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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:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,141 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2015 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #12

Aug 082017

Focus

  • 80,213 miles

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

Since purchasing my 2015 Ford Focus brand new in July 2015, I was stonewalled by two dealerships over the clutch shuddering/jerking/jumping issue before a third dealership (in another state!) finally replaced it. Shortly after I had a front cover oil leak that was repaired under warranty. Then, one day I was driving and the lights on the visor and radio controls stopped working, they fixed most of it but the passenger visor light still doesn't work. Shortly after that I started hearing a popping sound in the radio, then the radio stopped working completely. Today as I was driving on the freeway on my way to work the transmission blew with no prior warning. I heard a loud noise, then the engine revved and the car slowed down. The check engine light started flashing and I was able to move to the shoulder of the highway. A puddle of transmission fluid was under the car after it was towed away.

- Pasco, WA, USA

problem #11

Jul 022017

Focus

  • 70,000 miles
When accelerating or driving up a hill, the vehicle stalls. The clutch was replaced once and the issue was temporarily fixed, but has started again. Also has issues where the radio will make a popping noise and stops working.

- Pasco, WA, USA

problem #10

Feb 032017

Focus 4-cyl

  • 49,500 miles
The car speakers have been making popping and crackling sounds so loud that I have jumped while driving, including once jerking the steering wheel. There does not appear to be any pattern (no ties to turning, accelerating, braking, bumps in the road, etc.) to the sounds. This happens whether the stereo is on or off, including after the car is turned off until the door is opened. I have resulted to wearing ear plugs while driving so that I don't jump and/or jerk the steering wheel - something that is not safe, but safer than the alternative. I took it to a Ford dealership and provided them with a video of the sounds, but they could not get the sound to occur while working on another issue. They asked me to bring it back when it starts making the sounds again, which it began doing very recently. Having googled the problem, I've found at least a dozen other people reporting the same problem with 2012 and 2013 Ford focuses, but have not found any individuals who reported the issue being resolved. It seems to me that this is an urgent safety manner and should be handled very seriously at the cost of Ford motors.

- University City, MO, USA

problem #9

Nov 182016

Focus

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While attempting to accelerate, the vehicle would not exceed 50 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that wires in the vehicle were chewed by rodents, which caused the failure. The contact was informed that the clutch and wires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Taylor, TX, USA

problem #8

Sep 012016

Focus

  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving at an unknown speed, the instrument cluster became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that an unknown wire was disconnected. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000.

- Bristol, VA, USA

problem #7

Jul 012016

Focus 4-cyl

  • 2,827 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled and lost power. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. The air bags deployed and smoke fumes were noticed. The passenger received a neck injury from the seat belt and the child bit their tongue upon impact. The contact was also injured and transported to the hospital by ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was unknown. Updated 08/30/16

- Ladera Ranch, CA, USA

problem #6

May 202015

Focus

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving at various high speeds, the temperature gauge displayed that the vehicle was overheating. The vehicle lost power and the check engine and high temperature warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where unknown sensors and wiring were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #5

Jun 142016

Focus

  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle stalled and shut off intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed and repaired. The mechanic performed a software update for the ECM module. The contact stated that the remedy did not completely repair the failure because it continued to occur intermittently. The failure mileage was 15,000.

- Oak Creek, WI, USA

problem #4

Dec 202015

Focus

  • 5,000 miles
After stopping to get gas on I-80 at a service area in Indiana with the car in park and not running the engine caught on fire. The car is a new vehicle, still under warranty with about 5,000 miles on it. Ford determined that the fire would not be covered by warranty. They offered no proof, and stated that we could not appeal the case.

- Monroe, NY, USA

problem #3

Sep 082015

Focus 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. After removing the key from the ignition in the off position, the engine remained running. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 15V436000 (electrical system). However, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000. Updated 11/06/15 the consumer stated a month after the recall was performed, the vehicle would not turn off when the key was removed from the ignition. Updated 12/09/15.

- Sarasota, FL, USA

problem #2

Jun 242015

Focus 4-cyl

  • 500 miles
I traded this vehicle in from a 2012 Ford fiesta, which after three years had become a rolling disaster, from the faulty transmission to the always-dying battery and two recalls. The dealer assured me the 2015 Focus was redesigned and much better. I'll admit it drives much better, is roomier, and no jerking in the transmission like the fiesta's "automated manual" transmission did. But now when the vehicle gets hot, I smell an overwhelming smell of something burning, almost like a gasket, rubbery type smell. I don't know if it's brakes, engine oil, what. I told the service dept. About it, but they said with July they were short of help with vacations, and since the car only had 500 miles on it, I had "plenty of time" on the warranty, not to worry about it. They said to let it break in at least another 500 miles. So far I've not had smoke, starting or stalling problems like others have reported. I have broken in lots of brand new cars in my lifetime, and never, ever had a burning smell. I contacted Ford customer service and got the usual nonsense of "we'll escalate this issue with your local dealer, " and like the fiesta, nothing.....updated 11/13/15 the complaint has since been resolved. The local for dealer performed a thorough check of the vehicle and adjusted the climate control. Updated 11/17/15.

- Pound, VA, USA

problem #1

Jun 192015

Focus

  • 800 miles
I had just charged my car to 100% before leaving work. Later that day I was driving home from work at 40 mph and I didn't think anything was wrong until I made my first right turn. I attempted to turn on to a street that was going to lead me to the 210W freeway. As I tried to turn the steering wheel jerked and then froze up and wouldn't allow me to do a full turn. I was forced to make the widest turn possible. After the car straightened out it was going smoothly again. However, because I am 8 1/2 months pregnant I felt scared and didn't feel comfortable to enter the freeway. So, I turned around to take the streets home. As I continued to drive, the car completely shut off my radio and said "turning off audio to safe battery". I was confused as to why I would get this message because I had approximately 97% charge. Then everything minute or so the radio would come on and go off. Not too long after continuing on the streets the car made a continuous alarm sound followed by a message that said "pull over safely. Right now!" thankfully, I was able to pull over to the curve which was, however, painted red and turned on my emergency lights, which happened to flicker the entire time. Keep in mind it was later in the evening so it was difficult to notice the emergency lights on. I called roadside assistance and my husband. I then called the dealer and they advised me to have the car taken to them. Roadside assistance showed up about 90 minutes later and towed my car to the Ford dealership.

- Sylmar, CA, USA

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