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.
2017 Ford FocusProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 900 owner complaints about the 2017 Ford Focus, most often about the power train. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-905 the manufacturer reports only 54% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 19, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2017 Ford Focus has problems
900 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
455Power train5 crash/fire/injury
230Engine6 crash/fire/injury
116Fuel/propulsion system3 crash/fire/injury
81Engine and engine cooling
61Fuel system, gasoline
37Vehicle speed control
36Electrical system
20Steering
15Air bags
5815 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 455 | 5 |
| Engine | 230 | 6 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 116 | 3 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 81 | 0 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 61 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 37 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 36 | 2 |
| Steering | 20 | 0 |
| Air bags | 15 | 10 |
| 15 other systems | 58 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
10 recalls
2017 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.
no report yet
Electrical: engine block heater
NewRisk. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Show 6 more recalls
repaired · 2026 Q3
Oil/lubrication: pump
Risk. A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
Risk. The excessive vacuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a…
repaired · 2020 Q2
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 · 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 Q1
Seat belts: rear/other
Risk. The reduced seat back strength may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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.
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?
50kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 285 power train complaints. 87% were reported before 100,000 miles.
94under 30k miles248under 100k miles37100k 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
13 owners mentioned a cost$3,000median
Middle half: $2,600 – $4,100
Engine
12 owners mentioned a cost$5,500median
Middle half: $2,000 – $7,175
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
2017 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
2017 Ford Focus safety ratings
2017 Ford Focus 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (11.6% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: Optional
5 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2017 Ford Focus, and the recalls they led to.
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
- Timing Belt FailureOpen
- Oil Pump FailureLed to recall 23V-905
- Timing Belt FailureNo recall
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
In owners' words
What Focus owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that an abnormal, burnt rubber odor was emitted from the vehicle while driving at various speeds. Additionally, the vehicle hesitated upon depression of the accelerator pedal as the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated…
I am reporting severe, life-threatening pre-existing safety defects involving the mechanical braking system and the dual-clutch transmission assembly on my 2017 Ford Focus. After purchasing the vehicle from a dealership under the fraudulent written assurance that a safety inspection was completed,…
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle jerked unexpectedly. The contact stated that the transmission unexpectedly shifted into other gear and the vehicle failed to accelerate and almost caused the vehicle to be T-boned. The vehicle was taken to…
Own a 2017 Focus?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.