2006 Ford Focus Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2006 Focus most often describe small mechanical and electrical annoyances rather than major drivetrain failures: ignition keys that will not come out, air bag warning lights, and an accelerator pedal or speed-control cable that sticks or binds. Many complaints were filed on vehicles well past 60,000 miles, and several describe the same repair being repeated or a dealer saying no fault code or recall applied. A smaller group reports rear door locks that fail to lock, rear tire wear, and transmission jerking.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Accelerator pedal sticks or binds; speed control cable

   • 37 complaints (18%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2019

   Owners describe the gas pedal becoming stiff, sticking down, or failing to respond, sometimes with the engine idling high or the car accelerating on its own. Several say it happens more in cold weather or after the car has sat overnight, and one report ties it to a broken speed control cable and another to a carboned or sticking throttle body. Dealers cleaned or replaced the throttle body, and some owners report the symptom returning. Mostly reported between roughly 8,000 and 100,000 miles, with several owners noting cold weather or long parking periods.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the engine off, press the pedal slowly to the floor and release it, feeling for binding or a pedal that does not return cleanly; then check idle quality when warm. Ask whether the throttle body or speed control cable has been cleaned or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Accelerator pedal sticking. The problem just began recently in the last 2 months during the cold weather. It does it all the time. I have not yet taken it to get repaired or inspected but I read a lot of people having the same problem with another model the Ford escape and it is the same recall toyota is doing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10315078, filed 2010-03, 70,000 miles

   “On 6/19/10 my car would not brake to a full stop while exiting the freeway (speed had gone up to 80 on own without brakes applied) the light turned green and I let my foot off the brake. The car accelerated on its own without applying the gas. The car would not come to a stop and I subsequently crashed at approximately 10-15 MPH to prevent a major accident in the intersection of a busy street in the middle of the day. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10339334, filed 2010-06, 89,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on or air bags not deploying

   • 38 complaints (19%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 17 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2026

   Complaints describe the air bag or SRS light coming on and staying on, sometimes only when the passenger seat is occupied, and sometimes returning after repairs. A few owners report air bags that did not deploy in a collision, and others describe deployment with no impact; in one case water in the console area was said to have affected the air bag module. Dealers reportedly replaced parts or could not find a permanent fix, and some owners paid for repairs themselves. Spread across the mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well over 100,000, and often recurring after an initial repair.

   What to check: Turn the key to on and watch the SRS light: it should come on briefly and go out. Check for damp carpet or water stains near the center console, and ask for any air bag module or sensor repair records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I chose 'crash' above only because there was contact between two vehicles. At a red light, the Focus rolled into the car in front at no more than 3-5 MPH. Air bag deployed, seat belts locked. Zero damage to either vehicle, except small dent to the license plate, I took the vehicle to my body shop. After inspecting the vehicle, they are also confused as to why it deployed. Estimate to repair is $1800. Is this normal? Is this a known issue with the 2006 Focus?”

   NHTSA complaint #10543805, filed 2013-09, 176,000 miles

   “I have recently been doing a review of several incidents involving the Ford Focus one of which was relating to my father, where on instances the air bag did not deploy on the vehicles during the incidence of a crash. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10148522, filed 2006-01, 8,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Ignition key stuck and will not come out

   • 28 complaints (14%)
   • median 50,066 mi at 4.2 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • filed 2006–2015

   Owners describe the key going in and the car starting normally, but the key will not release from the ignition cylinder, sometimes for hours or until the car is jiggled repeatedly. Several say the shifter safety switch or the ignition cylinder itself was the cause; some paid for a new ignition or a locksmith, and one dealer said the key might need replacing. A few mention being able to shift out of park with the switch off. Reported from as low as about 8,000 miles up to roughly 123,000 miles, with several cases in warm weather or after short trips.

   What to check: With the engine running, cycle the key in and out of the ignition and through each position several times; a key that binds or will not release points to a worn cylinder or shifter interlock. Ask whether the ignition cylinder or safety switch has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had multiple incidents since I inherited the car from my father where the key sticks in the steering column and cannot be removed. It appears to be a yearly event where I need to take the car in to have the key removed from the steering column. I've owned many cars in my 50 years of driving and have never had a problem removing the key from the ignition in any of the others.”

   NHTSA complaint #10743726, filed 2015-07, 23,000 miles

   “2006 Ford Focus zx4 model ses. Ignition key stuck in ignition. Car will start but key will not come out. Car can be put into gear with switch in off position. Safety problem car has 35,000 miles. Dealer did warranty repair today - we are picking the car up tonight so I don't know the quality of the repair yet.”

   NHTSA complaint #10242956, filed 2008-09, 34,400 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Rear tire wear and rear-end instability

   • 19 complaints (9%)
   • median 49,962 mi at 2.9 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2019

   Owners describe the rear of the car stepping out or feeling loose, especially in rain, and rear tires wearing heavily on the inside or wearing out far sooner than expected despite alignments. Some say alignments were done repeatedly without curing the pull, and one owner reported worn rear lower arm assemblies; a dealer attributed the tire wear to driving rather than the car. Reported from roughly 8,000 up to 60,000 miles, with several cases within the first couple of years of ownership.

   What to check: Inspect the inner edges of both rear tires for uneven wear and check for play in the rear suspension arms; ask for a four-wheel alignment printout rather than a verbal assurance.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ford Focus station wagon with 40,000 miles on tires. Tires worn completely down to bare metal on both rear tires. I drove into a parking lot to shop and heard hissing noise. Saw damaged tires changed leaking tire to spare tire. Wear on inside of rear tires only. Local tire dealer looked at alignment and commented that Focus tires frequently blow due to tow irregularities in alignment. Difficult to adjust tow to manufacturer's specifications without excessive wear on rear tires. I replaced tires. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10316433, filed 2010-03, 40 miles

   “2006 Ford Focus rear tires . Normal driving conditions when tires start to shake and then wear unevenly on both sides. Only 26000 miles on tires from the dealer. Have to replace. Dealer says their is nothing wrong with car itself, just poor driving. Front tires still have close to half life left. Still have rear tires.”

   NHTSA complaint #10222431, filed 2008-03, 25,500 miles
5. 5
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Rear doors will not lock or latch

   • 20 complaints (10%)
   • median 92,000 mi at 7.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2019

   Complaints describe rear door locks that stop working, so the door latches but does not lock, or the remote locking gives the usual confirmation while a door stays unlocked. Some owners say a rear door opened unexpectedly while driving or that the door could not be opened from inside, and one report also covers a liftgate latch that would not secure. Repairs at the dealer or an independent shop were often paid for by the owner, and some owners had repeat failures on more than one door. Commonly reported between about 25,000 and 130,000 miles, often on cars several years old.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Lock and unlock every door with the fob and the inside switch and physically pull each handle to confirm it is locked; also try the hatch release. Ask whether any lock actuators have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2006 Ford Focus zx5. In march 2014, I notice the passenger back door would not lock. I did some research but found out there was no recall on my 2006. I did see 2005, 2008 but not mines. I did spend over 300.00 dollars to have it repaired and now two weeks later my front door passenger side stop working. This is a problem with the vehicle. I am the only driver and I have no children playing with my locks. I wish someone could assist me with this issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10578100, filed 2014-04, 92,420 miles

   “Rear passenger door won't lock. My wife apparently locked the car at work in an open parking lot and later went to retrieve something from back seat to find that the door was not locked. No indication was given when locking the car using the remote locking mechanism that there is an issue because it sounds like it is fully locked. It isn't. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10535054, filed 2013-08, 130,000 miles

Buying note. A 2006 Focus can be a reasonable cheap car, but check the items owners complain about most: confirm the key releases freely, the air bag light behaves normally, the gas pedal moves smoothly, and every door locks. Ask for service records on the ignition, throttle body, and any air bag module work, since several owners describe the same repair being needed more than once.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.