2015 Ford Focus Problems And Complaints

2015 Ford Focus Sedan User Complaints and Problems

Mechanical Complaints

• Engine problems- Oil leaks, oil consumption, and gasket failures are a common sight in the 2015 Ford Focus’s base 2.0L engine. Owners have reported this issue on the vehicle with mileages as low as 36,000-miles. The 1.0L Ecoboost engine which was later introduced also has overheating issues. Faulty coolant hoses made of nylon that prematurely fails is the primary reason behind this issue. A faulty canister purge valve is also known to cause random stalls and this was resolved through a recall 18V735 in the following years since launch.
• Transmission problems- A “Transmission overheating” warning, with intense shuddering on throttle and loss of drive are some common issues seen on the 2015 Ford Focus’s transmission. This could essentially arise due to two problems, one being a failed clutch slipping (on trims equipped with manual transmission) and the second being a worn out differential pinion, the latter of which could also cause the failure of the “Park” function of the unit. The automaker is well aware of this issue and has initiated two recalls (IDs- 18V169000 and 16V479000) to resolve these complaints. An issue with the TCM and irregular oil changes could also lead to rough shifts, stuck gear, and jerking.

Electrical Complaints

• Battery issues- The2015 Ford Focus as reported, intermittently loses all cabin power including the instrument cluster, AC, and the infotainment screen. Some owners also complain about the vehicle stalling while this happens accompanied by multiple warning signs on the dashboard. Corrosion of OEM battery terminals is the reason for this sudden loss of power and should be fixed with a better replacement.

Structural Complaints

• Steering failure- Power steering failure is a common occurrence in the 2015 Ford Focus. Owners report the sudden loss of steering assistance accompanied by a “Steering assist fault” warning. The causes could range from a burnt power steering fuse to the failure of the entire EPAS motor, both of which necessitate a replacement of the affected part. The dealers are aware of this issue being widespread but no service bulletin or recalls have been made on this issue.
• Doors latch issues- The door locks on the 2015 Ford Focus are reported to fail, causing it to swing open while moving if a slight force has been applied by the occupant. Ford is aware of this issue and even has initiated two separate recalls (IDs-20V331000 and 16V643000) to resolve this issue.
• Trunk latch issue- The trunk on the 2015 Ford Focus may accidentally open with one press of the button. Multiple owners have reported this as per NHTSA and the automaker was also made aware of this. The issue was traced to be with a body control module software which was updated under the recall 16V698000.
• Wiper issues-The wiper motor on the 2015 Ford Focus is susceptible to premature failure. Also trims equipped with rain sensing wipers are said to trigger intermittently without the presence of water or moisture on the windshield.

2015 Ford Focus Sedan Recalls

S. No	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1	8th June 2020	20V331000	Doors may open while driving	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, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.	The 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. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020.
2	22nd October 2018	18V735000	A stuck canister purge valve may cause an engine stall.	The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system which may cause the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.	The 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 on began August 19, 2019.
3	10th September 2018	18V592000	The charge cord may overheat and cause a fire.	Focus Electric sedans manufactured without thermistors, and during vehicle charging, increased resistance in the house's outlet or wiring can cause the cord to overheat and melt, increasing the possibility of a fire.	The dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120V convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2019.
4	12th March 2018	18V169000	Transmission clutch slip and fluid leak.	The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak, which in presence of a hot surface can increase the risk of a fire.	The dealers will update vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip and will replace the clutch, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 3, 2018.
5	28th September 2016	16V698000	Hatch can be unlatched with one button press	The hatchback of the affected vehicles may be unlatched with a single press of the interior latch release button, which may increase the risk of injury.	Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on February 10, 2017.
6	6th September 2016	16V643000	Doors may unexpectedly open	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, increasing the risk of injury to an occupant onboard.	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.
7	28th June 2016	16V479000	Loss of motive power from the pinion gear wheel	The transmission's differential pinion gear shaft may overheat and fracture, causing a loss of drive or parking function and increasing the risk of a crash.	Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission differential assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2017.
8	28th July 2015	15V436000	The engine may continue to run	The engine may continue to run after the key or the START/STOP engine button is turned off, which can increase the risk of a crash if someone accidentally moves the shifter.	Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2015.

Should you buy a used Ford Focus?

Ford has been managing to sell over 210,000 units of the Ford Focus consistently in the recent past so its popularity among people is nothing to be questioned about. But the hard part for us here is on recommending it to someone who is browsing in the lower end of the price spectrum for a trusty and economical daily runner. Though it starts out cheaper than some of the well-known competitors here, the shaky reliability quotient it has is preventing us from tagging it as a top pick. However, we can’t deny the fact that Ford has been doing a great job in bringing down the problems, and if you are adamant about getting one, this would probably be the best model year so far.