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:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,233 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.
Radio and speakers have not worked for over a year- making loud popping and screeching sounds. Automotive center #1 stated it was a computer system fail and they could not fix it because they did not have the proper software. Then I went to get a new fuse for the cigarette lighter and was told something is leaking. Took it to Firestone automotive center to be told nothing is leaking and I should go to Ford because it is most likely a sensor issue. Car says it is overheating when it is in idle. And no one I go to seems to care to help me get things fix. Ford can't help for 2 weeks due to availability. This has been the worst experience with a car I have encountered with trying to figure out the problem.
Car began losing power particularly at low speeds. AAA inspected vehicle and determined that clutch and transmission would need to be replaced (~$10K repair). This is the second time the transmission and clutch have been replaced. The car has a total of 50,000 miles on it (ie, it is still, mechanically, very, very young ) Manufacturer seems to have known about the issue.
I literally had this car for about a week heard a puppy sound on the left side now my rpm's rev up car seems to be running extremely rough it shakes and jerks sometimes. I know there are a lot of recalls on the 2015 for transmission power train/engine Just wondering why my car is not one of them
- Twin Falls, ID, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Was driving the vehicle and saw that the vehicle was losing coolant change the coolant reservoir and the replaced both of the heater hose, all of a sudden it was still losing coolant but I was always topping it out with coolant. Until the day that it gave out
Vehicle will loose power and ac as if the gears are slipping causing a sudden reduced speed. The transmission warnings will also light up stating transmission overheating.
Start the vehicle, put it in reverse, stop and change gears to drive and the vehicle will not move forward the steering wheel jerks. I have to put the car in park turn off the engine and then power back on and try again.
The transmission has been repaired only to have worse problems surface. Overnight, I lost my Reverse and a week later the Drive function stopped working. It placed me in a dangerous situation. I was at a gas station, suddenly no Reverse. I was wedged between cars. I had to push it backwards to give room for the car in front. I took it to Ford and they wanted $3000 for a clutch, they made me pay $210 diagnosis fee at Gene Butman Ford. I was angry. I went to a part store, the part was $245!!! I told Ford this car has been in for recalls with transmission and evaporative system. This is at least the third time for the transmission. It's a 2015, only 115,000 miles on it and it already is a piece of junk. I'm never buying a Ford again. The dealership folk were rude and offered nothing even when I mentioned a recall on the transmission.
On August 14th at approximately 2 pm my Ford Focus came to a complete stall at the intersection of Seymour Hwy and Brookes Ave in Wichita Falls, Texas. After several failed attempts to restart the vehicle it was pushed into a saver location and towed by Mike's Towing in WF to Quality Lube on Pearlie Drive also in WF. Fuel gauge was sitting at a little over 1/4 tank and panel was reading 78 miles to empty. I ran the VIN and pulled up a recall from 10/22/2018 that Ford neglected to contact me the owner of. The mechanic at Quality Lube would not touch it because of the recall. On August 15th I put gas in and the vehicle started right up, I drove the vehicle from Quality Lube straight to Pruitt Ford (location of purchase) located in Burkburnett, Texas. Left the vehicle and my mother called the next day and explained the problem and dangers improper vacuum through the fuel tank could cause and recall was pulled up. Pruitt Ford failed to run diagnostic to insure their fix actually fixed the issues, stating that they performed the recall and the check engine light was no longer on so they were done on their end. Picked up the vehicle from Pruitt Ford midafternoon on August 18th. August 24th the Check Engine Light came back on, Pruitt Ford was called and stated I would be responsible for $135 to run a diagnostic. I had the code pulled up and it stated P1450 Unable to Bleed Up Fuel Tank Vacuum. Pruitt Ford failed to repair the vehicle to a safe condition. On the 25th the vehicle was taken back to them after being supplied a case number to get the vehicle properly repaired through Ford Motor. CAS-38298302-J2R8C6 This morning I get a call from Pruitt Ford stating that Ford Motor will not honor the recall due to the mileages on the vehicle. This is a 2015 with 65,844 miles on it, there is no mileage limit on a recall and recalls have no expiration date. Ford Motor states it is not a warranty problem therefore the dealership is responsible recall repairs.
Car will not go in reverse and shakes vigorously when shifting gears. We think it is an issue with the transmission. I called multiple ford dealerships as focuses have known transmission issues with these exact symptoms, but they said they cannot take a look for weeks. They have a policy where they will give rental cars for these transmission issues, but they are pretending they are not sure what the issue is and will not take a look for weeks, leaving me without a car for weeks because ford sold me a defective car.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact towed the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 90,000.
Vehicle stalls & shuts off during use with zero warning, both while in park and while car is running and stopped with foot on brake at a stoplight, and also seems sluggish and straining during active driving as if it wants to stall and shut down. When car stalls, a warning displays (System Start Fault) when attempt is made to restart vehicle and the vehicle WILL NOT restart for anywhere between 45 minutes to 4 hours (so far). The vehicle will then go through varied reactions to attempts to restart when ignition key is turned... ranging from the dashboard warning of System Start Fault with no success at restart to absolutely NO response of dashboard or other lights/warnings/electrical (completely dead). When this stall/complete shut down occurs, it also becomes locked in whatever gear it was in (Park or Drive) when the stall & immediate shutdown occurs and the gearshift locks in place and you're unable to shift into park or neutral as needed for tow or to move the vehicle off the roadway without the tow driver or other person dismantling the area covering the gearshift to access the hidden pin to shift into neutral to move the vehicle from the roadway. After the first complete shutdown during use occurred, it was taken to a local Ford dealership who was "unable to find the cause" at that time. Since that time, this complete shutdown while in use has occurred another four times within the 3 months following, resulting in either towing the vehicle or waiting 1-4 hours where the vehicle stalls/dies (parking lot, stoplight, etc) until the vehicle decides to restart. I have become terrified of driving this only means of transportation as I don't know when or where this vehicle is going to shut down without warning and fear I will be struck and killed by another vehicle or someone else killed when it shuts down again on the active roadway.
after fueling the 2015 ford focus.Car is very hard to start and when it does start engine runs rough spits and sputters.Check engine light is on had diagnostic done, code was evap problem. was told problem was canister purge valve. no recall that i know of on this issue. this is very concerning because my wife drives this car hauls our grand kid and very elderly mother this should be a recall. THIS IS ALSO A VERY SERIOUS SAFTY ISSUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you.This is not the first time this has happened. fifth to sixth times. ford needs to man up on this issue.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at various speeds, the vehicle would stall with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that an unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed his daughter that vehicle was included in an unknown recall. The contact-€™s daughter was informed by the dealer that parts for the recall were on back order and she was advised to leave the vehicle in their possession however, the driver declined. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact shifted into neutral and restarted the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the evaporator system had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.
Vehicle looses all power while driving on freeway. Gas guage inaccurate, after filling gas and driving 150 miles it is out of gas without warning and will loose power under any operating condition. This has happened numerous times.
My 2015 ford focus has continually stopped in traffic causing a safety risk to other drivers and myself. I've taken it in for recalls and repairs but the problem still exists. The front rail hp switch was replaced and the hp fuel pump was replaced too. I'm afraid for people and my life. I have googled the problem and I see thousands of people have the same problem and can't get it fixed without dumping thousands of dollars into it. This has gone too far. I need help. Please. I'm old and not rich.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated the vehicle failed to accelerate over 25 MPH. The vehicle was jerking while shifting gears. The vehicle overheated and shut down however, the vehicle was restarted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The transmission warning message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions and diagnosed that the transmission module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 72,664.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the check engine warning light was illuminated and the RPM started to rise. The contact also stated it the vehicle was rough when shifting gears. The contact was able to drive to his residence. The contact called a local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Firestone, CO, USA