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What 842 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 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 (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)

428 of 842 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 13 of 18

Jul 21, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR SHUTTERS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FIXED IT AT LEAST 3 TIMES AND THEY SAY THERES NOTHING FOR ME TO DO BUT TO KEEP REPAIRING IT AND ONCE I DONT HAVE A WARRANTY THE MONEY WILL GO OUT OF MY POCKET.

NHTSA ODI 11340795

Jul 17, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION ON A STREET AND THE CAR BEGINS IN MOTION, IT HAS A SLUGGISH AND JERKY START. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTO MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT NEEDED A NEW DUAL CLUTCH IN THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11339952

Jul 15, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS WHEN I ACCELERATE. IT ALSO SHUDDERS WHEN ACCELERATING AND TURNING SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT AFFECTED FORD FOCUSES BUILT IN 2012-2016 VEHICLES. IT OCCURS MOSTLY WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. IT HAS OCCURED THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE (CURENTLY ~20K MILES DRIVEN). THIS ISSUE IS STILL ONGOING.

NHTSA ODI 11339543

Jun 26, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR SHAKE WHEN DRIVING,AT TIMES THE PUT NEW CLICHES LAST YEAR BUT STILL DO IT BUT WHEN YOU TAKE IT BACK ,THE SAY IT DOESN'T SHOW A CODE .I BOUT THE CAR BRAND NEW 3 YRS. AGO AND I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING OFF AND ON. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM,THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT,BUT IT HAVE TO SHOW A CODE,THAT WHY THEY REPLACED NEW CLICHES. BUT IS STILL DOING IT ALONE WITH A NOISY SOUND. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331024

Jun 25, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

MY CAR DROPS INTO NEUTRAL BETWEEN GEARS WHEN CHANGING GEARS AS I AM DRIVING, LEADING TO A LACK OF ACCELERATION. AT TIMES CAR LURCHES FORWARD AND SHIFTS JERKILY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STARTING TO PULL OFF FROM A RED LIGHT AND IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330735

Jun 11, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IT IS A 2017 AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. OTHER 2017 FORD FOCUS' ARE UNDER RECALL FOR THIS BUT MY PARTICULAR CAR ISN'T FOR WHATEVER REASON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328301

Jun 6, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

MY VEHICLE HAS STARTED EXCESSIVELY SHAKING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY JUST ABOUT 56K MILES. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327567

Jun 3, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

IT'S THE SAME TRANSMISSION THAT'S IN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND I GOT THE SAME PROBLEMS IN MY 2017 FORD FOCUS SE AND FORD IS STILL TRYING TO CHARGE ME $2,600 TO REPAIR IT. BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR 3 MONTHS DURING THIS PANDEMIC, BUT AIN'T MISSED A PAYMENT SO PAYING FOR IT TO SIT OUT FRONT THE HOUSE. TOOK IT TO FORD AND SAID ITS CLUTCH ACTUATOR AND AGAIN $2,600. MY BATTERY DIED AND MY TRANSMISSION GOES OUT, BEATS ALL I EVER HEARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327045

May 15, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK WHEN MOVING FORWARD. I HAVE TO GET UNDERNEATH THE PEDAL AND RETURN IT BACK TO NEUTRAL SPOT WITH MY TOES. ENGINE JERKS WHEN FUEL GETS TO 1/4 TANK. ONCE AFTER A TRIP TO THE GROCERY STORE, GAS PEDAL STAYED STUCK AFTER PLACING IT IN PARK. RPM'S WERE ABOVE 2000. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324621

May 15, 2020Fuel systemTransmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MOVING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V515000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11324630

May 8, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR SPUTTERS WHILE ACCELERATING SOMETIMES THE ENGINE BOGS ALL THE WAY DOWN WHICH MAY CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION DUE TO THE ENGINE NOT BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE POWER DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION SPUTTERING. I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK IN 2017 BRAND NEW IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI AND A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER I GOT THE CAR I STARTED SEEING THOSE PROBLEMS I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THERE IS NO PENDING RECALLS ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE RELATED TO MY DRIVETRAIN. I'VE HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS AND IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 28000 MILES ON IT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS A MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY ON IT BUT I DON'T WANT TO BOTHER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TO GET THE RUNAROUND HOW ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLY WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323911

Apr 28, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR SHAKES AND SHUTTERS AND HAS CUT OFF BEFORE.

NHTSA ODI 11322492

Apr 10, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR IS SLIPPING. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW OFF THE LOT, I WAS TOLD THE JERKING IN THE CAR WAS NORMAL FOR THE TYPE IT IS. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11320755

Apr 8, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN I GO TO TAKE OFF IT SHUDDERS REALLY BAD AND TRANS FEELS LIKE OTS SLIPPING

NHTSA ODI 11320511

Apr 3, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

2017 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE AND VIBRATE WHEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11320552

Mar 21, 2020SteeringTransmission & drivetrainEngine

ON OUR WAY BACK FROM FLORIDA I SMELT BURNING COOLANT I LOOKED AND IT WAS LOW SO I FILLED IT UP AS WE WERE DOWN THE STREET FROM OUR HOUSE THE SMELL GOT WORSE I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR SHOOK, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING THEN CAME ON AND I LOST STEERING CONTROL AND POWER I PULLED OVER SAFELY AND TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT START. I POPPED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS COOLANT ALL OVER THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION. 2 HR LATER THE VEHICLE STILL WON'T EVEN TURN OVER.

NHTSA ODI 11318896

Mar 17, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN WHEN THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO GO FORWARD, THE RPMS JUST IDLED AS THE ENGINE REVVED BUT I COULDN'T DRIVE FORWARD, THEN THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD, AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN NEUTRAL. AFTER IT JUMPED FORWARD IT BEGAN MAKING A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND LOST CONTROL, ALMOST DRIVING STRAIGHT INTO ANOTHER CAR. I THEN PROCEEDED TO PULL OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR, THEN IT MADE THESE LOUD CLICKING NOISES AND THE EMERGENCY TRANSMISSION LIGHT FLASHED RED AND SAID 'TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING, STOP AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE.' I LEFT THE CAR SIT FOR 2 AM HOUR, THEN WENT TO TURN IT ON AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT ONLY MADE THE TICKING NOISE AGAIN. AFTER TRYING TO START IT 3 TIMES, IT FINALLY TURNED ON, BUT CONTINUED TO GET STUCK AS THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT AS I LEFT MY HOUSE AND GOT ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS ON THE INCLINED ON-RAMP EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN DRIVE. ONCOMING TRAFFIC SWERVED AROUND MY IMMOBILE CAR AS I PANICKED AND FLOORED THE GAS PETAL. IT FINALLY LUNGED FORWARD, SECONDS BEFORE A SEMI CAME BARRELING THROUGH THE LANE. I GOT IT TO THE DEALER AS IT FLASHED THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING LIGHT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AS WELL EACH TIME. THE CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES PRIOR TO THIS, FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND MULTIPLE RECALLS. EACH TIME I TOOK IT TO GET SERVICED, IT GOT WORSE. WHEN I FINALLY PICKED IT UP, I COULDN'T EVEN GET IT HOME BECAUSE IT BROKE DOWN HALF A MILE AWAY. THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENT REFUSED TO DO ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEARLY KILLED ME. THEY PRINTED ME THE PAPERS STATING THE CLUTCH, ACTUATORS A & B, THE T/O BEARING, AND ANOTHER PART NEED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WILL COST ME $1800. IN OTHER WORDS, I HAVE TO PAY THEM JUST SO I DON'T DIE IN FORDS FAULTY CAR

NHTSA ODI 11318392

Mar 17, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

MY 2017 FORD FOCUS IS SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HESITATING TO FIND THE RIGHT GEAR, JOLTING FORWARD WILL DRIVING AND AT A STOP, LOSING POWER DUE TO SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL, AND REVS UP TO SIX THOUSAND R.P.M.'S WHILE TRYING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP. IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN ORDER FOR MY WIFE TO TRANSPORT THE KIDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL.

NHTSA ODI 11318507

Mar 15, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

CONSTANT SHUDDER NOISE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND I WAS TOLD 'I HAD THE BEST LATEST AND GREATEST CLUTCH IN MY CAR.' I OWN MY CAR NOW AND I DON'T WANT IT. EVERY TIME YOU EXCEL FROM A STOP THE NOISE IS PRESENT.

NHTSA ODI 11318103

Mar 5, 2020SteeringTransmission & drivetrainAirbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND RANDOMLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER SUNSET FORD (11700 GRAVOIS RD, ST. LOUIS MO) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. RECENTLY WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.*DT*JB*DT*TP

NHTSA ODI 11316396

Feb 25, 2020Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

MY CAR HAS A HARD TIME SHIFT AUTOMATICALLY AND MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATES WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. IT ALSO FALLS OUT OF PARK A LOT WHEN ON AN INCLINE AND STARTS TO ROLL BACKWARD. I NEARLY HIT A CAR BEHIND ME BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE INCLINE WASN'T STEEP. I FOUND OUT THAT THE 2016 MODELS HAD THE SAME ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE DSP6 TRANSMISSION. I ALSO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE EVAP CANISTER NOW WHICH IS CAUSING MY CAR FUEL EMISSION ISSUES AND PERFORMANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11311473

Feb 19, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD WHEN IT FINALLY ENGAGES. THE CAR VIBRATES AND SHUTTERS AND FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. WHEN I CHANGE LANES ON THE FREEWAY IT DOES NOT RESPOND AND FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS REVVING AND THEN IT KICKS IN AND JUMPS FORWARD. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I AM SITTING IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TO GIVE LOTS OF ROOM IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE WHEN I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR IT DOESN'T GO AT FIRST AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. I'M AFRAID OF GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT. SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN CORNERS IT ALSO SHAKES AND FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. I HAVE HAD THE CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION REPLACED THREE TIMES SO FAR IN THE 28 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. FORD REFUSES TO BUY MY CAR BACK EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT IS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11310135

Feb 9, 2020Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

RECALL 18S32 I AM RESPONDING ON BEHALF OF [XXX] WHO HAS BEEN MY SONS GIRLFRIEND FOR 16 YEARS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO COLLEY FORD, 1945 AUTO CENTER DR. GLENDORA CA DECEMBER 19,2018 FOR THE RECALL. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED PCM CLEARED ALL CNDTCS. PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO COLLEY FORD ON NOVEMBER 11, 2019 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. COLLEY FORD STATED THEY CAN NOT REPAIR THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY SINCE UNDER THE VIN IT SHOWS A REPAIR WAS ALREADY DONE. TO DATE FORD HAS NOT SENT [XXX] A PARTS ARE AVAILABLE NOTICE. SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS. BEST REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11308051

Feb 3, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE (IN A JERKING, FORWARD AND BACK MOTION), AND STRUGGLE TO ACCELERATE. IT WOULD MAKE THIS NOISE, LIKE GEARS GRINDING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH. FOR ABOUT A WEEK, IT WAS FINE. THEN IT STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. IT WILL JERK BACK AND FORTH WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP (AT A STOPLIGHT FOR EXAMPLE). RECENTLY, I HAVE BEEN LOSING GAS VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE IT WILL GO ALL THE WAY PAST 4RPMS JUST TO GET FROM 0-20MPH. I'M NOT SURE IF THE WARRANTY IS STILL ON IT, BUT IT ONLY HAS 12,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ONLY MADE ONE VERY BIG TRIP WITH IT, TO KANSAS AND BACK TO VIRGINIA. IT DOES THIS OFF AND ON EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE IT. I HAVE TO DRIVE ANYWHERE FROM 25 MINUTES TO AN HOUR FOR WORK, SO THIS IS REALLY NOT CONVENIENT TO HAVE. MULTIPLE TIMES I WAS WORRIED IT WOULD BREAK DOWN AS I STRUGGLED TO KEEP IT FROM OVERDOING ITSELF WHILE ACCELERATING. A FEW TIMES, I COULD SMELL SOMETHING LIKE EXHAUST IN THE VENTS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE COURSE OF 6 MONTHS AND HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE, EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND HAVING THEM TELL ME IT WAS "FIXED."

NHTSA ODI 11306746

Feb 2, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

OUR CAR WAS LOOKED AT JULY 2019 AND THE RECALL WAS NOT FIXED BUT THEY KNEW ABOUT IT FROM YOUR RECORDS. AND WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE ON ACCELERATING SPITTING AND SPUTTERING AND TODAY ME AND MY FAMILY WERE OUT SHOPPING AND WE WERE DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND THE CAR JUST WOULD NOT GO THE GAS WAS NOT WORKING WE COULDNT MOVE AND WE TURNED IT OFF AND STARTING DRIVING AGAIN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND IT WASNT ON BEFORE THIS. I AM VERY MAD THAT THIS RECALL WAS OVER LOOKED BECAUSE MY FAMILYS LIFE COULDNT HAD BEEN TAKEN IF THIS HAPPENED ON A FREEWAY OR INTERSTATE. SO WE HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP JOHNSON CITY FORD, TN 37602 AND THEY WERE CLOSED TODAY BUT TOMORROW I AM GOING TO CONFRONT THEM ABOUT THIS AND IM REACHING OUT TO U GUYS TO INSURE THIS WILL GET FIXED OF NO CHARGE AND FIXED RIGHT! THANK U.

NHTSA ODI 11306596

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Working with the data? Download all 842 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 2017 Ford Focus RS verdict →