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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 41 of 41

Nov 13, 2015Engine

I BOUGHT THIS CAR LESS THAN 6 MOS. AGO. IT HAS HAD 2 RECALLS SO FAR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS A PROBLEM. IT JUMPS AND ACTS LIKE IT IS GOING TO DIE. TWICE WHEN I HAVE STARTED IT THERE WAS A KNOCKING LIKE THE ENGINE HAD SOMETHING WRONG. WHEN I CHANGED THE GEAR THE KNOCKING QUIT. WHEN I RUN THE HEATER THERE IS A BURNING SMELL. I TOOK IT IN AND TOLD THEM I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AND THEY DID THE RECALLS THEN TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT DO THE OTHER THINGS I HAD MENTIONED. I ASK THEM TO PUT ME IN SOMETHING ELSE AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $400.00-$500.00 A MONTH PAYMENT. I BELIEVE FORD KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM BUT CONTINUES TO SELL THEM SO WHEN PEOPLE COMPLAIN THEY CAN CHARGE THEM MORE MONEY. I AM A 55 YEAR OLD WOMAN THAT DRIVES 120 MILES A DAY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. WHEN I GET OFF WORK I DRIVE HOME IN THE DARK. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR!!! FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IN THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE HESITATION. I PICKED IT UP AND NOW IT IS WORSE! WHEN I TURN THE CORNER IT DOES THAT JERKING THING NOW LIKE IT IS GOING TO DIE. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP PROTECT CONSUMERS . THE JERKING HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING, TAKING OFF AND NOW EVEN WHEN YOU ARE TURNING. THE KNOCKING NOISE THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN I WAS BACKING UP AND THE SECOND TIME WAS WHEN IT WAS IN PARK AND I HAD JUST STARTED IT.

NHTSA ODI 10790148

Nov 12, 2015Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ODI 10789900

Nov 9, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED BEFORE MOVING FORWARD. WHILE AT A STOP ON AN INCLINE AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15.

NHTSA ODI 10789203

Nov 5, 2015Wheels

11/4/15 MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING IN HER WORK PARKING LOT AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOWOUT ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE BLOWOUT CAUSED A SMALL TEAR IN THE TIRE AT THE SEAM WHERE THE SIDEWALL JOINS THE TREAD. WE COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN A DEFECT IN THE TIRE WHICH COULD HAVE ATTRIBUTED TO THE BLOWOUT. IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY LOSING ALL AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRE. THE TIRE IS A CONTINENTAL CONTIPRO CONTACT SIZE 215/55 R 16 93H | DOT NUMBER CNB3 WBPC 0615.

NHTSA ODI 10788511

Oct 26, 2015Transmission & drivetrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2015 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND TWO PASSENGERS REMAINED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,650.

NHTSA ODI 10785928

Oct 20, 2015Fuel system

ON 2 OCCASSIONS WITH THE DASH INDICATOR INDICATING AVAILABLE BATTERY POWER, THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY.

NHTSA ODI 10783697

Sep 20, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

2015 FORD FOCUS HAS THE OPTIONAL POWERSHIFT SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN SLOWLY STARTING FROM LOW SPEED 20 MPH WITH LIGHT THROTTLE, THE ENGINE REVS TO 6000 RPM AND THE VEHICLE BARELY MOVES.THIS CREATES A HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND HAS RESULTED IN NEAR MISSES. I HAVE ALSO OBSERVED THIS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHERE THE SUDDENLY LOSES SPEED, BUT THE ENGINE IS STILL AT HIGH RPM (AGAINST THE REV LIMITER). ONLY BY MANUALLY SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK TO DRIVE, CAN VEHICLE SPEED BE RETURNED.THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER HAS BEEN RE-FLASHED TWICE. FORD ENGINEERING HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY DEALER AND THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION. A DATA LOGGER FROM THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN USED TO RECORD THREE INSTANTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND MAKES THE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS. BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION, WE ARE USING ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION UNTIL THIS CONDITION CAN BE CORRECTED.

NHTSA ODI 10766288

Sep 14, 2015SteeringWheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 26 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 216,000.

NHTSA ODI 10763730

Sep 10, 2015Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. AFTER REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION, THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V436000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 11/06/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED A MONTH AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. UPDATED 12/09/15. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10762920

Sep 8, 2015Speed controlEquipment Adaptive/mobility

WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION IS STUTTERING, GRINDING AND PERFORMING POORLY. FORD SAID THAT THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE "I DRIVE TOO CAREFULLY, THE TRANSMISSION IS DESIGNED TO BE DRIVEN AGGRESSIVELY AND WILL GET STUCK BETWEEN GEARS UNLESS YOU 'FLOOR IT'".

NHTSA ODI 10762078

Sep 7, 2015Steering

I RENTED THIS NEW 2015 FOCUS SEDAN FROM HERTZ AT MIAMI INTL AIRPORT TO DRIVE 280 MILES HOME TO OCALA, FL. THE ENTIRE WAY, THE STEERING GRABBED, SLIPPED AND HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STAYING IN ONE LANE, THE STEERING PULLED TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT IN A JERKY DANGEROUS MANNER. WE WERE LITERALLY SCARED TO DRIVE THE FOCUS BUT HAD TO IN ORDER TO GET BACK HOME THAT NIGHT. I WOULD NEVER DRIVE ANOTHER FOCUS 2015, AND I AM A FORMER DOT EMPLOYEE.

NHTSA ODI 10761975

Aug 28, 2015Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

NHTSA ODI 10759996

Aug 19, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO CROSS A BUSY HIGHWAY. WHEN I ACCELERATED THE GAS PEDAL HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS SLUGGISHNESS CONTINUED AS WELL AS HARD JOLTING FORWARD SHIFTS AFTER INITIAL ACCELERATION AND EVENTUALLY A FORWARD JERKING LOUD DOWNSHIFT NOISE WHEN STOPPING. THESE PROBLEMS CONTINUED, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO COVER IT.

NHTSA ODI 10749865

Aug 13, 2015Body & structure

MANY OF THE FORD FOCUS ST 2015 MODELS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT GRILL POPPING OUT. THIS CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT THE GRILL POPS OUT WHILE DRIVING WHICH COULD THEN DAMAGE THE CAR, PUNCTURE TIRES, OR HIT OTHER VEHICLES, DRIVERS, OR MOTORCYCLIST WHO MAY BE FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE. AFTER SUBMITTING TO AN INSPECTION, OFFERING PHOTO'S, AND EVEN WEB LINKS TO 100'S OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM FORD HAS NO TSB OR STATED FIX. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE BROUGHT IN AND THE BODY DEPARTMENT FIND SOME WAY TO ANCHOR IN THE GRILL ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNSAFE AND RIDICULOUS FOR BRAND NEW VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 10748599

Aug 4, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. MA 10/19/15 *CN

NHTSA ODI 10746070

Aug 2, 2015Brakes

VEHICLE IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND PARKING BREAK MALFUNCTIONED. PARKING BREAK IS NEEDED TO BE ON DUE TO SLIGHT DECLINE INTO THE GARAGE. VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH GARAGE WALL DAMAGING BACK LEFT LUMINESCENT LIGHTS, BUMPER, AND TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE GARAGE WALLS ARE CONSTRUCTED OF CONCRETE AND ONLY DAMAGE VISUALLY PRESENT IS PAINT TRANSFER FROM THE VEHICLE TO THE WALL. ANY SOONER AND THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITY AS GROCERIES FROM THE STORE WERE RECENTLY UNLOADED FROM THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10745600

Jul 31, 2015Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP BEFORE A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR JERKED FORWARD LIKE I WAS BEING REAR-ENDED. SEVERAL TIMES I WAS GOING OVER A MAN-HOLE COVER; THE LAST TIME I WAS GOING OVER THE RAIL TRACKS. IT SHOCKED ME AS I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS HIT FROM BEHIND, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS TRYING TO STOP AND THE WHEELS JUST SPUN FASTER. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH DISTANCE IN FRONT AND DIDN'T HIT ANY CAR IN FRONT OF MINE.

NHTSA ODI 10745386

Jun 29, 2015Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemVisibility & wipers

I TRADED THIS VEHICLE IN FROM A 2012 FORD FIESTA, WHICH AFTER THREE YEARS HAD BECOME A ROLLING DISASTER, FROM THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION TO THE ALWAYS-DYING BATTERY AND TWO RECALLS. THE DEALER ASSURED ME THE 2015 FOCUS WAS REDESIGNED AND MUCH BETTER. I'LL ADMIT IT DRIVES MUCH BETTER, IS ROOMIER, AND NO JERKING IN THE TRANSMISSION LIKE THE FIESTA'S "AUTOMATED MANUAL" TRANSMISSION DID. BUT NOW WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS HOT, I SMELL AN OVERWHELMING SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING, ALMOST LIKE A GASKET, RUBBERY TYPE SMELL. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BRAKES, ENGINE OIL, WHAT. I TOLD THE SERVICE DEPT. ABOUT IT, BUT THEY SAID WITH JULY THEY WERE SHORT OF HELP WITH VACATIONS, AND SINCE THE CAR ONLY HAD 500 MILES ON IT, I HAD "PLENTY OF TIME" ON THE WARRANTY, NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. THEY SAID TO LET IT BREAK IN AT LEAST ANOTHER 500 MILES. SO FAR I'VE NOT HAD SMOKE, STARTING OR STALLING PROBLEMS LIKE OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. I HAVE BROKEN IN LOTS OF BRAND NEW CARS IN MY LIFETIME, AND NEVER, EVER HAD A BURNING SMELL. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOT THE USUAL NONSENSE OF "WE'LL ESCALATE THIS ISSUE WITH YOUR LOCAL DEALER," AND LIKE THE FIESTA, NOTHING. ....UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF THE COMPLAINT HAS SINCE BEEN RESOLVED. THE LOCAL FOR DEALER PERFORMED A THOROUGH CHECK OF THE VEHICLE AND ADJUSTED THE CLIMATE CONTROL. UPDATED 11/17/15. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10730934

Jun 25, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

MY FATHER BOUGHT A FORD FOCUS, AFTER DRIVING MINE AND LIKING IT SO WELL, IN FEB/MARCH OF THIS YEAR. HE TOOK IT BACK FOR TRANSMISSION WHINING. HE WAS A MECHANIC IN THE ARMED FORCES AND KNOWS THE SOUND, AND CHUCK ANDERSON FORD SAID THAT IT WAS A BEARING PROBLEM AND THEY "FIXED" IT. HE PICKED UP THE CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION STILL MADE THE SAME WHINING SOUND. A FEW WEEKS WENT BY AND THE NOISE WAS LOUDER SO DAD CALLED AGAIN. AT THIS POINT I GOT INVOLVED AND MADE A CLAIM TO FORD, ON 3/11/2015. I EXPLAINED TO JAMES THAT I WAS CONCERNED FOR MY 79 YEAR OLD FATHERS SAFETY IF THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS "DRIVEABILITY CONCERNS" WITH THE TRANSMISSION. DAD, AGAIN, HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT AND THE DEALER REPLACED SOME OF THE PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION. STILL, THE CAR WHINED AND DAD TOOK IT BACK. THE DEALER THEN TOLD HIM THAT HE SHOULD DRIVE IT 2500 MILES TO LET THE PARTS GET WORN IN. 2500 MILES LATER DAD TOOK IT BACK, NOISE GOT WORSE. THE FORD REP CAME OUT AND TOLD DAD THAT THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS BUT THEY COULDN'T FIX ALL OF THEM. REALLY??? THEY FIXED THE F-150, WHY NOT THE PASSENGER CARS? I AM APAULLED AT THEWAY FORD HANDLES THIS SITUATION. MY FATHERS LIFE MAY NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO FORD, BUT IT MEANS THE WORD TO ME. FORD HAS PROVEN TO ME THAT THEY SEE A LIFE AS DISPOSABLE IN LIGHT OF THE THINGS THEY HAVE NOT DONE. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IN ALL OF THE CARS, FORD OWNERS HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT, GO OUT, THEN WHAT? WE AS CONSUMERS ARE STUCK WITH A HEFTY BILL FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE. FORD NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLY FOR THE PRODUCTS THEY PUT OUT AND THE SAFETY OF ALL OF US FORD OWNERS. THEY NEDD TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE ARE STRANDED, CRASHED OR KILLED AND AN INVESTIGATION IS WARRENTED IN THIS SITUATION. ALL FORD OWNERS ARE DUE THIS.

NHTSA ODI 10730403

Jun 24, 2015SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY INITIAL COMPLAINT WAS POSTED ON 06/19/2015, THE DAY OF MY TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. MISTAKENLY, I FILED THE COMPLAINT UNDER THE REGULAR FOCUS MODEL AND NOT THE ELECTRIC. LAST FRIDAY, I JUST CHARGED MY CAR TO 100% AT WORK. LATER, I WAS DRIVING HOME AT 40 MPH WITH NO PROBLEMS UNTIL I WAS ABOUT TO HIT MY FIRST RIGHT TURN. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE STREET LEADING ME TO THE 210 W FREEWAY. WHILE TURNING RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND FROZE UP AND DID NOT ALLOW ME TO MAKE A FULL TURN. I WAS FORCED TO MAKE THE WIDEST TURN POSSIBLE, THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO CARS OR IT COULD'VE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR STRAIGHTENED OUT SMOOTHLY AGAIN. HOWEVER, BECAUSE I AM 8 1/2 MONTHS PREGNANT I FELT SCARED TO GET ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER WHAT JUST HAPPENED I DIDN'T WANT TO RISK MY OR MY UNBORN CHILD'S LIVES ON THE FREEWAY.I TURNED AROUND TO TAKE STREET HOME. AS I DROVE, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF MY RADIO SAID "TURNING OFF AUDIO TO SAVE BATTERY". I WAS CONFUSED AS TO WHY I WOULD GET THIS MESSAGE BECAUSE WE HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND IT WAS FULLY CHARGED. THEN EVERY MINUTE THE RADIO WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. NOT TOO LONG AFTER CONTINUING ON STREETS THE CAR MADE A CONTINUOUS ALARM SOUND WITH A MESSAGE THAT SAID "PULL OVER SAFELY, RIGHT NOW!". I WAS SCARED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE CURVE WHICH WAS, UNFORTUNATELY, PAINTED RED, IT WAS A MERGING LANE. I TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS,WITH EVEN GREATER DISAPPOINTED, THE LIGHTS JUST FLICKERED THE ENTIRE TIME. THIS WAS IN EVENING, MY CAR IS BLACK AND THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHILE IN A MERGING LANE. IT TOOK ME APPROX. 15 MINUTES TO SAFELY GET OUT OF CAR WITH HOPES I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CRASHED INTO. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SEVERE INJURY OR EVEN A FATALITY. FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SHOWED UP 90 MINUTES LATER. FORD ADVISED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO DEALER AND THE PROBLEM IS YET TO BE RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10730238

Jun 20, 2015Electrical system

I HAD JUST CHARGED MY CAR TO 100% BEFORE LEAVING WORK. LATER THAT DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 40 MPH AND I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL I MADE MY FIRST RIGHT TURN. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON TO A STREET THAT WAS GOING TO LEAD ME TO THE 210W FREEWAY. AS I TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND THEN FROZE UP AND WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO DO A FULL TURN. I WAS FORCED TO MAKE THE WIDEST TURN POSSIBLE. AFTER THE CAR STRAIGHTENED OUT IT WAS GOING SMOOTHLY AGAIN. HOWEVER, BECAUSE I AM 8 1/2 MONTHS PREGNANT I FELT SCARED AND DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE TO ENTER THE FREEWAY. SO, I TURNED AROUND TO TAKE THE STREETS HOME. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF MY RADIO AND SAID "TURNING OFF AUDIO TO SAFE BATTERY". I WAS CONFUSED AS TO WHY I WOULD GET THIS MESSAGE BECAUSE I HAD APPROXIMATELY 97% CHARGE. THEN EVERYTHING MINUTE OR SO THE RADIO WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. NOT TOO LONG AFTER CONTINUING ON THE STREETS THE CAR MADE A CONTINUOUS ALARM SOUND FOLLOWED BY A MESSAGE THAT SAID "PULL OVER SAFELY. RIGHT NOW!" THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE CURVE WHICH WAS, HOWEVER, PAINTED RED AND TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS, WHICH HAPPENED TO FLICKER THE ENTIRE TIME. KEEP IN MIND IT WAS LATER IN THE EVENING SO IT WAS DIFFICULT TO NOTICE THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND MY HUSBAND. I THEN CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED ME TO HAVE THE CAR TAKEN TO THEM. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SHOWED UP ABOUT 90 MINUTES LATER AND TOWED MY CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10726342

Jun 10, 2015Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

WHILE PULLING OUT FROM STOP SIGN ON TWO OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE LOST DRIVE POWER. A WRENCH APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT SAID SERVICE. HAD I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF AN APPROACHING VEHICLE I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AND THIS ISSUE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALER AND THEY AGREED THE ISSUE WAS A SERIOUS ISSUE HOWEVER SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING SINCE AND ERROR CODE WAS NOT GENERATED. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO GET THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ODI 10724651

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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 →