2017 Ford FOCUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
896 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
55,392 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 526 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 429 of 896 complaints (47.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 392 | 43.8% |
| Engine operation | 179 | 20.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 49 | 5.5% |
| Braking behavior | 36 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 32 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 429 |
| Engine | 229 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 116 |
| Unknown Or Other | 80 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 79 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 51 |
| Electrical System | 34 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 34 |
Power Train: 429; Engine: 229; Fuel/Propulsion System: 116; Unknown Or Other: 80; Engine And Engine Cooling: 79; Fuel System, Gasoline: 51; Electrical System: 34; Vehicle Speed Control: 34
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 | 107 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 135 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 94 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 58 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 122; 25,000 to 49,999: 107; 50,000 to 74,999: 135; 75,000 to 99,999: 94; 100,000 to 149,999: 58; 150,000 and above: 10
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (135). 370 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 32 |
| 2019 | 131 |
| 2020 | 103 |
| 2021 | 66 |
| 2022 | 109 |
| 2023 | 125 |
| 2024 | 173 |
| 2025 | 113 |
| 2026 | 35 |
2017: 9; 2018: 32; 2019: 131; 2020: 103; 2021: 66; 2022: 109; 2023: 125; 2024: 173; 2025: 113; 2026: 35
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 392 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 179 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 49 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 11006697 · 2017-07-21 (July 21, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED, THERE WAS ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO PROPERLY SHIFT WHEN DRIVING UP AN INCLINE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HESITATION WHILE BEING OPERATED ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LENIORE CITY FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE NHTSA HOTLINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11006697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11039629 · 2017-10-25 (October 25, 2017)
AS I AM DRIVING AND THE CAR WANTS TO SHIFT GEARS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS A BIT. THERE IS A LAG FOR THE TURBO TO KICK IN. WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THE ENGINE TURNS OFF WHICH IS NORMAL, BUT WHEN YOU LET GO OF THE BRAKE FOR THE ENGINE TO START BACK UP, THE CAR JUMPS AS IT I JUST PUSHED THE GAS PEDDLE. THIS RECENTLY HAS STARTED TO HAPPEN. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF A DEALERSHIP WHERE MY CAR IS SERVICED BUT THEY CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE AS TO WHY.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11039629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11039162 · 2017-10-24 (October 24, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON I395 SOUTH, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AND WOULDN'T NOT START BACK UP. HAD IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FUEL BUMP FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. 49,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11039162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11088509 · 2018-04-16 (April 16, 2018)
CLUTCH PEDAL LOSES PRESSURE/SPRING AND GOES TO FLOOR LEAVING VEHICLE IN GEAR AND VEHICLE STALLS WHEN DRIVING - DID THIS ON A HIGHWAY TWICE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS. VERY DANGEROUS AS IT ALMOST CAUSED A BAD ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY AT ALMOST 70MPH. VEHICLE LUCKY MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD COSTING IN AFTER STALLING WHEN CLUTCH WOULD NOT RETURN TO ITS NORMAL STATE. DEALERSHIP NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE ISSUE BUT ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT AND I FEAR IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS IT CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL WHEN THE CLUTCH GOES TO THE FLOOR A…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11151285 · 2018-11-13 (November 13, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FOCUS. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE FUEL TANK HALF FULL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND NEARLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB GILLINDHAM FORD(8383 BROOKPARK RD, PARMA, OH) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11151285 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11196606 · 2019-04-16 (April 16, 2019)
ON 3/21/19 WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR OPENED. THE DOOR JUST POPPED OPEN, I WAS DRIVING IN AN INTERSECTION OF A BUSY STREET AND ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND I BARELY MISSED AN ACCIDENT. LUCKILY I WAS RIGHT BY A GAS STATION WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I REQUESTED THAT THE DEALERSHIP EXAMINE ALL 4 DOORS AS I WAS AFRAID THIS MIGHT RECUR. ON 4/14/19 THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED, ONLY THIS TIME IT WAS THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THE DOOR POPPED OPEN WHILE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11196606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11111310 · 2018-07-14 (July 14, 2018)
WHILE TRAVELLING AROUND 20 TO 25 MPH IN THE LEFT HAND LANE OR A TWO LANE CITY STREET, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP, HOWEVER, WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I QUICKLY RELEASED AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULT. I TRIED TO AVOID THE VEHICLE BY TURNING TO MY RIGHT, BUT I WAS TOO CLOSE AND HIT THE RIGHT BACK BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING EXTREME DAMAGE TO THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,155 miles reported. Look up ODI 11111310 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11207003 · 2019-05-11 (May 11, 2019)
CAR WILL NOT START. WILL RESPOND TO A JUMP BUT WILL NOT START AFTER RUNNING FOR AWHILE AGAIN. THEN IT STARTS WITH A BIT OF HESITATION FOR AWHILE AND THEN BACK TO NEEDING A JUMP. WHEN AT A STOP AND ACCELERATING, THERE IS A HUGE PAUSE BEFORE THE RPMS KICK IN THEN IT GOES ALL THE WAY TO MAX BEFORE CALMING DOWN TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE. POWER JUST DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT. ALSO THE SYNC 3 HAS HORRIBLE RESPONSE AND DELAY MOST DAYS. IS IT RELATED TO THE POWER /ELECTRICAL ISSUE? NEW OWNER PURCHASED 2/19.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11207003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11232554 · 2019-07-16 (July 16, 2019)
BOUGHT CAR NEW TOOK TEST DRIVE ALL SEEMED FINE DID PAPER WORK DROVE HOME, FIRST STOP ON OFF RAMP WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN I GAVE CAR GAS AND IT JUST SAT THERE SLIPPING AND NOT SHIFTING. CANNOT DRIVE IT IN SUMMER MONTHS GETS HOT AND SLIPS AND WILL NOT UP OR DOWN SHIFT RIGHT. NO GOOD TO ME IF I CAN ONLY DRIVE IT IN WINTER. CAR HAS 11,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS JUST SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH DEAD BATTERY. AND MINE WAS A NEW 2017 WITCH WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FIXED,NOW THE DEALER WANTS ME TO TRADE IT IN SO THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY.THEY ARE AS BAD AS FORD…
Owner-reported narrative. 55 miles reported. Look up ODI 11232554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11163585 · 2018-12-26 (December 26, 2018)
STEERING FAILED AND LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT 35MPH ON A TOWN MAIN STREET, DURING A SLIGHT LEFT TURN. WHEN THE STEERING DID TURN VERY LITTLE IS WAS JUST A JERK, WITH IT LOCKING BACK UP, LEADING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND BEING UNABLE TO CORRECT THE CAR BACK INTO ITS LANE. WITH ALL OF AN.INDIVIDUALS STRENGTH AND AT 2MPH, THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN INTO A CLOSE PARKING LOT AND PARKED.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,667 miles reported. Look up ODI 11163585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11173456 · 2019-02-01 (February 1, 2019)
THE 2017 FORD FOCUS S WITH UNDER 26,000 MILES HAS A STEERING ISSUE. THE STEERING WHEEL GETS STUCK AND IS HARD TO STEER, WON'T RETURN TO NEUTRAL POSITION WITHOUT BEING FORCED BACK, AND IS UNSTABLE AT MID AND HIGH SPEEDS. THERE IS A SOUND THAT IS STARTING TO PRESENT ITSELF, SIMILAR TO A ROOFER HAMMERING NAILS, THAT COMES FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AT LOWER SPEEDS. FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM SUDDENLY WHEN PULLING OUT FROM MY STREET PARKING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STUCK IN ITS NEUTRAL POSITION, AND STEERING HARD TO THE LEFT THERE WAS A P…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11173456 at NHTSA ↗