NHTSA has 113 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Ford Focus[1]. Eight of them mention a crash[1].
Most reported problems
Owners filed complaints across several parts of the car, and here are the groups, biggest first.
- Electrical System. 25 complaints[3]. Owners describe door locks that stop responding, power windows and mirrors that quit, gauges that act up, and a dashboard message that told one driver to stop safely.
- Power Train. 20 complaints[4]. In the stories we read, owners describe the car losing power while driving, warning lights coming on, and hesitation when they press the pedal. Some say the dealer updated software but the trouble came back.
- Latches, Locks and Linkages. 17 complaints[5]. Owners describe rear doors that will not unlock or open, from the key fob or by hand. A few say they had to climb out through a window.
- Structure. 14 complaints[6]. Owners describe stuck rear doors and a door trim piece that caught a foot.
- Unknown or Other. 12 complaints[7]. These reports did not fit a single named part.
- Steering. 10 complaints[8].
- Speed Control. 9 complaints[9].
- Air Bags. 6 complaints[10].
Recalls
NHTSA's records show 0 recalls for the 2011 Focus[11].
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
Safety ratings
Engine and size
Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.
| Engine | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| 2011 Ford Focus with 2.0L 4-cylinder[15] | 132 to 140 hp |
These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.
How 2011 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3,686 | 11 |
| 2001 | 1,761 | 7 |
| 2002 | 971 | 2 |
| 2003 | 977 | 1 |
| 2004 | 387 | 1 |
| 2005 | 441 | 1 |
| 2006 | 205 | 0 |
| 2007 | 391 | 0 |
| 2008 | 250 | 1 |
| 2009 | 229 | 0 |
| 2010 | 287 | 0 |
| 2011 | 113 | 0 |
| 2012 | 3,803 | 10 |
| 2013 | 2,181 | 14 |
| 2014 | 2,659 | 14 |
| 2015 | 1,034 | 11 |
| 2016 | 1,194 | 11 |
| 2017 | 907 | 10 |
| 2018 | 837 | 7 |
NHTSA's counts for the Focus show 113 complaints and 0 recalls for 2011[11]. Among the 19 model years listed, 0 have fewer complaints than 2011 and 18 have more[11]. The fewest complaints are for 2011 (113) and the most are for 2012 (3,803)[11]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2011 Focus?
The 2011 Focus has a record of owner complaints that centers on electrical trouble, power train behavior and door locks[3][4][5]. Door lock problems show up under more than one group, so the same issue may be counted in several places[3][5][6]. These are unverified reports sent to NHTSA, and they are not adjusted for how many cars were sold[1]. If you are shopping for one, check the door locks and listen for any hesitation on a test drive. Then look at the recalls and the year comparison above to see how this year stacks up.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Focus?
- The biggest complaint groups are the electrical system, the power train and door latches and locks[3][4][5]. See the problems section for what owners describe.
- Does the 2011 Ford Focus have recalls?
- Recalls are listed in the Recalls section of this page. The count for this year is in the by-year comparison[11].
- What gas mileage does the 2011 Ford Focus get?
- The fuel section of this page has the EPA figures and estimated yearly fuel cost.
- Is the 2011 Ford Focus reliable?
- Owners filed 113 complaints with NHTSA[1]. These are unverified and not adjusted for sales, so read them as a guide to what to check. The by-year section shows how this year compares.
- Is the 2011 Focus the best year to buy?
- The by-year comparison on this page lays out complaints and recalls for each year so you can compare them yourself[11].
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Ford Focus
Compare all model years of the Ford Focus
Other Ford models from 2011
Similar cars from 2011: compact cars
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 113 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Ford Focus (8 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 10 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA rating for Focus FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 34 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 25 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 48,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 20 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 61,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 17 complaints name the latches/locks/linkages component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 48,444). NHTSA vehicle records
- 14 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 82,211). NHTSA vehicle records
- 12 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 51,604). NHTSA vehicle records
- 10 complaints name the steering component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 9 complaints name the speed control component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 47,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 6 complaints name the air bags component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Ford Focus model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Focus FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 33 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 13.0%. NHTSA vehicle records
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR FWD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 14.0%. NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA Test Car List, 2011 Ford Focus with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 132 to 140 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FOCUS 2DR COUPE FWD SE/SES: length 175 in, width 68 in, height 59 in, wheelbase 103 in, curb weight 2,623 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FOCUS 4DR SEDAN FWD S/SE/SES: length 175 in, width 68 in, height 59 in, wheelbase 103 in, curb weight 2,701 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov