Ford Focus Wheels Problems
Owners have filed 379 complaints with NHTSA about wheels problems on the Ford Focus across 19 model years. The 2000 model year has the most (113). The words owners use most often: “lug nuts” (15% of reports).
- 379wheels complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 27mention a crash
- 10mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $310typical repair cost reported by owners
- 46%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.
- Lug nuts: mentioned in 58 of 379 complaints (15%)
- Rear wheel: mentioned in 50 of 379 complaints (13%)
- Flat tire: mentioned in 24 of 379 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical wheels repair on the Ford Focus at $310, and half of them between $120 and $550.
Based on 12 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 wheels problems happen?
Based on 216 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 379 complaints, 27 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 10 an injury.
Ford Focus wheels complaints by model year
| Model year | Wheels complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Focus | 4 | 0% | — |
| 2017 Focus | 8 | 1% | 57,000 |
| 2016 Focus | 15 | 1% | 26,500 |
| 2015 Focus | 12 | 1% | 31,224 |
| 2014 Focus | 21 | 1% | 24,178 |
| 2013 Focus | 14 | 1% | 31,000 |
| 2012 Focus | 32 | 1% | 53,000 |
| 2011 Focus | 6 | 5% | 45,183 |
| 2010 Focus | 15 | 5% | 33,000 |
| 2009 Focus | 22 | 10% | 32,500 |
| 2008 Focus | 14 | 6% | 60,000 |
| 2007 Focus | 7 | 2% | 25,000 |
| 2006 Focus | 3 | 1% | 83,500 |
| 2005 Focus | 15 | 3% | 50,500 |
| 2004 Focus | 4 | 1% | 50,759 |
| 2003 Focus | 10 | 1% | 42,585 |
| 2002 Focus | 36 | 4% | 15,000 |
| 2001 Focus | 28 | 2% | 58,378 |
| 2000 Focus | 113 | 3% | 71,573 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Model years: 2000
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear wheel hub retaining nuts can loosen and allow the left rear wheel and brake drum assembly to separate from the vehicle.
Risk: This condition could result in a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear wheel bearings and install a rear wheel retention cap to prevent left rear wheel separation. 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
All of the lugs nut have swelled likely due to rust under the chrome caps and we can not get the lug wrench provided with the car onto any of the lugs nuts. A properly sized 19mm 4 way lug wrench would not fit either. This prevents us from being able to change a flat tire which could leave us…
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power in the middle of the road. The contact allowed the vehicle to sit for several minutes and then restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic…
Swollen lug nuts. They corroded and were almost impossible to remove. Lug nuts were destroyed during removal and had to be replaced. Apparently some two piece lug nut Ford used. They were original equipment.
14-Dec-2023, Brought my car into the tire repair store to have flat fixed. Was told the 5 lug nuts would have to be replaced because the original ones were corroded due to their design. This cost me $51.00 on this trip. 20-Aug-2020, Brought my car into the Ford dealership to have tires rotated. Was…
The lug nuts are swollen and cannot be unscrewed. Also my electrical system inside my car goes off sometimes for unknown reasons. I'm talking about my stereo.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Focuss have wheels problems?
No. NHTSA has 379 owner complaints about wheels 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 wheels?
Yes: 1 safety recall list wheels. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix wheels problems on the Ford Focus?
Owners report a typical cost of $310 (half paid between $120 and $550), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about wheels problems on the Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “lug nuts”, in 58 of 379 complaints, followed by “rear wheel” (50).
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)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (1,076)
See all Ford Focus problems.