomo76, Columbia, SC, US

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