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2015 Ford Focus: common problems and reliability
· 3rd generationOne of the weaker Focus years.
2,009 owner complaints, most about power train. 9 recalls.
Should I buy a 2015 Focus?The 2015 Ford Focus has 2009 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and engine. Owners most often flag dual-clutch automatic shuddering, jerking, and rough low-speed behavior.
Safety record for the 2015 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2015 Ford Focus vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Focus years only. How we score it
Is 2015 a good year for the Focus?
Across the 20 Focus model years we track, complaint volume runs from 11 (1999) to 5,240 (2014). With 2,009 complaints, the 2015 Focus sits above the model's median of 1,018.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2015 Focus
fuel system, gasoline:storage
Campaign 18V735000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
power train:manual transmission
Campaign 18V169000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Fusion vehicles equipped with a 1.6L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission and 2015-2016 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission. Also included are four 2017 Ford Focus vehicles that had clutch replacements with potentially affected parts. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Campaign 16V643000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock
Campaign 16V698000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Ford Focus hatchback vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 26, 2016 and equipped with a manual transmission. The hatchback of the affected vehicles may be unlatched with a single press of the interior latch release button. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
Show 5 more recalls
electrical system:ignition
Campaign 15V436000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 1, 2014, to June 12, 2015, Ford Focus vehicles manufactured June 17, 2014, to June 12, 2015, and Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured April 22, 2014, to June 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the engine may continue to run after the key or the START/STOP engine button is turned to off. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Campaign 20V331000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Campaign 26V011000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
fuel system, gasoline:storage:evaporative emissions:canister
Campaign 26V369000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
power train:manual transmission
Campaign 26V376000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
What owners report on the 3rd generation Focus
Owner sentiment for the 2010-2018 Focus is sharply split by transmission choice.
- Very frequentDual-clutch automatic shuddering, jerking, and rough low-speed behavior
- Very frequentPremature clutch wear and repeated clutch replacement
- RecurrentTransmission control module (TCM) failures and related fault codes
- RecurrentTransmission fluid/seal leaks contaminating the clutch pack
- RecurrentLoss of reverse gear or dropped gears from internal transmission damage
Owner insights for the 3rd generation Focus. Read the full 3rd generation owner report.
Typical used price
Used Focus listings typically run $7,194–$10,865 across 2003 to 2018 model years.
Other Focus model years
Compare every Focus year side by side to see how 2015 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Focus against its rivals
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