Problems · by component

2011 Ford Focus electrical system problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Focus cite electrical system, 22% of all 113 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
25
22% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“MY CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH A MYSTERY BATTERY DRAIN FOR TWO YEARS. SINCE MARCH OF 2019 IT HAS BEEN STALLING AT STOP LIGHTS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE RPM NEEDLE DROPS. IN THE WINTER OF 2018 I HAD ISSUES TWICE WHERE I TRIED ACCELERATING AND THE MPH NEEDLE WOULDN'T MOVE PAST 20 IT DID EVENTUALLY SPEED UP WITH ME NOT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL I ALSO HAD A HARD TIME BREAKING WHEN THIS HAPPENED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2019Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11235292
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK. YEARS LATER, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO TIE DOWN THE DOOR TO KEEP IT CLOSED. THE CONTACT CALLED LIBERTY FORD PARMA HEIGHTS (6600 PEARL RD, PARMA HEIGHTS, OH 44130, (440) 888-2600) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE CONTACT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,254. *TT UPDATED 12/03/18*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 11, 2018Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 11139685
“DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN USE. THE SENSOR WILL GO OFF WHILE DRIVING AND UNLOCK ALL DOORS, EVEN IF THE CHILD SAFETY FEATURE IS ACTIVATED. BECAUSE OF THIS MESSAGE THE DOME(MAP) LIGHT ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON AND OFF. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE BATTERY TO DRAIN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 8, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11083883
“I AM A WIDOW, I HAVE CHILDREN TO TAKE CARE OF. SO FOR SOMETHING LIKE THE IGNITION COIL TO ALL OF A SUDDEN GO BAD AND COST ME $850 IS REDICULOUS. I WAS AT WORK AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. NO WARNING, NO NOTHING. ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE READ OTHERS ONLINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER IF FORD IS JUST IGNORING THIS OR IS IT A WAY FOR FORD TO MAKE MORE MONEY OFF OF INNOCENT HARD WORKING PEOPLE. I AM NOW IN DEBT BECAUSE OF THIS AND DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO GET OUT. NEEDLESS TO SAY MY CHILDREN DID NOT HAVE MUCH OF A CHRISTMAS. I WAS WARNED ABOUT BUYING A FORD AND I AM STARTING TO REGRET IT. I ALSO HAVE HAD HUB ASSEMBLY PROBLS AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN I NEED A MOTOR MOUNT. I GUESS THIS IS WHAT I GET FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD A BRAND NEW CAR. SO NOW MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND IN SOMETHING TERRIFYING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2018Electrical systemODI 11079490
“FORD FOCUS 2011, IGNITION KEY TUMBLER FAILURE, CAN NOT START CAR. TUMBLER IN IGNITION NOT WORKING, TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE AND REPROGRAM CAR, CAN ONLY BE DONE BY DEALER. CHECKED ON LINE, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, NO RECALL FOUND, WHY NOT. I WAS AT THE MALL XMAS SHOPPING, HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 24, 2017Electrical systemODI 11056260
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, THE FRONT LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LIFTED UP, BUT THE REAR LOCKS REMAINED INSIDE THE DOORS. ALL FOUR DOORS WERE NOT ABLE TO BE OPENED. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO LIFT THE REAR LOCKS, BUT THE KNOBS FOR THE DOOR LOCKS WERE LOCATED. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MANUALLY LIFT THE KNOBS DUE TO THEM BEING INSIDE THE DOOR PANEL. THE DRIVER HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (WINDELL FORD) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT ALL LOCKS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FACT THAT THE LOCKS COULD NOT BE MANUALLY DISENGAGED WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,046.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 28, 2017Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 11001929

Showing 6 of 25 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.