1.7
hardly worth mentioning- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 96,989 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Approached stop light on a road with steep incline. Came to complete stop behind several cars without incident, but when pressed gas to move at green light, gear (despite being automatic transmission) slipped and stayed in neutral, revving but not engaging. Car began quickly rolling backwards. I was able to yank emergency brake just before hitting the car approaching mine from behind. Similar incidences have occurred with regard to incorrect/ dangerous automatic gear changes -- sudden loss of needed gear change to enter highway from ramp (flat land) and all kinds of gear changing problems (stuck in gear several gears too low or too high) in hilly terrain. This can result in lurching as well. Dealership claims normal operation and says the car isn't generating helpful codes as a result.
- Austin, TX, USA
Attempted to accelerate into merge lane and onto highway but transmission did not respond with engine revving up and slipping. I had to pull off the road to avoid obstructing traffic or being struck by traffic. Although this was the most dangerous incident it has happened before and the Ford dealer has not resolved the problem.
- Mims, FL, USA
This Ford Focus exhibits strange and dangerous shaking and stuttering between gears 1 and 2. it has done this with increasing frequency since we got this car in 2011. It feels like it will stall at any moment. It also has nearly stalled several times when stopped at a light and sometimes rolls backwards while in drive even though it is an automatic. The dealership says these things are normal because it is a 'sporty-model car' and it takes the engine time to adjust to a person's driving style. The Ford Focus model years affected with this problem should be recalled by Ford asap.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
Brake light came on, checked and fluid low in brake fluid container. This is just after I month oil and service done on the car. Filled it and tow days later come on again.took to Ford dealer in my town and they said it was a leak around the break pumping area. They wonted me to drive the car till the park came in. I insisted the give me a safe vehicle to drive... at the time I have also experienced a small jerking after I brake and take off again. I thought this was a break thin where related. But they where not. Called them and told them about the jumping has been going on almost within a mouth of purchasing the car. On March 24 they worked on it and said they had to reprogram the gearing in the trans mission. Picked the car up and it is better with the jerking but it is still doing it 5 days later now.so now I feel this is something that needs to be taken back to them again and fixed right or I should be given a different transmission, mjs. I also hand a weather striping repaired on rear passenger window at the same time they worked on the transmission. And I November 2013 the cruse stopped working and had to be fixed. I have had this car 6 months and have had all this trouble.
- Cape Girardeau, MO, USA
Exiting freeway transmission made loud clunk and warning screen popped up saying "transmission malfunction - service now". pulled into nearby shop center parking lot. Afraid to drive car. What would have happened if transmission failed at freeway speed" could I have controlled the car??"
- Morro Bay, CA, USA
Just purchased a 2012 Focus, loving the car until.....three weeks into ownership while driving home from work, I noticed the gas gauge seemed to be erratic....showing 1/2 tank, fluctuating to full, to 1/4, back up to 3/4, down to 1/2 tank and then without any low fuel warning audible or visual warning.... all instrument panel lights come on, car loses power, stalls, I try to start car, it will not start. I begin to coast out of lane and onto the shoulder, again trying to start car and it will not start. I call for roadside assistance and find that I have run out of fuel. How could this be? I am provided with a gallon of gas, car starts up immediately, I go to nearest gas station to fill up. Gauge reads full, I've driven 100 plus miles without any movement of the gauge I start to suspect the gauge may be faulty. I google this issue and find I am not the first who has experienced this problem. Reading the fordfanatic posts it seems as if dealers make several attempts to resolve issue which leads to several different repairs/replacements before resolution. This is frustrating to the consumer! appears to me, a recall would restore faith in Ford and Ford service.
- Elk Grove, CA, USA
Vehicle lost power and was not able to safely accelerate while traveling on the highway. The problem happened when I down shifted a gear to pass someone (manual transmission). The vehicle felt like it had about 30% power. I was forced to pull off of highway. Once vehicle was shutoff and turned back on it returned to normal. I had no warning lights on dash or anything. It just happened all of the sudden and was very scary.
- Reading, PA, USA
The fuel gauge reads much higher levels than are actually in the tank. The gauge will actually go up from three quarters to full in a 20 mile ride. I do have pictures documenting this. The only time the gauge seems to be correct is upon starting the vehicle first thing in the morning.
- Houston, MO, USA


- Clovis, CA, USA