Acceleration complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 27 | 3% | 12,000 miles |
| 2017 | 37 | 4% | 36,000 miles |
| 2016 | 36 | 3% | 37,000 miles |
| 2015 | 42 | 4% | 45,000 miles |
| 2014 | 164 | 6% | 20,000 miles |
| 2013 | 112 | 5% | 22,000 miles |
| 2012 | 166 | 4% | 46,000 miles |
| 2011 | 9 | 8% | 47,000 miles |
| 2010 | 50 | 17% | 64,000 miles |
| 2009 | 33 | 14% | 59,000 miles |
| 2008 | 14 | 6% | 70,000 miles |
| 2007 | 27 | 7% | 45,000 miles |
| 2006 | 25 | 12% | 84,000 miles |
| 2005 | 45 | 10% | 73,000 miles |
| 2004 | 18 | 5% | 42,000 miles |
| 2003 | 14 | 1% | 11,000 miles |
| 2002 | 21 | 2% | 13,000 miles |
| 2001 | 66 | 4% | 45,000 miles |
| 2000 | 170 | 5% | 68,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 - 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle suddenly decelerated and then accelerated to the desired cruise control setting. The failure had occurred several times. Approximately 2 weeks later, while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled, and the hazard lights were activated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the repair was not covered under warranty or recall. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
The engine died while I was driving with my fiance, and the steering gave out. There was a loss of power to both the engine and brakes. The timing of shifting was inconsistent and I couldn't keep up with speed of traffic. Ford has confirmed that there is a problem with my vehicle and that the engine could explode. This is from their recall live on their site: "The engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm to fracture, separate from the tensioner backing plate, and/or the oil pump drive belt material may degrade and lose teeth, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure. A loss of engine oil pressure can result in engine damage and/or seizure, which can result in a loss of motive power and a loss of the mechanical vacuum pump required to provide power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash." My car has been inspected by the local Ford dealership. …
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving 40-45 MPH with the cruise control engaged and making a turn, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact applied the brake pedal for 30 minutes. The contact called the local dealer and was informed there were no recalls on the VIN. The contact then called Crain Ford of Little Rock (4601 Colonel Glenn Plaza Dr, Little Rock, AR 72210, [phone]) however, the vehicle was diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the contact researched the failure and stated that when she placed her foot underneath the accelerator pedal it stopped the vehicle from accelerating. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 23,054. Consumer stated battery corroded and has been replaced.
Car was at highway speed and was given light input to change lanes. With light input, the engine accelerated in an uncontrolled manner, revving to maybe 5000 rpm. The driver had to slam on the brakes to counteract. Result was a rear-end collision with the car in front (Route 95 near Laurel, MD). For what it is worth, the car also gave an "overheating" alarm for the Powershift DCT transmission even though no such alarm had ever appeared previously. So first time alarm on the transmission and the following day this incident with the unintended acceleration. These could be unrelated, but could also be related. With the overheating transmission issue, the car was left sit for 10 minutes and then drove normally. Car also drove normally after the accident. No further abnormal acceleration issues.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While operating the vehicle, the vehicle was shaking abnormally while idling, while low on fuel, while driving long distances, or while driving uphill. The vehicle shut off unexpectedly intermittently. On several occasions, the RPM increased; however, the vehicle failed to respond, and the vehicle eventually stalled. The accelerator pedal was depressed to the floorboard, but the vehicle failed to respond. The brake pedal became firm. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped and restarted several times or shut down unintendedly. After refueling, the contact had to wait for approximately 2 to 10 minutes before the vehicle responded as needed. Occasionally, the contact had to wait for over an hour before the vehicle was restarted. The check engine warning light illuminated intermittently and later turned off. …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle was slow to respond. The contact stated that the gears were lagging while shifting. While driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle shut down. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact noticed that the coolant reservoir was empty. The contact added coolant. There was no indication of a coolant leak. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000. …
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a red light, the vehicle failed to move or respond as needed. The vehicle hesitated and the vehicle then worked as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The accelerator pedal was depressed but failed to accelerate. The RPM increased to high. The message that the engine was running hot was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that a clutch replacement was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 41,180.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle started to decelerate without warning. After stopping and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle regained normal functionality. The contact stated that the failure recurred while attempting to accelerate from a stop light. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission shift lever failed causing the clutch to fail. The contact was informed that the shift lever and clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 101,000.
Related recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control › Cables
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with speed control and automatic transmission. A speed control cable could have a core wire that is long enough to catch on the sleeve at the throttle body end of the cable during wide-open throttle acceleration.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and, if necessary, replace the speed control cable. Owner notification began October 12, 2000.
Vehicle speed control
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with speed control. The speed control cable end fitting can allow water to enter the speed control servo assembly. If this occurs, corrosion in the servo assembly could develop and cause intermittent speed control operation or prevent the throttle from returning to idle.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the speed control cable (with a new cable that incorporates a glass-filled end cap) and inspect the assembly for internal corrosion. Servos with evidence of corrosion will also be replaced.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Focus years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (170), 2012 (166), 2014 (164), 2013 (112) and 2001 (66) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Ford Focus acceleration problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 00V-302 (cables, Oct 12, 2000); 99V-346 (vehicle speed control, Dec 3, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Focus acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 43,000 miles; 52% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the accelerator pedal (66 mentions), followed by the cables (26).
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.