10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,318 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #20

Oct 062013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 89,500 miles
Since we received the car, we have noticed inconsistent acceleration and deceleration - both in town and on the highway. This particular incident was a simple slowing down for a stop light. I pressed on the brake gently to start coming to a full stop behind a few cars. As my car tried to slow down, I noticed it was fighting to slow down. I pressed on the break harder, but it wasn't going to be enough to stop without hitting the car in front of me. I tapped the accelerator, then back on the break, no change. Not knowing what else to do, I put the car into neutral. The engine did not stop revving up so I turned the car off. After waiting a minute, I turned the car back on and operated fine for the remainder of the day.

- Ellendale, ND, USA

problem #19

Nov 192011

Focus

  • miles
This is the second occurrence. The first occurrence was November 19,2011. I have a file complaint online with NHTSA. This occurrence occurred Saturday January 19,2013. While driving to work my accelerator pedal seems to be stuck. I had been driving 30 miles with no problem. I had to tap it to get it to release. I kept driving and had to tap it again to release. The car started to accelerate without my foot being on the accelerator and it was moving to 65 mph. I was on interstate 85 and it was moving to 75 mph. I went through the intersection at 85 mph. I braked hard to turn to my job. I was coming to a stop sign and was standing on by brakes and my car would not stop. While on the phone with my husband he yelled to put it in neutral. The car stopped abruptly and the engine revving. I put it in park and turned my car off. I had my car towed to the dealership. This is the second time I came close to having an accident or getting killed. I am now in the process of talking to someone from Ford corporation about my terrifying incident.

- Roxboro, NC, USA

problem #18

Oct 312011

Focus 4-cyl

  • 74,000 miles
Driving at high speeds the gas throttle sticks (app. 45-higher). The speed control also got stuck before. The car also has problems starting. In mornings and evenings, regardless of weather the car doesn't always start.

- Saint Thomas , PA, USA

problem #17

Sep 082008

Focus

  • miles
This occurred around 2008 I bought the car in 2007, when I drive the car on the freeway, or up a hill the gas paddle sticks, when I apply pressure to accelerate speed it doesn't move to give it more gas. It becomes frightening when I'm going uphill or on the freeway when cars are going 60 to 75 and on my tail my car slows down and I have to coast to the shoulder till it releases I have taken it in the Ford dealership they said it was going to cost me over $200. I feel this is a hazardous defeat and dangerous. 2010, I took my car in to a jiffy lube shop, and they lubricate the pulley it seems to help for awhile, but now it??S getting stuck again, at the mean time when it gets stuck I hit the speed control and it release the accelerator and increase the speed but putty soon that will not work. I have talk to a few other people that have a Ford Focus, they said they have had the same problems too, I have read about stuck accelerations and there are some cars that were recalled for the same hazardous problems..I haven't had an accident as of yet because of this but I'm afraid if someone gets anger with my slow down I will... [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Mountlake Terrace, WA, USA

problem #16

Jan 262012

Focus

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owned a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the accelerator pedal became stuck and the contact crashed into another vehicle. The vehicle continued to accelerate and crashed into a sign post. The contact was able to exit the vehicle while it continued to accelerate. The vehicle was then towed to an auto shop. The technician stated that the vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.

- Wadsworth, OH, USA

problem #15

Feb 072008

Focus

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the accelerator pedal was engaged and immediately became stuck in an depressed position. The accelerator pedal failed to release until repeated force was applied. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and they were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

- New Albany, IN, USA

problem #14

Nov 192011

Focus 4-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. While driving approximately between 55-60 mph, the vehicle unintentionally increased in acceleration up to 90 mph. The contact drove through a red light and repeatedly applied force to the brake pedal; however the vehicle continued to accelerate. There was also a strong burning brake odor. The contact turned the vehicle off and it came to a stop. There were no injuries. The police stated the brakes failed and the vehicle was not a condition to be driven. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer and was in the process of being diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The failure mileage was 150,000. Updated 12/22/11 the consumer stated her mechanic informed her the PCV was blowing air in the a plastic tube of the accelerator cable. Updated 01/27/12

- Roxboro, NC, USA

problem #13

Nov 012010

Focus 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
The accelerator pedal becomes stuck and can not be depressed. Took the vehicle to Ford dealer in late 2010 and they did not diagnose a problem. Over the summer, the problem went away. Now that it is becoming cold again the problem has reappeared. Last night while driving at 70 mph, I lifted my foot off the gas. When I went to depress the gas pedal, I could not press it in. I had to tap it hard three or four times to get it to release, which took about 20 seconds and caused me to slow down to less than 50 mph before I was able to reaccelerate. Problem is occurring intermittently at various speeds. Usually I only have to tap it once or twice lightly to get it to release. Last night I tapped it hard enough I was concerned that I might cause something to break. Car is at dealership again for evaluation.

- Bettendorf, IA, USA

problem #12

Oct 282010

Focus

  • 86,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal would become stuck when the weather was cold. The dealer was notified, but they denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 86,000 and the current mileage was 123,000.

- Westland, MI, USA

problem #11

Aug 252011

Focus 4-cyl

  • 145,000 miles
While driving on the interstate, I was unable to stop my car from accelerating as the gas pedal stop working. To keep from hitting anyone, I had to pull off to the side median, brake as hard as could, throw my car into park and turn it off. If I tried to turn it back on, you could still hear the engine revving from the accelerator still being stuck in accelerator mode. Ford is not willing to cover cost of repair - only offering a 12,000 mile or 12-mos service parts warranty.

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

problem #10

Sep 112005

Focus

  • 50 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle would intermittently surge when accelerating or decelerating. No warnings would occur prior to the failures and the failures had been occurring since the purchase of the vehicle. During the failures, the vehicle would idle high and run rough. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on several occassions, where they were unable to diagnose the failure. The failure mileage was 50 and the current mileage was 53,000. Updated 9/16/11 updated 2/22/12

- Forest City, AR, USA

problem #9

Mar 242011

Focus

  • 32,000 miles
I was just about parked when the car accelerated on it's own. Over the curb, through a wood fence and into a camping trailer on the other side of the fence. Toyota is not the only company with this problem. Car was towed away and I'm not sure if it is repairable or if the insurance company will total it.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #8

Mar 112011

Focus

  • 5,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the vehicle suddenly surged forward. The failure occurred once before the most current failure. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired nor was the manufacturer notified of the failure. The current and failure mileage was 5,000.

- Studio City, CA, USA

problem #7

Sep 072010

Focus

  • 73,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. While at a traffic light she engaged the accelerator pedal and the vehicle failed to move, the accelerator pedal was stuck. She placed the vehicle in park and waited 5 to 8 minutes and the vehicle started normally. The failure had been intermittent for three months. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or a local mechanic for the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000. The approximate current mileage was 75,000.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #6

Apr 212010

Focus

  • 63,000 miles
I noticed the gas pedal of my car (Ford Focus 2005) was hard to press when the weather is freezing cold. At times, I forced it through. A couple of times, we lubricate the cable and it worked fine. Yesterday, I speeded up to pass the car which was too slow in front of me. Then, my car accelerated itself and I could hardly stop. I almost wrecked into a car in front of me at a stop light. I managed to stop the car but the break was battling with the engine. When I let go of the break, the car accelerated itself. So, I had to use my break a lot to reach a local mechanics. He lubricated the cable and told me that the cable would need to be replaced. I went to Ford dealership today and they told me the same that the cable had to been replaced. It would cost me around $300 including labor. Later, the mechanic at Ford showed me the cable. Part of the cable was concealed inside a plastic tube and this part was all messed up and keep breaking off. Because of the increase in the diameter of the cable after I pressed on the gas pedal, the cable would not go back once it was out. Therefore, my car kept accelerating yesterday. I agreed with Ford to fix it at my cost but I am anxious about the car quality as well other people's safety. I could have a terrible accident if I was not calm enough.

- Mayodan, NC, USA

problem #5

Dec 012007

Focus

  • 140,000 miles
Deceleration pedal. My Ford Focus 05 gas pedal just jammed when on the highway after I softy brake, so the speed of the car gradually slow down until I press really hard so it become normal again. It happens every year in the winter. In the summer, it runs smoothly as normal.

- Forest Park, GA, USA

problem #4

Mar 062010

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
2005 Ford Focus accelerator pedal stuck while driving. Delearship, bill brown Ford of livonia mi, determined the cause was throttle body binding, so replaced the throttle body.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #3

Jun 042009

Focus

  • 49,502 miles
Uncontrolled acceleration after car was parked.

- Lynn, MA, USA

problem #2

Nov 062006

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,850 miles
When attempting to change lanes on parkway accelerator" fell" to floor and stuck there speeding up car until ignition key was removed to shut off engine.

- Jackson Hts, N.Y., NY, USA

problem #1

May 012005

Focus

  • miles
2005 Ford Focus begin to speed up quickly when coming to a stop.** answer required***. there seem to no pattern when this would happen. The dealer said the brakes were fine. It has happened perhaps a half-dozen times and the only recourse is to quickly shift into neutral and press down on the accelerator. The engine then will slow down.

- Collegeville, PA, USA