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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 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,727 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2015 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 4 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #70

May 152020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 47,500 miles

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

Vehicle stalls, high and erratic idle.

- Hinesville, GA, USA

problem #69

May 182020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 94,025 miles
When idling for so long the car just died. I opened the door and the alarm went haywire. Then I have to wait 20 to 30 minutes before I can restart the car. Nothing will work after it does this until it's able to be restarted. It's been at the Ford dealership. They replaced transmission issue, said that should fix it, but it still keeps on.

- Escondido, CA, USA

problem #68

Jan 042016

Focus 4-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
The power steering went out on this vehicle along with the transmission. We lived in the desert at the time (phoenix metro/san antonio to be exact); yet when we took it in for work the mechanic had found extensive rust damage to everything. Paid out-of-pocket for a new steering column and rebuilt transmission. Now, something is wrong with the radiator compartment. I believe that somewhere there is damage because once we are done driving for a bit, the entire reservoir will leak out onto the ground.

- Minot Afb, ND, USA

problem #67

Dec 242015

Focus

  • 4,000 miles

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

Clutch went out and wrecked

- Anderson, SC, USA

problem #66

Dec 012019

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds, the vehicle stalled and restarted independently. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to windward Ford of Hawaii (725 kailua rd, kailua, hi 96734, 808) 266-7000) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated the failure was similar to NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.

- Kailua, HI, USA

problem #65

Dec 202019

Focus

  • 105,000 miles
Car would shutter than stop running while it was in motion. The oil light and battery light would come on. Only once the engine light came on. Then the car wouldn't start again for awhile, at least 20 minutes. This problem would keep on happening the longer the car had been on, for example, every time we had to stop, such as at a stop light on a city street, the car would shutter then shut off. Once, it had shut off on an expressway as I was about to go on an exit and it wouldn't turn on again for an hour.

- Edinburg, TX, USA

problem #64

Dec 152019

Focus

  • 66,000 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 low speeds, the vehicle lost power and the tachometer increased to 800 rpms and then decreased. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact called cochran Ford (110 rte 908 building 1, natrona heights, pa 15065, (412) 245-4320) and informed them of the failures. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact stated that the failures were due to the vapor lock system. The failure mileage was 66,000.

- Tarentum, PA, USA

problem #63

Oct 132019

Focus

  • 56,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the evaporated purge vapor line was restricted or blocked. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline), but the VIN was not included. The vehicle was currently at jim tidwell Ford (2205 barrett lakes blvd, kennesaw, ga 30144, (770) 427-5531) awaiting repairs for the purge valve and a new battery. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #62

Oct 012018

Focus

  • miles
When I come to a stop and begin to take off my car jerks really bad like my gears are trying to catch up, it snatched so bad I went into another lane of traffic in the rain. I have had it sent back to the original dealer and it was claimed to have been fixed I disagree strongly.

- Pinebluff, NC, USA

problem #61

Oct 042019

Focus

  • 68,000 miles
Had recall service done for fuel tank deformation issue or so the dealerships says. But after I the car back it seems to be running great but 5 miles down the road it stalls on me and fails to crank when it did it wouldnt continue to run or idle for long before stalling again. After 30 mo S or so of priming fuel pump and retrying and letting set. It cranks up and runs fine. Recall needs to be further researched or dealership needs to be investigated for fraudulently claiming to complete recall procedures and not doing so.

- Clayton, GA, USA

problem #60

Nov 102018

Focus

  • 70,000 miles

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

The contact owned a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle began smoking without warning. The contact pulled the vehicle over and the smoke and flames became more rampant. The contact called the fire department and had the fire extinguished. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard and the whereabouts of the vehicle were unknown. The insurance company conducted an investigation of the incident and retrieved the service records of the vehicle from chapman's northeast Ford (9371 roosevelt blvd, philadelphia, pa 19114, 866-577-2408). The contact was informed by the insurance claim adjuster that the fire was caused by an engine block. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed her that the vehicle had been salvaged and was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #59

Sep 012019

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (engine). Prior to receiving the recall notice, the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where she was informed that the vehicle needed to be serviced by a dealer. The contact also stated that the vehicle began to stall while driving various speeds. The contact no longer drove the vehicle. The contact spoke with matt bowers Ford (3724 veterans memorial blvd, metairie, la 70002, 504-887-8410) and scheduled an appointment for diagnostic testing. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where it remained for two weeks. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #58

May 012019

Focus

  • 41,500 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving on the highway, the engine stalled, the vehicle lost acceleration, and gradually slowed down until it was guided to the side of the road. Also, after the vehicle was refueled, it would not immediately restart. The vehicle was taken to haasz automall of ravenna (4886 oh-59, ravenna, oh 44266, 330-296-2866) where it was diagnosed that the O2 sensor needed to be repaired. The failure was repaired for $500; however, the failure recurred while driving away. Nick mayer Ford (6200 mayfield rd, mayfield heights, oh 44124, (440) 449-1000( was contacted and stated that there was an unknown recall regarding the fuel tank. The contact paid $200 for a diagnostic test, but no failure was found. The failure recurred and the contact filed a complaint with either one of the dealers or the manufacturer. The contact was provided a loaner vehicle from the haasz dealer. The contact took the vehicle to another unknown Ford dealer and was informed that nick mayer Ford should not have closed the recall for the fuel tank because there was still an issue. The recall would need to be re-issued in order for the vehicle to be repaired. The contact was currently waiting for the manufacturer to apply the recall back on her vehicle. The failure mileage was 41,500.

- Newbury, OH, USA

problem #57

Sep 042019

Focus

  • 65,000 miles
I was driving in morning rush-hour traffic, car engine shut off in middle of traffic and would not turn back on. After about 20-30 min, it started and I was able to move to safe area before it shut down again. I had it towed to a local Ford dealer.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #56

Jun 182019

Focus

  • 79,000 miles
When I drive for more that 20 minutes, my car will start dying without warning. I can then put it in park and start the car, which it will then start up and I can drive for about another minute and it will die again. It will do this over and over unless I stop driving and let the car 'rest' for at least 30 minutes. This started happening a week after I had some recall work done on the csv.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #55

Aug 012019

Focus

  • miles
My can used to get 400 plus miles when the has tank is full. Now it gets less and study get less when I fill up. When I step on the accelerator the car sound like air rushing in and the RPM's rev up way to high. This been going on for a few weeks. This happen while driving the freeway, highway, and the neighborhood streets.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #54

Aug 042019

Focus

  • 39,000 miles
A bought a used Ford car from Toyota, the car unknowingly had a recall on it. The car has been seen 10 times, under warranty, the transmission and clutch has gone out, Ford and Toyota have refused to by back the car. Car has been out of service for 31 days as of now. And I have not received a rental, Ford will not open the recall back open. Hendricks won't look at the car they tell me to take it back to Ford. While driving the car the car would not exelorate pass 40-55 miles per hour. The radio, bluetooth ports stopped working. The auto start and stop stopped working. I have contacted Ford company more than 10 times with 6 case numbers. The last time I was driving the car I was in motion on the highway when I could smell a burning oder, then the clutch pedal went out (stuck in the far back position) then the car when into limp mode and would not excel pas 50 miles per hour after pressing the gas the gas petal goes out. The stick to change gears when out and the car was smoking. I then rolled off the nearest exit ramp where the car came to a stop in the middle of the street

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #53

Dec 192017

Focus

  • 75,000 miles
When I press on the gas to accelerate after stopping at a stop sign or red light, (after I have driven the car a small distance) the car jerks and jumps and does not want to accelerate. I am not sure if this is coming from the transmission or not, but it worries me because I do not want to be stuck in the middle of an intersection because my car will not go. It has been happening a lot, but I have not had it in to a repair shop yet and I am wondering if it has anything to do with the bad transmissions that were put into the Ford focuses. This happens weather I am driving on a city street or on a highway and it is very concerning. I got a letter in the mail from Ford back in December 2018 that stated my car was having issues with certain things and that they would be sending out a recall in the first quarter of 2019, but I never received any correspondence from Ford after that. This issue has been happening for a long time.

- Logan, OH, USA

problem #52

Sep 162016

Focus

  • 20,000 miles
When vehicle is in motion, it shutters, and slips gears. I experience power loss while driving, and have also experienced trouble trying to get it to switch gears properly when accelerating. When I initially purchased the vehicle (first time car buyer) and took it for a test drive, I was told these are normal, and would not be cause for concern, but have since become a huge concern.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #51

Oct 302018

Focus

  • 6,300 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving at a low speed, the vehicle began to stall without warning. The stalling persisted for a few minutes before the vehicle began to operate smoothly again. The contact took the vehicle back to the place it was purchased from and was informed that the vehicle was operating normally. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 6,300.

- Salisbury, NC, USA

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