10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 11 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 6 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 41,243 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
Transmission continues to slip. Car flutters and jerks at every start.
- Richmond, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the engine suddenly began to shutter, which caused the vehicle to shake and vibrate. The contact indicated that the failure would often occur while slowing down. In addition, while the vehicle was idling, thumping and ticking noises were present coming from the engine compartment. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer (bill pierre Ford, 11525 lake city way N.E., seattle, wa) were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000.
- Kirkland, WA, USA
2015 Ford Focus. Driving home, almost crashed head on due to loss of steering in my vehicle. Purchased new 3 miles in June 2015. Still trying to get service for recall on powertrain, always told parts are not available or service requests backed up. The vehicle is unsafe and can cause fatality on the road. My current mileage is 53,181 and in no way should the steering system fail. My car is in the shop at the dealer and the cost for repair is $2100 plus tax which I do not have. I have researched and found many complaints about the same issues I am reporting. There should be a safety recall on the steering system. I'm struggling each day getting rides back and forth to work and I no longer feel safe with my child in an unsafe motor vehicle that could cause crash/collision. Ford needs to take responsibility for defects and recall all Ford Focus 2015 so that others consumers can get their car repaired. As I stated before I almost crashed head on due to steering failure. Not safe to drive on the rode.
- Columbus, OH, USA
I have already had the clutch replaced 2 times and it is still shuttering and slipping and no one will do anything about it. I had gotten a letter stating my car was on a recall but now it's not. I am a single mom with a son, I need to know that my car is safe. Not sure what to do please help.
- Crossville, TN, USA
The car has 101628 miles on it as mmy wife commutes to work about 1.5 hours each way per day. The transmission shutters on take off, does not know when to shift gears at times from 1st to 2nd could happen anywhere and from 3rd to 4th on the highway and now the transmission has stopped going into reverse at all. This will be the 3rd time this car has been in the dealer for this issue and the warranty has already ran out from Ford but we got the extended warranty, so the repair will be on me the next time. There are times that I will ease on the gas and it does not want to roll then it will jerk and take off. By the way this problem has been going on for the 3 years we have owned the car
- Campbell, TX, USA
Transmission shutters and jerks feels like the car will lose power or break down
- Fort Myers, FL, USA
It no longer moves forward or back. It has 12,000. Miles and I was stranded with it, and now. I really do not want it back with the same transmission pkg that fails inall the other Focus also.
- Bellingham, WA, USA
Issues with my transmission shuddering when accelerating from a stop in June of 2017. Vehicle was taken in for diagnosis and was informed that clutch shudder was over the limit. Clutch assembly on the vehicle was replaced. This was at 49131 miles. In June of 2018 same issue with shuddering transmission returned. Vehicle was again taken to service department. Informed that the clutch was shuddering St 443 and the max is 250. Was again told that the clutch assembly needed to be replaced. This was at 71351
- Stockton, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine and battery warning indicators illuminated, and the brakes failed when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to moon township Ford (5304 university blvd, coraopolis, pa 15108) for diagnostic testing, but no failures were found. The contact mentioned that the check engine and battery indicators illuminated prior to this failure. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures, but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. The VIN was not available.
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
I haven't had the car a month. Started noticing the problem immediately. When I take off the car shutters and acts like its missing gears. It does it from a complete stop but also from a slow speed. It doesn't matter if it's in the city or on the highway.
- Maple Hill, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer (hennessy Ford Lincoln atlanta, 5675 peachtree industrial blvd, atlanta, ga 30341) where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module failed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced, and the contact would be responsible for the repair cost. The failure mileage was 67,000.
- Decatur, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving 20 mph, the vehicle started to shift gears independently. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to capital Ford of charlotte (5411 N tryon St, charlotte, nc 28213). The contact was informed that there was a technical service bulletin to repair the transmission control module and to replace the clutch on the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer for diagnostic testing. From there, the dealer would determine if they would repair the vehicle for free. The contact was still awaiting the determination from the manufacturer. The VIN was not provided. The failure mileage was 58,000.
- Charolette, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving 20 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was towed to the dealer (camelback Ford, 1330 East camelback road, phoenix, AZ 85014), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer had previous knowledge of the failure. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that they would call back; however, the contact had not received a response. The failure mileage was approximately 8,275.
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the contact was unable to move the gear shifter. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact coasted over to the side of the road and powered off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted and the contact was able to drive, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to big mike naughton Ford (150 S havana St, Aurora, co 80012, (303) 343-1900), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
- Brighting, CO, USA
I have brought this vehicle, or attempted to bring it, into the dealership service department multiple times for the shuddering, stalling, overheat for no reason with system shut off, etc. At take-off from driveway, highway metering lights, lighted signals, & stop signs the car(automatic transmission)will either shudder and bounce like a manual transmission not properly shifted or initially roll slightly and then stall as if in neutral.the rpms will rev, but the car will not move.I have narrowly missed many rear-end accidents.I have paid well over a thousand dollars just on rental car fees while not able to drive this car.the service department refused to give me an appointment or take it in for many months because according to them they did not have the required parts. On other attempts they would tell me they did not have the code pop up that anything was wrong. August 2017, after the dealership had my car for multiple days when promised back same or next day, they told me there was nothing wrong & I showed them a picture I took of the control panel, then they finally took it back to work on. I also had the check engine light on & shuddering immediately when picking it up from service.I was told there was nothing more they could do and they refused to put why I brought it in for in the work orders each time I brought it in.Nov 7-Dec 5 2017, they had the car for an entire month.service told the Ford facilitator & me that there was nothing wrong with the car no shuddering, no sounds. After almost an entire month they suddenly decided the car needed a full brake job which did nothing for the shuddering/stalling.they also let the battery die.Ford Motor Company refused buybacks because the work orders did not say why it was brought in. I told them I would have an accident. I was trying to leave my driveway. The car stalled and the front of my car was slammed into by an SUV.
- San Carlos, CA, USA
While driving at 55 mph the transmission disengaged and the vehicle quickly lost power. The car acted like the transmission was shifted into neutral since the engine revved up to high RPM but the gear selector was still showing in D. after pulling off to shoulder and stopping and shifting to park, I was able to shift back to drive and operate the vehicle. This is something that has happened several times before and is an intermittent problem. I have taken the car back to the Ford dealer who has analyzed the obd and found no codes to indicate a problem. The dealer has told me that there are problems with the transmissions and clutches and tcms on these cars. The tcm was replaced already under a recall yet I am still having problems. This is a safety hazard as I do not know when the car will stop moving next. Ford's regional manager refuses to admit that there is a problem and keeps referring me back to the dealer.
- Monroe, GA, USA
The NHTSA is non compliant with standards that they have set. From 2012-2015 Ford focuses have been manufactured/sold/leased that are unsafe for public use. The safety defect is with the power train of the vehicle; the transmission fails while being operated and ian liable to cause an accident. This has happened to myself while driving and the NHTSA has ignored the issue. This safety defect meets the standards of what is required for a vehicle to be investigated with intent to recall. The secretary of transportation is not being held to her responsibility to investigate safety defects that have potential of death/injury. I request an investigation into my vehicle specifically which is a 2015 Ford Focus. I have done everything the manufacturer asks as far as regular maintenance, new tires when necessary, regular servicing, replacing all parts and equipment advised my the service department of my vehicles manufacturer (Ford Motor Company). The vehicle hasn't nearly killed me 3 times and is unsafe. When will the NHTSA honor their legal requirements to take action on known safety issues?
- Hastings, FL, USA
I stopped at a stop sign, accelerated to cross the highway and the car rolled forward into traffic then the car acted as if it was in neutral and the rpms went way up but the car wouldn't go forward. Luckily reverse worked or I would have been hit by a car being as I was stranded in the middle of US1 South. I had to reverse the car out of the road and onto the shoulder until a tow truck came. Ford has replaced the clutch three times claiming this was the issue but my car remains unsafe. They also had my baby buy a new battery knowing that the issue was with the transmission.
- Hastings, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle jerked and hesitated to accelerate. After a few minutes, the vehicle would operate normally. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to al packer's white marsh Ford (9801 pulaski highway, middle river, md 21220 (443) 777-5000) where it was diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred three times. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired due to the diagnostic and repair fees. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty. No further assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 76,706.
- Bel Air, MD, USA
- El Paso, TX, USA