2015 Ford Focus
Common Problems
Ranked from 456 federal NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
17 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Transmission Jerking and Shuddering
170complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission frequently jerks and shudders, especially during acceleration, causing the vehicle to lose power and experience unexpected behavior.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V169000, 26V376000
- 2
Clutch Malfunction
143complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe clutch malfunctions, causing the vehicle to jerk, shudder, and fail to accelerate properly.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V169000, 26V376000
- 3
Clutch issues leading to jerking and stalling
53complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe clutch causes the car to jerk and stall, especially when starting or accelerating from a stop.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V169000, 26V376000
- 4
Transmission Clutch Failure
47complaintsSafety riskTransmissionThe transmission clutch repeatedly fails, causing the vehicle to shudder, stall, and fail to accelerate properly.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V169000, 26V376000
- 5
Vehicle shaking and shuddering upon acceleration
40complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe vehicle shakes and shudders when accelerating, leading to a bumpy and unsafe ride.
Related recalls: 18V169000, 26V376000
- 6
Transmission Clutch Shudder
28complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission clutch shudders and causes the vehicle to hesitate and jerk during acceleration.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V169000, 26V376000
- 7
Check Engine Light On with Unknown Issues
24complaintsMedium severityOtherThe check engine light illuminates without specific warning, indicating potential electrical or propulsion system issues.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Transmission Control Module (TCM) Failure
19complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe TCM repeatedly fails, causing transmission malfunctions such as stalling, shifting issues, and loss of power.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V169000, 26V376000
- 9
Transmission Failure to Shift Properly
11complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission fails to shift properly, causing the vehicle to stall, shift into neutral, or fail to move when accelerating.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V169000, 26V376000
- 10
Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure
9complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine frequently stalls at idle, especially when the stop-start system is engaged, leading to potential safety hazards.
$150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 11
Engine Performance Issues
8complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine frequently stalls, loses power, and displays warning lights, indicating potential issues with the engine or its cooling system.
Related recall: 26V011000
- 12
Engine Stall
8complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine stalls and fails to restart, often accompanied by warning lights and multiple warning messages.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 13
Transmission Jerking and Shaking
8complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission frequently jerks and shakes, leading to difficulty in shifting gears and overall poor vehicle performance.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V169000, 26V376000
- 14
Engine and Transmission Clutch Failure
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine and transmission clutch fail, leading to erratic performance and frequent breakdowns.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 15
Engine Stalling and Power Loss
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine stalls and loses power, often without any warning lights.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 16
Steering Lock-up and Loss of Function
2complaintsHigh severitySteeringThe power steering locks up or fails completely, making it difficult to steer.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 17
Transmission Malfunction Leading to Stalling
2complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission malfunctions, causing the vehicle to stall while driving.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V169000, 26V376000
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.