Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Ford Focus problems

Owners filed 205 complaints about the 2006 Ford Focus with NHTSA between Jan 2006 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (47).

Complaints
205
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
23
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
19
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system47
  2. Air bags40
  3. Vehicle speed control25
  4. Structure15
  5. Power train14
  6. Latches/locks/linkages14
  7. Tires12
  8. Fuel/propulsion system11
  9. Suspension10
  10. Fuel system, gasoline7
  11. Service brakes, hydraulic7
  12. Exterior lighting6
  13. Service brakes6
  14. Engine and engine cooling6

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200614
200713
200821
200917
201026
201118
201214
201315
201418
201515
20167
20176
20187
20195
20204
20210
20220
20233
20240
20250
20262

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

47 reports2 crashes1 fire
“THE WIRING HARNESS FLEXES WHERE IT PASSES FROM THE BODY TO THE TAILGATE CAUSING THE IINSULATION AND WIRING TO BREAK AND SHORT TO THE BODY RESULTING IN A BLOWN FUSE AND NO REAR LIGHTS. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILST DRIVING AND WHEN STATIONARY OPENING THE HATCHBACK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11363545

Air bags

40 reports15 crashes
“My sister was driving my 2006 Ford Focus along a highway. Out of nowhere, the airbag in the side of the driver's seat deployed. This was the only airbag that deployed. The airbag deployed into the side of my sister emitting a white smoke or powder substance. She saw black from the trauma of the airbag impact. She was able to then gain control of the vehicle as no other vehicles were around. She got into the emergency lane and slowly made her way to the offramp then into a gravel parking lot. She then called her daughter to pick her up, who then took her to the ER. She was not thinking clearly or she would have called an ambulance. My husband took off work and took our car dolly and towed the vehicle to our house. My sister was diagnosed with head trauma, concussion, and whiplash. She has since been to her primary doctor who is following her care now. My sister now has ongoing foggy head, headaches, slower reactions, pain going down her leg and arm and dizziness. We have made contact with Ford and made a complaint, giving a case number and told they would contact me with 15 business days. As of today, no one has contacted us, so my sister called Ford and…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2026Air bagsODI 11723254

Vehicle speed control

25 reports2 crashes
“WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE RPMS SKY ROCKETED. TURNS OUT IT WAS A BROKEN CRUISE CONTROL MODULE CABLE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO GET "STUCK". AT THE SAME TIME IT WAS ALSO BOGGING OUT AND SHUTTING ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON THROWING A P071? CODE WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH O2 LEVELS.THIS TURNED OUT TO BE A BROKEN "BREATHER HOSE" WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE AIR INTAKE. BOTH PARTS HAVE PROVEN TO BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TRACK DOWN. AFTER REPLACING THE "BREATHER HOSE", CCM THROTTLE CABLE, AND ALSO AN O2 SENSOR THE OVERALL COST FOR PARTS WAS $300 AND LABOR WAS $300. THANKFULLY NO INJURIES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2019Vehicle speed control, Unknown or other, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11276950

Structure

15 reports3 crashes
“EVERY FOCUS OWNER I HAVE TALKED WITH HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE DOOR HANDLES BREAKING. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME SINCE 2013 THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME, AND IF I DON'T FIX IT MYSELF, DEALERSHIPS WANT TO CHARGE $250 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, AND COVERED ON FORD'S EXPENSE. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, FEBRUARY 2017, IT BROKE NOT ONLY ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT ALSO THE INSIDE HANDLE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. SO NEITHER THE OUTSIDE, NOR INSIDE LATCH WILL OPEN ON, AND THAT'S A DEATH SENTENCE IF (KNOCK ON WOOD) I GET INTO A BAD ACCIDENT. SEPTEMBER 19TH 2017, THE EXTERNAL HANDLE IS BROKEN AND I AM CURRENTLY NOW UNABLE TO OPEN NEITHER DOOR (IT'S A 2 DOOR). I LITERALLY HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE HATCH UNTIL THAT DECIDES TO BREAK ON ME. I CAN LEAVE MY WINDOW DOWN JUST ENOUGH TO STICK MY ARM IN TO UNLATCH IT, BUT U LOVE IN RAIN ASS OHIO, AND DON'T FEEL LIKE HAVING FLOOD ISSUES ONTOP OF THIS MESS. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED? I SWEAR I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD IN MY LIFE AFTER HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS. IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND SADLY WILL TAKE SOMEONE DYING TO GET THIS ACKNOWLEDGED BY FORD. VERY DISAPPOINTED, AND I'M RISKING MY LIFE EVERYTIME I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2017StructureODI 11024955

Power train

14 reports1 crash
“Driving on hiway and vehicle shifted gears. Would no shift normally afterwards. Tried several times. Left myself and granddaughter in hiway in danger. Had local mechanic inspect the vehicle. Was told defective shifting linkage. Has occurred multiple times.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2023Power train, Unknown or otherODI 11546095

Latches/locks/linkages

14 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCHES FAILED. SHORTLY AFTER, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY REPLACED THE REAR LATCHES AND STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 11, 2018Latches/locks/linkagesODI 11139735
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.