2011 Ford Focus

Routine

Owners filed 113 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
51,604 milesMedian miles at failure

90 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 40,00050,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System21
000
Power Train15
000
Unknown or Other11
101
Structure › Body9
000
Steering9
100
Latches/Locks/Linkages7
000
Wheels5
000
Vehicle Speed Control4
000
Structure › Body › Door3
001
Seat Belts3
101

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed May 14, 2026150,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Forcus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed power steering pump. The contact was informed that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. In addition, the vehicle was towed to two independent mechanics multiple times for the same failure within the two years. The contact referenced an unknown recall which had a similar failure description, however the contact's VIN was not associated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Steering
Filed Sep 24, 202519,000 milesFL

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction and instead turned in the opposite direction. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed steering column. The contact was informed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised that the parts to repair the vehicle were discontinued. In addition, the contact was informed that the aftermarket parts were not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 1, 2024IN

I hit an animal in my way to work as I reported the accident to my insurance company they were going to cover the parts and have it towed to my choice as it was however the professional car shop wasn't able to fix the anti theft that caused my car to not turn over as I was then told to take it to the nearest Ford dealer to get it reprogrammed to the original status I was told that it would cost more to fix the problem then what my car was purchased for so my insurance company claimed a total loss of the vehicle, Oliver Ford Lincoln Mercury in Plymouth Indiana sold me a lemon as I was a customer to them for over 8 yrs and covid came in the middle of my lease being up on 2017 Ford fusion I asked if I could purchase my lease vehicle but was refused and told no because I was collecting unemployment benefits but for the last year and half I paid my car note out of my unemployment benefits money each month but they didn't seem to accept my money then, I have always been a Ford customer and drove 4 brand new Ford fusions and paid off each one with my hard earned money, I was devastated by the decision of being told that my unemployment money wasn't earned money, yes correct it wasn't earned Money that I paid into it was because of my employer who paid in for me as I worked enough for the company to take care of me while I suffered through no fault of my own a pandemic that should not be held as a turniquit over my ability to have transportation no matter what money is paid and where

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 30, 2024CA

I did not crash the vehicle I bought it preowned

Steering
Filed Feb 28, 2024CA

My car made grinding sounds when turning the steering wheel. My mechanic found a leak on Power Steering Pump & replaced it. My car has only 48,800 miles & there's a recall for Ford Trucks with the same problem.

Structure › Body
Filed Feb 10, 2024ND

Door latches inoperable. Cannot open from outside the vehicle. Passenger side front and both back doors. Back door passenger side door does not open from inside either. Had to pay $373 to Ford dealer to replace driver door latch because it wouldn't latch and made the dashboard not work. Latch codes as follows: driver 02717a (new), passenger 224100 (or 224188 cant see it clearly). Left rear 22418a Right rear cannot open door at all to see latch code. These 3 doors cannot be opened from outside and the rear right door cannot be opened at all. The contact is just inquiring if these door latches will be recalled.

Power Train
Filed Nov 14, 2023159,000 milesIL

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the wrench symbol was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was vibrating and shaking and there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact stopped the vehicle, the engine was still running and attempted to shift into reverse(R), but the vehicle would not shift into reverse(R). The contact was able to shift into drive(D) however, the vehicle failed to exceed 15 MPH. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact had been informed by the mechanic that the failure could be related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V845000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Mar 9, 2023AR

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side and both the rear driver’s and passenger’s side doors failed to open. The contact stated that the front driver’s side door was able to open by lowering the window and manually opening the door from the exterior door handle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the front passenger’s and rear driver’s side door latches to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the rear driver’s side door latch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Wheels
Filed Feb 15, 2022OH

The lug nuts are corroded and we are unable to remove them for tire rotation.

Steering
Filed Sep 19, 2020150,000 milesLA

BACKING UP THE WHEEL BARELY TURNS AND IT LOCKS UP WHILE BACKING UP, MAKING TURNS, THE WHEEL LOCKS UP AS I MAKE TURNS LEFT AND RIGHT I'LL BRING IT TO THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THIS ISSUE PERSISTS EVERY YEAR I BUY A NEW POWER STEERING SYSTEM EVERY YEAR. I HAVE BROUGHT 3 POWER STEERING SYSTEMS FROM FORD 3 YEARS IN A ROW.IT'S DEADLY!

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Aug 19, 202015,000 milesID

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOOR LATCH LOCKED AND THE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN AND CLOSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WIFE EXITED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW AFTER THE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCHES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIKE WHITE FORD OF COEUR D'ALENE (315 W CLAYTON AVE, COEUR D'ALENE, ID 83815), AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE HIM TO REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH AGAIN AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE LATCHES WERE DIRTY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT ONCE THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOOR FAILED THEN ALL THE OTHERS WOULD FOLLOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. INVALID VIN.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 14, 2020NE

THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS ARE STUCK LOCKED AND THE DOORS CAN'T OPEN OR THEY STAY STUCK OPEN AND THE DOOR DOESN'T STAY SHUT. I'VE HAD THE LOCKS REPLACED AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 26, 201950,000 milesCA

TAKATA RECALL THERE IS A RECALL ON 2011 FORD FOCUS, BUT NOT WITH MY VIN NUMBER. HOWEVER THERE IS A WHITE POWDER ESCAPING FROM THE CONNECTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE WHITE POWDER FORMS COLUMNS OF WHITE ON THE HORN ASSEMBLY OF THE STEERING WHEEL. SERVICE MAN TOLD ME IT COULD BE DANGEROUS.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jul 27, 201944,000 milesMN

MY CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH A MYSTERY BATTERY DRAIN FOR TWO YEARS. SINCE MARCH OF 2019 IT HAS BEEN STALLING AT STOP LIGHTS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE RPM NEEDLE DROPS. IN THE WINTER OF 2018 I HAD ISSUES TWICE WHERE I TRIED ACCELERATING AND THE MPH NEEDLE WOULDN'T MOVE PAST 20 IT DID EVENTUALLY SPEED UP WITH ME NOT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL I ALSO HAD A HARD TIME BREAKING WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

Power Train
Filed Jul 12, 2019120,500 milesNV

MY 2012 FORD FOCUS IS EQUIPPED WITH THE DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION AND HAS HAD ISSUES FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. SHUDDERING UPON START WAS THE BIGGEST ISSUE. CAR FINALLY STOPPED RUNNING AND WAS REPAIRED AT DEALER BUT NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS EXTREMELY NOISY AND WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING, INCLUDING ON HIGHWAYS AT SPEED. TRANSMISSION WILL ALSO SLIP QUITE BADLY UPON LAUNCH AT TIMES WHICH CAN BE A CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO ENTER TRAFFIC.

Wheels
Filed Jun 26, 2019NC

TIRE SENSOR FAULT , DOUGLES TIRES LOOSING AIR

Power Train
Filed Feb 25, 2019153,000 milesTX

THE CLUTCH SYSTEM ON MY MANUAL 2011 FORD FOCUS WENT OUT. THE CLUTCH NOW PLAYS ON THE FLOOR BOARD WITH NO CATCH IN IT. THE GEARS WONT BUDGE. I RESEARCHED AND SEEN THE NEWER MODELS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY CAR. WHEN THE CLUTCH WENT OUT IT WAS ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY IN BRIDGE CITY, TX.

Structure › Body
Filed Feb 5, 2019100,000 milesTX

THE DOOR HANDLES, LATCH AND UNLOCKING MECHANISM FAIL, CAUSING THE DOORS TO REMAIN LOCKED. YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE OR OR OUTSIDE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Nov 13, 2018NV

I WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND ON FLAMINGO ENROUTE TO WORK SPEED LIMIT 45 MPH EACH DIRECTION I HAD THE YELLOW FLASHING LEFT ARROW AS I STARTED MY LEFT TURN THE CAR DIED NO POWER ANOTHER VECHICLE WAS APPROACHING FROM WEST TO EAST AS I WAS TURNING LEFT I TURNED MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND THE CAR CAME WITHIN INCHES OF HTTING ME. I HAD MY CAR TOWED AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR SERIAL NUMBER PART NUMBER 8S4Z-9E926-B I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS RISK AND LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION FURTHERMORE IT COST ME CLOSE TO 900.00 FOR THE PARTS AND REPAIRS

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Oct 29, 2018141,846 milesMS

I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT WITH A 18 WHEELER BECAUSE MY BRAKES WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO STOP.

20 of 113 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2012
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2018834730Above average
20178961020Above average
20161,1801020Above average
20151,018940Above average
20142,6011291Do not drive
20132,11012123Fatalities reported
20123,7688155Fatalities reported
2011 — this page113000Routine
2010287040Above average
2009229023Fatalities reported
2008250200Above average
2007391272Fatalities reported
2006204231Fatalities reported
2005441590Above average
20043876131Fatalities reported
20039777171Fatalities reported
20029398201Fatalities reported
20011,76114478Fatalities reported
20003,686181189Fatalities reported
199911000Routine

Compare every Focus year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.