YearToAvoid

2009 Ford Focus Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

38/100

#9 most-complained of 14 Focus years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Ford Focus has 229 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 38 out of 100 — #9 highest of 14 Focus model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (49 complaints, 21% of the total). Complaints report 26 crashes, 2 fires, 21 injuries, and 3 deaths.

Complaints
229
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
26 / 2
Injuries / deaths
21 / 3
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27.5
24 city / 34 hwy

Top 2009 Ford Focus problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine49 (21%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires47 (21%)
  3. Electrical System46 (20%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain39 (17%)
  5. Structure & Body29 (13%)
  6. Airbags22 (10%)
  7. Fuel System17 (7%)
  8. Other16 (7%)
  9. Brakes9 (4%)
  10. Steering9 (4%)
2009 Ford Focus complaints: complaints filed per quarter232009 Q12010 Q42012 Q32014 Q22016 Q12018 Q12019 Q42026 Q2
293 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2014 Q2 (23).

2009 Ford Focus recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2009 Ford Focus fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
27.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,350
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other Focus years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Good46391026
2008Best15250128
2009Good38229027.5
2010Good31287028
2011Best0113028.5

All Ford Focus years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Ford Focus a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Ford Focus ranks #9 of 14 among Focus model years (Complaint Index 38/100, verdict: Good). It has 229 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford Focus?
The most reported problem areas are engine (49 complaints), suspension, wheels & tires (47 complaints), and electrical system (46 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 45,690 miles.
Does the 2009 Ford Focus have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2009 Ford Focus in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Ford Focus?
EPA rates the 2009 Ford Focus at 27.5 MPG combined (24 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,350. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.