Seat complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 | 0% | — |
| 2017 | 3 | 0% | 2,000 miles |
| 2016 | 4 | 0% | 17,000 miles |
| 2015 | 2 | 0% | — |
| 2014 | 2 | 0% | 20,000 miles |
| 2013 | 4 | 0% | 38,000 miles |
| 2012 | 9 | 0% | 35,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 2% | 56,000 miles |
| 2010 | 3 | 1% | 3,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 1% | 22,000 miles |
| 2008 | 3 | 1% | 32,000 miles |
| 2007 | 6 | 2% | 93,000 miles |
| 2006 | 5 | 2% | 54,000 miles |
| 2005 | 10 | 2% | 113,000 miles |
| 2004 | 6 | 2% | 86,000 miles |
| 2003 | 14 | 1% | 100,000 miles |
| 2002 | 5 | 1% | 34,000 miles |
| 2001 | 13 | 1% | 156,000 miles |
| 2000 | 31 | 1% | 55,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to mccombs Ford west (7111 northwest loop 410, san antonio, tx 78238) for warranty service on the transmission and was informed that there was sludge in the engine. The dealer replaced the transmission. However, the contact stated that while driving, the vehicle stalled without warning, the contact turned on the hazard warning lights while on the highway and was about to drive when the vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The contact sustained back and neck injuries that required medical attention. The front passenger seat moved forward as a result, the front passenger sustained face and chin injuries after colliding with the dashboard as well as back and neck injuries that required medical attention. The driver from the other vehicle was not injured. A police report was filed. …
There are supposed to be 2 bolts on the back of the driver's side seat. 1 close to the door and one next to the console. I looked and noticed that there was no bolt in the machined hole closest to the rear of the center console. I noticed this while the car was stationary, while I was vacuuming the floor.
1) A bracket that connects the seat to the rails that are attached to the floor had a weld break. Photos provided below. 2) The seat is no longer attached to the car in this particular part 3) No 4) I took the car to my dealer who did not physically look at it but refused to do anything to help me because the car was no longer within warranty period. They could provide me a quote only after I paid a $220 diagnosis fee. The part to repair is $1,020 before diagnosis charge, labor, and tax. 5) There were no warning or symptoms prior to the failure.
Car had problems with driver seat not clothing in right and sometimes moves back while driving. Seatbelts do not want to click right and have to push in multiple times before you can fasten belts. While trying to accelerate the transmission stalls and jerks forward and vehicle sometimes shakes while driving. Does not want to pick up sorry either.
Drivers seat will slide side to side during turns. Only slides about .5" but slides none the less. Slides left to ride. After multiple trips to the dealer finally getting a new seat frame installed. They were very hesitant, but then found out its on back-order. But this could lead to injury during an accident. As it May have you off center of the airbag if deployed. After doing some research found, out this problem isnt fixed with new seat track it will reappear after several more thousand miles of driving. Started to notice around 7000 miles, and has gotton progressively worse.
Driver's seat track to seat attachment point becomes loose after 6K miles, causing seat to move during lateral loads. Dealer replaced seat track and issue replicated in 6K miles. Dealer fix was to use worm clamps to repair. They state that they went to an internet forum for a fix. After complaints, dealer replaced with another new seat track. State manufacturer has no TSB or design change yet
The Focus was stopped at the scene of another accident when it was rear ended at highway speed (55 MPH approximately) by a driver who did not see it stopped. The car was pushed into the rear end of the car stopped in front of it. The rear hatch of the car was pushed in past the rear axle and the front end sustained heavy damage. The car was a total loss yet none of the air bags, front or side deployed. I sustained a head injury from hitting the steering wheel and the drivers seat broke when I was thrown backwards after hitting the car in front of me. Updated 11/24/2014
One day while filling car up.. I noticed a few drops of gas on the ground afterwards. Today I wanted to add $8 to my gas tank. The moment I started pumping the gas started coming out. I tried a few times to continue but I kept coming out.
Related recalls (3)
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Focus vehicles. The rear left side seat back frame may have an insufficient weld between the outboard pivot bracket and the pivot nut joint, resulting in the seat back having reduced strength.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the rear second left side rear seat back as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 10, 2017.
Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
Pm certain sedans and wagons, the seat back recliner handle spring could have been damaged during an in-process test and the occupant May notice a chucking, or perceived looseness of the front seat back, or the seat back could unexpectedly recline.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat back recliner handle spring for the driver and front passenger seats. Owner notification began April 3, 2001.
Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
Vehicle description: station wagons and 3-door vehicles. The subject vehicles have a folding 60/40 second seat that becomes a load floor in the folded position. When the 60% portion of the seat is folded down and a load is applied to the front edge of the load floor, the outboard hinge pivot could disengage from the hinge.
Remedy: Dealers will install a revised seat back hinge pivot.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Focus years have seat problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (31), 2003 (14), 2001 (13), 2005 (10) and 2012 (9) model years. Seat complaints make up 1% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Ford Focus seat problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 17V-528 (mid/rear assembly, Aug 28, 2017); 01V-108 (recliner, Mar 28, 2001); 00V-418 (recliner, Dec 14, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Focus seat problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles; 48% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front assembly › recliner (20 mentions), followed by the front assembly › head restraint (7).
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.