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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.

8.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,400
Average Mileage:
32,150 miles
Total Complaints:
11 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace clutch (7 reports)
  2. not sure (4 reports)
2015 Ford Focus clutch problems

clutch problem

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2015 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #11

Jun 152024

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,000 miles

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

I was a new divorcee single mom when I bought the car. My dad help me to co sign and I will be grateful, as he has now died. When we bought the car, he told me how Ford is one of the oldest American dealers. He had an old 79 Ford Truck, which he was proud of. I purchased a 2015 Ford Focus SE, it has had tons of recalls, replacements on the clutch, transmission, issues with the AC and so forth. Just recently we went to a funeral and for a moment the car just stopped working out of nowhere, fortunately it started back up, but we noticed bad stuttering issues again and hesitation when you excel on the gas. I am just hoping that these issues can be corrected for once and for all without any more stressful worry every time I get in the car.

- Erika M., Fort Smith, AR, US

problem #10

Nov 152016

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,431 miles

My daughter purchased her 2015 Ford Focus on 10/31/2016, and 2 weeks later she had to have the clutch replaced (that was covered under warranty). Since then, she has had to replace it 3 times and we are now fighting Ford to do a buy back. We cannot afford $2,800 every year to have it replaced. We have owned Fords in the past and never again!!! It's always the transmission and now with her car it's the clutch. And, Ford has refused to have it fixed. We are so over Ford!!!

- Raylene G., Sacramento, US

problem #9

Sep 012018

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,000 miles

Had my Ford Focus 2015 for less than a year and replaced clutches at 45,000 miles and now a few months later at 60000 feels as if its getting ready to go out again. Over-revving motor cause of clutch slip could possibly blow motor on top of it.. Also could cause accident. Why keep building same crap??.. Still owe $10,000 and this shouldn't be a problem after ford knows about for over 7 years..What the hell.. Lost my business.

- Mark K., Columbus, OH, US

problem #8

Dec 012017

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

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

Bought car and at 43,000 miles had to replace clutches. Now at 60,000 miles starting to act the same way. Ford lost my business.. Can't afford this crap.........

- Mark K., Columbus, OH, US

problem #7

Nov 012016

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles

I’ve been having problems with the transmission sense I purchased the car in October 2016. The car shudders when taking off and while driving. Its worst going uphill. Bommarito Ford claimed they fixed it but 5 to 6 months later the same thing starts all over. I kept taking it back and they kept saying it’s nothing wrong until the warranty ran out. Now they say I need a clutch and want at least 2,000.00 to replace. Its awful how they sell defective cars and put customers off until the warranties run out. Reports say Ford some cars were repaired. But not all. Why is Ford allowed to do this to customers? Its not fair, I’m paying for a vehicle that I cannot use. I’m very upset about this. Bommarito Ford had the nerves to tell me “That I didn’t know how to drive the car and that I need to learn how to drive it.

- Evelyn K., Hazel Wood, US

problem #6

Jul 202018

Focus SE

  • Manual transmission
  • 22,500 miles

A few months ago my car's clutch, out of the blue, wasn't working. No changing gears or nothing. Couldn't even turn the car on. I bought the car about 6 or so ago, so the warranty covered it. Well it happened again. The clutch once again is burned. Apparently it is because of the way I drive. Hello, I've being driving for 25 yrs. Drove manual for many yrs, so I know how to drive a manual car.

Well now the Dealer is telling me that the warranty is not going to cover. Oh I forgot to mention, that I bought an additional warranty to cover my car for 5 yrs or 60k miles. Now I have to come up with $2600 to fix it?? As soon as I mention lawyer and that they can keep my car they told me that before I do that they will call me back with another solution.

5 mins later I get the call and yes, if I pay almost $800 to dismantle the car to figure out whose fault is, well they might be responsible to fix it. But if not I will lose $800 and will have to pay $2600 to get it fixed. The warranty also included a rental to which it was never offered last time or this time. It is now 3 days that I am with no car. I honestly don't know what to do. I cannot afford $800 for a car that I bought not too long ago.

- Thelma A., Hawthorne, CA, US

problem #5

Dec 272017

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,000 miles

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

I have taken this car to get repairs at the dealership multiple times, they are all recall related, from the door handles being replaced to and more major issue the clutch problem. The car sputters and hesitates and sounds rough and has lack of power. This is super annoying and a hassle to always have issues, it affects my work life and makes me nervous to travel. Now I feel stuck with a lemon and will need an extended warranty on top of the high dollar car payment involved.

- Erika M., Fort Smith, AR, US

problem #4

Aug 112016

Focus SE 2.0L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,300 miles

Service writer just should have told me that there were 20 people ahead of me with either a Fiesta or a Focus to have the clutch replaced instead of saying it would take 2-3 weeks to get the part. Talking to the Service Mgr., he told me he had clutches but they were already scheduled for other customers. Dealer could not tell me if the bad clutch was going to affect the inner workings of the transmission if we continued to drive it, and in three weeks we will put another 1200 miles on the car. Thank god I purchased and extended warranty for 100,000 miles. When I reach the end of the warranty, I'm getting rid of this vehicle.

- Robert H., Berkeley Springs, WV, US

problem #3

Sep 122016

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,982 miles

AGAIN FORD SAYS IT IS NOT BAD ENOUGH TO FIX. DOES NOT MEET THEIR STANDARDS

- Karen F., Claremont, NC, US

problem #2

Aug 082016

Focus SE 2.0L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,200 miles

Oops, I thought the manufacturer had fixed the transmission issues that have been ongoing over the past few years. Considering this is the second problem (1st-ignition) in just a few days over the year of ownership, I am considering trading the vehicle in for something else.

- Robert H., Berkeley Springs, WV, US

problem #1

May 262015

Focus

  • Manual transmission
  • 1,900 miles

clutch burned out in less the 3 weeks

I first noticed a problem when I would turn off the ignition take my key and got out the car that i noticed that the cars engine was still running, and take this I do not have auto start at all. Then the car started to pop up engine default. I then took it to ford where they told me that my clutch was burned out because of my driving that the warranty will not cover it that I would have to pay 1300 dollars out of pocket and that if I didn't get it done with them then i would loose the warranty i bought for the car. I have driven a stick on and off sense i was 14 and before buying the car i drove a stick for 6 months straight. I know it wasn't my fault for a fact. I asked the mechanic what can cause the clutch to burn out like that manufacturer wise he told me a faulty spring can cause the clutch to burn out which is easily changeable not saying that they did but its my word against there the same way they cant prove that i wasn't driving the car properly is the same way i cant prove that there playing me dirty even though i really feel like they are just because i'm a girl and don't know much about cars.

- emmy777, Anchorage, AK, US

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