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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 6 of 23)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #345

Sep 012022

Focus

  • 57,000 miles

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

The contact's mother owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shook and hesitated upon the depression of the accelerator pedal, with the check engine warning light intermittently illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where it was diagnosed with an automatic clutch failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

- Festus, MO, USA

problem #344

Nov 082022

Focus

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the "Transmission Not in Park" message was displayed, and the vehicle started to stall. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart, and the "System Fault" message was displayed. The contact stated that after waiting an hour, she was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly while driving. The contact stated that the vehicle would only restart after waiting for several hours. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle in for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

- South Hill, VA, USA

problem #343

Nov 032022

Focus

  • miles
This is a automatic transmission car. Accelerating from a stop, the car shakes/shudders when the transmission is going through first gear and again in second gear. The shaking/shuddering stops when the car reaches third gear and beyond.

- Clarendon Hills, IL, USA

problem #342

Nov 142022

Focus

  • miles

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

When I was driving on the highway I received a notification that my transmission was overheating. The car dropped to 40 mph and I had to put on my 4-ways. I managed to get off the next exit where the transmission died.

- Carbondale, PA, USA

problem #341

Oct 062022

Focus

  • miles
The vehicle has continuous issues with the TCM. Error lights were presented on the dash. Shortly after the error light presented - the reverse stopped. This is the 3rd time the TCM has been worked on in 2.5 years. Currently, the vehicle is at the dealership waiting on a national back ordered part.

- Elyria, OH, USA

problem #340

Nov 122022

Focus

  • miles
Trying to cross road with traffic. Car sometimes not accelerating. Rpms go up but seems no power to the wheels. Car is shaking when this happens. Not all the time but very frequent

- Bluemont, VA, USA

problem #339

Oct 202022

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles

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

I had 5 clutches put in it and now with 87,000 miles it stalls when I start it and put it in gear. This happens 4 or 5 times before it will stay running. The transmission shudders and shakes always. Vehicle also periodically will almost stall while driving. Overall the vehicle just feels incredibly unsafe and unreliable while operating.-?? I feel it is unsafe to drive. The last time it stalled the engine light came on so I made an appointment to get it checked. I took it to the dealer and he told me it was the high pressure fuel sensor. which he replaced and charged me $419 dollars. The next day it did the same thing, it stalled. So I took it back to the dealer and that is when he told me it was the transmission and that there was a waiting list and that the parts are unavailable. So I asked for a refund on the $419 I just spent and did not rectify the problem. He then told me there would be no refund because the engine light is no longer on. At this point I became upset and raised my voice and said but the problem is not fixed. At this point he asked me to leave. So now I have a broken car, I'm out $419 and don't know if they are going to give me a loaner or even fix the car. I had it to the dealer and he told me there is a recall, however the part is unavailable. He also told me he has 4 cars sitting at the dealer waiting to be fixed. [XXX] Don't recall his name, I believe he is the service manager INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Freeland, PA, USA

problem #338

Oct 312022

Focus

  • 130,053 miles
Overheating. Car stalling. Jerking of the vehicle while in motion. Pauses in between acceleration.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #337

Oct 012022

Focus

  • miles
Ford dealership allowed someone to trade-in their 2015 Ford Focus. I bought it, 7/2020. 10/2022 the transmission and reverse stopped working. After having the car towed to the dealer, the TCM was the issue and is on back order. No ETA and was notified (surprisingly) I had an extended warranty; 10yrs 150,000 miles - which covers a rental. I had to call the dealership owner with docs to request a loaner. I was notified I could trade it in - but why would I pass this issue onto someone else? Once I got through that I began arbitration. I was notified by Ford manufacturer they-??d offer a $1500 cash and keep settlement! I still owe $4k on a while that has 3 yrs left on a transmission warranty that is known to reoccur! Ford is continuing a vicious cycle!

- Elyria, OH, USA

problem #336

Nov 012017

Focus 4-cyl

  • 13,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 20-30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond and started to shudder. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring mostly while driving uphill or while turning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the transmission clutch was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under Ford Customer Satisfaction Program Campaign Number: 19N08 (Transmission Clutch Shudder-Transmission Clutch Warranty Extension) due to the mileage. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.

- Sebastopol, CA, USA

problem #335

Apr 012022

Focus

  • 70,000 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 on various occasions after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle would not immediately restart and required multiple attempts. The contact also stated that when she was able to restart the vehicle soon after refueling, the vehicle stalled and then lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure was reoccurring. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the canister purge valve (CPV) needed to be replaced. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V479000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in either recalls. The vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Plymouth, IL, USA

problem #334

Feb 012022

Focus

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the vehicle failed to respond and seemed as if the vehicle was in neutral(N). The contact also stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact used a code reader and retrieved a fault code on the transmission. The contact was also informed that there was an extended warranty on the vehicle for the failure. The manufacturer was notified, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer under warranty and was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

- Austell, GA, USA

problem #333

Oct 122022

Focus

  • miles
I bought this car from Carvana and have only had it for 1 month. The clutch is slipping upon acceleration from a complete stop. It posses a safety hazard especially in busy traffic as it jerks and sputters. Was told by Ford dealer it has a bad clutch Ford dealer informed me my car is no longer under extended Ford warranty on this problem!

- Moscow Mills , MO, USA

problem #332

Oct 112022

Focus

  • miles
Transmission stuttering, stalling while accelerating

- Carbondale, PA, USA

problem #331

Jul 012021

Focus

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while parking in the driveway, she shifted to park(P) however, the vehicle rolled backward. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and then shifted the vehicle back into park(P). The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated and had remained illuminated for three months. The contact stated that recently while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V169000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #330

Sep 222022

Focus

  • miles
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.

- Phenix City , AL, USA

problem #329

Sep 222022

Focus

  • miles
while driving the car stalls and sometimes will not switch gears. have taken it in twice and they do not repair the clutch on the transmission. they only reprogram the car. took it in a couple years ago and they did not replace it. took it in a couple weeks ago and they reprogrammed it again and charged me 170 dollars at d patrick ford in evansville. said it was past the mileage for warranty. niw i am going to have to take it in a third time when they should have fixed it the first time.

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #328

Sep 022022

Focus

  • miles
I was driving on my way home from work when the transmission failed. Car lost all ability to maneuver - no forward or reverse. I was in the middle of an incline when the car stalled, had to roll to the bottom of the hill and call a wrecker. If I had been in high volume traffic, this would have been a death sentence.

- Arkadelphia, AR, USA

problem #327

Sep 122022

Focus

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated and the transmission would not operate in reverse. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and the vehicle operated normal. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission clutch actuator was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 98,000.

- Mulberry, FL, USA

problem #326

Aug 012022

Focus

  • 129,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the transmission malfunctioned and the vehicle would not properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. On several occasions, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine revved and the RPM-??s increased; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 129,000.

- Alexandria, KY, USA

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