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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2015 Ford Focus & its "Powershift" transmission has a defect trend where the car shudders when accelerating, especially when starting uphill.

Most owners have reported their Ford Focus remains driveable while the vehicle is still at low mileage, but the shuddering is annoying & unpleasant & may reduce the resale value of the vehicle.

However, owners of higher-mileage vehicles from earlier 3rd generation Focus model years report transmission failure & a host of other major & expensive transmission-related problems. Potential buyers beware.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,165 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2015 Ford Focus brakes problems

brakes problem

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2015 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #6

Nov 292023

Focus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

1. MY car shuts off while driving and I don't understand why because my battery is new and all other components don't seem to be the issue i.e.: battery, starter, alternator. 2. My safety and the safety of my passengers were at risk because the car shuts off with no warning while driving. 3 I currently have the vehicle being inspected by my local Ford dealership but the problem has happened several times before taking the car to the dealership. 4. The problem is currently being inspected by the Ford dealership. 5. There were no warning's before the car shut off.

- Weeki Wachee, FL, USA

problem #5

May 172021

Focus

  • miles
There have been several instances, while driving highway speed limits and when braking, the car accelerates for a few seconds before the vehicle brakes and slows down. This can be very dangerous especially if traffic stops unexpectedly. I have a couple close calls. There weren't any warning lamps given and I have not taken it in to dealership to examine. I have not inquired with dealership mechanic if this was an occurrence they have encountered.

- Plainfield, IL, USA

problem #4

Nov 282019

Focus

  • 90,000 miles
My car was part of a recall I took it to Ford and supposedly it was a quick fix til they could investigate and find an actual fix for it. Immediately after I got it back from Ford I started calling the dealer as well as Ford themselves to inform them that my car was not driving right and that something needed to B done due to it being a safety concern. On Nov 28 2019 I was approaching a stop sign and went to apply my brakes and at the moment I did that the cars dash lights completely lit up including traction light, check engine light had been illuminated since I got it back from Ford, the ABS light and the up hill parking light. The brakes would not work or stop my car it seemed as though my car either shut off or just stopped responding to any thing I tried to do to get it under control and avoid a crash, nothing worked. As I got closer to the intersection I had no other choice but to turn the wheel and continue through the intersection and tried applying my brakes, all this resulted in an accident with me going over a curb down a ditch into a reservoir and then I got bounced back up the ditch and hit a tree which finally stopped my car. My car is now totaled I've only had ot for 17 months and because of the fact that I complained several times to Ford and the dealer and was told there wasnt a fix available, now I'm out of my only car I still owe money on it due to it being financed, and still Ford does not have a fix. I'm lucky to have only walked away with minor yet painful injuries but what happens to the next person? Ford needs to step it up. Im.enclosing several pictures of the car accident as well as the check engine light illuminated when I got my car back from the dealer after it was supposed to B temporarily fixed. The police report is unavailable at this time due to the accident just happened a few days ago but once I receive it I can forward it.

- Minotola, NJ, USA

problem #3

Oct 012017

Focus

  • 40,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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

problem #2

May 062017

Focus

  • 14,000 miles
The brake pedal depressed all the way to the floor but deceleration was significantly delayed. The steering shuddered and the car jerked from side to side. Front end shuddered repeatedly.

- Huntington Station, NY, USA

problem #1

Aug 022015

Focus

  • 991 miles
Vehicle is a manual transmission and parking break malfunctioned. Parking break is needed to be on due to slight decline into the garage. Vehicle collided with garage wall damaging back left luminescent lights, bumper, and trunk of the vehicle. The garage walls are constructed of concrete and only damage visually present is paint transfer from the vehicle to the wall. Any sooner and the incident could have resulted in serious injury or fatality as groceries from the store were recently unloaded from the car.

- Ellabell, GA, USA

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