Ford Focus Complaints (2017)

907 consumer complaints on file.

#11744707June 17, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that occasionally while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power and hesitated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. An unknown warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact used an OBD-2 scanner and retrieved DTC: P00C6. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the VIN was not under recall. Upon further investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V515000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recalls. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740996May 30, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The vehicle experienced a sudden and total loss of transmission engagement and motive power while driving at highway speeds due to a Transmission Control Module (TCM) failure. The vehicle unexpectedly dropped out of gear into a 'no-power' state, creating an immediate traffic hazard and nearly causing a rear-end collision. The vehicle is hardly functioning at any speed, drops all power then jerks into a higher gear. The vehicle is cutting off in traffic and cannot be started unless a transmission reset is done. The vehicle has lost all reverse causing hazards if reverse is needed. The nearest auto parts diagnosed a failed TCM and clutch but dealership and Ford refuses to replace it because Ford excluded 2017 models from "Customer Satisfaction Program 14M02", despite using the identical defective transmission hardware as the recalled 2012-2016 models.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738807May 19, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The symptoms are shuddering (driving and turning corners), delayed acceleration and bouncing from a stop. This has been recalled and the clutch will never stop performing this way. This is the 3rd time I have had an issue. Researching this online, I have found that it is a federal law that it must be fixed free of charge. Dealership has refused to work with me. WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731612April 16, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The block heater on this car is leaking. The recall 26V011 does not apply to this VIN, even though it falls under the year, make, model category. How can I get my vehicle to have the recall done when it shows that it is not affected, even though it is clearly leaking.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729480April 6, 2026
ENGINE
engine failure - coolant entering engine cylinder #2, Internal engine failure. Car was stalled loss of power on highway and almost killed. Towed to nearest mechanic shop. Need to disassemble and confirm failure point. Ford law suits for coolant internal engine damage and failure. This is a known defect with Ford Ecoboost engines. Including coolant/antifreeze entering the engine. Also, the coolant intrusion into cylinders. Requesting good will assistance as unable to use car for over 2 months. Ford headquarters is acting like they know nothing about this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728958April 3, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
●Unknown- transmition seem to slip or acted like stalling or about to die. Would jerk forward and shutter till finally would not start after being turned off. So had it towed because would not start again. ●myself and others in my 2017 Ford Focus titanium edition were traveling over a bridge at the time of the incident and very well have stalled out or quit running in the middle of traffic on a bridge causing a collision or worse loss of life ●No- no service center has addressed the issue not due to me not trying but merely, nothing's been done from where I've taken it to ●No- at the moment that is not required as of yet. ●Yes- the forward jerking and shuttering started a couple of years every now and then, until it turned into such a severe situation. ●No - no signs signals lights or anything on the dash showed any kind of sign of anything wrong with the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724970March 17, 2026
ENGINE
Ford refuses to respond to emails nor return calls...... Cracked cylinder head caused from a known issue Ford failed to recall. The 2.0L Ecoboost uses an aluminum cylinder head with relatively thin casting areas between the combustion chamber and coolant passages. Coolant passages run very close to the exhaust valve seats. The turbocharged exhaust temperatures are EXTREMELY high. Thin aluminum sections are repeatedly exposed to rapid heating and cooling cycles. Over time this creates micro-fractures int he heat casting, which eventually grow into a crack between the combustion chamber and coolant jacket. This defect tends to occur between 60k - 100k miles. Safety: Car was smoking so bad that it could have caught fire. The car has been inspected by a Ford dealership and declared this to be the problem. The fix is a new engine that costs $12k. There were no warning lamps or symptoms prior to the failure. Car is still deemed inoperable as Ford refuses to help with the fix.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724135March 13, 2026
ENGINE
The engine oil light came on during late September or early October of 2024 while on the highway. There was a severe loss of power. I was able to get the car back to my residence and changed the oil filter and oil. The error persisted, I then changed the oil pressure switch to see if that was the issue, but it did not resolve. In approximately December of 2024, a friend who is a mechanic and has thousands of hours of experience offered to look at the issue. He pulled the engine and found that the oil pump belt and timing belt were severely degraded and had clogged the oil screen. He replaced the two belts and cleaned the screen hoping it would resolve the issue. In approximately late may or early June 2025 I got the car back and by the beginning of August the engine had seized due to damage received when the oil pressure had failed due to a clogged screen back in 2024. Thankfully I was not on the highway when the engine seized.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723467March 11, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
Recall maintenance with regard to NHTSA ID Number: 19V515000 for a Purge Valve was completed 1/9/2025. Starting in October 12, 2025, driving on the freeway, a large "bang" was felt/heard. I pulled over, the dust cover under the car had ripped partially off and took a portion of my grill trim with it. The car still ran perfectly fine, so I continued the mile and a half to my house. I did not see anything that I may have hit on the highway and did not see anything eject behind my car when this incident happened. I noticed the oil light begin to flicker as I was ½ mile from home for maybe a second, then it was off and then flickered again, it did not stay lit. I filed a claim with my insurance-Progressive-they wanted to total my car without inspecting it. I negotiated and they had me take it to The Ford dealer who inspected it visually to see if the cause was internal combustion as my insurance claimed, or external damage. See photos. They recommended a full engine replacement after only a visual inspection and charged me $276.70. I had the oil-pan replaced as shown on my bank statement $1053.77, with Interstate Automotive who verified no engine damage was found. Next the LCD instrument panel showed distorted, or not at all, or perfectly fine at times, which made it hard to read, and no instrument warnings are given for any issue, just the check engine light. As of today, 3/10/26, car will no longer reverse or progress into 2nd gear, is sluggish and feels as though it has no power at all. This happened randomly on 3/9/26 after the car would not start and it was believed to be a battery issue. The battery was replaced 3/9/26 $148.08. When the diagnostic codes for the check engine light were tested, they showed a faulty CO2 module issue. New parts will be installed on 3/11/26. All of the above described issues seem as though they could be related to a major safety issue with this vehicle, but Ford insists any courtesy fixes are not available to my VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11721084February 27, 2026
POWER TRAIN
While driving on the highway, (I-40) my dash lit up with "transmission fault stop car" The it shudders, bounced in and out of gear to finally completely stopped. Although I wasn't killed, my life was in danger. I believe the 2017 dual clutch transmission is faulty and should be added to the 2016 recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720326February 25, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Driving down the road the car shimmed a couple times I parked it turned it off when I went to turn it back on. It wouldn’t turn over when I finally got it to turn on. It wouldn’t go on reverse sometimes it’ll start sometimes it won’t sometimes it’ll go in reverse and sometimes it won’t.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720467February 25, 2026
ENGINE
My vehicles engine died in traffic and left me stranded in the middle of a busy road. Upon a mechanics review the issue is a siezed engine because of the oil pump pickup tube clogged with pieces of the oil pump or timing chain pulleys that had broken off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717224February 11, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am reporting a safety-related defect in my 2017 Ford Focus equipped with the PowerShift dual-clutch (DPS6) transmission. The vehicle has experienced ongoing transmission and clutch-related issues, including shuddering, jerking, hesitation from a stop, delayed engagement, and unpredictable acceleration behavior. These issues are most noticeable in low-speed driving, stop-and-go traffic, and when accelerating from a complete stop. The clutch has previously required replacement/repair, yet the same drivability problems persist. The vehicle continues to jerk and hesitate in a way that makes it unsafe to enter intersections, merge into traffic, or drive in congested conditions. I have been informed that further repairs are not cost-effective and that the transmission/clutch issues are likely to continue despite repair attempts. Being advised that the vehicle is “not worth repairing” due to this known transmission design is concerning and suggests a systemic defect rather than normal wear. I am aware that Ford has faced widespread complaints, investigations, and class-action litigation related to similar PowerShift dual-clutch transmission failures in earlier model years. Although my 2017 model year was excluded from the settlement, the symptoms and behavior of my vehicle are consistent with the same known defect pattern. The condition appears to be worsening over time and presents a clear safety risk due to hesitation, sudden engagement, and loss of driver control during normal driving situations.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11716101February 6, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My 2017 Ford Focus transmission failed at 113,000 miles. I was stranded in the middle of nowhere with a flashing warning light and no cell signal.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713453January 26, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
UNKOWN my rpms rev up randomly I can’t shut my car off when I get gas and makes a raving up sound I can’t reverse
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713003January 23, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I am reporting a dealership conduct issue that directly affected vehicle safety and caused financial loss. Valley Ford of Columbus, Ohio told me by phone that a specific safety-related part for my vehicle was in stock and available. Based on that representation, I traveled to the dealership and took time away from work. When I arrived, I was told the part was not available and had not been there. Shortly after this, I went out of town. During that time, Valley Ford stated they were unable to reach me. After returning, I again contacted Valley Ford and was once more told that the same safety-related part was available. I again traveled to the dealership, taking additional time off work, and once again was told upon arrival that the part was not available. This resulted in the same situation happening twice. Because of this repeated misinformation, I lost wages and hard-earned paid time off (PTO), was delayed in repairing my vehicle, and had to continue driving while waiting for a safety-related component I was told was available. I use my vehicle for work every day for approximately eight hours per day. Being forced to continue operating my vehicle without this safety-related repair places myself and other motorists at risk. After these incidents, I contacted Germain Ford of Columbus, Ohio in an effort to resolve the issue. I was informed that the same safety-related part could take up to eight weeks to become available. This extended delay has further prolonged my inability to complete necessary safety-related repairs and has continued to place me in a potentially unsafe driving situation. I believe this repeated misinformation and prolonged unavailability of a safety-related vehicle component is dangerous and unacceptable. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA is aware of the actions of Valley Ford of Columbus, Ohio and the ongoing delay reported by Germain Ford of Columbus, Ohio.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711402January 16, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I have 2017 Ford Focus that is experiencing transmission issues related to the DPS6 Powershift transmission and TCM recall but my VIN number is [XXX] was not included. I am experiencing issues with the car shifting into 1st and 2nd gears, it will revv up at a stop but not accelerate immediately. I have been to a mechanic multiple times and had the lower actuator replaced, new radiator fan installed, clutches scrubbed, and TCM reprogrammed. Multiple mechanics have recommended replacing the transmission as a solution. I called my local ford dealership who denied to service my vehicle under any recall or warranty, I spoke with a manufacturer representative who also told me that Ford is unwilling to do anything for my vehicle. 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
#11708763January 5, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. While the contact's husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact ws unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the replacement engine was purchased from the dealer. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the dealer was contacted several times, and the contact was informed that parts were not available, and the call was disconnected. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708286January 2, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the engine was previously replaced due to a cracked engine block. The contact was provided a loaner vehicle during the several weeks the vehicle was being serviced. The contact received the recall notice of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000(Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was contacted, and confirmed the parts status. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and confirmed the part availability. The failure mileage was unknown.
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

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