2017 Ford FOCUS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2017 Ford FOCUS has 1165 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 14.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (38% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2017 ford focus. the contact stated that while the vehicle was operated, there was abnormal noise coming from the vehicle and it failed to properly shift when driving up an incline. the contact also stated that the vehicle experienced hesitation while being operated on an incl. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 23 crash reports 20 injuries

1165

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

14.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

446 complaints

38%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED, THERE WAS ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO PROPERLY SHIFT WHEN DRIVING UP AN INCLINE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HESITATION WHILE BEING OPERATED ON AN INCL
• CAR FAILS TO SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING, CAR WILL NOT 'GO' IN SOME INSTANCES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED, 'GRINDING' NOISE COME FROM ENGINE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, WILL HESITATE OR 'SHUDDER' WHEN YOU ACCELERATE, RPM'S WILL GO VERY HIGH IN THE 7000 RANGE BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR, WILL FAIL TO G
• DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 97 AT 65 MPH SHIFT TO 6 GEAR AND CLUTCH PETAL STUCK TO FLOOR, SMELL OF CLUTCH BURNING , PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD TURNED CAR OFF. REACH DOWN AND TRY TO PULL CLUTCH PETAL BACK UP AND IT WOULD NOT COME BACK UP. WAITED 30 MIN, TRY AGAIN, COULD NOT PULL IT UP. CALL FOR TOW TRUCK..

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED, THERE WAS ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO PROPERLY SHIFT WHEN DRIVING UP AN INCLINE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HESITATION WHILE BEING OPERATED ON AN INCL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

301 complaints

26%

• AS I AM DRIVING AND THE CAR WANTS TO SHIFT GEARS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS A BIT. THERE IS A LAG FOR THE TURBO TO KICK IN. WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THE ENGINE TURNS OFF WHICH IS NORMAL, BUT WHEN YOU LET GO OF THE BRAKE FOR THE ENGINE TO START BACK UP, THE CAR JUMPS AS IT I JUST PUSHED THE GAS PEDDL
• DRIVING CAR , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 5800 MILE, SCAN TOOL STATED CODE P0340 AND P0344, REPLACE CAM SENSOR. CLEAR CODES, DROVE CAR 3 DAYS 5980 MILE ,CHECK ENGINE FLASH COUPLE TIME AND STAY ON STARTED SMELL OIL AND SOUND LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING, SCAN IT AGAIN AND IT SAID CODE P0340 AND P0344, C
• CLUTCH PEDAL LOSES PRESSURE/SPRING AND GOES TO FLOOR LEAVING VEHICLE IN GEAR AND VEHICLE STALLS WHEN DRIVING - DID THIS ON A HIGHWAY TWICE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS. VERY DANGEROUS AS IT ALMOST CAUSED A BAD ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY AT ALMOST 70MPH. VEHICLE LUCKY MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD C

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“AS I AM DRIVING AND THE CAR WANTS TO SHIFT GEARS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS A BIT. THERE IS A LAG FOR THE TURBO TO KICK IN. WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THE ENGINE TURNS OFF WHICH IS NORMAL, BUT WHEN YOU LET GO OF THE BRAKE FOR THE ENGINE TO START BACK UP, THE CAR JUMPS AS IT I JUST PUSHED THE GAS PEDDL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

174 complaints

15%

• WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON I395 SOUTH, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AND WOULDN'T NOT START BACK UP. HAD IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FUEL BUMP FAILURE.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FOCUS. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE FUEL TANK HALF FULL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND NEARLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB GILLINDHAM FORD(8383 BROOKPARK RD, PARMA, OH) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRE
• MY CAR IS REVING UP BY ITSELF AND THROTTLE IS STICKING MY CAR IS IN DEALERSHIP CURRENTLY FOR 4TH TIME AND THEY CAN'T TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY WHEN I AM STOPPED OR GOING. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND I ALMOST WRECKED IT LAST WEEK AFTER THE 3RD TIME I PICKED IT UP FRO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON I395 SOUTH, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AND WOULDN'T NOT START BACK UP. HAD IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FUEL BUMP FAILURE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

79 complaints

• A/C VENTILATION IS PRODUCING A MUSTY/ MOLDY SMELL, I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR ONLY 4 MONTHS, THE ODOR IS STRONG, AND MAY BE DANGEROUS AS MOLD GROWTH MAY SEEP THROUGH VENTS AND INTO ONES AIRWAYS. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY HEALTH, ALONG WITH WHO EVER ENTERS THE VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER. INTE
• THE CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, THE DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH AND A HALF, FORD TOLD THE DEALER THEY NEW THE PROBLEM BACK IN FEBURARY 2017, I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JUNE 2017, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE CAR AND FORD TOLD THE DEALER THAT THEY TURNED OFF THIS FEATURE FO
• TRANSMISSION SLIPPING @ TAKE OFF,WHILE DRIVING. IT STALLED BETWEEN SPEED @ 18MPH AND 35MPH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“A/C VENTILATION IS PRODUCING A MUSTY/ MOLDY SMELL, I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR ONLY 4 MONTHS, THE ODOR IS STRONG, AND MAY BE DANGEROUS AS MOLD GROWTH MAY SEEP THROUGH VENTS AND INTO ONES AIRWAYS. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY HEALTH, ALONG WITH WHO EVER ENTERS THE VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER. INTE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

39 complaints

• STOPPED AT TRAFFIC SIGNAL, BEGAN ACCELERATION AND VEHICLE BECAME SLUGGISH AND CLUNKY, REVVED HIGH AND WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. SHIFTED IN AND OUT OF GEAR WITH PERIODS OF PROLONGED HESITATION. TRANSMISSION FAULT SERVICE NOW WARNING SOUND AND DISPLAY. CAME TO A STOP AT THE NEXT SIGNAL AND CAR LURCHED
• UNSAFE CONDITION: WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATING UPON SHIFTING THE ENGINE WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE RIGHT TO THE REDLINE THERE IS NO CONTROL OF THE THROTTLE AT THIS POINT ALSO TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I CAN STEP IN ON THE CLUTH AND RELEASE THE THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE WILL ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FOCUS. AFTER PULLING INTO HER OFFICE PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD AND STRUCK A STONE WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED M

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“STOPPED AT TRAFFIC SIGNAL, BEGAN ACCELERATION AND VEHICLE BECAME SLUGGISH AND CLUNKY, REVVED HIGH AND WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. SHIFTED IN AND OUT OF GEAR WITH PERIODS OF PROLONGED HESITATION. TRANSMISSION FAULT SERVICE NOW WARNING SOUND AND DISPLAY. CAME TO A STOP AT THE NEXT SIGNAL AND CAR LURCHED”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1165 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED, THERE WAS ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO PROPERLY SHIFT WHEN DRIVING UP AN INCLINE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HESITATION WHILE BEING OPERATED ON AN INCL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: AS I AM DRIVING AND THE CAR WANTS TO SHIFT GEARS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS A BIT. THERE IS A LAG FOR THE TURBO TO KICK IN. WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THE ENGINE TURNS OFF WHICH IS NORMAL, BUT WHEN YOU LET GO OF THE BRAKE FOR THE ENGINE TO START BACK UP, THE CAR JUMPS AS IT I JUST PUSHED THE GAS PEDDL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON I395 SOUTH, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AND WOULDN'T NOT START BACK UP. HAD IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FUEL BUMP FAILURE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: A/C VENTILATION IS PRODUCING A MUSTY/ MOLDY SMELL, I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR ONLY 4 MONTHS, THE ODOR IS STRONG, AND MAY BE DANGEROUS AS MOLD GROWTH MAY SEEP THROUGH VENTS AND INTO ONES AIRWAYS. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY HEALTH, ALONG WITH WHO EVER ENTERS THE VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER. INTE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)