Complaints
321
Crashes
37
Fires
2
Injuries
31
Fatalities
3
Recalls
0
Worst 2009 Ford Focus Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#141 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:79,496 mi
#238 complaints
Transmission / Drivetrain
Avg mileage:70,696 mi
#333 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:53,517 mi
Crash-related:4
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Ford Focus.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 41 | — | — | 79,496 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 38 | — | — | 70,696 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 33 | 4 | — | 53,517 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 24 | 2 | 1 | 34,744 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 22 | 5 | — | 44,049 mi | |
| Airbags | 19 | 10 | — | 63,489 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 16 | — | — | 58,929 mi | |
| Latches / Locks | 16 | — | — | 49,806 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 13 | 1 | — | 31,745 mi | |
| Fuel System | 12 | — | — | 84,882 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 9 | 5 | — | 15,479 mi | |
| Body Structure | 9 | 1 | — | 66,586 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 6 | — | — | 42,938 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Sunroof/Moonroof | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — |
Electrical Faults
41
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
79,496
Transmission / Drivetrain
38
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
70,696
Unintended Acceleration
33
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
53,517
Suspension Failures
24
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
34,744
Wheel Issues
22
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
44,049
Airbags
19
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
—
Avg Miles
63,489
Engine Problems
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
58,929
Latches / Locks
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
49,806
Tire Defects
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
31,745
Fuel System
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,882
Steering Defects
9
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
15,479
Body Structure
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
66,586
Engine & Cooling
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
42,938
Electrical System:Ignition
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Sunroof/Moonroof
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Horn
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Ford Focus. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Focus Years
2009 Ford Focus — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2009 Ford Focus reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2009 Ford Focus has 321 NHTSA complaints, 37 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 41 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Ford Focus?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (41 complaints, avg 79,496 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (38 complaints, avg 70,696 mi); Unintended Acceleration (33 complaints, avg 53,517 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Ford Focus?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 57,707 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2009 Ford Focus?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Ford Focus include 37 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 31 injuries, and 3 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2009 Ford Focus have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2009 Ford Focus as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2009 Ford Focus?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Focus reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2009 Ford Focus
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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