Ford Focus Complaints

22,326 consumer complaints on file.

#11705357December 16, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Vehicle experienced a highway-speed overheat and automatic engine shutdown. Inspection revealed antifreeze intrusion into the under-hood engine fuse box, causing widespread fuse degradation and electrical failure. This occurred following recall-related service. Vehicle lost power and is unsafe to operate due to electrical contamination and fire risk. Manufacturer and dealer have been unresponsive.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704965December 14, 2025
STEERING
My power steering just suddenly stopped working
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704708December 12, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2017 Ford Focus is grounded due to the oil pump safety recall involving loss of oil pressure and engine stall. Ford is refusing to provide alternate transportation unless I pay out of pocket. As a result, I am unable to work and have no safe transportation while Ford repairs a known safety defect. I have already missed an entire week of work due to their negligence, and they are unwilling to help.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704553December 11, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the transmission downshifted between first and third gear. An abnormal sound could be heard coming from the transmission. After driving a short distance, the vehicle functioned as intended. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH on a separate occasion, the transmission downshifted between third and fourth gear, and the vehicle went into limp mode. In addition, an abnormal sound could be heard coming from the transmission, and the vehicle jerked. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle most recently, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone for a diagnostic test, and the contact was informed that the failure may be related to the transmission clutch. Additionally, the contact stated that the fan had turned on independently, and had failed to turn on while driving on other occasions, causing the vehicle to overheat. The vehicle was taken to a collision center, where the contact was informed that the transmission was failing. The cooling system was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that an unknown sensor had failed, and the sensor was replaced. The contact stated that the transmission failure was worsening. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704157December 10, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I was getting ready to leave the grocery store and I crank up my car and I had a light come on stating that my car was overheating transmission turn off the car and as I tried to pull out of the parking lot, the car would barely accelerate it would barely go to mountain and it was stuttering up the heels I had to turn off the vehicle. Let it sit for five minutes to let it cool off and then I had to crank the car back up and then it started to drive again, but I did get a indication on my front dash stating that it was transmission
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11703609December 8, 2025
POWER TRAIN
2015 Ford Focus with DPS6 automatic transmission failure. 109,### miles only. Symptoms: No reverse gear, severe clutch slip (high RPM but car barely moves), strong burnt clutch smell, check engine light on. DTC codes: P07A3, P07A5, P087A, P087B, P090C. Ford dealer (Camelback Ford, Phoenix AZ) diagnosed the issue but quoted $3,175 just for labor to open the transmission for inspection, refusing any goodwill assistance after 14M02 program expired in August 2025, despite low mileage and known widespread DPS6 problems covered by TSB 16-0129. Note : "November 20, 2025 – Date I purchased the vehicle. The transmission problem (no reverse, clutch slip, burnt smell) was present immediately upon purchase." Requesting NHTSA investigate Ford's refusal to offer reasonable post-warranty assistance for this well-documented safety-related transmission defect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11703561December 7, 2025
ENGINE
After recall Campaign 23S64 and the engine being replaced with G1FG-6006-DA and traceability Code [XXX] . Incident Description On Saturday [XXX], while driving on the freeway, my vehicle began sputtering and lost power. The RPMs increased but the speed did not. The check engine light illuminated briefly and then went out. This created an Immediate serious safety hazard to me my passenger and other drivers on the road as I was unable to maintain speed in traffic and had to leave the freeway Immediately. Diagnostic Findings •Initial AutoZone OBD-II scan revealed P0302 (Cylinder 2 Misfire). •Dealer’s own diagnostic later reported P0301 (Cylinder 1 Misfire), with carbon tracking on all spark plugs and ignition coil boots. •Dealer noted the locking tab on Cylinder 3 ignition coil connector was broken, requiring a new pigtail. •Dealer also identified a broken front motor mount, but is attempting to charge me for replacement despite the fact that the mount must be removed and reinstalled during an engine swap. 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
#11703452December 6, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
Here’s an overview of the transmission issues with the 2014 Ford Focus — and how many owners feel Ford Motor Company has repeatedly failed to properly fix them. 🔧 What’s wrong with the transmission The 2014 Focus (and many models 2012–2016) came with a dual-clutch automatic transmission system (PowerShift transmission). That system used “dry” clutches — rather than a traditional, fluid-cooled torque-converter — which turned out to be a flawed design in real-world use. Dry clutches tend to overheat, wear out prematurely, slip, and fail, especially under common driving conditions. [XXX] +2 [XXX] +2 As a result, owners of 2014 Focus vehicles reported a long list of recurring symptoms: rough or jerky shifting, shuddering when accelerating from a stop, slipping gears, delayed or harsh gear changes, grinding or clunking noises, hesitation before accelerating (especially dangerous when merging or pulling out), and in some cases failure to shift properly or unexpected behavior like popping out of gear. [XXX] + [XXX] m + [XXX] m +3 For many drivers, these issues didn’t appear once — but kept happening repeatedly. In some cases, transmission control modules (TCMs) were replaced; in others, clutch/seal assemblies were replaced. Yet—even after repairs—the problems often resurfaced. Ford Transmission Settlement +2 CarComplaints +2 Some complaints describe serious safety and reliability concerns: jerky or unpredictable acceleration or deceleration, failure to downshift when braking (in one complaint the car “lurch[ed] forward into intersections at red lights”), slipping unexpectedly — all of which pose danger to drivers, passengers, and others. [XXX] +2 ⚠️ Why many owners and lawsuits say there was a systemic defect According to class-action complaints, the problem isn’t just “bad luck” — it stems from fundamental design, manufacturing, and programming flaws in the PowerShift transmission. The dry- 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
#11703225December 5, 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 not yet available. The local dealer was contacted several times and informed the contact that the recall repair part had been ordered. 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 contact had not experienced a failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702176December 1, 2025
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702306December 1, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owned a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. While the contact was about to pull over to the side of the road, the vehicle functioned normally. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact called the dealer; however, the contact was advised that there was a waiting list. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while starting the vehicle, the message "Engine Pressurized - Stop Immediately" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the radiator hose had detached. The vehicle was not repaired and was pending an inspection of the engine. The contact stated that the recall repair was still pending. The dealer failed to provide an appointment for the recall repair. The contact was informed that there were several warning lights illuminated; however, the contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The contact was the second owner of the vehicle and stated that the original owner experienced the same loss of power with the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701564November 25, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the temperature gauge was moving into the HOT zone and the speedometer displayed that the vehicle was decelerating. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer several times, and on several trips to the dealer, the vehicle had to be towed. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and advised the contact that the vehicle had been repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently taken to the same dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the failure recurred after the recall repair. Additionally, the contact stated that the engine compartment of the vehicle was significantly hot after driving a short distance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701399November 25, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Transmission overheating and internal wear (metal particles in fluid) following electrical/TCM malfunction in Ford Focus DPS6. Transmission failure recurred after earlier repair under 14M02. Current failure includes overheating messages, shudder, and loss of safe drivability. Ford acknowledges issue relates to known PowerShift defect but refuses coverage. Vehicle unsafe.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11700711November 21, 2025
SUSPENSION
My car has a faulty transmission from factory, having some issues now for some months, Ford advised to change the transmission at 103K miles. My car start becoming very shaky and slow on hills, I was afraid i will remain with in the middle of the street!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11700824November 21, 2025
POWER TRAIN, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the rear driver’s side door failed to open as intended. The contact used force to attempt to open the door and failed. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, she was informed that the vehicle had an open recall related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). When the contact retrieved the vehicle, the contact was informed that the recall had been repaired; however, there was no proof that the vehicle was under recall or that the recall repair was performed. The contact stated that several weeks later, mold was found in the driver’s seat and on the driver’s side seat belt. The contact stated that after a snowstorm, the moonroof was misty, and there was a water ring found above the interior roof. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, after starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal hissing sound coming from the vehicle underneath the driver’s side of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the post office. After returning to the vehicle and starting the vehicle, the abnormal hissing sound persisted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to Manufacturer Recall Number: 18S32. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and would not confirm if the VIN was or was not under recall. The failure mileage was 129,354.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11700041November 18, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Our 2013 ford focus has had the shudder clutch replaced 3 times in 4 years. We paid $2500 for them to replace the clutch, forks, and adjust the tcm module. Within a year it went again. They replaced under our warranty from the first fix. Then a year later, it went again, warranty was out but ford sent a letter to replace for free. They did.. and now it’s broke again. It shudders and jerks so bad. My college daughter takes it to and from school and relies on it. I don’t understand how Ford gets away with this as it is an ongoing issue with this year make and model vehicle. It’s dangerous, will stall… and jerk. They charge to fix and all it is a bandaid for an ongoing inevitable failure again. On top of that all the electrical to the radio, speakers and such went as well. The vehicle has less than 98k miles on it. It is well taken care of. This transmission issue is Fords negligence. It’s dangerous, deadly; and I cannot believe they continue to charge for an issue they know about.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11699754November 17, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The contact's son owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her son was driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the mechanic could not diagnose the failure because there were no active warning lights illuminated. The contact's son had received a message from the Ford App that there was a Customer Satisfaction Program for the TCM (Transmission Control Module). The failure persisted, and the dealer was notified of the program, and the contact was informed that the Customer Satisfaction Program had expired. The contact was referred to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer informed the contact that there was a warranty on the vehicle for the purge valve. The contact was instructed by the manufacturer to inform the dealer to have the purge valve replaced under the warranty. The contact informed the dealer about the purge valve warranty, and the dealer informed the contact that the failure was not related to the purge valve and insisted that the failure was related to the TCM. After several disputes between the dealer and the manufacturer about the issue, the contact was informed that no assistance for the repair would be provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11699842November 17, 2025
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, the RPM decreased, and the vehicle turned off independently. While attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the fuel line and fuel system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V515000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 178,391.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11699855November 17, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift into gear properly. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while at a stop, the vehicle shimmied while attempting to shift into gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the failure was related to the transmission and the contact was referred to the dealer for further assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the independent mechanic. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11699536November 15, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Bought this car last June of this year and ever since then. First gear will buck sometime and second gear too. After I gotten to thrird gear it goes away. My local Tires Plus says that's with all Ford focus'es he think I'm crazy but I have let a friend drive it when I there and he says the same thing as me. It bucks..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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