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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:
11 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,047 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2015 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 4 of 23)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #385

Aug 182023

Focus

  • 100,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started jerking. The contact then stated that on several occasions the vehicle failed to shift into reverse(R). The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it remained and was diagnosed and determined that the clutch had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The contact was informed by the dealer of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V169000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall and informed the contact there would be a fee for the repair. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Lansing, IL, USA

problem #384

Aug 202023

Focus

  • miles
The transmission is known to be defective on this type of car, causing the clutch and TCM to need to be replaced every couple of years. Just this past week my clutch went out while I was merging onto a crazy highway, 485, in NC and I was unable to accelerate for a long time. I was able to get home but the clutch slipped another two times within a 10 minute period.

- Huntersville, NC, USA

problem #383

Aug 132023

Focus

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly shifted from 1st gear to neutral(N) and stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the message "Transmission Service Required" was displayed. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact stated that she shifted into park(P), and then shifted into drive (D), and the vehicle responded as needed. The contact was able to continue driving. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission friction clutch pack and module had failed, and that the failure was related to an unknown Customer Satisfaction Program that had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

- Orange, CA, USA

problem #382

Aug 152023

Focus

  • 86,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while at a red traffic light and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle inadvertently rolled backwards. The contact stated that she was able to bring the vehicle to a complete stop by releasing and depressing the brake pedal. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the clutch assembly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 86,000.

- Okolona, MS, USA

problem #381

Aug 012023

Focus

  • 158,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH on the highway, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with clutch failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the transmission and clutch had previously been replaced twice by the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #380

Aug 082023

Focus

  • 37,050 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while the vehicle was stopped, the contact attempted to accelerate, and the vehicle jerked before lunging forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission needed the be replaced. The contact notified that the Extended Warranty related to the failure had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 37,050.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #379

Jun 162023

Focus

  • 128,632 miles

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

The transmission bucks, jerks, jumps forward when breaking, and stalls out. The car stalled out and left my 16yr old with no way to steer or brake which could have been extremely dangerous in certain situations. It has not been inspected but I have done extensive research on this auto and it seems like this type of issue comes pretty standard on the 2015 Ford Focus. When the auto stalled out all the dash lights were lit up. My child had just left the driveway when the car stalled and had no use of the steering or brakes. This poses a huge risk.

- Brooksville, KY, USA

problem #378

Jun 292023

Focus

  • miles
Vehicle hesitates and jerks a lot during stop & go. Feels very unsafe when yielding to incoming traffic to make left turn and vehicle hesitates and jerks as I-??m beginning to accelerate during turn. Transmission dash light recently appeared stating -??Transmissions Hot.-??

- Longview , TX, USA

problem #377

Aug 012023

Focus

  • miles
Check engine light came on & my car just stopped, I couldn-??t proceed to drive while gear was in drive and I couldn-??t reverse when gear put in reverse, when I was driving the gears wasn-??t changing correctly it was as if I was pressing on the gas pedal and the hand would max to 5. I went to auto zone it was said it was the power train code had came up. There is a recall on my car and it-??s not listed. Ford needs to fix this I havnt had my car for two weeks.

- Winder, GA, USA

problem #376

Jun 082023

Focus

  • miles
My 2015 Ford focus is dangerous to drive the transmission slips badly and looses power while in traffic most times it won't go into 2nd gear it has almost caused 3 accidents already I'm scared something bad will happen it's my only transportation to work

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #375

Jul 242023

Focus

  • miles

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

The power train control module & transmission control module has failed since I bought the Focus 2016 at 660 m on it. I-??ve had this serviced 8 times @ Ford. Check engine light is on. Code P060A Was shown @ Ford. Mileage now is 72000. TCM & PCM were recall several times. Ford is charging me to fix it. Please tell me how this is NOT covered 10 yr. 150 k mile warranty OR by the 8th time being -??serviced-?? & UNRESOLVED?

- Anderson, SC, USA

problem #374

Jul 132023

Focus

  • miles
Car goes high rpm when switching gears. Has trouble changing from drive to reverse and neutral.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #373

Jul 012023

Focus

  • miles
My car stopped working on the freeway due to a recall. Multiple Ford dealerships have refused to fix it.

- St Paul, MN, USA

problem #372

Jan 012017

Focus

  • miles
Power train in the car. Yes the car is available for inspection if requested. 1) The car shakes, jerks, and shudders. It will randomly cut off/stall. First and Second gear upon take off makes a winding up noise then gives a big/quick jerk. When I drive down the highway there have been numerous times these issues have occurred while driving my car on the interstate at interstate speed. 2) The car was purchased from Autonation in Sanford, FL in 2017 as a used vehicle. After purchasing the car the the above mentioned issues began to occur. Upon returning back to Autonation several times with concerns regarding the issues above there was an attempt each time to correct the issue by replacing parts. Invoice is available upone request, such as sensors, and the transmission clutch. Your prompt attention to this matter and issuing a recall for the 2015 Ford Focus with the above mentioned VIN number, is necessary and should not be delayed due to safety concerns. Respectfully, Cathy Herrera (407) 715-3288

- Deltona, FL, USA

problem #371

Jul 122023

Focus

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently shifted gear and the RPM's quickly increased. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle seemed to return to normal functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V169000 (Power Train) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.

- Madisonville, KY, USA

problem #370

Jul 102023

Focus

  • miles
I have a customer satisfaction program 19N08 for Transmission clutch shudder -transmission clutch warranty extension, I have 96000 miles and was told I have to pay for a new clutch

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #369

Jun 292023

Focus

  • miles
When driving in stop and go traffic 0=5 mph for about 30 mins the car began to act as if was slipping and revenge up without moving and engine light came on and would sometimes slam into gear. I placed vehicle in sport mode and it idled irratically to the point I felt it was going to shut down. Upon arrival home I realized that now reverse had went out when attempting to put car in driveway. I will be taking it into Ford today for the 1 recall on the fuel canister software but I feel that it is not related and hope they will make some discovery and fix it accordingly.

- Maynardville, TN, USA

problem #368

Apr 022023

Focus

  • miles
The engine light is on. The car shakes a lot, jerks and acceleration is slow. I don-??t feel safe driving it.

- Westerville , OH, USA

problem #367

Jun 162023

Focus

  • miles
As I was driving and slowing down to come to a stop my car completely quit moving. I was informed my TCM has gone out. I've had issues previous with my Focus not wanting to reverse

- Parkersburg, WV, USA

problem #366

Jun 132023

Focus

  • 94,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to shift into reverse(R), the transmission failed to respond as needed. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shuddering. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

- Kaukauna, WI, USA

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