Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 113 safety complaints
about the 2011 Ford Focus with the US government. Of those, 8 describe a crash, 10 people were injured and no death is recorded. No recall campaign has been matched to this year, make and model.
The most complained-about system is the electrical system,
named in 25 complaints, 22% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 51,604 miles,
the median across the 91
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers May 2011 to May 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
113 complaints on file
113
Complaints
8
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
10
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not
the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production
ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 25 · 22%
25 22%
POWER TRAIN 20 · 18%
20 18%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 17 · 15%
17 15%
STRUCTURE 14 · 12%
14 12%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12 · 11%
12 11%
STEERING 10 · 9%
10 9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9 · 8%
9 8%
AIR BAGS 6 · 5%
6 5%
WHEELS 6 · 5%
6 5%
SUSPENSION 5 · 4%
5 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 · 4%
4 4%
TIRES 4 · 4%
4 4%
01223
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 113.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2014 at 17.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2011 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2011 Ford FOCUS, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
2 DR FWD
4 DR FWD
Overall
Not rated
Not rated
Frontal crash
Not rated
Not rated
Frontal, driver
Not rated
Not rated
Frontal, passenger
Not rated
Not rated
Side crash
Not rated
Not rated
Side barrier
Not rated
Not rated
Side pole
Not rated
Not rated
Rollover
Chance of rollover
14.0%
13.0%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed.
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
5 injured · crash · towed · 92,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD. THERE WERE FIVE OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
NHTSA complaint 10806768. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEAT BELTS
1 injured · crash · 13,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S CHEST ABRUPTLY STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. ...UPDATE 01/20/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE SUFFERED WHIPLASH, A SORE BACK A PINCHED NERVE AND HIP PAIN. UPDATED 01/25/12
NHTSA complaint 10440904. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash
2011 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAGS FAILURE IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint 10536644. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE PROPERLY AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED BREAST PLATE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/19/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY DEFECT WITH THE AIRBAG. UPDATED 06/03/2014 *JS
NHTSA complaint 10575148. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
towed · 150,000 miles
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 …
NHTSA complaint 11737817, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
19,000 miles
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 …
NHTSA complaint 11689468, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 …
NHTSA complaint 11605773, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I did not crash the vehicle I bought it preowned
NHTSA complaint 11605320. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
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.
NHTSA complaint 11574454. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint 11571215. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, no campaign on file for this vehicle.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst