Print this page

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:
7,734 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 body / paint problems

body / paint problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2015 Ford Focus:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2015 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #13

Feb 092022

Focus

  • miles

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

I was driving down the highway and my door locking latch and cable failed. The door came open going 75 MPH.The defective dealership part I found out is the subject of recalls on other Ford Focus year models but my model was left off the recall. This is a huge safety concern as my door is unable to lock at all times including highway driving.

- Fort Worth , TX, USA

problem #12

Oct 022020

Focus

  • 18,000 miles
Ford has refused to honor manufacturer recalls due to "branded title". what recourse is thereto get these safety defects repaired? door latch & transmission

- Glen Ellyn, IL, USA

problem #11

Jun 102020

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
Trunk opens while driving.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

problem #10

Oct 222019

Focus 4-cyl

  • 22,000 miles

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

It sounds as if a bolt has come loose inside the driver's side door. It rolls forward and back with every acceleration and stop. It happened when I took my car into the shop to have them repair the clutch that had been recalled. It didn't do it when I dropped it off, but it was doing it when I picked it up.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #9

Jan 122020

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
Electrical system that supports the radio. I would like to report this electrical because something leaked from the radio area, burning the car interior near the radio. Radio started making a popping noise before the burn. Know the radio does not work in the off position radio still pops. Scared to drive because of safety. Date may be wrong...but on file Ford douglasville thornton road.

- Lithia Springs, GA, USA

problem #8

Apr 012019

Focus

  • miles
Our daughter's trunk on her 2015 Ford Focus hatchback will not open, there is no emergency release in the trunk space to release the trunk that is required by a 2001 law. Took the car to an auto body shop and they were confused and told us they could try to open it, but could not give us a guarantee. Ford dealership tells us there should be an emergency release, that we need to bring the car in. We can clearly see in the back of the car that no such glow in the dark piece is there. I called Ford corporate and they said it doesn't look like our vehicle has the emergency release. I read the description on the ntsb website about passenger vehicles with trunks being required to have it. How do we proceed to make certain our daughter's vehicle is safe and that the trunk is usable?

- Brownsburg, IN, USA

problem #7

Sep 222018

Focus

  • 17,900 miles

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

Driver side door latch will not actuate and the door will fly open while driving. Ford claims this problem is not covered on this VIN for a Focus St even though 2015 Focus door latches are listed on an earlier recall.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #6

Jun 212018

Focus

  • miles
I have not been able to get my vehicle repaired by Ford per NHTSA 16V-643 because parts are still not available. I received the recall notice in 2016 and parts are still not available according to my local dealer! do you know when Ford will have parts to correct this safety recall?

- Lakeside, CA, USA

problem #5

Oct 082016

Focus

  • 10,000 miles
The vents in the rear bumper were defective. They allowed squirrels/rodents to enter the trunk compartment of the parked car over a weekend. They ate the lining and seat belts. The bumper, trunk lining, bottom of seats where they meet the trunk, and rear seat belts had to be replaced.

- San Carlos, CA, USA

problem #4

Aug 112017

Focus

  • 25,000 miles
Some months ago, while having repairs to my transmission, the service manager stated there was a recall on the door lock (handle), but they did not have the replacement part. He stated I would be contacted. I was again at Ford having repairs and asked about the recall, still no parts. I have contacted they several more times. I have major transmission problems too, they have not been able to fix it. I will start another complaint for that problem. I will attach a file of a chat log with Ford this morning. Below ask for date. I have shown date for today, this has been going on many months.

- Grant Valkaria, FL, USA

problem #3

Nov 302016

Focus

  • miles

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

I rented a vehicle from enterprise rent-A-car. I did not receive the vehicle I reserved and paid for. Three out of the four vehicles set aside for uber drivers were badly stained on the inside and not washed on the outside. The only vehicle option left for me to drive for uber was a 2015 Ford Focus, which was stained on the inside and not washed on the outside. I tried to ask for a refund and was told I had already paid for the rental and was locked into the agreement as an uber driver. I asked for a better vehicle and was told they did not have any at the time for me to trade the last vehicle out for. Basically, I was stuck with the vehicle. The car begins to jerk as I accelerate or drive. I informed the rental car branch, rental car customer service, and the rental car corporate office. None of these departments/divisions of enterprise rent-A-car seem to be concerned regarding the condition of the car nor how it functions. My uber passengers (esp. Male passengers) have brought it to my attention that it feels like the transmission is slipping and that I need to get it fixed. I have escalated the matter to uber so they are aware that enterprise is not maintaining the cars designated for uber drivers nor meeting their standards. I have contacted enterprise on numerous occasions to be put in another car or get my money back and they will not take ownership for their wrongdoing nor rectify the situation. The condition of the car and how it runs has affected my uber driver ratings, interfered with me getting ride request, and prohibited me from meeting my uber driver ride quota for the week. I took the car to an uber vehicle inspection location where the car failed inspection. Uber was not happy with enterprise providing me with an unsafe vehicle.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #2

Feb 042016

Focus

  • 7,000 miles
Driver was making an unprotected left turn into stopped traffic on a city street. As he was turning South (at approximately 5 mph) a North bound vehicle struck in the front driver's side quarter panel. The uniframe was damage and the wheel well was pushed into the engine compartment, damaging most of the engine components. None of the airbags deployed.

- Madison, AL, USA

problem #1

Aug 062015

Focus

  • 640 miles
Many of the Ford Focus St 2015 models have problems with the front grill popping out. This creates a safety issue in the event the grill pops out while driving which could then damage the car, puncture tires, or hit other vehicles, drivers, or motorcyclist who may be following the vehicle. After submitting to an inspection, offering photo's, and even web links to 100's of others having the same problem Ford has no tsb or stated fix. According to the dealer the vehicle should be brought in and the body department find some way to anchor in the grill on affected vehicles. This is absolutely unsafe and ridiculous for brand new vehicles.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

Not what you are looking for?