Home · 2015 Ford Focus RS · Complaints

What 1,022 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Focus RS

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,022)Crash / fire / injury (35)Transmission & drivetrain (559)Engine (173)Fuel system (171)Steering (96)Electrical system (68)Speed control (44)Airbags (17)Body & structure (16)Wheels (12)Visibility & wipers (11)

Newest first · 1,022 complaints · page 36 of 41

Mar 27, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

PURCHASED MY CAR NEW 2015, WITHIN MONTHS CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND JERK, CAUSING CAR TO SLOW DOWN AND JERK FORWARD. WENT TO CAR DEALERSHIP AND TOLD IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND THEY HAD A PERMANENT FIX FOR IT. TCM CLUTCH PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN BACK 2 MORE TIMES WITH SAME PROBLEM, THIS LAST TIME, DEALERSHIP STATES THEY WILL NO LONGER FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. I STILL OWE ON THE CAR, AND NO OTHER AUTO DEALERSHIP WOULD GIVE ME ANYTHING FOR IT SINCE THE AUTO HAS THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. I AM STUCK WITH THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11081590

Mar 15, 2018Engine

THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO LEAK OIL. THE SERVICE WRITER DID STATE IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS.

NHTSA ODI 11079559

Mar 13, 2018Wheels

THE LUG NUTS ON ALL TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN LESS THAN A THREE YEAR PERIOD.

NHTSA ODI 11078877

Mar 7, 2018Steering

TAKA RECALL. I TOOK MY CAR TO FORD TO GET A CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION DEFECT FIXED. WHEN I GOT IT BACK MY CAR IS MAKING A SCRAPPING SOUND LIKE METAL TO METAL WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK IT BACK 2 HRS LATER AND WAS TOLD ITS THE GEAR ASSY STEERING. PART NUMBER 3504

NHTSA ODI 11076616

Mar 5, 2018SteeringSeat belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH WHEN PROMPTED. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MORE THAN OCCASION. OXMOOR FORD IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11076362

Feb 21, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

CPSC:THE TRANSMISSION INDEED DOES HAVE A BUCKING FEEL TO IT AFTER IT LEAVES AN UPHILL ASCENT AND GOES BACK TO LEVEL GROUND, YET STILL, SOMETIMES MANEUVERS AS IF IT WAS STUCK IN THE GEAR AND STILL ASCENDING.*DT *JS *TR

NHTSA ODI 11074778

Feb 20, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

CAR BUCKS, LUNGES, CUTS OUT, JUMPS GEARS WHEN ACCELERATING...ESPECIALLY FROM A STOP. THIS CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS HESITATION IN ACCELERATION WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. IT ALSO CAUSES A VIOLENT JOLT TO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS CAUSING MORE AND MORE RATTLES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE FORD DEALER REFUSES TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S EVEN A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STARTED JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING BRAND NEW, AND GETS WORSE WITH TIME. AND INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON.

NHTSA ODI 11073799

Jan 31, 2018Transmission & drivetrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE BODY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO FRONTIER FORD DEALER (3701 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SANTA CLARA, CA 95051) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,440.

NHTSA ODI 11066138

Jan 25, 2018Fuel system

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE AT A SERVICE STATION, I NOTICED GAS LEAKING ONTO THE PAVEMENT COMING FROM UNDERNIEGH THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. AS I FURTHER INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM I COULD SEE GAS DRAINING DOWN FROM THE FUEL PIPE THAT LEADS INTO THE GAS TANK. I DIDN'T WANT TO TRY AND START THE VEHICLE IN FEAR THAT THE GAS MIGHT REACH THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM AND CATCH ON FIRE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE GAS FUELER PIPE HAD INDEED BROKE AND REPAIRED IT UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11064881

Jan 15, 2018Seat belts

I HAVE CONTACTED YOU ON THIS MATTER BEFORE AND I HAVE JUST TALKED TO FORD REGARDING THE SEATBELT ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CANT MAKE AN INDEPENDENT DEALER STAND BY A WARRANTY I BELIEVE SEATBELTS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE MY SEATBELT DOESN'T RETRACT IT HAS LOCKED ON ME AFTER I HAVE GOTTEN IT BACK AND I COULDN'T PUT IT ON FOR ALMOST A BLOCK WHEN IT FINALLY RELEASED SO I COULD PUT IT ON , IT ALSO DOESN'T LOCK WHEN I JERK IT FORWARD WHILE DRIVING. MY WORRY IS IF WE WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY SEATBELT DOESN'T LOCK I WOULD STILL HIT THE WINDSHIELD TO ME THAT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND FORD SHOULD STAND BY THEIR LIFETIME SAFETY WARRANTY. I AM THE PASSENGER AND THE SEATBELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS JUST STARTING TO ACT UP ON OCCASION

NHTSA ODI 11062785

Jan 12, 2018Latches & locks

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTING HER GRANDSON AND DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FLEW OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO CLOSE AND REMAINED AJAR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT A PASSENGER COULD BE INJURED. THE CONTACT CALLED JOHN L SULLIVAN CHEVROLET AT (916) 782-1243 (350 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BIG VALLEY FORD LINCOLN (800-871-8112, 3282 AUTO CENTER CIR, STOCKTON, CA 95212) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11062394

Jan 12, 2018Seat belts

SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER SEND DOES NOT RET TACT AND SOME TIMES DOES NOT COME OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11062485

Jan 3, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL BUCKLE MANY TIMES AS IT IS ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ODI 11058314

Dec 19, 2017Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MY HAZARD LIGHTS DID NOT WORK BECAUSE THE SWITCH DIDN'T WORK. HAD TO GET IT REPLACED SO I COULD USE THEM IF I HAD A BREAK DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11055558

Dec 7, 2017Steering

THE STEERING WENT OUT ONCE BEFORE. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY SAID IT CORRECTED ITSELF. HOWEVER I WAS DRIVING DOWN US1 SOUTH AND THE STEERING WENT IT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 55MPH. THIS CAR ISN'T UNSAFE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THIS IS TWICE THE STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ODI 11052912

Dec 4, 2017Transmission & drivetrainCrash

ON JULY 13,2017,I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC,I BARELY ACCELERATED AND MY CAR JERKED FORWARD INTO A LARGE 4X4 TRUCK. WHEN I FINANCED MY CAR IN FEBRUARY OF 2017,MY CAR WAS JERKING WHENEVER I ACCELERATED. I ASKED THE SALES MAN ON MY FIRST TEST DRIVE,AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT CUZ IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH GAS ECONOMY, BUT HE RAMBLED IT OFF SO FAST, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE SAID IT WAS. MY CAR IS A AUTOMATIC WITH THE POWERSHIFT. I FEEL THEY SOLD ME A UNSAFE VEHICLE. COULD YOU POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OR MAYBE LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE A CLAIM? I ALSO RECIEVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. I FEEL WITH THE RESULT OF THE CARS JERKING MOTION,THAT'S WHAT CAUSED MY ACCIDENT. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).?*JB

NHTSA ODI 11052319

Dec 3, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON CLUTCH FOR TRANSMISSION. THE CAR BUCKS WHEN YOU MAKE LEFT TURNS OR WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. I DO NOT TRY TO GET ON FREEWAY UNLESS THERE IS NO ONE COMING BECAUSE CAR WILL START TO BUCK AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL STALL OUT AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO FORD AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNTIL AUGUST 2018. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE THEY TAKE MY PAYMENT EACH MONTH BUT I FEEL THAT I BOUGHT A VEHICLE THAT IS A LEMON. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE OR TAKE IT BACK. I CAN NOT TRADE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIFFERENT BRAND OF VEHICLE BECAUSE OF RECALL SO I AM STUCK WITH VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI 11052122

Nov 28, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE OR ALMOST COMPLETE STOP THE CAR JERKS/ HESITATES FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11048873

Nov 25, 2017Steering

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTY ROAD, TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH AS I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN, WHEN MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILS. I NEARLY DROVE STRAIGHT THROUGH A METAL FENCE TRYING TO MAKE THE TURN TO GET OFF THE ROAD. NOW WHEN I TURN MY KEY FORWARD MY CARS COMPUTER SENDS A MESSAGE SAYING "STEERING LOSS, SAFELY PARK VEHICLE" THE ISSUE I AM REFERRING TO BY CHECKING "UNKNOWN/OTHER" IS A SHUDDERING TRANSMISSION. EVERYTIME MY CAR IS GOING THROUGH FIRST GEAR THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS. THIS GETS MUCH WORSE WHEN WHEN MY CAR IS CLOSE TO BEING DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. IVE SERVICED THE CAR REGULARLY AND SOME MONTHS HAD TO GET MULTIPLE OIL CHANGES TO TRY AND COMBAT THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERING.

NHTSA ODI 11048399

Nov 22, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE IN MOTION. WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER (GOSCH FORD TEMECULA, 26895 YNEZ RD, TEMECULA, CA 92591, (951) 708-9148) REPLACED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V479000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER ALSO HAD 19 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THE POWER TRAIN. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY, SERVICE CAMPAIGN, OR RECALL TO PROVIDE A REPAIR SOLUTION. THE DEALER MENTIONED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, SEAL ASSEMBLY, AND ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MAY BE REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ODI 11048053

Nov 11, 2017

I AM AWARE THAT THE 2013 AND 2014 FORD FOCUS' HAVE A ISSUE THAT WAS RECALLABLE. MY 2015 FORD FOCUS HAS THE SAME ISSUE. DURING THE TRANSITION FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR THE CAR SHUTTERS WHICH INDICATES A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I AM WORRIED THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT OR CAUSE ME TO WRECK IN THE FUTURE. AGAIN, I DO KNOW THAT PREVIOUS YEAR CARS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND WERE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11045360

Oct 18, 2017Visibility & wipers

I OWNED THE VEHICLE 2 YEARS AND THEN REPLACED THE WIPER BLADES AT NAPA. THEN THEY STARTED STOPPING MIDWAY ON THE GLASS OR SLOWING AND STOPPING. I REPLACED THE BLADES WITH GENUINE FORD BLADES AT THE DEALER'S QUICK LANE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE SERVICE DEPT. COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM ON TWO VISITS, AND SAID IT HAS AN ADVANCED SENSOR SYSTEM AND "IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO THAT." I AM AFRAID THE WIPERS WILL GIVE OUT IN A STORM. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SNAPPED AT ME "IF YOU KEEP COMING BACK, WE MAY HAVE TO CHARGE YOU," EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TIME LEFT ON THE FULL WARRANTY. THIS IS A HAZARD, AND THEY SHOULD WARN PEOPLE THAT THE SYSTEM USES SO-CALLED SMART TECHNOLOGY, AND TO BE CAREFUL WHEN CHANGING THE BLADES.

NHTSA ODI 11034460

Oct 13, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2015 FORD FOCUS IT JERKS AND SLIPS WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD THE CLUTCHES ARE BAD INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. NOT SURE IF IT'S THIS SPECIFIC PART, I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT OTHER FOCUS OW ERA ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE FORD DEALER IS SAYING THIS IS NOT A RECALL ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE AND REFUSING TO REPAIR IT UNDER THE WARRANTY, I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. MY VEHICLE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE RESEARCHED ON LINE IN MULTIPLE FORD FORUMS, READ MANY ARTICLES AND SPOKE TO OTHER FOCUS OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. IF THIS CAN PLEASE BE REVIEWED FOR SAFETY REASONS AND CORRECTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11033203

Oct 13, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

I AM AWARE THAT THE 2013 AND 2014 FORD FOCUS' HAVE A ISSUE THAT WAS RECALLABLE. MY 2015 FORD FOCUS HAS THE SAME ISSUE. DURING THE TRANSITION FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR THE CAR SHUTTERS WHICH INDICATES A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I AM WORRIED THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT OR CAUSE ME TO WRECK IN THE FUTURE. AGAIN, I DO KNOW THAT PREVIOUS YEAR CARS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND WERE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11033308

Oct 5, 2017Steering

POWER STEERING MOTOR HAS GONE OUT ON THE CAR AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, AT A COST OF $2000 TO THE CONSUMERS. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE WITHOUT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI 11031848

← NewerOlder →

Working with the data? Download all 1,022 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 22, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Ford Focus RS verdict →