Ford Focus key fob problems

Filed Jul 22, 2025 · Electrical, Lights · ME

A major electrical issue has occurred in this car since June 1, 2025. The Traction Control System dashboard indicator (the skidding car) comes on even though I am not using the TCS. When this happens, I get a message saying "Hill start assist not available," and am unable to manipulate my headlights, use turn signals, or lock/unlock my doors (I need to use the physical key to lock/unlock the driver's side door). If this "Hill start assist" issue occurs and I turn off my car (or if it occurs when the car is off), then I am unable to start my car. I get a new message saying "No Key Detected," and the ignition does nothing. I have a physical key, and not a fob. If the TCS light goes away, then I am able to start up my car. However, this is unpredictable; there appears to be no way to force the TCS light to disappear, and sometimes it will stay on for over an hour with my key in the "on" position. As of late, it hasn't gone away at all, making the car unusable. This causes obvious safety issues when on the road, as I cannot use turn signals or change my lights as it gets darker or it begins to rain/snow. When not on the road, I cannot use my car at all. A dealer recently confirmed the problem with the Body Control Module, but was unable to fix it. They managed to turn the car on, but the problems returned after 24 hours. As I was driving home on July 18, 2025, the TCS light came on and suddenly I could not use turn signals or change my lights. I still had over an hour to drive home. I did arrive home safely, but have not been able to use my car since.

Filed Nov 28, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · FL · fire

I purchased a 2017 Ford Focus from a car dealership called lion cars on 4201 West Colonial Drive in Orlando Florida the car has a major major electrical issue I was at an intersection and the car went completely dead and turned off and it locked me inside the car I couldn't get out of the car the windows would not roll down the doors were not unlocked and the car started smoking finally I got out then 3 days later I turned around and try to get in the car and the car also locked me in out of the car where I couldn't use my key fob nothing on the car works I did a report on it I found out that the car had been in two major crashes and both reports stated severe damage and when you drive down the road it pulls to the left I brought this attentia attention of lying car dealership they said that they would fix the car or they will replace the car and they never did so now I am without a car I am without my money back and I am without replacement car so

Filed Nov 30, 2023 · Locks · 75,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after exiting the vehicle and locking the doors, the contact was unable to reopen the doors using the key fob. The contact used the key located inside the fob to open the doors. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had become a recurring failure. The contact was concerned with breaking the emergency key in the locks and being unable to lock the doors. The contact had taken the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the locks needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

Filed Jun 11, 2023 · Electrical, Transmission · 100,421 miles · IN

My car if jerk when taking off. Horn stopped working and will not sound when you lock it with the key fob.

Filed Jul 29, 2022 · Electrical · MA

The stereo has faulty mosfet components IT SOUNDS LIKE MACHINE GUN SHOTS I almost hit another car and drove off the road. Even when the car is off it does this! this is a MAJOR safety issue no one is doing ANYTHING about. Half my dashboard is on my floor in order to make this stop! I can’t lock or unlock my doors without the key fob so if I needed to get out of the vehicle fast I have to reach in my pocket to hit the key fob. The radio also drains the battery while the car is off and making VERY LOUD MACHINE GUN SHOT NOISES. A new stereo unit is about $1000 this is a MAJOR safety problem as you can’t even turn the volume down ITS ON FULL BLAST! Whether the radio is on or off the only option is to take the 1.5’by1.5’ section of the dash “the whole middle” and put it somewhere else until this can be fixed! RANDOM FULL BLAST GUN SHOTS ARE NOT SAFE! I’ve read a LOT of forums and there are A LOT of people that have been in accidents because this is so LIAD and uncontrollable. Please let me know what I am supposed to do about this as your site says the radio is not covered? I’ve driving down the highway and the gunshots go off NON STOP for random lengths of time it is NO EXAGGERATION ITS AS LOUD AS GUN SHOTS! I shouldn’t have to drive my car with ear plugs or headphones I wear at the gun club while shooting guns! The mosfets on the pcb board are not adequately cooled, they break down because the heat for the car blows HOT AIR right on/around them. The design of the stereo uses the plate on the back to keep them cool, not possible while running the heater! I am unsure what to do as I need to be able to safely drive my car without it shoot full blast blank gun shots at me!also the FUSE for the radio does NOT blow shutting the stereo off when this happens. The mosfets get so hot I worry I’ll have an electrical fire while driving! This radio is NOT SAFE when the cheap components don’t function correctly and the safety features like fuses DONT WORK! I DONT WANT TO CRASH!

Filed Mar 1, 2022 · Body, Locks · 15,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, the key fob was inadvertently touched and the rear lift gate erroneously opened. The contact indicated that the fob was not pressed twice as needed to open the hatch. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number 16V698000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages, Structure). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 15,000.

Filed Jan 13, 2022 · Locks · 153,000 miles · KS

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the doors of the vehicle would intermittently fail to lock when engaged with the key fob. The contact received a recall notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed that no issues were found. The contact stated that sometime later, she noticed that the key fob and the vehicle master power door lock window switch would no longer lock or unlock the doors of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that she would lock each door manually in order to secure the vehicle. The contact also stated that the doors would make an abnormal clicking sound and unlock while driving. The door lock indicator on the instrument cluster would not indicate that the doors were locked while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised the contact that the OBD reader was not reading any codes. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.

Filed Jun 14, 2021 · Electrical · 195,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2007 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the key ceased in the ignition when the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed nor repaired. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who replaced the ignition switch. The key fob was replaced however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the Vin was not under recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 195,000.

Filed Jul 22, 2020 · Electrical · 174,000 miles · WA

Wires in the trunk completely broken. Symptoms: trunk won't unlatch, renders the trunk useless. My license plate light flickers. Also, I have to manually turn off my parking lights. They should turn off once locking my doors with my key fob, but they remain on, so I turn them off manually otherwise they'll stay on this draining my battery. Each time I turn on the car, as soon as I shift into drive/reverse, the car begins to beep at me and the dash lights up saying 'luggage compartment lid open' which is very distracting. This happens every time I turn the engine on after shifting into gear. After researching my problem, I've found that many other drivers with similar years of ford focus have had the same issue. After I fixed the wires myself, all of these symptoms went away. I'm surprised how many issues those broken wires have caused.

Filed Mar 12, 2020 · Engine · 48,600 miles · NY

On monday march 9th around 5pm my car had stalled while taking a left hand turn. It took about an hour to re-start with key fob. On march 9th at 11:30 pm turned off vehicle to go into a store and would not start for over 2 hours. I found out there was a recall to this vehicle today on 3/12/2020 I had purchased this vehicle on 01/06/2020 with out any knowledge of a recall. I want out of the vehicle as it is unsafe.