Short answer
Among Ford Focus model years through 2024, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2 more years have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2013 and 2014 have the most (14). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Ford Focus: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 19 (2000–2018)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 41
- Fewest recalls
- 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2 more years (0)
- Most recalls
- 2013 and 2014 (14)
- Most recalled system
- Fuel system, gasoline (22)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2013, 2014, 2015 and 3 more years
Ford Focus Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 7 | 5 stars | Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train |
| 2017 | 10 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Equipment, Power train |
| 2016 | 11 | 5 stars | Power train, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2015 | 11 | 5 stars | Latches/locks/linkages, Power train, Equipment |
| 2014 | 14 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Latches/locks/linkages, Electrical system |
| 2013 | 14 | 5 stars | Latches/locks/linkages, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2012 | 10 | 4 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Equipment, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2011 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2010 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2009 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2008 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2007 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2006 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2005 | 1 | Not rated | Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2004 | 1 | Not rated | Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2003 | 1 | Not rated | Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2002 | 2 | Not rated | Latches/locks/linkages, Vehicle speed control |
| 2001 | 7 | Not rated | Seats, Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2000 | 11 | Not rated | Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Fuel system, gasoline |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20187 recalls
- 201710 recalls
- 201611 recalls
- 201511 recalls
- 201414 recalls
- 201314 recalls
- 201210 recalls
- 20110 recalls
- 20100 recalls
- 20090 recalls
- 20081 recall
- 20070 recalls
- 20060 recalls
- 20051 recall
- 20041 recall
- 20031 recall
- 20022 recalls
- 20017 recalls
- 200011 recalls
Ford Focus: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Ford Focus recalls are fuel system, gasoline (22), latches/locks/linkages (20), equipment (15), power train (14) and electrical system (8). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 7 of these 19 model years, and 2013, 2014, 2015 and 3 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Ford Focus Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Ford Focus?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2 more years are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Ford Focus model years have the most recalls?
2013 and 2014 have the most, with 14 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Focus", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy