Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start-up after multiple attempts without warning. The contact initially took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the ignition switch and housing were replaced. A few months later, the failure recurred, and the contact took the vehicle back to the same mechanic and had the starter replaced. A few months later after the repair, the failure recurred, and the contact took the vehicle to another independent mechanic who replaced the ignition switch and housing for a second time. After the failure occurred for the fourth time, the initial independent mechanic instructed her to place the vehicle in neutral to see if the restarted. The vehicle was started in neutral and the mechanic replaced the neutral safety switch. Despite the repair, the failure recurred. …
I purchased my vehicle in 2010, at the time the vehicle had 37,000 miles. A less than a month later the transmission failed. It would not move in any gear, when I placed my foot on the gas it would not move but then it jolted with great force. It also grinds really hard when you're shifting gears. I called the dealer and they agreed to fix the vehicle. I was told that a new transmission was put in the car. About a year later the same problem with the transmission happened. The car was stopped and would not move in any gear. I took it to Ford again and they said a bolt was loose and they fixed it. A few days later the same problem I took it back to Ford and they found that there were metal shavings in the transmission. Yesterday my wrench light came on and my transmission is doing the same thing it did the first two times. …
I was driving approximately 60 MPH on the highway (in the far left lane) with cruise control on when my car suddenly appeared to die and the wrench light came on.the car began to decelerate and would not accelerate regardless of how hard I pressed down on the gas pedal. I then had to Dodge traffic as I attempted to pull off to the right side of the road (across two lanes during traffic) while my car continued to decelerate. This, at first, happened rarely, but now occurs 2-3 times every time I drive as much as 15 miles. I have read countless forums about others with the same car having the exact same problems, and yet Ford is doing absolutely nothing about it. This can be an extremely terrifying and potentially dangerous in the right circumstances. …
I had just got in my car to go grocery and I started up my engine and shifted into drive. However, I was going up to 5000 rpms just to go 30mph and it didn't feel right when I was driving, so I pulled over and stopped the car. When I did this, I noticed that the car was only functional in drive. I wouldn't allow me to reverse and the wheels were locked in neutral. So, I called for my parents for help. We knew there was something wrong with the transmission, so we used a code reader to see if the car was giving an error message but it didn't have one and put in new transmission fluid. After looking online, we noticed that the Ford focuses from 2010-2015 were also have transmission issues. So we had it towed to a Ford dealer and service center location. We told them the issues we were have and paid for diagnostics but they do anything different from what we had done. …
Driving on freeway at steady 70mph, engine dropped to idle speed. No prior indication of trouble. Vehicle was slowing down. Wrench light was on. Accelerator pedal had no effect. I put in the clutch pedal, and coasted until I reached an area area where I could pull off to the side. This was in a tight construction area. Fortunately, I was in the right lane and not near other vehicles at the time of the incident. Otherwise the outcome might have been very different. When I was stopped, the engine continued to run, but accelerator had no effect. With no alternative, I shut off the engine. I then started the engine. Operation appeared normal with no wrench light on. I got off the freeway and checked connected my code reader. No diagnostic codes. During some subsequent driving, there have been no further events or indication of problems. …
The throttle control light has begun going off ( twice now) but once turned off and turned back on it does not come on. When it comes on it looses power and there are issues with acceleration. It has only done it after a long drive and going (moving) at a normal pace of about 45 to 55 miles and hour. It has not gone off at a time that allows it to be diagnosed by a professional and they have not been able to get it to register when hooked to the computer,. The light is no longer on and does not not illuminate in around town driving.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle would intermittently shift into neutral at various speeds. The contact had to wait until he could shift into the correct gear in order to continue driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V176000 (power train). The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.
Driving on highway in rush hour traffic at 65 miles an hour when suddenly losing throttle control down to 35 miles an hour the gas pedal would not respond. Yellow wrench light and wavy car warning lights appeared. Coasted to side of the road and sat for 10 minutes. Started car and tested pedal. Eased back on freeway. Scared to drive this car.
Check engine and wrench light flashed while driving 70 MPH in interstate and suddenly lost some power. This issue came up without any other symptoms. My mechanic unable to find the issue and resolve the code error. Later on I find out all the Ford Focus having the similar problem and Ford did not recall for this issue.
Driving at 45 MPH suddenly lost acceleration, wrench light illuminated. The car continued to run but extremely scary. Then you regained acceleration and continued only to lose it repeatedly. Took car to have diagnostics run, but the light went off and they could not diagnose a problem.
Transmission complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2009 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2009 Ford Focus, 17% of the model year's 229 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Ford Focus transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2009 Ford Focus. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Ford Focus transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.