Ford Focus Complaints

22,326 consumer complaints on file.

#11658960May 5, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating, and there was white smoke coming from the exhaust, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders, causing damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 141,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658974May 5, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine and oil warning lights were displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the following day, the contact's wife drove the vehicle to the dealer, and there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. A diagnostic test was performed,d which determined that the oil pump drive belt had failed, resulting in engine failure. The contact was later notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the contact's vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure, but was given the same information as the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11659095May 5, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle lost automotive power and shuddered abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the there was an unknown part in the fuel tank that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658379May 2, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658512May 2, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly jolted and hesitated before returning to normal functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the clutch motor. The vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V479000 (Power Train); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 134,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658558May 2, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 109,420.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658562May 2, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I originally purchased this car in June of 2022. Less than a week after I purchased it, the issues started. My check engine light came on and my vehicle revved high, but did not accelerate. When it did this, it made a mechanical humming/grinding noise. It did this for a few short trips, then the issue seemingly resolved itself...the check engine light never turned off. I got the following codes from my reader: P0420, P2782, and P07A3. This vehicle had multiple recalls regarding the TCM malfunctioning. I tried multiple times to have Ford do the repairs as stated in the recalls. They have refused every single time. I was told that the warranty did not apply to my vehicle, then that the parts were on a major backorder, and that I should leave my car with them for an undisclosed period of time. This is not feasible, as I have 2 jobs and a child. Within the last few months, my transmission has started doing the same thing as well as overheating. I am going through coolant much faster than I should. As the issue gets worse, Ford has been of no assistance. Despite my efforts to have the recall work done as legally required, I have been turned away and am now past the 10 year/150k mile replacement warranty. I had brought it in before it ever reached that point. I am terrified to take my child to school or make it to work. My vehicle stalled on the interstate last night and I almost lost my life. There isn't really a trigger, as it acts up like this at random. Some days I drive it with no issues at all. Others, it takes me nearly an hour to get home on an otherwise 18 minute commute.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658591May 2, 2025
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2018 Ford Focus (DPS6 dual-clutch automatic transmission) suffers from severe hesitation and shuddering when accelerating from a stop, especially under 10 mph. More concerning, the car has stalled multiple times while merging into traffic and during right turns at intersections. We can no longer safely take free right turns due to the risk of the car dying mid-merge. This poses an immediate safety hazard and mirrors known failure patterns in earlier Focus and Fiesta models. Ford previously extended warranty coverage for the same TCM defect in 2011–2016 models, but my 2018 — which uses the same DPS6 system — has been excluded without explanation. The dealership acknowledged the TCM failure but refused to cover the repair. Instead, they charged me $300 to tell me they would not perform the service Ford originally recommended (a fuel injector purge) and that I now need to replace the TCM entirely. This is a known, documented issue that Ford has admitted to in other years. My car has lost power four times in the last three months, and all signs point to this being the early stages of the same defect. Allowing this failure to persist without coverage or recall is negligent and dangerous. Ford is knowingly placing families like mine at risk by refusing to act. I request an NHTSA investigation into the 2018 Ford Focus DPS6 models, which are experiencing the same failures that have already led to recalls, lawsuits, and warranty extensions in earlier years.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658157May 1, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the RPM fluctuated while shifting gears, and the transmission shifted erratically. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechani,c where a handheld diagnostic tool retrieved DTC: P07A3. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658262May 1, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle jerked until shifting into gear. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was advised that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657890April 30, 2025
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and then was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed that the timing belt had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657906April 30, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module and canister purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,595.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657446April 29, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TCM needs replaced. Car does not have reverse, stalls and overheating.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657556April 29, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The transmission (powertrain) on my 2016 Ford Focus SE (VIN: [XXX] ) has had persistent issues since shortly after I purchased the car in April 2022. It has not completely failed yet, but the symptoms — including shuddering, slipping, jerking, and hesitation when accelerating or shifting — have worsened over time. It uses a dual-clutch transmission with no dipstick, making it difficult to properly monitor or service. The vehicle is in my possession and available for inspection upon request. Due to the unpredictable and unsafe driving behavior, I have stopped driving the vehicle altogether and have not driven it in over a month. The car hesitates when shifting, especially at stop signs or when merging into traffic, creating serious safety concerns for myself and others. The issue has been reproduced multiple times and addressed at the CarMax dealership in Tinley Park, IL, where I bought the car. However, their repairs were only temporary, and the problem returned. Because the car is now outside of their warranty period, they refuse to inspect it without charging a diagnostic fee. I also contacted Ford Customer Service, but was told that since there is no current recall, I would need to pay out of pocket and that no assistance could be offered. There were no warning lights or messages at the start of the issue, which began within 60–90 days of ownership. The transmission symptoms have been present ever since, and have progressively worsened. This is clearly part of a wider transmission issue with the 2016 Focus, as supported by numerous consumer complaints and lawsuits. I urge NHTSA to investigate and take appropriate action, including consideration of a recall. 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
#11657582April 29, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
My oil pressure pump and tensioner are the issues . I need a new engine replacement. Everything that 23s64 ford describes on there engine replacement claims is what the issue im going through now with my 1.0 ford focus 2015 . I took it to ford to get it diagnosed already and they are the ones that told me and as well got a second opinion through repairpal and they said the same. I have everything documented. Due to this issue I almost lost my life and my child's while driving my ford focus. Lost all pressure while driving with her in the car. Now she's nervous and scared when we get in any car . Due to she saw the car coming rite into her side on passenger side. No warning lights came on till after the issue had already happened . My brake pedal won't go down . Please help me this is my only form of transportation to work and to pick up my daughter. I dont have money to buy a new engine. Thank you so much for any assistance with this issue. This car has been nothing but problems. When my car was first bought from carmax it started having issues 6 months down the line. Under warranty.at the time carmax didn't want to help me and ford dealership didn't assist me with any help. Under warranty keep in mind . Then it's been issue after issue . I have receipts for everything . Thank you
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657624April 29, 2025
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); and the vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the recall repair was performed. The contact was concerned that the dealer had not properly completed the recall repair. The contact stated that the recall remedy was incomplete, and that the powertrain control module (PCM) should have been updated, and the evaporative emissions canister purge valves and the evaporative emission canister should have been replaced; however, the dealer had not performed the additional repairs. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed that no additional repairs were available because the recall repair had been deemed completed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657329April 28, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The vehicle shutters and fails to engage while taking off from a stop. The transmission feels like the clutch slips (Automatic transmission). This 2016 Ford Focus is having the exact same issues as mentioned in the Ford customer satisfaction program 14M02 -Supplement #7. In this memo Ford outlines that 2012-2016 Ford Focus models with the DPS6 automatic transmission built between August 1st 2010 - November 5th 2015 in Michigan can get repairs made. I contacted Ford and they are saying they will not honor repairing the vehicle since it isn't showing the recall attached to it specifically even though they acknowledge the issues exist in my vehicle. On the 14M02 recall supplemental #7 the Fords with that transmission have received additional extended warranties to 10yrs 150,000 miles. My car has 132,000 miles and is 9 years old. I had this same issue fixed prior while the vehicle was still under the original factory warranty. I need assistance since Ford is failing to make the appropriate repairs to a vehicle they have acknowledged has problems from a bad designed transmission. These 2012-2016 cars are LEMONS!! PLEASE HELP!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657337April 28, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and failed to shift properly with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11656908April 25, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Transmission unexpected stalling and acceleration while driving. Yes Ford dealer located on 9371 Roosevelt blvd Phila PA 19114 they refused to fix the issues stating that the TCM 14302 warranty expired although it has been extended to June 30Th 2025.as well an an independent dealer who has fixed the clutch and transmission but I am still having transmission issues and warning lamp “service transmission now” and vehicle is still experiencing sudden stalling shuddering and is unsafe to drive. I purchased the vehicle Feb 2024 I started experiencing issues the end of December 2024 I took my vehicle to Ford Jan 9th and Fixed the Vehicle through and independent shop on 04/14/2025 and after replacing clutch and transmission I am still experiencing transmission issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11656724April 25, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into second gear while driving. The contact stated there was an abnormal grinding sound while turning the steering wheel. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10-50 MPH, the vehicle began to slow down and kick back. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission control module, purge valve, and power control module failure, and a software reprogramming was needed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, who replaced the transmission. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the clutch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 15,060.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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