2015 Ford Focus
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 1,030 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 19 Focus model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 32 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 29 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, manual transmissionJun 9, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will inspect Focus vehicles and replace the clutch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S43. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
Campaign 26V376000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, evaporative emissions, canisterJun 9, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
Campaign 26V369000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, electrical, engine block heaterJan 15, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
Campaign 26V011000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchJun 8, 2020
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
Campaign 20V331000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storageOct 22, 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.
Campaign 18V735000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, manual transmissionMar 12, 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Fusion vehicles equipped with a 1.6L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission and 2015-2016 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission. Also included are four 2017 Ford Focus vehicles that had clutch replacements with potentially affected parts. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Focus vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip, and will replace the clutch, as necessary, free of charge. Owners of Fusion vehicles will have their clutch assembly replaced free of charge. The recall began August 3, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S07.
Campaign 18V169000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, hatchback/liftgate, lockSep 28, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Ford Focus hatchback vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 26, 2016 and equipped with a manual transmission. The hatchback of the affected vehicles may be unlatched with a single press of the interior latch release button. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
With only a single press needed, the driver may accidently unlatch the hatchback, increasing the risk of injury to any unsecured passengers in the back.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C13.
Campaign 16V698000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchSep 6, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
Campaign 16V643000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, ignitionJul 8, 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 1, 2014, to June 12, 2015, Ford Focus vehicles manufactured June 17, 2014, to June 12, 2015, and Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured April 22, 2014, to June 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the engine may continue to run after the key or the START/STOP engine button is turned to off. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
If the engine does not turn off as expected, someone could move the transmission shifter out of park and the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C06.
Campaign 15V436000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
1,030 reports, newest first.
Power train, Engine, Mar 26, 2026
Bought in 2024 ..few days later car wouldn’t change gears transmission overheats shutters jerks and won’t go when giving gas at times. Had the car in 5 times to fix, didn’t work.. I’ve almost been in accidents one of which was with a tractor trailer This car is a death trap had to quit job due to this .. and have a 7500.00 loan on a car I can barely drive. I want this loan paid off and given a check or car that has no problems and is reliable plus compensation for lost wages Im also willing to file suit immediately if this isn’t taken care of IMMEDIATELY!!!!
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 9, 2026
After my car was left on idle for a couple minutes ( about 5), it began to shake, the check engine light came on, then it completely died. When I went to restart it, it stalled and then finally turned on but when I began to take off it began to shake and died on me again while driving. I was left in the middle of rode. I put my blinkers on and had to leave my car off for a couple minutes so it would restart again. Then I pulled over to the side so I wouldn’t be in harm’s way. My mechanic believes there is something wrong with thee fuel pressure system whether it be a fuel pump or a fuel pressure sensor.
Steering, Feb 12, 2026
While driving steering suddenly stopped working. Red light came up onto dash stating "steering down safely pull over"
Power train, Feb 11, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating and changing gears. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V523000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Power train, Feb 5, 2026
My name is [XXX] I own a 2015 ford focus 4dr sedan It has 131908 miles and the issue I've been having is with The TCM module on the transmission it won't go into sleep mode and it's draining the battery is have gotten a customer care warranty notice on my car but the local Ford dealer said it's expired in November of last year and I've been having family issues and personal issues we're i wasn't able to take care of it but I need this issue fixed on my car it's my only means of transportation for me and my mom because she has altzimers and dementia Here's my number [XXX] this my cell to contact me I live in Portland Oregon And also right now I have no way of paying for the repairs on my car because I lost my job because of a lower back injury I thought it was going to be a easy fix but it something I'm not able to do And thought it was going to be covered under the so called warranty which it's actually part of the recall I've gone through something like this with a previous car I owed and it was supposed to be taken care of through a recall but the dealer wouldn't do anything about they wanted me to pay on my vehicle I have i need this repaired I should not have to pay for the repairs that should be done through warranty or a recall it's been happening since the past couple years INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Jan 9, 2026
The contact owned a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced transmission failures, including the transmission slipping, the vehicle stalling, and the check engine warning light being illuminated. Additionally, after starting the vehicle, the vehicle failed to respond after shifting to the reverse or drive. The vehicle was towed to the residence and examined by an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission power shifter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 149,000.
Engine, Dec 26, 2025
At 116,500 miles, the oil pump failed on my Ford Focus. This was verified by an auto repair shop. The car has the Ford ecoboost 1.0 engine. Ford has a recall on this engine with a build date of March 24, 2015 to May 4, 2018. My car was built on Aug 4, 2015 within the range of the recall. The recall states that cars with automatic transmission are included. My car has a manual 6 speed. I don't believe that the transmission has anything to do with the oil pump failure. The car "check engine" and "check oil" lights came on and there were multiple instances where the car stalled and I became stranded, often on busy roads. It has been well documented on the internet that Ford has had issues with this engine. I am not planning on repairing this car as the shop explained it probably will be in the range of $7000 which way more than the value of this car that is almost 10yrs old and 116500. The car is currently sitting in my garage non drivable with a scrap value of pennies compared what trade-in value or extend life of the car.
Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 26, 2025
I am in possession of Recall18S32/NHTSA recall18V-735 notice that has not been repaired but it is not showing up on my VIN and Model lookup.
Power train, Dec 16, 2025
Vehicle acceleration dies out during normal pressure of gas pedal. Coding showing transmission Actuators malfunctioning. Odometer Reading 120,631 check engine light came on. Date of malfunction 11/24/2025 , Vehicle was taken to Affordable Transmission on 11/25/2025
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 10, 2025
I was getting ready to leave the grocery store and I crank up my car and I had a light come on stating that my car was overheating transmission turn off the car and as I tried to pull out of the parking lot, the car would barely accelerate it would barely go to mountain and it was stuttering up the heels I had to turn off the vehicle. Let it sit for five minutes to let it cool off and then I had to crank the car back up and then it started to drive again, but I did get a indication on my front dash stating that it was transmission
Power train, Dec 8, 2025
2015 Ford Focus with DPS6 automatic transmission failure. 109,### miles only. Symptoms: No reverse gear, severe clutch slip (high RPM but car barely moves), strong burnt clutch smell, check engine light on. DTC codes: P07A3, P07A5, P087A, P087B, P090C. Ford dealer (Camelback Ford, Phoenix AZ) diagnosed the issue but quoted $3,175 just for labor to open the transmission for inspection, refusing any goodwill assistance after 14M02 program expired in August 2025, despite low mileage and known widespread DPS6 problems covered by TSB 16-0129. Note : "November 20, 2025 – Date I purchased the vehicle. The transmission problem (no reverse, clutch slip, burnt smell) was present immediately upon purchase." Requesting NHTSA investigate Ford's refusal to offer reasonable post-warranty assistance for this well-documented safety-related transmission defect.
Power train, Electrical system, Nov 25, 2025
Transmission overheating and internal wear (metal particles in fluid) following electrical/TCM malfunction in Ford Focus DPS6. Transmission failure recurred after earlier repair under 14M02. Current failure includes overheating messages, shudder, and loss of safe drivability. Ford acknowledges issue relates to known PowerShift defect but refuses coverage. Vehicle unsafe.
Power train, Nov 17, 2025
The contact's son owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her son was driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the mechanic could not diagnose the failure because there were no active warning lights illuminated. The contact's son had received a message from the Ford App that there was a Customer Satisfaction Program for the TCM (Transmission Control Module). The failure persisted, and the dealer was notified of the program, and the contact was informed that the Customer Satisfaction Program had expired. The contact was referred to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer informed the contact that there was a warranty on the vehicle for the purge valve. The contact was instructed by the manufacturer to inform the dealer to have the purge valve replaced under the warranty. The contact informed the dealer about the purge valve warranty, and the dealer informed the contact that the failure was not related to the purge valve and insisted that the failure was related to the TCM. After several disputes between the dealer and the manufacturer about the issue, the contact was informed that no assistance for the repair would be provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 6, 2025
Car is stalling at low speed and losing power. Does not do it at high speed. Occasional check engine light. Will start surging. This is a know issue with the Ford Focus and Ford has issued a Customer Satisfaction Program 24N07. They refuse to honor the program unless you keep paying them for diagnostic work until the code shows up for it. I have ran the codes myself on it and it is fuel related to the Canister Purge Valve. This issue is very dangerous in that the car does stall out on the road with no warning. I have had this issue with the car for several years and have received the CSP letter but cannot get the work done. The issue happened 3 times yesterday, 11-5-2025.
Power train, Service brakes, Oct 31, 2025
The transmission keeps slipping at 2nd and 3rd gear. The shop I got it at fixed it twice and this time the transmission light turned on. They told me to go through this process
Power train, Oct 7, 2025
Transmission problem
Power train, Sep 30, 2025
Vehicle was checked by local dealer and stated repair code 14M02 needed to be completed. 10 year extended warranty was concluded in June, 2025, but this is a safety concern. The car stopped in the road, right off the interstate, because the transmission quit working properly. Gears shifted very hard when transmission started working again. After parking, the car would not go back into reverse.
Steering, Sep 24, 2025
I’m writing about my 2015 Ford Focus (VIN: [XXX] ), which has under 38,500 miles. While heading to work, I suddenly lost power steering—no warning, just stiff steering out of nowhere. The repair cost me over $5,000 to replace the electric power steering rack, which only a Ford dealer could handle due to software restrictions. This follows a TCM replacement that Ford covered under recall. I contacted Ford for goodwill assistance, but they refused. At this mileage, these failures are unacceptable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 19, 2025
The car would not shift into a gear, would not shift gear to propel itself in traffic causing a safety issue. A warning light would come on saying the transmission was getting overheated. Ford of Glenwood Springs Colorado refused to look at the car because of its age despite the recall on the clutch for the year, make and model of the car. A NAPA shop determined the clutches were out. NAPA quoted $4,253 to fix the problem. I called Ken Garff Ford in Fort Collins Colorado at 4809 S. College Avenue to get this fixed under the recall. They said my VIN number wasn't covered, and the cost would be $6,000. I called Ford 1-866-436-7332 spoke to Ron employee #2192738 and was told he would document the call but could not do anything. Ford is aware of the safety issue we simply want them to standby their product and fix the problem or reimbursing us for the repairs to avoid a further hardship to get to work. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Aug 22, 2025
The driver’s side door will not latch and the door cannot close. This is the same defect covered by Ford recalls 16S30 and 20S30, but my VIN was excluded. Ford CRC opened case number CXH05284452-Z8X6J1, but denied coverage. I have had to rent a vehicle while my car is unsafe to drive. This is a major safety hazard as the door can open while driving.
Engine, Aug 21, 2025
While sitting in my driveway my car just killed and wouldn't start again. Towed it to osseo ford and there is no compression in engine. They said the timing belt is in the oil and disintegrated and broke causing the engine to fail. I've got documentation from dealer. They have a recall on 2016.. why not 2015s? My car has 163,000 on it and its junk now because of the belt design and it being a common issue. Why does there have to be a law suit filled for ford to admit this and why only 2016 and newer.. why not all 1.0 ecoboosts with this issue. For this reason I will never buy ford again. Nor will my friends and family. Stand behind your issues ford!
Power train, Aug 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20-30 MPH, the transmission started slipper while shifting out of 2nd gear with the message "Transmission Overheating" and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Auto Zone and a diagnostic scanner retrieved DTC: P090C and P207A. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 109,100.
Power train, Aug 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle vibrated abnormally. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that failure occurred most often after the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light or stop sign and then attempting to accelerate. The contact received notification of Customer Satisfaction Program: 14M02 (Transmission Control Module (TCM). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clutch had failed. The dealer refused to repair the vehicle, stating that since the check engine warning light was not illuminated, the vehicle would not be repaired. The contact was informed to take the vehicle back to the dealer once the check engine warning light was illuminated. A month later, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 109,007.
Power train, Aug 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at a roundabout at 20 MPH, the "Transmission Overheating - Please Pull Over to a Safe Location" was displayed, and the contact pulled over for 30 minutes for the transmission to cool down. However, after restarting the vehicle and attempting to drive, the contact noticed that the transmission was slipping between 1st and 2nd gear. The contact proceeded to pull over and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the dual clutch assembly and the fuel rail pressure sensor were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 109,007.
Power train, Aug 6, 2025
Transmission slipping. I was waiting to turn into my apartment and as I went to turn, my gear slipped where i was stuck in on coming traffic. Found out that there is a lot of ford focus having the same issue with transmission.