2011 Ford FOCUS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Ford FOCUS has 157 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: my door locks on one or multiple doors failed to unlock by any means, repeatedly and intermittently. i did take it to the ford dealer in twin falls, idaho and they wouldn't fix anything until i could prove it. i did drive to the dealer when it happened and they verified the problem when they attempt.

10 crash reports 13 injuries

157

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

25 complaints

16%

• MY DOOR LOCKS ON ONE OR MULTIPLE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK BY ANY MEANS, REPEATEDLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. I DID TAKE IT TO THE FORD DEALER IN TWIN FALLS, IDAHO AND THEY WOULDN'T FIX ANYTHING UNTIL I COULD PROVE IT. I DID DRIVE TO THE DEALER WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THEY VERIFIED THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY ATTEMPT
• DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK FROZE UP, WOULD NOT UNLOCK THRU REMOTE, DRIVERS DOOR SWITCH OR MANUALLY. COULD NOT OPEN DOOR MANUALLY FROM EITHER INSIDE CAR OR OUTSIDE CAR, AND COULD NOT LIFT DOOR UNLOCK UP MANUALLY. AFTER ABOUT 3 WEEKS STARTED WORKING AGAIN, AND NOW WORKS SPORATICALLY. *TR
• THIS IS THE FIRST REPORT OF 3 SEPARATE INSTANCES. STARTING UP FROM WAITING AT A SIGNAL LIGHT THE SYSTEM FLASHED "STOP SAFELY NOW". ( I HAD JUST TOUCHED THE DISPLAY SCREEN TO VIEW THE BATTERY POWER.) PROCEEDING THROUGH A LEFT TURN AND WHEN GETTING TO THE CURB THE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. AT THAT POINT A COM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“MY DOOR LOCKS ON ONE OR MULTIPLE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK BY ANY MEANS, REPEATEDLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. I DID TAKE IT TO THE FORD DEALER IN TWIN FALLS, IDAHO AND THEY WOULDN'T FIX ANYTHING UNTIL I COULD PROVE IT. I DID DRIVE TO THE DEALER WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THEY VERIFIED THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY ATTEMPT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

20 complaints

13%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. A THROTTLE CONTROL/TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ALSO BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. UPON
• THE CAR HAS POOR STEERING, POOR SUSPENSION CONTROL OVER BUMPS, AN ACKNOWLEDGED BUT UNREPAIRED TRANSMISSION MOUNT, SEVERE ALIGNMENT ISSUE, TIRES ARE FEATHERED AND CUPPED PER DEALER AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO FIX IT. THE CARE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BUT THE DEALER STATES IF WE DO NOT PURCHASE NEW TIRES,
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE POWER TRAIN WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. A THROTTLE CONTROL/TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ALSO BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. UPON ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DOORS/LATCHES

17 complaints

11%

• THE REAR DOORS GET STUCK AND WONT OPEN. LIKE THEY STAY LOCKED. THEY WONT UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE OR TRYING WITH THE MANUAL DOOR LOCK PULL. FORD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEING DIRT OR SOMETHING CAUSING THIS DEALERSHIP TRIED CLEANING THE LATCHES BUT THIS HAPPENS FEW TIMES AND NOW THE DOORS HAVE BEEN ST
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TWO REAR DOORS WERE LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
• MY DOOR LOCKS ON ONE OR MULTIPLE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK BY ANY MEANS, REPEATEDLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. I DID TAKE IT TO THE FORD DEALER IN TWIN FALLS, IDAHO AND THEY WOULDN'T FIX ANYTHING UNTIL I COULD PROVE IT. I DID DRIVE TO THE DEALER WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THEY VERIFIED THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY ATTEMPT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE REAR DOORS GET STUCK AND WONT OPEN. LIKE THEY STAY LOCKED. THEY WONT UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE OR TRYING WITH THE MANUAL DOOR LOCK PULL. FORD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEING DIRT OR SOMETHING CAUSING THIS DEALERSHIP TRIED CLEANING THE LATCHES BUT THIS HAPPENS FEW TIMES AND NOW THE DOORS HAVE BEEN ST”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

16 complaints

10%

• CPSC# I1250486A. 2010 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS ENTERING THE CAR HER FOOT BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE PLASTIC CASING ON THE DOOR. *LN THE CONSUMER NEEDED HELP GETTING THE CASING OFF OF HER FOOT. SHE SUFFERED A MINOR INJURY. THE DEALER OFFERED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *JB
• CPSC# I1250486A. 2010 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS ENTERING THE CAR HER FOOT BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE PLASTIC CASING ON THE DOOR. *LN THE CONSUMER NEEDED HELP GETTING THE CASING OFF OF HER FOOT. SHE SUFFERED A MINOR INJURY. THE DEALER OFFERED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *JB
• THE REAR DOORS GET STUCK AND WONT OPEN. LIKE THEY STAY LOCKED. THEY WONT UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE OR TRYING WITH THE MANUAL DOOR LOCK PULL. FORD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEING DIRT OR SOMETHING CAUSING THIS DEALERSHIP TRIED CLEANING THE LATCHES BUT THIS HAPPENS FEW TIMES AND NOW THE DOORS HAVE BEEN ST

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CPSC# I1250486A. 2010 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS ENTERING THE CAR HER FOOT BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE PLASTIC CASING ON THE DOOR. *LN THE CONSUMER NEEDED HELP GETTING THE CASING OFF OF HER FOOT. SHE SUFFERED A MINOR INJURY. THE DEALER OFFERED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *JB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

12 complaints

• REAR DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE
• THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH AND NOT LOCK. I HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOLDING THE DOOR WITH ONE HAND AND HOLDING THE OTHER HAND ON STEERING
• EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. WENT TO ROTATE TIRES AND FOUND WEAR BANDS SHOWING. LESS THAN 19,000 MILES ON 60,000 MILE TIRES. ORIGINAL TIRES WORE OUT FAST, AND THOUGHT IT TO BE PREVIOUS OWNER OR CHEAP TIRES. WAS ABLE TO REPLACE ON TIRE WARRANTY, BUT FAILURE WAS IMMINENT WAS DOWN TO STEEL BANDS ON INSIDE OF W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“REAR DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

DOORS/LATCHES(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 157 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: MY DOOR LOCKS ON ONE OR MULTIPLE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK BY ANY MEANS, REPEATEDLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. I DID TAKE IT TO THE FORD DEALER IN TWIN FALLS, IDAHO AND THEY WOULDN'T FIX ANYTHING UNTIL I COULD PROVE IT. I DID DRIVE TO THE DEALER WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THEY VERIFIED THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY ATTEMPT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. A THROTTLE CONTROL/TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ALSO BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. UPON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DOORS/LATCHES: THE REAR DOORS GET STUCK AND WONT OPEN. LIKE THEY STAY LOCKED. THEY WONT UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE OR TRYING WITH THE MANUAL DOOR LOCK PULL. FORD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEING DIRT OR SOMETHING CAUSING THIS DEALERSHIP TRIED CLEANING THE LATCHES BUT THIS HAPPENS FEW TIMES AND NOW THE DOORS HAVE BEEN ST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: CPSC# I1250486A. 2010 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS ENTERING THE CAR HER FOOT BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE PLASTIC CASING ON THE DOOR. *LN THE CONSUMER NEEDED HELP GETTING THE CASING OFF OF HER FOOT. SHE SUFFERED A MINOR INJURY. THE DEALER OFFERED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *JB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)