Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
181 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
8,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 to 2017 model years. Data snapshot: . 161 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 79 of 181 complaints (43.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 39 | 21.5% |
| Steering behavior | 32 | 17.7% |
| Braking behavior | 28 | 15.5% |
| Engine operation | 26 | 14.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 6.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 79 |
| Power Train | 78 |
| Engine | 42 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 33 |
| Steering | 23 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
Electrical System: 79; Power Train: 78; Engine: 42; Fuel/Propulsion System: 33; Steering: 23; Vehicle Speed Control: 17; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 9; Service Brakes: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 122 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 122; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (122). 20 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 42 |
| 2014 | 31 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
2013: 42; 2014: 31; 2015: 33; 2016: 18; 2017: 17; 2018: 16; 2019: 12; 2020: 1; 2021: 4; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 39 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10546765 · 2013-10-04 (October 4, 2013)
DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR CHIMED A WARNING AND FLASHED "STOP SAFELY NOW" ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR LOST SPEED AND I COASTED TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART MY CAR. THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING WITH CHIME REPEATED EACH TIME I TRIED TO RESTART. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK, HOWEVER, AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 7 TIMES PREVIOUSLY (VERY SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES). I'VE HAD THE CAR SERVICED MULTIPLE TIMES, TELLING THE DEALER OF THIS ISSUE, BUT DESPITE SOFTWARE UPG…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,916 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10548195 · 2013-10-17 (October 17, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY BRIDGE, THE FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC STALLED. THE DASHBOARD SHOWS A SIGN "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THEN A PICTURE OF A YELLOW WRENCH. I HAD TO STOP AT THE HIGHWAY'S SHOULDER. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. VERY UNSAFE. I TRIED TO START THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER 45 MINUTES, WHEN ALL THE ELECTRICAL LIGHT INDICATORS ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWED BLACK, I PUSHED THE START BUTTON AGAIN, AND IT STARTED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I HEARD IN THE ONLINE FORUM THAT "CAR STALLED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING" WAS COMMON RECENTLY. FORD NEE…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10609481 · 2014-07-09 (July 9, 2014)
JUST ENTERED FREEWAY ON-RAMP AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WHEN POWER INSTANTLY CEASED AND CAR COASTED. DASHBOARD INDICATED "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND I PULLED TO THE SIDE. STEERING AND BRAKES WERE STILL FUNCTIONING BUT NO RESPONSE AT ALL FROM THE ACCELERATOR. CAR DID NOT RESPOND AT FIRST TO A RESTART. HAD TO TURN CAR OFF, OPEN DOOR, CLOSE DOOR, WAIT FOR DASHBOARD TO GO BLANK AND THEN RESTART TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT GO AGAIN. THIS WAS THE SAME SYMPTOM THAT OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER OF 2013 (AND REPORTED HERE) THAT FORD SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THROUGH RE-CALL. AFTER RESTA…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,029 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10619266 · 2014-08-06 (August 6, 2014)
ON THE FREEWAY ACCELERATING SLIGHTLY WHILE MERGING INTO THE LEFTMOST LANE. POWER SUDDENLY WAS LOST WITH A "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE ON THE DASH. AS IT WAS RUSH HOUR, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MERGE 6 LANES TO THE RIGHT TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. BRAKES AND STEERING WERE WORKING AND I STOPPED SAFELY. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 16,552 miles reported. Look up ODI 10619266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10561306 · 2014-01-24 (January 24, 2014)
FULL CHARGE, ENTERED READY TO DRIVE MODE, SELECTED REVERSE AND CAR SHUT DOWN. READY TO DRIVE INDICATOR OFF. PLACED BACK IN PARK, PRESSED STOP BUTTON, DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, PRESSED START BUTTON AND CAR INDICATED READY TO DRIVE AGAIN. SELECTED REVERSE AND IT WORKED NORMALLY. SEPARATE INCIDENT, ONE WEEK PRIOR. 5 MILES OF RANGE REMAINING WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY UP A HILL. PRESSED ACCELERATOR AND LEFT DISPLAY SHOWED STOP SAFELY NOW, AND POWER WAS REMOVED. CAR STALLED ON HILL, READY TO DRIVE INDICATOR OFF. PLACED BACK IN PARK, SET HAND B…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,402 miles reported. Look up ODI 10561306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10593983 · 2014-05-25 (May 25, 2014)
THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES ON MY 2012 FORD FOCUS EV DO NOT APPEAR TO BE WORKING PROPERLY AND I AM GROWING CONCERNED THAT THEY MAY BE UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. OTHER FORD FOCUS EV'S THAT I'VE TESTED BRAKE DIFFERENTLY WITH MUCH MORE CONTROL. THE BRAKES ON MY VEHICLE ARE EITHER "ON" OR "OFF"; THERE IS NO IN-BETWEEN, NO GRADUAL STOPPING BECAUSE, WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL THE PEDAL TRAVELS ABOUT HALFWAY, THEN THE BRAKES CEASE AND THE CAR LITERALLY JOLTS TO A STOP. TWO FORD MECHANICS AT TWO DIFFERENT…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593983 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11210740 · 2019-05-29 (May 29, 2019)
JERKING DURING TAKE OFF AND GEAR SHIFTING. WHILE DRIVING CAR WILL JERK AT LOW SPEED BUT RISE TO 4 SPEED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAY IT'S TRANSMISSION CLUTCH SHUDDER, MY THIRD REPLACEMENT AND IT'S A ISSUE THT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. $1400.00 REPAIR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11210740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11405962 · 2021-04-01 (April 1, 2021)
MY SHOCKS AND MY TRANSMISSION I BELIEVE
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11405962 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 0