Ford Focus Vehicle Speed Control Problems
Owners have filed 1,076 complaints with NHTSA about vehicle speed control problems on the Ford Focus across 19 model years. The 2000 model year has the most (170). The words owners use most often: “throttle body” (6% of reports).
- 1,076vehicle speed control complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 103mention a crash
- 37mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $460typical repair cost reported by owners
- 35%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Throttle body: mentioned in 67 of 1,076 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical vehicle speed control repair on the Ford Focus at $460, and half of them between $350 and $860.
Based on 16 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2002–2023), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do vehicle speed control problems happen?
Based on 734 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,076 complaints, 103 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 37 an injury.
Ford Focus vehicle speed control complaints by model year
| Model year | Vehicle Speed Control complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Focus | 27 | 3% | 11,500 |
| 2017 Focus | 37 | 4% | 35,728 |
| 2016 Focus | 36 | 3% | 33,707 |
| 2015 Focus | 42 | 4% | 45,000 |
| 2014 Focus | 164 | 6% | 19,500 |
| 2013 Focus | 112 | 5% | 21,277 |
| 2012 Focus | 166 | 4% | 46,000 |
| 2011 Focus | 9 | 8% | 47,000 |
| 2010 Focus | 50 | 17% | 64,000 |
| 2009 Focus | 33 | 14% | 59,000 |
| 2008 Focus | 14 | 6% | 70,000 |
| 2007 Focus | 27 | 7% | 45,000 |
| 2006 Focus | 25 | 12% | 82,000 |
| 2005 Focus | 45 | 10% | 73,000 |
| 2004 Focus | 18 | 5% | 41,500 |
| 2003 Focus | 14 | 1% | 9,250 |
| 2002 Focus | 21 | 2% | 13,040 |
| 2001 Focus | 66 | 4% | 45,000 |
| 2000 Focus | 170 | 5% | 67,750 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control:cables
Model years: 2000
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with speed control and automatic transmission. A speed control cable could have a core wire that is long enough to catch on the sleeve at the throttle body end of the cable during wide-open throttle acceleration.
Risk: A throttle that does not return to idle could result in reduced vehicle control and, potentially, a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and, if necessary, replace the speed control cable. Owner notification began october 12, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Vehicle speed control
Model years: 2000
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with speed control. The speed control cable end fitting can allow water to enter the speed control servo assembly. If this occurs, corrosion in the servo assembly could develop and cause intermittent speed control operation or prevent the throttle from returning to idle.
Risk: A throttle that does not return to idle could result in unexpected acceleration, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the speed control cable (with a new cable that incorporates a glass-filled end cap) and inspect the assembly for internal corrosion. Servos with evidence of corrosion will also be replaced. Owners are advised not to use the speed control until the vehicles are repaired.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
when the vehicle accelerates too quickly or up a very gradual hill, barely any slope, it will slow to a stop. this is in line with the current recalls with other Ford focus 2018s likely caused by the Canister Purge Valve. it has the exact same symptoms, poor fuel economy, rough idling so much so…
Transmission error stating clutch A engaged. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the vehicle would not move after being stopped at the stop light or stop sign or stop during traffic.
"My 2018 Ford Focus was traveling uphill at highway speed. I fully depressed the accelerator because the vehicle was losing speed. The vehicle did not respond with additional acceleration and subsequently continued to lose speed despite the accelerator remaining fully depressed. The dealership…
The TCU/TCM has been going in and out of control. Sometimes it will work then others it will shut off. Speedometer wonât work, power steering wonât work, cruise control wonât work, etc. and when you do the transmission reset for it, it wonât work at all.
I am submitting this complaint regarding ongoing transmission and Transmission Control Module (TCM) issues with my 2014 Ford Focus. In October 2022, the transmission was replaced, yet I continue to experience serious transmission-related failures. Most recently, the vehicle would only start in…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Focuss have vehicle speed control problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,076 owner complaints about vehicle speed control for the Ford Focus. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Focus vehicle speed control?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list vehicle speed control. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix vehicle speed control problems on the Ford Focus?
Owners report a typical cost of $460 (half paid between $350 and $860), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about vehicle speed control problems on the Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “throttle body”, in 67 of 1,076 complaints.
Other Ford Focus problems
- Power Train problems (6,803)
- Electrical System problems (4,342)
- Engine problems (2,318)
- Steering problems (2,099)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (1,440)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,281)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (1,158)
- Structure problems (999)
See all Ford Focus problems.