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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:
41,287 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 1 of 24)

problem #474

Dec 142024

Focus

  • miles

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

Automobile shudders horribly on first gear and shifting from first to second gear. Attempted repair, however in time the shuddering came back. Then downshifting to go up a steep incline transmission made grinding/ticking noise. Experienced too much anxiety driving, got rid of the car.

- Liberty Township , OH, USA

problem #473

Jan 082025

Focus

  • miles
What happened: My 2015 Ford Focus has significant safety defects Ford has refused to address, despite these issues being covered under their Customer Satisfaction Programs (CSPs). These defects include engine stalling, power loss, and transmission issues, which pose serious risks to my safety and that of others. Ford-??s inaction has exacerbated these problems. Key Issues: Engine Stalling and Hesitation (CSP 24N07 - Canister Purge Valve): The car stalls unpredictably at low speeds, especially during turns or stops, with an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp. This has led to dangerous situations, including near-accidents at intersections. Transmission Problems (CSP 14M02 - Transmission Control Module): The vehicle experiences intermittent power loss, failure to start without gas application, and a "Service Engine Soon" light. These issues have worsened over time. Clutch Defects (CSP 19N08 - PowerShift Dual-Clutch Transmission): The car exhibits jerking, shuddering, and slipping during normal operation, compromising control and safety. Timeline of Events: June 2020: I reported clutch issues under CSP 19N08, but Ford dismissed them as "not severe enough." January 2025: I returned to address worsening CSP issues, but Ford denied repairs, claiming the mileage cap had been exceeded. They demanded $4,000 for clutch replacement and $190 for diagnostics-?"fees I consider unjustified since these problems are related to acknowledged defects. Risks and Observations: The frequent stalling and transmission failures create significant safety hazards. As a veterinary technician who drives daily with my dog, these malfunctions put both our lives at risk. The stalling often leaves me stranded in traffic, endangering myself and other drivers. Warning lamps are consistently illuminated, and the issues have been confirmed by the dealership during prior visits. Despite these known defects, Ford refuses to perform repairs under their CSPs. This neglect of safety obligations necessitate

- Shepherdsville, KY, USA

problem #472

Dec 272024

Focus

  • 105,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly hesitated before losing motive power and was unable to accelerate above 40 MPH. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the dual-clutch. 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 105,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #471

Mar 162021

Focus

  • miles

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

Car will start surging and then will stall out. First noticed when car was purchased, but was told it was normal for the car to do. I will start the car and it'll run for a few seconds then die. Sometimes for only a couple times and then the car will run okay. There are times it'll surge then die up to 7 times in a row. Only a couple times it has surged and died while out driving. The car would die in the middle of the road. Car started up with issues almost 3 weeks ago and is progressively getting worse. Sometimes the engine light comes on then it will turn off. 2 different dealerships, Jess Ford, in Pullman Washington and Joe Hall Ford in Lewiston Idaho, both have done inspections and claimed to have fixed the transmission, but the issue has continued to be an issue. It has happened over 15 plus times of stalling and surging in the last week. TCM replaced, clutch replaced, fuel purge valve has been replaced. We were told it was a one-time fix, but it has been a nonstop issue since. The technicians informed us that it would fail again, and it did. Car is a 2015 Ford Focus, under 94k miles.

- Lewiston, ID, USA

problem #470

Dec 052024

Focus

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond as intended when shifted into reverse and the accelerator pedal was depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving to the local dealer, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended with the accelerator pedal depressed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was driven back to the residence. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #469

Mar 142017

Focus

  • miles
The clutch/transmission. From day one this new car had issues with the clutch. It was reported to the dealer on [XXX] and they ran a clutch test. They said it passed. The problem is, this shutter/jerking occurs intermittently. It has been going on since then. We took it in to the ford dealer locally last week. They confirmed it was the clutch, and that it would cost $3200 to fix. There was no warning light. The vehicle has been taken care of all these years. Why didn't Ford notify the owners on this Customer Satisfaction Program 14M08 which is the clutch/transmission?? The car is available anytime anywhere someone would like to look at it. It is currently in Florida. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Dade City, FL, USA

problem #468

Dec 112024

Focus

  • miles

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

The transmission went out, revving in all gears

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #467

Nov 212024

Focus

  • 105,221 miles
While driving vehicle on highway the Ford Focus started down shifting while accelerating. This caused the car to not be able to reach sufficient speeds on the road and could have caused an accident. With my family in the car I exited the highway and drove the vehicle home, with the car continuously down shifting and not being able to accelerate as designed. The transmission has known problems and model recalls. I brought it to the dealer for repair but the dealer would not honor the recall. I also called Ford customer care and they were of no help in covering this known issue.

- Mount Holly, NJ, USA

problem #466

Jun 122024

Focus

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while driving up an incline. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle almost stalled while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the contact was informed that the transmission clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

- Wallingford, CT, USA

problem #465

Jul 272024

Focus

  • 96,000 miles
The contact called on behalf of her daughter who owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently failed to start immediately, and several attempts were needed to start the vehicle. While driving at various speeds the vehicle would begin decelerating and then turn off independently. The contact stated that approximately 30 minutes later the vehicle would restart as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission had failed. The transmission control module was replaced. The contact stated that several weeks after the repair, while driving approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle lost power. The check engine, low oil level, and several unknown system warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift as needed. The contact stated that after waiting for a while, the vehicle was restarted and driven as designed. The contact stated that several weeks after the repair was performed, while pulling into a parking lot the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted after waiting for a while. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, the brake seized, and the transmission failed to shift into the intended gear. The vehicle continued to roll. The contact was assisted with moving the vehicle over to the side of the road. After a while, the vehicle was able to restart; however, the contact opted to not drive the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed there was a blown mega fuse #9 causing an open wire that needed to be replaced. The powertrain control module (PCM) had experienced a loss of communication. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer had referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #464

Aug 262024

Focus

  • miles

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

While driving down the highway the vehicle all of a sudden made a long depleted noise and then the vehicle shifted into 1st gear and wouldn't come go faster then 5 or 10mph. Check engine light came on and had to immediately put hazard lights on and get onto feeder to then drive the vehicle home at a very slow pace. Vehicle no longer shifts into higher gears. Got home and had family member test drive vehicle and vehicle would only go into 1st but with issues. Then tried reverse and the vehicle wouldn't shift into reverse, sounded like it was in neutral, would rev but not shift into Reverse gear. Managed to turn around and parked it back in driveway. Found in glove compartment the last inspection performed on the vehicle on September 24, 2023 which was done by the dealership I bought the car from. On the back of the inspection report it lists 2 recalls for power train issues on clutch shudder and clutch control module. However, both say something about warranty, and when I took the paper to the ford dealership I was told that's not a recall it's an extended warranty and it expired in 2022 for the clutch shudder issue but the module one they would replace for free. I would like to understand about the first one regarding clutch shudder and the warranty part. The ford dealer service tech was very unconcerned about this and pretty much says it's only a 7 year warranty on that issue so it would have needed to happen or be brought in 2022. Basically saying I'm out of luck with my problem. This seems like a very dangerous problem with this car and I would think was an actual recall item not just an extended dealer warranty item. I also had a auto mechanic test drive and look at the vehicle and they also confirmed this was a clutch issue. Can someone explain and verify this information?

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #463

Sep 062024

Focus

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the clutch assembly and flywheel had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

- Kimball, MI, USA

problem #462

Aug 262024

Focus

  • 56,378 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate and rolled backward. No warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the clutch and an unknown part needed to be replaced. The dealer only replaced the clutch. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 19N08 (Transmission Clutch Shudder / Transmission Clutch Warranty Extension); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 56,378.

- Costa Mesa, CA, USA

problem #461

Aug 222024

Focus

  • miles
I'm writing to seek assistance with transmission problems in our 2012-2016 Ford Focus. Despite visiting a repair shop, we've encountered a roadblock with Ford's expired Manufacturer Customer Satisfaction Programs. Background: The repair shop diagnosed an issue with the Power Shift transmission, a known problem affecting all 2012-2016 Ford Focus models. Ford had two Manufacturer Customer Satisfaction Programs in place (Transmission Control Module and Transmission Clutch Shudder) until 2020. Unfortunately, we purchased the vehicle in 2023, and the previous owners didn't participate in these programs. Current Situation: Ford is refusing to address the issues due to the expired programs, despite the vehicle remaining dangerous to operate. We've contacted Ford headquarters, and they suggested reaching out to the NHTSA for potential assistance in extending the warranty or instructing Ford to fix our vehicle. Request: We kindly request your help in exploring options to resolve this matter. We believe it's essential to ensure the vehicle's safety, even if the Manufacturer Customer Satisfaction Programs have expired. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your response.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #460

Dec 012022

Focus

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that for approximately two years while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle jolted forward and lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure for five months. On another occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the PCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch assembly, clutch lever, and cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

- Hartford, WI, USA

problem #459

Aug 292017

Focus

  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle shuddered. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission clutch shudder. The vehicle was repaired under Ford Campaign Number: 19N08; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, Eide Ford Mandan (3205 Memorial Hwy, Mandan, ND 58554), where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission clutch assembly and other unknown parts needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer covered under Ford Campaign Number: 19N08. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

- Mandan, ND, USA

problem #458

Aug 162024

Focus

  • miles
Parts replaced, according to 2019 R/O from Ford Dealer: clutch assembly Parts needed for replacement, according to R/O from Ford Dealer: clutch, clutch forks x2, clutch bearing, clutch hardware, 1 qt of transmission oil Available for inspection, however it is getting diagnosed with possible proceeding of replacement at an independent service provider. I experienced gear slippage, resulting in high rpms and no gaining of speed while driving on an on ramp onto a 65 mph limit freeway, which my vehicle then maxed out at 50 mph. Following this, the transmission did not engage into reverse when shifted from within the car. Yes, I had the work done in 2019 for the 14m02, TCM recall, and the dealer saw that the "clutch assembly" was worn and not performing within the necessary standards. This was covered by my general warranty, not the 14m02 extended warranty. I currently don't have the repair order from the 2019 fix as it's in my car at the independent mechanic, but can be provided. The vehicle will be inspected by an independent service center this week/today. This model has had a known problem of "shuddering" in earlier years, which my personal vehicle does experience from time to time, specifically when stopping and going or going uphill. My engine light did eventually turn on, but with no direct messages, once the vehicle became fully undriveable (not shifting from 1st to 2nd without major kickback and no reverse). Using my personal code reader I received the following DTC codes: P07A5 - Transmission Friction Element "B" Stuck On P287A - Clutch 'B' Stuck Engaged

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #457

Aug 012024

Focus

  • miles
The car will not accelerate out of nowhere. When pulling out into traffic it will do a RPM spike but will not gain speed. Has started giving a transmission overheated error. Sometimes the check engine light will come on but not everytime. Have to take side roads and takes longer to get anywhere as I never know if it will accelerate correctly. Waiting to hear from dealer what it is.

- Cedar, MI, USA

problem #456

Dec 042017

Focus

  • 34,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated and jerked. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the clutch and transmission assembly. The contact was informed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V169000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was included but already repaired under the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 34,000.

- Issaquah, WA, USA

problem #455

Jun 302024

Focus

  • miles
Transmission jerks, jumps, skips, etc., I was scared when trying to accelerate while trying to pass other people, car felt like it was giving out on me, there where no warning lamps, until after the first encounter, and that's when it first appeared...

- Murfreesboro, TN, USA

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