What 888 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Focus

While driving approximately 53 mph on a main road, my 2017 Ford Focus suddenly displayed the message “Engine Fault Service Now.” The vehicle immediately entered limp mode, downshifted into 2nd gear, and would not accelerate above approximately 31 mph. During the event, the engine shook noticeably and made abnormal noises. No check engine light appeared during this initial incident. This problem occurred multiple times over several days, most often when the fuel tank was below approximately half full. Each time, I was able to temporarily restore normal operation by shutting the vehicle off, waiting about one minute, and restarting it. After restarting, the vehicle would drive completely normally until the problem occurred again. A few days later, while sitting in my vehicle during a work break, I started the engine and it immediately entered limp mode without being driven. A check engine light then illuminated, and the engine stalled shortly afterward. The diagnostic trouble codes retrieved were: * P1674 (Stored, Pending, Permanent, and Enhanced) * U0100 (Enhanced ABS Code) A mechanic familiar with Ford vehicles suggested the symptoms could be related to the EVAP canister purge valve issue that has been investigated on similar Ford Focus models. He recommended keeping the fuel tank above half full as a test. Since keeping the fuel tank full, the limp mode condition has not reoccurred. I took the vehicle to a Ford dealership to have the purge valve issue evaluated. The dealership declined to perform any purge valve-related repairs because they believed the problem was transmission-related and stated the engine issue would need to be repaired first. I am submitting this report because the vehicle unexpectedly loses power while driving, creating a significant safety hazard when traveling at normal traffic speeds.

NHTSA ODI 11748428

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was turned off and restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) in 2019. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed, but the manufacturer confirmed the dealer's information. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11748475

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that occasionally while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power and hesitated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. An unknown warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact used an OBD-2 scanner and retrieved DTC: P00C6. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the VIN was not under recall. Upon further investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V515000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recalls. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11744707

UNKOWN my rpms rev up randomly I can’t shut my car off when I get gas and makes a raving up sound I can’t reverse

NHTSA ODI 11713453

I am reporting a dealership conduct issue that directly affected vehicle safety and caused financial loss. Valley Ford of Columbus, Ohio told me by phone that a specific safety-related part for my vehicle was in stock and available. Based on that representation, I traveled to the dealership and took time away from work. When I arrived, I was told the part was not available and had not been there. Shortly after this, I went out of town. During that time, Valley Ford stated they were unable to reach me. After returning, I again contacted Valley Ford and was once more told that the same safety-related part was available. I again traveled to the dealership, taking additional time off work, and once again was told upon arrival that the part was not available. This resulted in the same situation happening twice. Because of this repeated misinformation, I lost wages and hard-earned paid time off (PTO), was delayed in repairing my vehicle, and had to continue driving while waiting for a safety-related component I was told was available. I use my vehicle for work every day for approximately eight hours per day. Being forced to continue operating my vehicle without this safety-related repair places myself and other motorists at risk. After these incidents, I contacted Germain Ford of Columbus, Ohio in an effort to resolve the issue. I was informed that the same safety-related part could take up to eight weeks to become available. This extended delay has further prolonged my inability to complete necessary safety-related repairs and has continued to place me in a potentially unsafe driving situation. I believe this repeated misinformation and prolonged unavailability of a safety-related vehicle component is dangerous and unacceptable. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA is aware of the actions of Valley Ford of Columbus, Ohio and the ongoing delay reported by Germain Ford of Columbus, Ohio.

NHTSA ODI 11713003

Received recall notice 24N07 from Ford in December 2024, stating that we should get the canister purge valve replaced if the vehicle ever displayed any of the listed symptoms. The vehicle started displaying symptoms in April 2025. Brought the vehicle to Kruse Motors, Ford Service dealership in Marshall, MN. They replaced the canister purge valve. Shortly after this, the vehicle was still displaying symptoms of running out of gas, even though the gauge said it had 3/4 tank still. Continued to drive it for a few months, but continued to get worse and the car almost died a couple of times while driving at highway speeds. This could have caused an accident because the engine was stalling while still in gear, causing the vehicle to suddenly jerk and decrease speed rapidly. Brought the vehicle back to Kruse Motors, Ford Service dealership and they found that the fuel tank was collapsing. The technician stated that this was most likely caused by the canister purge valve malfunction that was part of the recall. Because of this, they submitted a request to Ford to replace the tank and any necessary parts and labor as a result of this damage. Ford responded saying that they will not cover this as it is not part of the recall. I appealed to Ford customer service explaining that the damage was caused by the recall but they still refused to do anything about it. The dealership gave me a quote for $2600 to repair the issue. Ford has created an unsafe situation by not replacing the necessary parts caused by the malfunctioning canister purge system.

NHTSA ODI 11696105

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while stopped at the bank drive-thru line, the vehicle stalled. After several attempts, the vehicle restarted. The failure was progressively worsening. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the fuel pump, AX Sender, and pump assembly, AA gasket, B sensor, and fuel injector pressure parts were replaced. The contact stated that on another occasion, while driving in heavy traffic at 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled with several warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that several months ago, on a separate occasion, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart, and the contact waited for approximately an hour before the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was taken to several dealers to be repaired. While an employee from one of the dealers was test-driving the vehicle, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that there were fuel vapors in the line, and that the high side sensor pressure dropped, and low side sensor pressure dropped. The vehicle was repaired. Most recently, the contact stated that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a claim. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 11685380

My car has been having on going issue with the canister purge valve causing my vehicle to stall I’ve had this replaced by an emissions approved mechanic and this issue still persists if the fuel isn’t above a half tank of gas it has stalled on highways and put me in dangerous conditions. I have been trying for years to resolve and I can’t

NHTSA ODI 11681772

I bought my car in early 2022 or 2023 and almost immediately the car started shuddering when accelerating. I took the vehicle in to the place I bought it from and one other Ford Dealer. Neither places could "duplicate the problem." Bith times I had to pay money just to have it looked at, and nothing was ever fixed. My horn keeps quitting and the shuddering has gotten so bad and now there are new issues like loss of power when accelerating. This car is starting to become a safety issue for me as I live in Washington State and the traffic here is very fast. I have almost been hit due to trying to pull out or merge and the car loses power or winds way out. I am a [XXX] who can't afford automotive bills. They will only give me $2700.00 as a trade in and I owe $12,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11677672

Ford oil pump tensioner belt failed

NHTSA ODI 11677025

Catastrophic engine failure, engine died and was unable to shift into gear My 16 year old daughter was driving on a busy highway when the engine died, causing her to stop completely on a 55 MPH road. She was unable to get the car into a gear to have it pushed to the side of the road and had to sit in the car with traffic flying by her until we could get a tow truck (approximately 30 minutes). She was unable to get out due to the traffic being so heavy. The vehicle had a limited warranty left on it, and it was towed to a facility where they diagnosed with blown head gasket and/or cracked cylinder head. It was towed to a dealership where it was discovered the car had an active recall that caused the engine failure. There was no warning signs previously.

NHTSA ODI 11676698

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle lost automotive power and shuddered abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the there was an unknown part in the fuel tank that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11659095

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and then stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle was running rough. The engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and 19V515000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failure was due to the fuel injectors. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that there was no recall coverage on the VIN for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11652069

I was getting off of work to go home when I got on the main hwy my car just started to slow down and would not go over 10 mph and the speed limited on that hwy is 45 mph so I had to get off the road before I was hit from behind.

NHTSA ODI 11636655

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while at a stop, the vehicle stalled. The contact attempted to depress accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with evaporative canister failure. The vehicle was repaired five additional times after the first failure; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,459.

NHTSA ODI 11635973

Cruise control fails constantly, has trouble picking up speed going up hills. Can't maintain speed on hills and sloaps. Gave to dealership for two months said it was fine only for them to tell me they had no mechanic. Engine continues to fail and they won't check for new recall for free on my car. My check ending light is currently on, I believe it is the same issue with the other Ford Focus recall.

NHTSA ODI 11633798

My check engine light came on. I stopped at Auto Zone and had the check engine light read. The code came back as P1450 (Canister Purge Valve). Upon checking the Ford Website to run my VIN for recalls, nothing came back for my vehicle. I checked NHTSA and learned there have been 6 recalls, and 2 of those 6 seem to fit the issue I am having. However, since my VIN was not identified as one of the affect VINs, I am not able to take advantage of either recall, Ford's number for this recall is 18S32 and 19S22.

NHTSA ODI 11626851

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle shut off without warning. The contact replaced the canister purge valve; however, the failure persisted. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System. Gasoline). The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic and the failure was linked to the recall. The contact was informed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced and was given an estimate for the repair. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11623405

I am the owner of a 2017 Ford Focus vehicle. Recently, I have encountered multiple occurrences of stalling while driving on the highway. In two of these instances, I was in the process of passing a semi-truck and fortunately had no other vehicle behind me, or my safety and that of others may have been put at great risk. After the first incident, the check engine light appeared and was addressed by a mechanic who believed it was likely the result of a vapor lock. The issue later reoccurred and left me stranded on the interstate in a rural location where I had to wait for several hours before being transported to a nearby hotel. The vehicle started again the following morning, and I was able to finish the trip. After conducting some research, I discovered two separate recalls (identified by the NHTSA Campaign IDs 18V735000 and 19V515000) that had been issued for cars of this model and encompassing the year of my vehicle’s construction. The malfunction, as issued by a mechanic, fit the exact specifications of the recall; that is, malfunction of the canister purge valve, causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management systems, that can result in an engine stall while driving and without warning. I was surprised to learn that my vehicle’s VIN was not associated with any such recall; however, I was informed by my mechanic that a software update (18s32) had occurred on June 6, 2019, possibly removing association of the recall statement with my vehicle’s VIN. I am unsure at this time of the extent of damage to the carbon canister, fuel tank, and fuel delivery module. The only issue visible from the exterior is a slight depression of the fuel tank caused by excessive vacuum. The canister purge valve was replaced on September 10, at a cost of $270.03. Due to the nature of the incident and its exact resemblance of the recall issued, I would like to seek compensation for the replacement of the defective purge valve and further inspection of the carbon canister, fuel tank, a

NHTSA ODI 11622883

I was on my way home from work when my oil light came on and I began losing acceleration on a busy highway. It wouldn't let me go above 20 mph which was definitely unsafe due to the nature of traffic on the highway. I managed to pull over and get my car towed to the most recent place I had an oil change. After a few days, they stated that the vehicle had sustained a loss of engine oil pressure and that there was a recall for this issue. They also stated to contact Ford and that the vehicle was undriveable. When I checked the open recalls, I confirmed that there was indeed a recall open for this issue concerning the oil pump, however, Ford Motors state that they will not have the parts available until 1st Quarter 2025. This is puts the timeframe on a remedy at roughly 3-7 months, which is unacceptable as this is my only vehicle and the only way I am able to get to work.

NHTSA ODI 11616943

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound and lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the side of the roadway. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal to resume driving, the vehicle failed to exceed 10 MPH. The check engine warning light and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the fuel tank had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was referred to the dealer for further diagnostic testing. The dealer was contacted for the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 11615384

2017 Ford transmission, 2017 Ford dashboard

NHTSA ODI 11615307

After filling up the car with gasoline, the car would not start. Once the car started, after several tries, it was shifted into drive. The car would not move, the pedals were all locked up. You could not push on the brake, gas, none of the pedals would work. The car is available to be looked at. It has been looked at by an independent mechanic who determined there was excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system. The check engine light is on, returning the EVAP code. My [XXX] daughter was stranded at night alone with a car that wouldn't start. This issue has happened multiple times. There is a recall in place for the 2017 ford focus that covers this exact issue, but excludes my car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11613076

My engine light came on. I went and had it scanned and it said it was the Canister purge valve. I see that 2017 ford focus has a recall on it and was wondering if this is connected to it.

NHTSA ODI 11610706

car is shaking and wanting to drive less and less lately its not moving faster then 20 mph. I have no other way to work and I'm sure this will cause an accident soon.

NHTSA ODI 11608297