Problems · by component

2010 Ford Focus power train problems

45 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Ford Focus cite power train, 16% of all 287 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
45
16% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2010 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while leaving the parking lot and attempting to shift into reverse(R), the gear shifter failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was contacted to schedule an appointment to diagnose the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,264.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2026Power trainODI 11747137
“The contact owns a 2010 Ford Focus. The contact stated that intermittently, after starting the vehicle and while driving at various speeds, the clutch pedal was depressed to the floorboard and the vehicle was unable to shift gear as needed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact was made aware that the clutch assembly had previously been replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 179,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 13, 2023Power trainODI 11506998
“The contact owns a 2010 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after he shifted the gear shifter to Park(P), the vehicle lunged and rolled backward as he was exiting the vehicle. The contact's right leg was stuck inside of the vehicle, causing him to fall to the ground while the driver's side front tire ran over his right arm. A bystander jumped into the vehicle and was able to park vehicle. The contact later received medical attention for injuries to his legs, right arm, and back, and was diagnosed with a blood infection. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred while the contact was parking the vehicle and he applied the parking brake to stop the vehicle from rolling. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2022Power trainODI 11477583
“The contacts mother owns a 2010 Ford Focus. The contact stated while her mother attempted to park, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle violently accelerated on its own without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into a satellite pole. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries reported. A police report was not filed. The driver was able to reverse the vehicle and park into the parking spot, however the contact stated the failure reoccurred sporadically several times after the crash. The driver took the vehicle to a local dealer to have the vehicle inspected, however the dealer was not able to duplicate the failure. A few months later and the failure reoccurred again and the driver took the vehicle back to the dealer where the dealer repaired and replaced the throttle body control module on the vehicle, but the failure persisted after the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2022Power trainCrash reportedODI 11452057
“WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD SHIFT UP AND DOWN AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WAS SHUTTER THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT IT HAD TO BE OVERHAULED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 30, 2019Power trainODI 11292124
“MY YELLOW WENCH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON,I WAS STOPPED AT A 4 WAY CITY INTERSECTION AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WOULD NOT PICK UP ANY SPEED. I WAS STUCK WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT IDLE SPEED PULL OFF THE ROAD, TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT A FEW SECONDS THEN RESTART IT. I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT AND THE YELLOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON.THE YELLOW LIGHT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON BEFORE AND I HAD GOODYEAR AND AUTO ZONE CHECK IT ON THEIR COMPUTER AND IT CAME UP WITH CODE P2135 THROTTLE SENSOR. THE GUY AT AUTO ZONE TOLD ME TO ENTER THAT CODE ON UTUBE AND SEE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DID TO FIX THE ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY STORIES ON YOUTUBE ETC REGARDING THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDELY KNOW ISSUE AND ON ANOTHER FORD CAR THEY HAD A RECALL FOR IT. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY KEPT IT FOR A FEW DAYS,THEY TOLD ME SINCE THEY COULD NOT GET THE YELLOW LIGHT TO COME ON THEY CAN NOT TELL WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND THEREFORE NOT FIX IT? IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IT IN THIS CONDITION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2019Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11231458

Showing 6 of 45 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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