AI DamageFord Focus: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Ford Focus across 4 model years: 2,937 owner complaints and 157 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 49% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 24% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 9% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 3% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 3% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 1,453 complaints (49% of all), 13 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 52.
- Engine: 703 complaints (24% of all), 15 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 39.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 416 complaints (14% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 255 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 26.
- Fuel system: 190 complaints (6% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1 L · petrol · turbo · 3 cyl 2015–2018named in 20 complaints
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2000–2018named in 12 complaints
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2013–2018named in 12 complaints
- 2.3 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2003–2007
- 2.3 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2016–2018
- electric 2012–2018
- automatic, 1-speed 2013–2018
- automatic, 4-speed 2000–2011
- automatic, 6-speed 2013–2018
- CVT 2012
- dual-clutch (DCT), 6-speed 2012–2018named in 103 complaints
- manual, 5-speed 2000–2018named in 48 complaints
- manual, 6-speed 2002–2018named in 48 complaints
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 2,937 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 1,453 | 13 | 52 |
| Engine | 703 | 15 | 39 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 416 | 7 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 255 | 0 | 26 |
| Fuel system | 190 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 174 | 1 | 115 |
| Vehicle speed control | 101 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 95 | 4 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 46 | 7 | 9 |
| Air bags | 39 | 28 | 0 |
| Structure | 27 | 6 | 18 |
| Wheels | 27 | 0 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 18 | 1 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
[XXX] said her brakes did not work at all. Me and multiple cars were able to come to complete stop with no skidding i have toyota rav4. I think her car might have been told my car needed repairs. I was severely injured severe permanent concussion brain neck back shoulder arm hand chest back muscle nerve damage.
225/50/17 have had one tire completely tear at the rim& cause chaos on the road. And another that that I have to put air in twice a day.
The navigation display turned black and no warning light was illuminated. The air bag underneath the steering wheel was deployed, but all other air bags in the vehicle failed to deploy. The contact who was the front passenger at the time of the incident sustained bruises on her stomach.
My car keeps stuttering and stalling. I've been trying to get it fixed at specialists but they say nothing is wrong with the car, even though I've been stuck on the side of the road multiple times. Not to mention the intense jerking the car does when I try and speed up .
In August 2023, the vehicle experienced an engine failure at 53,000 miles. Subsequently, the car was at the Ford dealership for an extended period until the engine replacement was completed by the end of October 2023.
It’s caused the vehicle to stall after putting gas in the tank, and just recently stalled while driving, causing me to hit a curb leading to the passenger front tire popping, the rim being dented, the tire rod bent, alignment out of wack, and the valance ripped off.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Customer Satisfaction Program 26L02 Certain 2014-2021 Model Year Various Vehicles 1.0L Fox Classic Engine…
- Certain 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco, 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco Sport, 2020-2022 Model Year Corsair and…
- Harvest Program 25H05 – Supplement #1 Certain 2011-2021 Model Year Vehicles Software Verification Harvest…
- Certain 2015 - 2018 Model Year Focus Vehicles with 1.0L Engine Canister Purge Valve (CPV) Replacement (if…
- Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines…
- Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless…
- Certain 2015 - 2018 Model Year Focus Vehicles with 1.0L Engine Canister Purge Valve (CPV) Replacement (if…
- This is a proactive investigation program by Ford Motor Company to inspect a limited number of affected…
- This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure
- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes…
- Certain 2012 – 2018 Model Year Focus Vehicle Line One-Time Canister Purge Valve Replacement
- While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal…
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
- DEALERS HATE ME!! 2016 Ford Focus ST PRICE REVEAL!! Wrecked - Rebuilt - Sold!!amount per author: 300 UNSPECIFIED_DOLLAR
- REBUILDING A 2024 CRASH DAMAGED FORD FOCUS FROM COPARTamount per author: £3,050
- Ford Focus 1.0L EcoBoost 2016 Salvage Rebuild Repair Part 3
- Ford Focus 1.0l Ecoboost 2016 Salvage Rebuild Repair Part 4
- Ford Focus 1.0L EcoBoost 2016 salvage rebuild Repair Part 2
- I Paid $3500 For This 2016 Ford Focus ST! [Rebuild Project Part 1]
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.