my car sounds like the dashboard is rattling when i step on the gas what could it be

The shaking is likely originating in the drive train, you just happen to notice it in the steering wheel and dash as those are what you see/feel. Check out this youtube vid for sources of shaking under acceleration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMVj5xl1Mzo - of course with yours being a front wheel drive, you won't have driveshaft ujoints but you will have cv joints.

no there is no shaking the steerling wheel is fine and the car does not feel like it is shaking. it is just a rattling noise sounds like its in the dash but I don't think it is the dashboard does not appear to be moving or shaking at all.

Look for loose body parts like bumper plastic covers that flap when ur driving

There are so many fasteners on a dashboard that it could never come loose on it's own. More likely something just fell inside it. Maybe your friend meant "pens" and not "pins," as in some pens fell into a vent on top, lol. Check all your vent controls too, maybe a mode door came loose (those are the little plastic flaps that direct air according to your dash settings). Do you actually feel the dash itself vibrating under acceleration, or is it more of a "something loose is rattling around in it" feel?

No vibration just the rattling noise that is driving me crazy. I just came in from lunch and I thought maybe it is near the wheel because it is very low in the dash area but I could be over thinking now. I just didn't want to walk into a shop without some idea in my mind of what it could be thank you

Is it a 2012+Ford Focus? I heard it too. I took it to a Ford dealership and the guy said it was fine. Did you ever get an answer?

I just bought a 2017 Ford Focus that had 15 miles on it when I purchased it on September 1. It is two weeks old today. I have a rattle somewhere in my dash area that is driving me crazy. I don't think this is a good sign at all. I am afraid if they start taking things loose trying to find it that it will cause more rattles. This is a brand new car and I am not going to deal with rattles.

The engine mounts in the focus go out so quick and make the dash viberate pretty soon everything will

I promise look up focus engine mounts and you will see so many complaints

I am having the same issue. 2004 Ford Focus SE. The engine mounts might need to be replaced, because overall my car does shake more than other cars. Recently, however, a very very loud, horribly annoying high pitched rattle sounds like it's coming from right under my steering wheel. There's a little box on the lower left of the dash covering the fuse box and it's coming from right behind that thing. I've tried wiggling everything back there to see if I can get the noise to stop but no success. It is not going 100% of the time, and seems to ramp up when I slow down the car and ease up when I gas it. It made my latest camping road trip into a total nightmare, even the loud music wouldn't drown out the rattle. Any advice on what inside of the dash could make this noise? I don't think I am up to replacing all of my engine mounts.

Erinmm & Andrew, just bought a 2016 Ford Focus..used but like new only 40,000 miles on it I have same problem ..no constant but ever little bit sounds like the noise a wooden ball would make bouncing in a wooden cup......gets on my nerves, just had the car 3 days...

The 'noise comes from bottom of vehicle is due to missing screws. I have 2015 ford fusion titanium version. Since 1 year ago, after long driving (SLC-LA), there is vibration noise like 'dddddd....' when the speed was between 10-30 mph. Specifically, the noise was easily shown up when I push the accelerator from stop. The noise comes from mid-bottom first. Then after few month later, the noise was moved to front-bottom of the vehicle. The ford service center did not try much to find reason. Yeh, I understand catching the noise is very difficult. Just yesterday, I tried to replace engine oil myself first time. Unbelievably, there is only 6 screws that must be 10~11 to hold a underneath cover. The missing screws make fluctuating of the under cover that transmits the kinetic movement to noise sound. So, the ford service center filled out the empty screw holes today. While come back to home, there is a new fusion on opposite direction. I watched that the underneath cover of the new fusion was fluctuating same as mine. hahahaha... That is obviously part reliability problem.

I recently bought a 2013 Ford Focus and couldn't figure out why it was so loud inside with the rattling noise when accelerating. Forums spoke about the stabilizer bar links so I changed them and the CV axle on the passenger side. Then I purchased new fasteners for all of the under covering. The noise was still there at idle or when accelerating. There was a thump on the passenger side when I went over bumps. I finally brought it to ford thinking it was the transmission which is under warranty until 100 thousand miles. Wrong again it was the motor mount which I changed myself in 20 minutes and now the car is finally quiet.

I purchased my 2016 Focus new, shortly after I kept noticing a "noise" coming from the center of the dash. After several trips back to the service center, they discovered it was a vent flap. They had to take the dash completely out. The notes of the service invoice said they used foam tape to stop the noise. This stopped the noise for about 8 months, then it started again. It's back at the shop. Yesterday I received a call saying they were ordering some straps for the heater (I think) We'll see if they actually fix it this time instead of putting a bandaid on it.

Hi, I have the same issue. went to Ford dealer 5-6 times and finally they took of the dashboard, greased a vent flap and after 6 moths the sound came back (driving.. me crazy :)). since the car is covered by extended warranty, I have pushed the guys to solve the issue (or else..!). so they have asked Ford Warranty Dept and got the answer: they will replace the whole heater. in a few weeks I hope I will come back with a good news.

Hi all, I just came back from the service. they have replaced the air recycle flap (covered by warranty). Please find below a link to some pictures. I didn't have the chance to take a photo of the broken piece. the noise comes from the opening mechanism. see picture attached. https://www.bildelsbasen.se/img/a/a/a/cf788b/path/mnt/newftp/140/bil/lgnr/376708_3.jpg/for d_focus_2016_defrosterkanal_/_munstycke.jpg