What 1,017 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Focus

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the fuel tank was cracked and leaking fuel. The fuel warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 246,000.

NHTSA ODI 11745580

Engine Stalls: the engine stalls unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds and city/street speeds. Loss Of Power: Sudden loss of motive power creates an immediate crash hazard. Starting Issues: the car struggles to start or cranks excessively after refueling. Erratic Fuel Guage: The fuel gauge fluctuates wildly and gives inaccurate readings. Malfunction Indicator: The Check Engine Light is illuminated with emission-related codes. Fuel Tank Noise: Loud clunking or thumping noises come from the fuel tank area. The problem began in September 2025 and I took the car to a local mechanic and they fixed the issued, however the issue has started again. The fix did not solve the problems.

NHTSA ODI 11744949

After my car was left on idle for a couple minutes ( about 5), it began to shake, the check engine light came on, then it completely died. When I went to restart it, it stalled and then finally turned on but when I began to take off it began to shake and died on me again while driving. I was left in the middle of rode. I put my blinkers on and had to leave my car off for a couple minutes so it would restart again. Then I pulled over to the side so I wouldn’t be in harm’s way. My mechanic believes there is something wrong with thee fuel pressure system whether it be a fuel pump or a fuel pressure sensor.

NHTSA ODI 11723164

I am in possession of Recall18S32/NHTSA recall18V-735 notice that has not been repaired but it is not showing up on my VIN and Model lookup.

NHTSA ODI 11707118

Car is stalling at low speed and losing power. Does not do it at high speed. Occasional check engine light. Will start surging. This is a know issue with the Ford Focus and Ford has issued a Customer Satisfaction Program 24N07. They refuse to honor the program unless you keep paying them for diagnostic work until the code shows up for it. I have ran the codes myself on it and it is fuel related to the Canister Purge Valve. This issue is very dangerous in that the car does stall out on the road with no warning. I have had this issue with the car for several years and have received the CSP letter but cannot get the work done. The issue happened 3 times yesterday, 11-5-2025.

NHTSA ODI 11697879

To Whom It May ConcernI am writing regarding the fuel system recall on my 2015 Ford Focus (VIN: [XXX] ), specifically related to Recall Number 18S32 / NHTSA Campaign Number 18V735000, which involves the canister purge valve, a required PCM software update, and inspection of the gas tank. This recall was started at a Ford dealership in Two Harbors Minnesota which I paid cash in December 2022. The problem consisted with many inconveniences in side of the road break downs. I had the recall serviced again in 2024 in Blythe CA at Ford where the purge valve was supposedly replaced, but the software update was never completed by that Ford because they claimed that the update was done in Parker AZ around 2022. The gas tank was not inspected for damage. My car is stalling in the middle of driving leaving me in grave danger since this happens on the freeway in Las Vegas, in the middle of nowhere in the desert and has done so in below zero degree in Minnesota all while I have my two small children in the car with me. This jeopardizes myself and children’s lives by stranding us in unknown places and weather elements that are harass or stalling on freeway not allowing me enough warning to get to the side of the road which could cause someone to hit my car from behind at a high rate. The full recall has not been performed. I bought this faulty car in Parker AZ which it should have never been sold with this problem jeapordizong my family’s life. The fuel tank has never been inspected either. Recent: The car keeps dying in traffic in Las Vegas traffic. I paid to have it towed to a dealership which is harassing me and not fixing the car with excuse after excuse such as the car isn’t under recall and the battery terminal needs to be cleaned. Their excuses are petty when it comes to my vehicle, continuously stalling in the middle of traffic in Las Vegas on a busy freeway due to your recall that has not been completed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11677685

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.

NHTSA ODI 11640849

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.

NHTSA ODI 11631974

This vehicle stalls while driving due to a faulty purge solenoid inspected by Pep Boys mechanic. There was a recall on the ford focus in 2018 18V735000(recall number) I purchased this vehicle in 2023 with no known recalls. This issue occurred September 2024 I paid for the repair two weeks ago and now the same issue is existing. There were no warning lights displayed when the car stalled while driving. My safety and the safety of my child is at risk being that the vehicle stalls while driving which is could be the cause for accidents and or collisions

NHTSA ODI 11618301

There was already a recall performed on the vehicle for the purge valve being stuck open and a gas tank deformation. fast forward a few years and now the same issue is happening to the "repaired" parts. What are my options to have this recall correctly repaired?

NHTSA ODI 11612306

Clutch was replaced already 1 time now it’s bad again also the tmi was replaced 2 times since I’ve had the car it has 126000 miles

NHTSA ODI 11602479

This car has had repeated issues rough idle after fueling for years. Replacing the oxygen sensor did not resolve the problem. The dealer resetting the car's computer did not resolve the problem. I recently had to replace the canister purge valve (CPV) after the car began stalling after fueling. This resolved the idle issue. I noticed Ford recalled CPVs on Ford Focuses built in Michigan (as mine was) between 2012-2018 (GDI) and before 2017 (GTDI); however, my car was excluded from this recall. Can you please investigate to determine if there are additional vehicles which also received defective parts for which the cost to replace them should be covered? Thank you.

NHTSA ODI 11600063

What happened? I purchased a 2015 Ford Focus from Carvana in November 2022 with about 70,000 miles on it. Since then, the vehicle has experienced numerous and severe mechanical failures. The engine mount and transmission mount have both failed and required replacement. Additionally, the rotors, Transmission Control Module (TCM), and clutch have all needed to be replaced, with the clutch failing five times throughout the car's history. Despite extensive repairs costing upwards of $7,000, the issues persist. Most Recently,The vehicle was subsequently towed to a Ford dealership after replacing the clutch for the 6th time in vehicle history. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The components that failed include the engine mount, transmission mount, rotors, Transmission Control Module (TCM), clutch, and evap purge system. These components are available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The frequent mechanical failures and replacements, particularly of critical components like the TCM and clutch, have compromised the reliability and safety of the vehicle, posing a significant risk during operation. The vehicle's tendency to stall while driving or idling increases the risk of accidents, potentially leading to rear-end or T-bone collisions. Yes, the problems have been confirmed and addressed by both a dealer and independent service centers. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has been inspected by independent service centers and possibly by the dealer. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, there were no check engine lights or warning lights prior to the failures. The issues began appearing shortly after the purchase in November 2022.

NHTSA ODI 11589455

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the transmission unintendedly shifted in to neutral(N). The check engine warning was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed transmission clutch failure and the fuel pressure sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 94,946.

NHTSA ODI 11589174

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The battery and low oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the canister purge valve. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 92,000.

NHTSA ODI 11587320

It’s a 2015 ford focus 1.0 eco boost 6 speed manual. It studders and shakes and stalls at random while driving. It only has 78000 miles on it and I just bought this car from some punk kid. Shakes the car violently as well.

NHTSA ODI 11583795

Stopped to get gas. Turned off engine. After filling up gas tank, car would not start, or crank/turn over. No check engine light has been on, no warning lights. Disconnected battery for about fifteen min. Car started up. Took it to shop, they changed out the evap Purge system. It failed when they tested it so they changed that out. Car did not stall when they test drove it. Car stalled two more times. Once when accelerating from a red light, and second time when just sitting in idle. Car just shuts itself off but the radio stays on. This is such a safety hazard because of the fact that not only does it stall in the middle of me driving But I’m very lucky I didn’t get rear ended or T boned because of this. So I thought this issue was fixed but obviously not. After the last time it stalled after getting it fixed, I then had it towed to a Ford dealership. I know this has been a recall on other Ford focuses. For some reason not mine which is a 2015 Focus. Last year I had to have the TCM fixed which was a recall so that was free however then they tell me that my clutch went bad at 60k miles? I shelled out almost $3k for that nonsense. Now This stalling it constantly Day after day at 75k miles? Thanks a lot FORD. Take your piece of [XXX] back and issue this a recall. Either way it’s Ford’s fault and should pay for this safety issue for free. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11583930

The EVAP system has failed and has resulted in drivability issues. It is available for inspection if needed. The problem has been confirmed by an independent service provider with a full diagnostic exam. There is a P0420 and P1450 code on the car. There have been issues with the distance to empty on the car. Sometimes it says I have 290 miles to empty or 400 miles to empty when I fully fill up my car with gas. *There is a Ford Focus recall (Recall #[XXX]) which covers the exact issues I’m having with this car, but the car is not included in this recall. It is even from the same manufacture plant in Michigan.* INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11583587

When the engine is hot, it stalls and stops after starting. and this happens several times a day. There was a situation when the engine stopped in the middle of the road near an elementary school, which hampered the flow of traffic. Also, when refueling, the cutoff on the filling hose is constantly activated. two faults occur regularly

NHTSA ODI 11555963

I just bought this car 2 months ago after saving for a whole year. I’ve been having problems week into the purchase due to the transmission. My car has been overheating with the transmission (almost every 4 miles), going on limp mode (when pressing the gas), jerking (while driving), not reversing and not starting right away. Im trying my hardest to get on my feet after a being in a domestic abuse relationship that affected my and my daughters life. I just want to get my baby back and fourth from school. So I BEG you to approve the transmission recall for Ford Focus. PLEASE!!!

NHTSA ODI 11549037

We are experiencing the fuel tank evaporate issue where car shuts off while driving. We were not recalled specifically but now have car in shop waiting on the recall to be reopened as the conditions match the issue under the recall. We have had 3 incidents that could have ended up in a collision as car abruptly shuts down. This is related to the evap fuel tank and sensor issues reported in the original recall. Our vehicle apparently had the programming updated during a past service visit but obviously has not corrected this issue. This vehicle has also had the transmission recall done shortly after purchase and transmission still acts up on occasion. Not happy with the current issue as it is a potential death trap when car shuts off for no reason.

NHTSA ODI 11545503

I’ve been having issues with my automatic clutch transmission since I’ve bought this vehicle. There has been numerous repairs done but the company tells me they aren’t responsive on covering another. It causes the car to jerk when accelerating aggressively and has almost caused a wreck. It has been confirmed by the dealership. No warning signs with this. First started to appear a few months after buying the vehicle and then upon repair the issue would return I few months after the fact and the dealership would not help.

NHTSA ODI 11541275

ALL OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH Campaign/NHTSA#18S32/18V735 (Issue Date 2018-10-22) OCCURRED AGAIN WITH 5 TEENAGERS IN THE CAR, SOUTHBOUND ON I-65 BETWEEN OHIO AND FLORIDA, CAUSING THE CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP! THIS KNOWN PROBLEM/FORD RECALL SYSTEMS FAILURE REPEATED JUST 3 YEARS AFTER REMEDIATION/RECALL, STRANDING 5 TEENAGERS ON THE TENNESSEE-ALABAMA LINE FOR 2 DAYS AND THEN REQUIRING AN EXPENSIVE TOW TO FLORIDA (FOR VACATION) AND THEN AGAIN HOME (BECAUSE IT WAS NOT CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED AT THE FORD SERVICE CENTER IN FLORIDA)! THE FORD DEALERSHIPS/SERVICE CENTERS IN Panama City, FL STATED THERE WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM WHICH COULDN'T BE FIXED THERE FOR OVER TWO WEEKS, SO THE CAR WAS TOWED TO OHIO. HERE, THE FORD SERVICE CENTER IN WCH, OHIO ([XXX}) DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT PARTS AND LABOR FOR: " FUEL PUMP, O-RING, NEW FUEL TANK AND VAPOR TUBE/PURGE VALVE ON ENGINE FOR 'STUCK OPEN VALVES' 'NOT PULLING FUEL' AND COLLAPSE OF THE FUEL TANK ITSELF.' $1248.47 P/L + TAXES + TOWING X2 + $150 DIAGNOSTIC EVAL. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME SCENARIO AS THE OCTOBER 2018 FUEL TANK DEFORMATION RECALL Campaign/NHTSA#18S32/18V735. THIS CAR HAD THE REQUIRED RECALL PERFORMED IN MARCH 2020 AT LEBANON FORD ([XXX]) IN LEBANON, OHIO, BUT JUST 3 YEARS LATER, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN, PUTTING 5 TEENAGERS AT GRAVE RISK (WHILE TRAVELING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS OF 65-70MPH)--TWO OF WHOM WERE MY DAUGHTERS! I WOULD LIKE THIS SYSTEM RE-EVALUATED AND A NEW RECALL/REMEDIATION ISSUED IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT PASSENGERS/FORD DRIVERS/OTHERS ON THE ROAD WITH THIS PROBLEMATIC CAR MODEL/YEAR! “INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”

NHTSA ODI 11538763

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V515000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked, and the RPM fluctuated. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the purge valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.

NHTSA ODI 11536351

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle eventually resumed normal operation and was driven to the residence. The contact informed the dealer of the failure by phone and informed the dealer that NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) recall repair had not been performed. The dealer researched and confirmed that the recall repair was not completed. The dealer stated the vehicle was only inspected. The dealer advised the contact to contact the manufacturer for approval to reopen the recall on the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to see if there could be an investigation. The failure mileage was approximately 163,000.

NHTSA ODI 11535425