YearToAvoid

2010 Ford Focus Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

13/100

#8 most-complained of 9 Focus years

The 2010 Ford Focus ranks 8th worst out of 9 model years, with a Complaint Index of 13 and a "Best" verdict relative to other Focus years. NHTSA lists 287 complaints, 0 recalls, and 22 crashes for this year, with Engine issues being the top problem area.

Complaints
287
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
22 / 4
Injuries / deaths
19 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
28
24 city / 34.5 hwy

Top 2010 Ford Focus problems

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

  1. Engine94 (33%)
  2. Structure & Body53 (18%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain45 (16%)
  4. Electrical System43 (15%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires38 (13%)
  6. Fuel System32 (11%)
  7. Other29 (10%)
  8. Brakes13 (5%)
  9. Steering13 (5%)
  10. Airbags12 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report engine compartment fires and smoke occurring after low-speed collisions, in some cases destroying the vehicle.
  • Some drivers describe the vehicle losing power and stalling on the highway as if it were out of fuel, even with a half tank remaining.
  • Front airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple head-on or frontal crashes, despite side airbags deploying correctly.
  • Owners describe unusual wobbling or vibration in the steering wheel traced to abnormal rear tire rotation.
  • One report describes the roof detaching from the vehicle after a crash into a deer at 55 mph.
  • Electrical failures were reported where the vehicle would not start and sparks appeared from the battery during a jump-start attempt, later diagnosed as a damaged starter.
2010 Ford Focus complaints: complaints filed per quarter222010 Q12011 Q42013 Q32015 Q22017 Q12018 Q42021 Q12024 Q2
382 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2012 Q3 (22).

2010 Ford Focus recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2010 Ford Focus fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
34.5 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,300
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.

2010 compared with other Focus years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012201320142015201620172018
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best13287028
2011Best0113028.5
2012Avoid1003,768731

All Ford Focus years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Ford Focus reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2010 Focus has a Complaint Index of 13 and ranks 8th worst out of 9 Focus model years, earning a "Best" verdict relative to other years of this model.
What is the top problem area for the 2010 Ford Focus?
Engine complaints make up the largest share, at 33% (94 complaints) of all reported issues, with a median failure mileage of 56,000 miles.
Does the 2010 Ford Focus have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2010 Focus, including 0 do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2010 Focus compare to later model years?
The 2010 Focus performs much better than the 2012–2014 model years, which have Complaint Index values of 100, 75, and 88 and are rated "Avoid," versus 13 for 2010.
What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Ford Focus?
The EPA rates the 2010 Focus at 28 mpg combined (24 city / 34.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300.

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.