Home · 2017 Ford Focus Bev · Complaints

What 842 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Focus Bev

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 (842)Crash / fire / injury (22)Transmission & drivetrain (428)Engine (206)Fuel system (169)Engine & cooling (70)Speed control (37)Electrical system (36)Steering (20)Airbags (15)Brakes (9)Lights (9)

Newest first · 842 complaints · page 31 of 34

Jun 21, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

6-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, CLUNKS AND RATTLES WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. HAS HAPPENED EVERY DAY SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11221740

Jun 20, 2019Engine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY JUST GETTING OFF ONTO THE OFF RAMP WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT, OIL LIGHT AND WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON. THE ENGINE LOST COMPRESSION INSTANTLY AND REDUCED SPEED DOWN TO 30 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11221585

Jun 18, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT INCLUDE HESITATING, SHUTTERING, AND WHAT FEELS TO BE CLUTCH SLIPPING WITH THEIR "NEW" DOUBLE CLUTCH TRANSMISSION. THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP AND USUALLY SHUTTERS THE WHOLE CAR THROUGH 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR. ALONG WITH THE HESITATION AND VIOLENT SHUTTERING I'M WORRIED TO DRIVE MY CAR THAT HAS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE HEARD OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG AND HOW TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI 11220966

Jun 17, 2019Speed controlEngineFuel system

FORD FOCUS RECALL #18S35, NHTSA RECALL #18V-735 IT HAS BEEN OVER SIX ( 6 ) MONTHS AND STILL NO REMEDY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY ELDERLY MOTHER SHOULD WAIT THIS LONG.

NHTSA ODI 11220587

Jun 17, 2019Engine

THERE IS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE ENGINE AGAIN. I THE TRANSMISSION FOR MY 2013 FORD FOCUS HAD THIS SAME RECALL AND I WENT IN TO GET IT FIXED BY FORD CAMPBELL IN NILES, MICHIGAN. THEY TOOK APART THE TRANSMISSION AND EXPECTED ME TO PAY $2000 TO FIX IT WHEN THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION, TO BEGIN WITH. I HATE THIS MODEL AND I AM SICK OF CONSTANTLY HAVING RECALLS ON THIS MODEL. I THINK ANYONE WITH THIS MODEL SHOULD HAVE THEIR CAR REPLACED WITH A BETTER MODEL THAT WON'T HAVE A RECALL ON IT AND SHOULDN'T HAVE THE LOAN ROLLED OVER.

NHTSA ODI 11220708

Jun 15, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS FREQUENTLY. ITS A REOCCURRING ISSUE EVERY TIME I DRIVE AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 30K MILES ON IT, THE CAR DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH THE SELECT SHIFT MODE AND IT HAS BEEN DOING IT SINCE I GOT THE CAR, IT MAKES THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR SHAKE (NOT VIOLENTLY ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CAR STEER OUT OF CONTROL). I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AND CANT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE, BUT ITS A WELL KNOWN THAT THE FORD POWERSHIFT TRANSMISSION IS TERRIBLE, BASICALLY THE ISSUE IS NOT COMMON ENOUGH TO NEED REPLACING SO I'M JUST STUCK WITH A POOR TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11220273

Jun 13, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

OCCASIONALLY THE TRANSMISSION MIS-SHIFTS OR SLIPS VIOLENTLY. OCCASIONALLY IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS TRYING TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT ACCELERATOR INPUT. EXAMPLE 1: I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND SOMEONE ACCIDENTALLY MERGED INTO MY LANE WHERE I WAS. I BRAKED AS I GOT OVER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I THEN TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE RPM WENT TO AROUND 8000. THE CAR DIDN'T ACCELERATE, IN FACT IT FELT LIKE IT WAS CONTINUING TO SLOW. MY FOOT WASN'T ON THE BRAKE, THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE IN A NEUTRAL STATE. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME HAD CAUGHT UP TO ME AND HAD TO VEER INTO THE FURTHEST LEFT LANE TO AVOID ME. AFTER RELEASING THE GAS AND PRESSING IT AGAIN THE CAR FELT LIKE IT FELL INTO THE CORRECT GEAR AND IT ACCELERATED. EXAMPLE 2: MY WIFE AND I WERE OUT AND WE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND EASED UP TO AVOID THAT LURCH FEELING AS I CAME TO A FULL STOP. THE CAR LUNGED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO DRIVE ITSELF. THIS WAS A VERY SHORT TIME FRAME BUT IT WAS STILL TERRIFYING. I HAD MY WIFE IN THE CAR, SHE SAID SHE HAS EXPERIENCED THAT A FEW TIMES. EXAMPLE 3: WHEN ACCELERATING FROM FULL STOPS THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY HESITATES TO GO. THE ENGINE RPM WILL GO UP BUT THE CAR WILL SIT STILL OR BARELY MOVE AND JERK ABOUT. LUCKILY NONE HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS BUT IN ALL SITUATIONS THE ONLY REASON THERE WASN'T ONE WAS BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE REACTED QUICKLY ENOUGH. THE VEHICLE THAT SWERVED TO AVOID, THE DRIVER BEHIND ME NOT GOING JUST BECAUSE MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OFF AND NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ODI 11219712

Jun 12, 2019Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11219562

Jun 12, 2019

WHEN ENGINE WARMS UP AND YOU ARE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, STOP SIGN, ANYWHERE THE CAR COMES TO A FULL STOP AND YOU THEN PROCEED TO HIT THE GAS ONCE IT HITS AROUND 16-20 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FRONT END OF THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT STARTS STUTTERING AND JERKING HEAVILY. ONCE YOU GET OVER ABOUT 20-21MPH IT STOPS. THIS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE STREET, HIGHWAY, ANYWHERE THE CAR COMES TO A FULL STOP THEN GOES. HAPPENS EVERYDAY ONCE THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION WARMS UP SOME.

NHTSA ODI 11219636

Jun 11, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR AND/OR SMOKE FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT HAD A FIFTEEN DAY WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEIR PAPERWORK INDICATED A NINETY DAY WARRANTY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ODI 11219355

Jun 9, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlFuel system

ANYTIME I TRY TO MAKE ANY SORT OF TURN IN THIS VEHICLE, TRYING TO ACCELERATE INTO THE TURN I ESSENTIALLY GET STALLED OUT EVEN THOUGH THE GAS PEDAL IS ENGAGED AND TRYING TO POWER THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THE TURN. IT BECOMES A DANGEROUS ASPECT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT STARTS TO BECOME BUSY ON A MAIN CITY STREET AND THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO WHILE TRYING TO MAKE THE TURN. MY VEHICLE CAN START TO MAKE THE TURN AND THEN START TO STALL OUT AS I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN, AND THEN IT WILL SIT THERE FOR A SECOND UNTIL THERE ARE INBOUND CARS COMING AND THEN IT'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE THE TURN AFTER STALLING FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. IT'S BECOME A CONCERN BECAUSE IT NOW COMES DOWN TO WAITING UNTIL THE ROADWAY IS EMPTY AND FULL TO MAKE A SAFE TURN. ON TOP OF THAT, IF I'M GOING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 8 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR, MY CAR STARTS TO STUTTER AT LOW SPEEDS. NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE CASES FOR THAT, BUT IT HAS RAISED SOME EYEBROWS AND SOME CONCERNS TO MYSELF WITH THAT BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF IT STARTS TO STUTTER AND STALLS OUT COMPLETELY OR DISABLES THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE SECOND HATCHBACK I'VE PURCHASED THROUGH FORD, AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER HAD ANY SORT OF ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. I JUST DON'T WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN WHILE I'M DRIVING OR TRYING TO MAKE ANY SORT OF TURNS FROM A MAIN STREET TO A SIDE STREET INSTALL OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY AND POSSIBLY GET HIT FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ESPECIALLY GOING THROUGH ANY SORT OF SCHOOL ZONES WHEN IT'S CLEARLY MARKED TO GO 15 MILES AN HOUR OR BELOW. I WOULD RECOMMEND LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS HAPPENED VERY FREQUENTLY WITH A FEW OTHER 2017 FOCUS'S.

NHTSA ODI 11218806

Jun 7, 2019Fuel system

HAD A RECALL FOR A FUEL TANK ISSUE. THE FORD DEALERSHIP PERFORMED AND INSPECTION AND IT PASSED. NOTHING ELSE WAS DONE. NOW, I AM HAVING THE ISSUES WITH MY FUEL TANK AS NOTED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE INSPECTION PASSED, THE RECALL WAS CANCELLED AND FORD WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE HAS THEY NOTED IT ORIGINALLY. I HAD NO ISSUES WITH THE FUEL TANK UNTIL AFTER IT WAS INSPECTED BUT NOW FORD REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE THEY KNOW MY CAR HAS

NHTSA ODI 11218500

Jun 6, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE OCTOBER OF 2017, AND HAVE ALREADY HAD TO GET THE CLUTCH REPLACED ONCE. THIS IS THE SELECT SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND EVEN THOUGH FORD HAS REPLACED THE CLUTCH ONCE ALREADY, I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE CLUTCH SLIPPING WHICH IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUDDER/JERK WHEN GOING FROM FIRST TO SECOND (ACCELERATING). IT HAS STARTED OCCURRING MORE OFTEN THAN NOT AND I HAVE TAKEN THEN VEHICLE BACK INTO TO FORD MANY TIMES FOR THEM TO JUST TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE, AND THE SLIPPING IS 'NORMAL' FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. I DRIVE THIS CAR ON A DAILY BASIS TO AND FROM WORK AND WHAT IT IS DOING DOES NOT SEEM NORMAL. YOU CAN ALSO HEAR IT CLUNK WHEN DECELERATING WHEN APPROACHING INTERSECTIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11218240

Jun 6, 2019

REAR BACKUP CAMERA IMAGE IS SERIOUSLY DISTORTED AND IMAGES ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY SEE CONDITIONS BEHIND THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11218416

Jun 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 8 MONTHS AGO THERE WAS 5 RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE I WAS IN AWARE OF . SINCE I'VE FOUND OUT ABOUT THESE RECALLS THE LOCAL LINCOLN SHOP KEEPS INFORMING ME THAT FORD HAS NOT BEEN SENDING THEM THE REPLACEMENT PSRTS TO FIX MY VEHICLE I'VE CONTACTED FORD MULTIPLE TIMES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS JUNK OF A CAR . I'M PAYING FOR A CAR 30K FOR THIS 2017 AND IT'S SLOWLY BUT SURLY BREAKING DOWN THE CAR PUTTERS THERE'S A LOUD TICKING THE IDLING IS ROUGH THE CLUTCH AND COMPUTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR AND I NEVER USE THE MANUAL PART OF THIS VEHICLE I'M TO THE POINT TO WHERE I JUST WANT THEM TO BUY THIS TRASH BACK SO I CAN GET INTO SOMETHING BETTER AND MORE RELIABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11217279

May 31, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS AND SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE VIBRATIONS. HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED AT 34K. HAPPENJNG AGAIN. BROUGHT IT TO FORD , THEY REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION , 2 DAYS LATER HAPPENING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11217177

May 22, 2019Electrical systemEngine

A MONTH AGO I STARTED GETTING HIGH TEMPERATURE WARNING ON MY CAR, MY COOLANT WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY, SO I REFILLED IT, BUT NOW MY COOLANT IS COMPLETELY EMPTY AGAIN WHICH COULD HAVE RESULED IN A FIRE, I HAVE NO BEEN IN ANY RECENT ACCIDENTS, I'M A VERY DEFENSIVE DRIVER AND I DIDN'T RUN ANYTHING OVER.AND MY BACK BREAK LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT AND IVE REPLACED IT SEVERAL TIMES

NHTSA ODI 11209353

May 11, 2019Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

CAR WILL NOT START. WILL RESPOND TO A JUMP BUT WILL NOT START AFTER RUNNING FOR AWHILE AGAIN. THEN IT STARTS WITH A BIT OF HESITATION FOR AWHILE AND THEN BACK TO NEEDING A JUMP. WHEN AT A STOP AND ACCELERATING, THERE IS A HUGE PAUSE BEFORE THE RPMS KICK IN THEN IT GOES ALL THE WAY TO MAX BEFORE CALMING DOWN TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE. POWER JUST DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT. ALSO THE SYNC 3 HAS HORRIBLE RESPONSE AND DELAY MOST DAYS. IS IT RELATED TO THE POWER /ELECTRICAL ISSUE? NEW OWNER PURCHASED 2/19.

NHTSA ODI 11207003

May 9, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION SLIPS & SHUTTERS, GRINDS, & SOMETIMES WON'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI 11206585

Apr 26, 2019Fuel system

THE ENGINE TENDS TO STALL AT TIMES, HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS PEDAL TO KEEP IT RUNNING. CAR IN MOTION. HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES FOR ALMOST THE TIME WE BOUGHT IT.

NHTSA ODI 11203878

Apr 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE CAR ATTEMPTS TO SHIFFT FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR THERE IS A SHUTTER FEELING IN THE TRANSMISSION AND SOMETIMES A GRINDING SOUND, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING WHILE ACCELERATING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO HERTRICH FORD IN EASTON, MD TWICE NOW AND BOTH TIMES THEY SAY IT IS "WITHIN SPECS". THEY ALSO SAY THEY REPROGRAMMED SOMETHING. THE CAR HAS 29.000 MILES ON IT. NOW I'M HEARING WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A WHEEL BEARING THUMPING IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI 11203795

Apr 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW WITH ONLY 21 MILES ON IT, BRAND NEW AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITHIN 8MNTHS I HAD TO HAVE THE CLUTCH REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS SHUDDERING AND HESITATING ON ACCELERATION. BY NOVEMBER I WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN AND THE 3RD CLUTCH WAS PUT IN, NOW AGAIN JUST 5 MNTHS LATER THE CAR IS GETTING ITS 4TH CLUTCH . REPEAT ISSUE AND NO RESOLUTION. OTHER THAN LET THEM KEEP PUTTING CLUTCHES IN UNTIL MY WARRANTY DIES.

NHTSA ODI 11203212

Apr 22, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FOCUS. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO METRO FORD (9000 NW 7TH AVE, MIAMI, FL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. APPROXIMATELY 20 MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TAYLOR FORD (13500 TELEGRAPH RD, TAYLOR, MI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ODI 11202830

Apr 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrainBody & structure

ON 3/21/19 WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR OPENED. THE DOOR JUST POPPED OPEN, I WAS DRIVING IN AN INTERSECTION OF A BUSY STREET AND ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND I BARELY MISSED AN ACCIDENT. LUCKILY I WAS RIGHT BY A GAS STATION WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I REQUESTED THAT THE DEALERSHIP EXAMINE ALL 4 DOORS AS I WAS AFRAID THIS MIGHT RECUR. ON 4/14/19 THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED, ONLY THIS TIME IT WAS THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THE DOOR POPPED OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT SHUT. I TOOK THE CAR STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I WAS TOLD THIS COULD BE A CHILD SAFETY LOCK ISSUE, YET I DO NOT USE THIS FEATURE, AS I DO NOT HAVE SMALL CHILDREN. I HAVE REQUESTED THAT ALL LATCHES ON ALL DOORS BE REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I ALSO HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES (STALLING) WHICH DEALER STATES IS RESOLVED, AND AN ISSUE WITH THE GAS TANK THAT I WAS TOLD WAS A RECALL THEN NOT? WHAT IS IT? IS THE GAS TANK A RECALL OR NOT? ID MY CAR DEFECTIVE & SAFE TO DRIVE?

NHTSA ODI 11196606

Apr 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS HEAVILY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 1ST TO 3RD GEAR. SEEMS TO ONLY DO THIS WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARMED UP.

NHTSA ODI 11196718

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Working with the data? Download all 842 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 23, 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 2017 Ford Focus Bev verdict →