no report yet
Power train: manual transmission
NewRisk. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
2015 Ford FocusProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,022 owner complaints about the 2015 Ford Focus, most often about the power train. It is covered by 9 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-331 the manufacturer reports only 44% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 12, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2015 Ford Focus has problems
1,022 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
559Power train11 crash/fire/injury
173Engine4 crash/fire/injury
138Fuel/propulsion system1 crash/fire/injury
93Steering2 crash/fire/injury
64Electrical system
42Vehicle speed control
34Fuel system, gasoline
18Air bags
16Structure
7515 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 559 | 11 |
| Engine | 173 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 138 | 1 |
| Steering | 93 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 64 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 42 | 3 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 34 | 1 |
| Air bags | 18 | 14 |
| Structure | 16 | 1 |
| 15 other systems | 75 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
9 recalls
2015 Ford Focus recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Evaporative emissions: canister
NewRisk. An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Electrical: engine block heater
NewRisk. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2022 Q2
Doors: latch
Risk. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Show 5 more recalls
repaired · 2020 Q4
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
Risk. The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a…
repaired · 2019 Q4
Power train: manual transmission
Risk. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2018 Q1
Hatchback/liftgate: lock
Risk. With only a single press needed, the driver may accidently unlatch the hatchback, increasing the risk of injury to any unsecured passengers in the back.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Doors: latch
Risk. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
repaired · 2016 Q4
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. If the engine does not turn off as expected, someone could move the transmission shifter out of park and the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
60kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 388 power train complaints. 86% were reported before 100,000 miles.
91under 30k miles333under 100k miles55100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
25 owners mentioned a cost$2,500median
Middle half: $1,800 – $3,200
Steering
19 owners mentioned a cost$2,109median
Middle half: $1,900 – $2,537
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2015 vs. every other Focus year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Focus median. How we score
'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2015 Ford Focus safety ratings
2015 Ford Focus 5 HB FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (11.6% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
5 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2015 Ford Focus, and the recalls they led to.
- Timing Belt FailureOpen
- Door Latch FailureLed to recall 16V-643
- Timing Belt FailureNo recall
- Door Latch FailuresLed to recall 20V-177
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
In owners' words
What Focus owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Back in July 2026 there was a rerecall for the 2018 recall that was not done correctly and my vehicle was not recalled for this when in fact that my vehicle should have it shows n I have proof that the recall number for that recall is the same recall they did on my vehicle but yet logged in under…
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the vehicle failed to respond, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the TCM was faulty and needed…
The transmission was repaired at 48k and I am now at 76k having severe issues with jerking, shuddering, and so forth. The car has undergone excellent maintenance for the CARFAX proves this. I bought this car with the very last of my inheritance money thinking I was getting a reliable product and…
Own a 2015 Focus?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.