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.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Apr 17, 2025
My transmission is always having problems with it. My check engine light will not turn after put over $5,000 into it.
Engine, Apr 10, 2025
My vehicle is having the same issues as the recall associated with the 2016 ford focus with the 1 liter 3-cylinder turbo engine with the oil pump tensioner. I am not sure why this recall is not associated with my vehicle.
Engine, Apr 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds in a parking area, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 155,000.
Other or unspecified, Apr 2, 2025
Vehicle stopped in the middle of the road while driving and would not restart. My safety was put at risk. No warning
Power train, Mar 26, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that occasionally, while attempting to accelerate, the transmission jerked until shifting into gear with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer,r where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the clutch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,417.
Power train, Mar 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted; however, the transmission was unable to shift out of park(P). The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the clutch. The contact was informed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 154,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 21, 2025
The contact's husband owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while he was driving to work at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle started running rough with the check engine and low oil pressure warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that her husband drove the vehicle back to the residence. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the oil pump had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the parts to complete the repair were not available. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The contact informed the manufacturer of the issue and was informed that the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.
Engine, Feb 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 45 MPH and coming to a stop, the driver became aware that the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact stated while the driver was driving from a complete stop, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road, on the gravel. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to FAS Auto Repair, where it was diagnosed and determined that an oil pump failure had caused the engine to fail. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where the same assessment was made. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 92,770.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated, and the vehicle jerked and made abnormal sounds. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the oil pump drive belt failure had caused the engine to fail. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Power train, Feb 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The failure occurred on several occasions. The message that the "Transmission was Overheating" was displayed on the instrument panel; however, there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over and allowed the vehicle to cool down for several minutes and the vehicle returned to normal operation. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the clutch assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a red light, the vehicle failed to move or respond as needed. The vehicle hesitated and the vehicle then worked as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The accelerator pedal was depressed but failed to accelerate. The RPM increased to high. The message that the engine was running hot was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that a clutch replacement was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 41,180.
Steering, Feb 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the steering wheel seized momentarily, due to a sudden loss of power steering functionality, causing the vehicle to cross over to the other side of the road, eventually stopping in a patch of grass on the side of the road. The contact continued to drive the vehicle with manual steering. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that the VIN was not under recall for the steering. The contact used a diagnostic tool and retrieved a power steering fault code. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,000.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 5, 2025
Ford has been fully aware of its DPS6 transmission design flaws and failures for many years. A formal recall was appropriate and they have not done so all this time; therefore, a consumer is not warned of the problem through the tried and true channels of BMV lookups during new registrations, dealer records resulting in notices sent, or other lookup tools. This causes the problem to present itself unexpectedly and progressively, and it causes quite a bad hazard by affecting the ability of the vehicle to accelerate and decelerate as expected. These transmissions slip into neutral unexpectedly as well, and it shouldn't be accepted that that is considered not a hazardous situation. Especially on the interstate, it can cause a crash. Support and responsibility by Ford is very bad. An auto transmission that isn't a flawed design may cost $2,000 to fully replace. The dual-dry clutch in Ford's PowerShift design is prone to failure. Even despite that Ford says it extended coverage for PowerShift transmissions, this can result in a $3600 repair bill, promises to cover it defaulted on, and factory warranty dishonored. I've been told by Ford it will make the defect right, but the repair estimate was $6800, twice what the car is valued for and impossible to afford to fix.
Power train, Feb 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH and attempting to make a right turn while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 46,676.
Power train, Jan 23, 2025
The PowerShift Dual Clutch Automatic in the 2015 ford focus is faulty. This issue has caused my car to stutter since purchase. Even after utilizing the warranty regarding the TCM (Customer Satisfaction Program 14M02 - Supplement #5) and doing all all preventative maintenance per fords recommendation throughout the entire cars life (New batteries, oil changes, fluid flushes, etc.) the car has always failed to operate correctly. Now, at 89,991 miles, my service light is on and my car is stuttering to the point where is is dangerous to drive do to intense lagging between shifts and unpredictable rpms. Ford diagnosed the issue as "tcm followed pin point test states to inspect clutch and shift forks." Ford denied coverage under warranty, recall, or class action lawsuit ([XXX] v. Ford Motor Company, C.D. Cal. Case No. [XXX]) I was required to pay a $175 fee for diagnosis and was quoted $3,888 additional to fix the problem. I denied service. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Engine, Jan 22, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the transmission was shuddering. The transmission fault and transmission overheating messages were displayed. The message to “Pull Over” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle failed to start. Additionally, the vehicle failed to reverse. There was an abnormal burning odor detected. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Royal Oak Ford Service (27550 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48067); where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission jumped out of gear. There was an abnormal burning odor detected. The transmission overheating message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that clutch A and B had failed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. While driving, the vehicle failed to properly shift into gear with the engine revving abnormally. The transmission overheating and fault message was displayed, and the vehicle failed to shift into gear. The vehicle was towed to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the clutch assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Power train, Jan 16, 2025
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.
Power train, Engine, Jan 10, 2025
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
Power train, Dec 27, 2024
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.
Steering, Dec 27, 2024
I was driving on the freeway approaching a curve at about 45mph when I first experienced the wheel locking up. As I was trying to cut the wheel to the right, the steering wouldn't allow me to turn any further. Upon noticing this I immediately hit my breaks to avoid slamming into the median and hit the hazards lights to avoid have a rear end collision with the many cars driving behind me. Extremely terrifying experience and thankfully I avoided collision by acting fast, however someone else may not be as quick to avoid a potentially fatal event. Someone could have died, I could have died by losing the ability to control my steering. I thank god that total steering loss didn't happen while I was doing 60mph, I can only imagine how differently this could've ended. No lights or warnings popped up while that happened until I got off at my exit. Maybe about 3 miles later a warning stating "steering fault" popped up disappeared and then "total steering loss" appears across the dashboard. This was once I was in a residential area to stop the car while I am going down the road at 25mph. This left me unable to make any turns so I had to come to a complete stop. I have since gotten the car towed and now have to wait to get the car repaired. The power steering on the vehicle is out and since I have called the dealership, they've said the diagnostic fee alone is $190. I have yet to find out how much the parts and repair costs will be and I'm shocked that there has not been a recall including the 2015 Ford Focus for steering if they recalled the 2014 models for this same issue. This is a FATAL accident waiting to happen and needs to be recalled ASAP.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 21, 2024
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.
Steering, Dec 20, 2024
Power Steering loss of function.. Power steering module and motor failure.. Inoperable Steering Rack.. This is a documented problem in the 2014 Focus models, why not the 2015 Focus models.. My Power Steering is dead, my Steering Rack is Inoperable, and my Power Steering Module and Motor are dead.. My problems started happening in January 2024
Power train, Dec 16, 2024
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.
Power train, Dec 14, 2024
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)
Power train, Dec 11, 2024
The transmission went out, revving in all gears