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 37 of 41

Oct 4, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTERED AND JERKED SEVERAL TIMES FOR MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (COLUMBIA FORD-LINCOLN, 700 7TH AVE, LONGVIEW, WA 98632, (360) 423-4321) MORE THAN ONCE WHO INDICATED THAT THEY FLASHED AND SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT IT CONTINUED TO JERK AND SHUTTER. WHILE AT A STOP ON AN INCLINE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR MORE THAN ONCE. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT A MANUFACTURER EXTENDED SERVICE CAMPAIGN (14M02) TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI 11031767

Oct 3, 2017Steering

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AT SPEEDS BELOW ABOUT TEN TO FIFTEEN MPH, SUCH AS IN PARKING LOTS AND INTERSECTIONS OF ROADS AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT HOME OR IN PUBLIC LOTS.

NHTSA ODI 11031550

Oct 3, 2017Steering

THE POWER ASSIST STEERING HAS COMPLETELY GONE TO NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AT SPEEDS BELOW 10-15 MPH, OR WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11031564

Sep 21, 2017

ROUGH IDLING AT STOPPING POSITION, STALLING, CUTTING OFF IN TRAFFIC, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CODE P0507 IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE THROTTLE BODY. CAR CUTTING OFF IN TRAFFIC WHILE SHIFTING DOWN

NHTSA ODI 11024843

Sep 14, 2017Speed controlCrash1 injury

CAR WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WHEN THERE WAS SUDDEN MAXIMAL ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A CRASH WITH PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11023526

Sep 6, 2017Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsCrash2 injuries

I OWN A 2015 FORD FOCUS AND A 2016 FORD FOCUS BOTH WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. THE 2015 FORD FOCUS WAS T-BONED. I GOT INJURED AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. THE 2016 FORD FOCUS WAS REAR - ENDED AND I SUSTAINED ADDITIONAL INJURIES AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER. THE T-BONE I WAS ENTERING THE INTERSECTION ON A GREEN LIGHT. THE 2016 I WAS STOPPED AND A CAR IN FRONT OF ME MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN SOMEONE SLAMMED INTO ME DOING 35 MILES PER HOUR. BOTH TIMES NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE 2015 SUSTAINED OVER 10,000 IN DAMAGE IT IS THE RED VEHICLE HAD A BROKEN TIE ROD AS WELL AS INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI 11021848

Aug 25, 2017SteeringSuspensionElectrical system

FSA TITLE: TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FIELD SERVICE ACTION NUMBER: 14M02

NHTSA ODI 11019483

Aug 12, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN YOU STEP ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE HESITATES, TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT'S SLIPPING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN. I BROUGHT THIS CONCERN UP WITH A FORD SERVICE MANAGER ON MY FIRST OIL CHANGE. THIS MANAGER ADVISED ME THEY WERE APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS BEHIND ON RECEIVING TRANSMISSION PARTS FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED THIS MANAGER A FEW MORE TIMES ON THIS MATTER. ON MY NEXT OIL CHANGE, THIS MANAGER ADVISED ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE IS DUE FOR ITS THIRD OIL CHANGE VERY SHORTLY. MY CONCERN ON THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THIS MAINLY OCCURS ON CITY STREETS, RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, ETC. I TRADED IN MY 2013 FOCUS FOR THIS 2015 MODEL AND THE 2013 DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING. THIS SAME MANAGER ADVISED ME, FORD HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THIS FOCUS MODEL. THE NAME OF THE SERVICE MANAGER AND DEALERSHIP WILL BE GIVEN AT A LATER DATE.

NHTSA ODI 11014798

Aug 11, 2017Body & structure

SOME MONTHS AGO, WHILE HAVING REPAIRS TO MY TRANSMISSION, THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DOOR LOCK (HANDLE), BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PART. HE STATED I WOULD BE CONTACTED. I WAS AGAIN AT FORD HAVING REPAIRS AND ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL, STILL NO PARTS. I HAVE CONTACTED THEY SEVERAL MORE TIMES. I HAVE MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS TOO, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. I WILL START ANOTHER COMPLAINT FOR THAT PROBLEM. I WILL ATTACH A FILE OF A CHAT LOG WITH FORD THIS MORNING. BELOW ASK FOR DATE. I HAVE SHOWN DATE FOR TODAY, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON MANY MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11014573

Aug 11, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

I BOUGHT A NEW 2015 FORD FOCUS. FOR THE LAST 24 MONTHS THE VEHICLE HAS DRIVEN VERY POORLY ON MANY OCCASIONS. I HAVE HAD THE FORD DEALER KEEP THE VEHICLE DAYS AT A TIME TO FIX IT. THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY DRIVES WORSE THEN EVER, TO THE POINT THAT AT TIMES IT IS DANGEROUS. I AM 68 YEARS OLD AND CANT JUST BUY A NEW CAR ON SS. I AM ATTACHING A CHAT LOG WITH FORD TODAY. THIS HAS GONE ON FOR APPROXMITLY 24 MONTHS. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11014579

Aug 8, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

SINCE PURCHASING MY 2015 FORD FOCUS BRAND NEW IN JULY 2015, I WAS STONEWALLED BY TWO DEALERSHIPS OVER THE CLUTCH SHUDDERING/JERKING/JUMPING ISSUE BEFORE A THIRD DEALERSHIP (IN ANOTHER STATE!) FINALLY REPLACED IT. SHORTLY AFTER I HAD A FRONT COVER OIL LEAK THAT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN, ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND THE LIGHTS ON THE VISOR AND RADIO CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING, THEY FIXED MOST OF IT BUT THE PASSENGER VISOR LIGHT STILL DOESN'T WORK. SHORTLY AFTER THAT I STARTED HEARING A POPPING SOUND IN THE RADIO, THEN THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. TODAY AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK THE TRANSMISSION BLEW WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, THEN THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. A PUDDLE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS UNDER THE CAR AFTER IT WAS TOWED AWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11013823

Jul 31, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

MY 2015 FOCUS SE HAD TRANSMISSION SHUTTERING FROM THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER (PADUCAH FORD) THAT IT WAS NORMAL WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR. AFTER WRITING FORD ABOUT THE TREATMENT THAT I RECEIVED FROM THIS DEALER I GOT A CALL FROM THE DEALER THAT THEY WOULD NOT SERVICE MY NEW CAR SINCE I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THEN TOLD ME TO START HAVING MY SERVICE DONE AT PENNYRILE FORD. RIGHT BEFORE 30,000 MILES I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE SHUTTERING HAD GOTTEN WORSE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AFTER WAITING A WEEK FOR PARTS. NOW AT 33,800 THE TRANSMISSION IS SHUTTERING AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD OVER THE PHONE TODAY THAT IT WILL PROBABILITY NEED TO BE REBUILT AGAIN. THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE CARS ARE UNSAFE AS I HAVE HAD MINE NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR AS IS WAS MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE TRANSMISSION GO OUT OF GEAR AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ODI 11011778

Jul 29, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

"MAJOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES"! WARNING & BUYER BEWARE: THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND HAS AN OPEN CLAIM UNDER THE STATES LEMON LAW POLICY. ON 7/22/17 AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS AS STATED IN THIS COMPLAINT, THE VEHICLE PROPELLED FORWARD BEHIND TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR ROADWAY AT A RAILROAD STOP TOWARDS THE GATES WITH AN ONCOMING TRAIN. REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO FORD AND FORD WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAS HAD MULTIPLE CLUTCH REPLACEMENTS AT FORD. THERE HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY 18 SERVICE VISITS AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THE DELIVERY DATE OF 12/15/15. ONBOARD SYNC SYSTEM- DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS. FORD SERVICE MANAGER HAS WARNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES ARE NOT REPAIRABLE AND THE ISSUES WILL CONTINUE TO OCCUR DESPITE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI 11011424

Jul 21, 2017Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, ENGINE HESITATING AND NOT ACCELERATING IMMEDIATELY. HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND BOTH TIME SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. SAME ISSUES THAT IS PART OF THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, EVERY TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11006804

Jul 15, 2017

THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS,JERKS ...WHEN I START TO LEAVE AN AREA.FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING.!!. WHEN I START THE CAR TO LEAVE MY DRIVEWAY OR EVERYTIME I LEAVE AN AREA,ALSO AT RED LIGHTS,ETC. ITS BEEN THIS WAY EVERY SINCE I BOUGHT IT BUT GILLIE HYDE SERVICE DEPT (WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR )SAID IT WAS NORMAL WHEN I TOOK IT BACK.ALLTHOUGH I STILL HAVE THE CAR.VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11005436

Jul 15, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION SURGES AT LOW SPEEDS

NHTSA ODI 11005511

Jul 15, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION SURGES AT LOW SPEEDS

NHTSA ODI 11005512

Jul 13, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

POWERSHIFT DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.. I PURCHASED MY 2015 FOCUS A YEAR AGO WITH 17K MILES ON IT. AT 21K MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER SHIFT DUAL CLUTCH, AND I AM NOW AT 33K MILES AND I AM ON MY SECOND CLUTCH REPLACEMENT DUE TO SLIPPING, BUCKING, KICKING, AND JERKING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. FORD IS REFUSING TO LIST THIS AS A RECALL; . MY CAR IS ACTUALLY GETTING THE NEW CLUTCH INSTALLED THIS WEEK. I JUST RECEIVED IN THE MAIL A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT IS BEING PURSUED AGAINST FORD FOR THIS ON GOING ISSUE WITH THESE FOCUS'S. I JUST WANT TO MAKE OTHER MOTORIST AWARE IF THEY ARE FEELING THESE SAME THINGS FROM THEIR FOCUS OR FIESTA YEARS 2011-2016 PLEASE SEE ABOUT GETTING IT CHECKED OUT. IT'S NOT NORMAL FOR THESE CARS TO BE DOING THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11005055

Jul 12, 2017

TRANSMISSION LOSES POWER RANDOMLY. ALSO, SHIFTING IS JUMPY, WHEN GOING FROM STOP, AT TIMES. HAVE CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS COMMON OF THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. I AM JUST USING TODAY'S DATE AS ONE OF MANY! STARTED ON THE FIRST DAY I HAD THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11004895

Jul 12, 2017Wheels

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BALL JOINT SNAPPED, CAUSING LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT TO SNAP-SEPARATED AND DAMAGED AXLE. CAR SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 70 FT BEFORE STOPPING. VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ODI 11004923

Jul 10, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE HESITATED/LOST POWER UPON ENTERING 55MPH HIGHWAY. TOOK TO DEALER, WAITING ON CLUTCH. SALES PERSON HAD TOLD ME THIS VEHICLE HAD REDESIGNED TRANSMISSION. AT FIRST IT PERFORMED MUCH SMOOTHER THAN MY 2012 FORD FIESTA. NOT NOW. SERVICE DEPT. CLAIMS NEW CLUTCH IS MUCH BETTER. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD NOW FOR "POWER SHIFT" TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11004073

Jul 10, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

WHEN ACCELERATING OR DRIVING UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE STALLS. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED ONCE AND THE ISSUE WAS TEMPORARILY FIXED, BUT HAS STARTED AGAIN. ALSO HAS ISSUES WHERE THE RADIO WILL MAKE A POPPING NOISE AND STOPS WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11004131

Jun 29, 2017Latches & locks

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (RICE FORD-LINCOLN LOCATED AT 436 W 250 N, WARSAW, IN 46582; (574) 267-8151) WAS CONTACTED TWO MONTHS AGO AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN A FEW WEEKS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AGAIN THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11002142

Jun 21, 2017Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (NALLEY FORD SANDY SPRINGS 7555 ROSWELL ROAD, ATLANTA, GA 30350), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.

NHTSA ODI 11000492

Jun 21, 2017

THE CLUTCH IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SWITCHED OUT TWICE BECAUSE OF ITS DEFECTIVE PERFORMANCE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE FORD DISTRIBUTOR, WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND CARED FOR, THE 3RD TIME AND IT WAS SUPPOSABLY ATTENDED TO AND CORRECTED BY REBOOTING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE CAR SHUTTERS AND DRIVES POORLY. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW TITANIUM, TOP DOLLAR, AND RECEIVED A LEMON THAT DRIVES TERRIBLY. ALSO, THE USB PLUGS DO NOT WORK. AND HAVE BEEN ATTENDED TO 3 TIMES, WITH NO AVAIL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER, THE GENERAL MANAGER, AND MECHANIC THAT THE SPECIFIC MODEL IS DEFECTIVE. THAT THEY JUST CAN'T GET THE CLUTCH RIGHT. AND THAT IT IS A LEMON. IT IS MY RIGHT, AS A CONSUMER, WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS BUYING THE BEST OF AMERICA'S CARS, AND PAID FULL PRICE, TO BE REIMBURSED AND COMPENSATED.

NHTSA ODI 11000548

← 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 →