Ford Focus Complaints
22,326 consumer complaints on file.
- #11478172August 8, 2022UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When Ford looked at my car during a recall for the locks I informed them of some problems I noted and they informed me that there were several reports with Ford Focus's concerning the Clutch and The Transmission control module. They said there were no known recalls regarding it. However my car once the RPM hits below a certain point like going to a stop light or going speeds below 35 the car starts to either drag when I accelerate or outright refuse to accelerate. This has happened on several frightening occasions on my way to and from work and almost caused an accident because of the drag. There were no lights or indications that there is a problem with the car.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11478235August 8, 2022VISIBILITY/WIPER
My windshield wipers are malfunctioning causing no visibility and battery to die. They will not turn off even after car in turned off and keys are no longer in emmision
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11478242August 8, 2022UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Body control module is bad. Car stalls in the middle of driving and doesn’t start back up for days
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11478265August 8, 2022FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
One day when I went to go fill my 2014 Ford Focus up, my car started and stalled randomly. I could not get my car to turn back on. After a few tries, it finally came on. This issue would go on for two weeks every time I filled up my car. If my car only gets $10 in it, its fine though. only happens when I fill it up. Then my car gas gauge started acting funny and will fluctuate between empty and full while driving. I can't tell how much gas I have in my vehicle. Then my husband, who so happens to be a mechanic, took a look and noticed my fuel tank is now caved in and is deformed. There is a problem with my CPV which has now affected my fuel tank. Upon further investigation, I did see where there was a recall about the power train quite a few years ago and then not long after, another recall about the CPV failing and causing stalling, not accurate gas gauges, and deformed gas tanks. I called my local Ford dealership about this. When I typed in my VIN the only active recall was the door latch system. Which means it was either fixed in the past or for some reason my vehicle wasn't recalled when it should have been. My ford dealership said there was no current or past recalls on my specific vin and were refusing to fix my car. I feel like it is unfair my car was affected by a recall but I can't get it fixed just because my vin says my car wasn't affected. It definitely was. I am a poor college student just trying to make a life of myself. I will soon have no car, unless my husband finds a way to fix it without spending an arm and a leg. Thanks for listening and please help me. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11478047August 7, 2022ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I financed a 2017 Ford Focus se 6 speed manual in March of 2020 (it’s now aug 2022), and about a month ago I was driving a main hwy when I needed to downshift due to traffic. I go to put it in 3rd and instead it slips into 1st. (It’s not suppose to allow you to do that, states in the owners manual bc it’s a safety feature). Meanwhile it is stuck in 1st, redlining, as I’m in the middle of a busy highway unable to do anything. I had to push the car off the road in order to not get hit by oncoming cars. Called Ford, called the dealership, found out there’s a recall on the engine and the transmission but neither of them would Honor the recall. Attorney’s won’t do a thing about it, and now I’m stuck paying $8k on a car I can no longer drive. I promise this is the last time I’ll EVER own a ford.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477700August 5, 2022POWER TRAIN
I was driving 65mph on CA highway 880 in the left carpool lane. Suddenly my transmission slipped and my car ended up in neutral. I was forced to park in whatever space there was between the concrete barrier and the carpool lane. After the car stopped, the transmission would not re-engage for another 3 minutes or so. After that it re-engaged and I was able to drive back home. My understanding this is one of the issues that can be expected with a Ford DPS6 transmission. COMPLETELY UNSAFE. I had two young children in the car.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477713August 5, 2022FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle and driving 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving; however, the contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring after refueling. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that fuel tank vacuum system had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that her vehicle could not be repaired under an unknown recall as the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477742August 5, 2022WHEELS
Ford owners have been plagued with the issue of poorly designed lug nuts that expand with age. My service center just informed me that most or all of my lug nuts need to be replaced, so I have authorized that to complete the service. I have read that the problem is caused partly because of improper tightening. When I purchased my Ford in 2018(a one year leftover) the Ford dealer had to resurface the rotors twice because of pulsation. I've since had oil changes done at another Ford dealer that supposedly included tire rotation, so it seems that Ford could be at fault for bad lug nuts and reinstalling them as well. I think that a recall is justified. What is odd is that this issue has been around for quite some time, but they are still selling the same part. How is that?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477746August 5, 2022POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated; the contact pulled over and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle operated normally. The contact stated that the failure continued and the vehicle would not accelerate as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle also shifted to neutral(N) independently. The contact was able to pull over safely. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the transmission was defective. The contact was referred to the local dealer for assistance. The dealer was contacted and they stated that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 70,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477787August 5, 2022POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:CLUTCHES/BANDS:ACTUATORS/SOLENOIDS
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was not responding. The contact stated that occasionally while in the drive(D) or reverse(R), the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact and employee pushed the vehicle to the local mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed a failure with the transmission and clutch actuator circuit. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with the clutch actuator circuit and transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477804August 5, 2022POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle felt as if it had shifted to a lower gear and then to neutral. The contact stated that she depressed the accelerator pedal and the engine revved; however, the vehicle did not respond. The contact stated that the vehicle would slip back into gear independently. Additionally, the contact stated that when placing the vehicle in reverse, the vehicle would stall causing her to have to shift the vehicle into park and restart the vehicle. The vehicle would drive normally after a restart. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure became recurring and eventually the vehicle would not start. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who diagnosed that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the part was on backorder and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477819August 5, 2022FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while stopped, the vehicle lost motive power; however, the windshield wipers were still activated. The contact replaced the battery and the vehicle restarted, but the vehicle would not accelerate as needed. The vehicle was towed. The contact stated that the failure was similar to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V515000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The dealer diagnosed the vehicle in past under the recall and stated that the vehicle was not affected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 142,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477845August 5, 2022FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle occasionally was unable to restart right after refueling. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477859August 5, 2022POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:CLUTCHES/BANDS:ACTUATORS/SOLENOIDS
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the transmission warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over and waited until the vehicle cooled down. The contact stated that when she restarted the vehicle, the vehicle would not accelerate as needed. The contact stated that after several minutes, the vehicle started to operate as designed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that they could not assist because the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was 106,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477558August 4, 2022POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated while shifting to the intended gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission clutch plate needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477570August 4, 2022FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Car will not start after I get gas. When it does start, it "jumps"
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477583August 4, 2022POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after he shifted the gear shifter to Park(P), the vehicle lunged and rolled backward as he was exiting the vehicle. The contact's right leg was stuck inside of the vehicle, causing him to fall to the ground while the driver's side front tire ran over his right arm. A bystander jumped into the vehicle and was able to park vehicle. The contact later received medical attention for injuries to his legs, right arm, and back, and was diagnosed with a blood infection. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred while the contact was parking the vehicle and he applied the parking brake to stop the vehicle from rolling. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477689August 4, 2022ENGINE
On 07/13/22, I was driving my 2018 Focus from a stop light, when I noticed that it was not accelerating properly. I looked down and both the check engine and oil pressure light had come on. I immediately pulled over and called my mechanic, to whom I drove it to (approx 3 miles) after being instructed to check the oil levels, which there was plenty of. Upon my mechanic inspecting the vehicle, he informed me that he believed the oil pump belt had snapped, but he didn't feel comfortable working on it because it is in the engine. I contacted the dealership and had it towed there. A few days later they confirmed that it was a snapped oil pump belt, and I would need an engine replacement. Further research has shown that this is a fairly widespread problem with Ford Focuses and other vehicles with the EcoBoost 1.0L engine. Others have expressed that their engines have flat out seized in the middle of driving. There were at least 2 TSB's issued regarding this specific engine problem as well. It should also be noted that per Ford's own service recommendations, this part should not need servicing until 150k miles. I believe it is fairly obvious to see how this could pose a significant safety risk and that the manufacturer is far past the point of addressing this.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477272August 3, 2022POWER TRAIN
I recently purchased the vehicle second-hand with 57,000 miles on it. Six weeks later, while driving the engine light came on and the car would not accelerate properly- it hesitated severely and would not shift itself into higher gears. The local Ford dealer diagnosed the problem as a Transmission Control Module failure and informed me this is a known manufacturer defect covered by warranty. However, the part is back ordered 18+months. A car with a safety defect identified by the NHTSA, litigated in court, and unable to be repaired due to unavailability of parts should not be allowed to be sold. The Ford Customer Satisfaction Program provided no assistance to resolve the problem. The car is un-driveable and repairs cannot be made because the part is back ordered. The 2014 Ford Focus is a dangerous car that should not be bought, sold, or driven.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477335August 3, 2022VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
-Loss of power from the pedal, not able to accelerate from a stop. RPM rides high until it shifts. "Transmission Malfunction. Service Now" notice. -Unaffected by other traffic but not able to properly maneuver traffic. -Problem has re-occurred but not taken to a service center. -No inspection conducted yet. - No warning lamps appeared until issue occurred a few times.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0