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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.

7.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
30,400 miles
Total Complaints:
12 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (10 reports)
  2. replace transmission (2 reports)
2015 Ford Focus transmission problems

transmission problem

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2015 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #12

May 142020

Focus SE 2.0L-4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles

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

Stupid Ford. They create a transmission with a known flaw and think they can get away with it. I have owned 3 Focuses, and this one is certainly the worst. They have lost a lot of my brand loyalty, and the poor dealerships are getting overrun with these things. I'm really disappointed to have a transmission go out on a 5 year old car, and I wish the class action lawsuit said they had to buy back the vehicle for the exact amount you paid for it, because the whole 'buy-back' was a complete joke.

I should have known from the beginning, when the seatbelt in the rear broke before I even drove it away from the dealership. I should have known when I saw they have had 3 recalls on the tire caps alone. I would rather have gotten a rolling junk pile Chrysler 200, because it wouldn't have issues like this.

Update from Aug 21, 2022: Replaced the transmission. 40K miles later its doing the same thing

- Jamison K., Moro, IL, US

problem #11

Jul 012020

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 114,675 miles

Ford never sent me a recall letter. I have 114675 miles on the car and the problem just started. I contacted the Ford dealership and they said since I had 114675 miles on the car, the recall would not take care of it. I am taking my car to Ford dealership today (2 July 2020) to see what they need to do to fix it and the cost. I blame Ford for this because they should have sent a letter to every owner. I have had nothing but problems since I got this Ford. I will never buy another Ford. Ford does not like to own up to there recalls.

- Sherrian D., Winchester, US

problem #10

Apr 022018

Focus ES 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles

This is a very dangerous problem. When I was pulling out in front of a car going 60 the car almost stalled, it just revved to 4K rpms but then finally took off! And the car coming at me had to lock them up to miss hitting me! I will be taking it to the dealer on Monday. Marty

- Marty N., Brooksville, FL, US

problem #9

Dec 272017

Focus SE HB 2.0L I-4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,268 miles

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

I was told by the salesman at Ford there was a recall in the works. I do not believe him. If you do not push the gas too hard from a dead stop it does normal shifting.

- povichr, St.Louis, US

problem #8

Nov 022016

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

This is the worst car I have ever driven. Like others, I took it back to the dealer and was told "it was operating within specs" and "that's the way it's designed to drive". The fact that FORD is trying to make their customers out to be stupid is outrageous. No one designed a car to hesitate when taking off from a stopped position and to shudder like it's going to cut off. No one designed a car to make grinding noises or go forward when you put it in reverse. It's extremely disheartening for them to recall for a latch but not for a dangerously flawed transmission. Driving this car has altered the way I drive. I can't just step on the accelerator and expect it to take off the way a car should. Because it may or may not take off properly. So I have be wait until nothing is coming before I make a turn. I'm afraid that some day I'll be in a terrible accident because of the transmission.

- Gennise B., St, US

problem #7

Jul 012016

Focus ES 2.0L

  • Manual transmission
  • 20 miles

If you have a 2004 through 2016 ford focus take it to the dealer. the problem with it shuttering or shifting weird from first to second is a common problem. ford is aware of it but they don't want to do nothing. there is supposedly a class action suit but I cant find anywhere to fill it out. both ford dealers told me that I will be notified when it is settled. and they go by your vin. I am sure there are a lot more ford focuses that have this problem. but are not on their list. I was just told mine is not on the list, yet the lady from ford called me and told me they were willing to give me $6000 off another ford focus. and I just found out my transmission needs to be replaced. so how can my vehicle or my vin not be on the list.

- Brandon P., Wesley Chapel, US

problem #6

Nov 162016

Focus LX 2.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,964 miles

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

The car was sold to me by a very reputable dealer in Massachusetts and I believe they knew the issues were happening at time of sale. I am not a person that can afford much, but this problem will end up costing me more money then is acceptable due to this issue. We had to trade my wife's 2014 in for another vehicle due to feeling so uncomfortable and possibly endangering our children's livelihood. We no longer transport our family in my car due to the insecurities we feel I've been a Ford customer for a long time, but without proper resolution to this issue I am feeling that a change of loyalties may be forthcoming

- rich.stgeorge25rs, Leicester, US

problem #5

Feb 272017

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,200 miles

I CALLED TO GET MY CAR IN FOR 3RD TIME IN 10 MONTHS-SAME SHUDDERING, HESITATING, LURCHING, THIS TIME SEEMS WORSE. I CANT GET AN APPOINTEMNT FOR 2 WEEKS. THE TRANSMISSION DEPT. IS BACKED UP...BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A TRANSMISSION PPROBLEM???

I DID RECEIVE A EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR TRANSMISSION IN THE MAIL LAST WEEK "FOR MY PEACE OF MIND" WTF WHAT IF I GET REAR ENDED OR T BONED IN THE MEANTIME? I WAS UPSET WITH SERVICE DEPT. ASKED THEM WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR MY POS CAR. HE SAID THEY ARE WORKING ON SOFTWARE FIX. I TOLD HIM I WANT MY MONEY BACK..HE GAVE ME THE CUSTOMER CARE PHONE NUMBER. I CALLED AND CRIED O TH LADY (IT'S NOT HER FAULT) BUT FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED...I AM PISSED I HAVE TO WAIT FOR A REPAIR. WHAT A CROCK. I AM AN OLD LADY AND WE HAVE HAD FORDS SINCE THE DAY MY PARENTS BROUGHT ME HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL, TOOK MY DRIVING TEST IN MY MOM'S MUSTANG. BOUGHT A GRANADA STATION WAGON WHEN I HAD MY KIDS THEN AN EXPLORER THEN AN ESCAPE...BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A 2006 FOCUS BRAND NEW SHE STILL DRIVES IT AT 200,000 MILES-JUST OIL AND TIRES AND WIPER BLADES. THIS IS TOTAL BS FOR FORD NOT TO STAND BEHIND THIS CAR

- Patty B., Fullerton, CA, US

problem #4

Sep 022015

Focus SE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,000 miles

New 2012 Focus shutters, shakes, clunks,vibrates God awful. Then Like an idiot Ford fixed, I traded quickly. From frying pan into to fire. Traded 2012 for 2015 Focus SE, months later all over again with the 2015. Beach Ford Virginia Beach,VA. said;oh its Ok acceptable for FORD standards. It took 2 yrs for FORD to OK repair to get 2012 fixed. I am going to TELL FORD CREDIT to repossess as I am not gonna pay any more. They just blew off a 50yr. FORD buyer.

- John D., Norfolk, VA, US

problem #3

Nov 242015

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,713 miles

I bought a 2015 Ford Focus on 8/3/15 within a week my transmission was shuttering and hesitating, it took until 11/24/15 to get my car into the service department due to the back up of work they had in their transmission department. They kept my car for 3 days and all they did was reprogramed pcm/tcm. Within 3 days my Focus was doing the same thing. Scheduled another appointment and I was given a January 2016 date for service. Was so disappointed knowing that they were not going to do anything my January appointment was moved to March 10, 2016 with 8063 miles on my car. Once again Ford reprogramed pcm/tcm. within a week my car was hesitating/shuttering. Leaving several messages with service department and no response I made another appointment and was given a October 2016 date, sent a letter (email) to manager of Ford and within 2 days received a phone call from service department indicating they had a opening the next day. My car went in on 8-31-16 thru 9-6-16 with 11,224 miles reprograming pcm/tcm and reset shiftadapters. This time I was told that I did not know how to drive my car. On 9-12-16 sent a message to my service technician indicating that my car is doing the same thing. To date no return phone call. I have not enjoyed my car but a handful of days since I have owned it, making payments close to $500.00 a month for a piece of sh*t is ridiculous. My car is dangerous and scary to drive and I hold Ford responsible for any bodily harm that comes to me or any passenger in my car. What can I do???

- Jeannette K., Simi Valley, CA, US

problem #2

Feb 012016

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,500 miles

I just wanted a safe car for my 15 year old daughter to learn to drive on. Now I will not even let her drive it. I don't know what to do.

- tsorrow, Locust Grove, GA, US

problem #1

Feb 012016

Focus S

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,101 miles

lurch forward, experience delayed acceleration, delayed downshifting and vehicles that have trouble stopping. Scary when I have my Kids in the car, and i pull out and accelerate and it does not go. it just sits there and revs. i had to pray to pull over out of the way on the side of the shoulder turn car off, wait turn back on and hope it goes. This is not a safe car, when it just revs and does not move.. very frustrating not being able to trust a new car.

this happens on a daily bases, i have taken it in more then 4 time to get fixed and they cant find anything wrong. they tell me sorry. cant fix it if they can see anything wrong.

- rrfisher14, Lake Stevens, WA, US

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