2015 Ford Focus: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 1299 complaints
1299
Total Complaints
60,000mi
Median Mileage
Power Train
Top Issue
42
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
33,738
25th Percentile
60,000
Median Mileage
82,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Power Train
508
Engine
164
Fuel/Propulsion System
134
Unknown Or Other
115
Steering
92
Electrical System
58
Vehicle Speed Control
40
Fuel System, Gasoline
27
Air Bags
17
Clutch Assembly
15
Severity Assessment
42
Crashes
7
Fires
43
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"I HAD JUST CHARGED MY CAR TO 100% BEFORE LEAVING WORK. LATER THAT DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 40 MPH AND I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL I MADE MY FIRST RIGHT TURN. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON TO A STREET THAT WAS GOING TO LEAD ME TO THE 210W FREEWAY. AS I TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL..."
"MY FATHER BOUGHT A FORD FOCUS, AFTER DRIVING MINE AND LIKING IT SO WELL, IN FEB/MARCH OF THIS YEAR. HE TOOK IT BACK FOR TRANSMISSION WHINING. HE WAS A MECHANIC IN THE ARMED FORCES AND KNOWS THE SOUND, AND CHUCK ANDERSON FORD SAID THAT IT WAS A BEARING PROBLEM AND THEY "FIXED" IT. HE PICKED UP THE..."
"I TRADED THIS VEHICLE IN FROM A 2012 FORD FIESTA, WHICH AFTER THREE YEARS HAD BECOME A ROLLING DISASTER, FROM THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION TO THE ALWAYS-DYING BATTERY AND TWO RECALLS. THE DEALER ASSURED ME THE 2015 FOCUS WAS REDESIGNED AND MUCH BETTER. I'LL ADMIT IT DRIVES MUCH BETTER, IS ROOMIER, AND ..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Power Train
508 complaints
25th: 30,000 mi
Median: 60,000 mi
75th: 85,000 mi
Engine
164 complaints
25th: 39,051 mi
Median: 64,500 mi
75th: 89,250 mi
Fuel/Propulsion System
134 complaints
25th: 45,530 mi
Median: 64,000 mi
75th: 81,691 mi
Unknown Or Other
115 complaints
25th: 29,363 mi
Median: 51,657 mi
75th: 78,250 mi
Steering
92 complaints
25th: 38,500 mi
Median: 62,219 mi
75th: 75,000 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 109
TX: 101
FL: 98
GA: 69
OH: 66
IL: 51
MI: 50
PA: 48
VA: 47
MO: 47
Who Files Complaints?
0.5%
Original Owners
99.5%
Second+ Owners
Ford Focus — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (7)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Storage
Campaign 18V735000 | 22/10/2018
The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began
Manual Transmission
Campaign 18V169000 | 12/03/2018
A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Focus vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip, and will replace the clutch, as necessary, free of charge. Owners of Fusion vehicles will have their clutch assembly replaced free of charge. The recall began August 3
Latch
Campaign 16V643000 | 06/09/2016
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
Lock
Campaign 16V698000 | 28/09/2016
With only a single press needed, the driver may accidently unlatch the hatchback, increasing the risk of injury to any unsecured passengers in the back.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C13.
Ignition
Campaign 15V436000 | 08/07/2015
If the engine does not turn off as expected, someone could move the transmission shifter out of park and the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C06.
Latch
Campaign 20V331000 | 08/06/2020
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to
Engine Block Heater
Campaign 26V011000 | 15/01/2026
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim lett
Extend Your Transmission Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Change transmission fluid at manufacturer intervals — not 'lifetime' fluid
- Come to a full stop before shifting from reverse to drive
- Don't ride the brakes on hills — use a lower gear
- Check transmission fluid level and color monthly — dark fluid needs changing
- Address slipping, hard shifts, or delayed engagement immediately
Vehicle Rankings
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28