Ford Focus Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 22,107 consumer complaints across the 20 model years of the Ford Focus (1999–2018) that have at least 5 complaints. 2012 has the most, with 3,770. Across all years, the part named most often is transmission and drivetrain (6,804 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Focus model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 837 | 56,000 | 7 | 107 | 46 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 900 | 55,892 | 10 | 178 | 52 · Typical | Rising |
| 2016 | 1,183 | 61,017 | 10 | 200 | 58 · Typical | Stable |
| 2015 | 1,022 | 60,000 | 9 | 131 | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2014 | 2,606 | 48,000 | 12 | 146 | 100 · More | Stable |
| 2013 | 2,112 | 53,000 | 11 | 154 | 95 · More | Falling |
| 2012 | 3,770 | 67,000 | 7 | 127 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2011 | 113 | 50,802 | 0 | 33 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2010 | 287 | 50,000 | 0 | 24 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2009 | 229 | 45,690 | 0 | 18 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2008 | 250 | 61,640 | 1 | 19 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2007 | 391 | 52,000 | 0 | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 205 | 59,914 | 0 | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 441 | 60,000 | 1 | 51 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 387 | 53,000 | 1 | 37 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 977 | 56,000 | 1 | 38 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 939 | 53,000 | 1 | 31 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2001 | 1,761 | 58,000 | 7 | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 3,686 | 61,000 | 11 | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 11 | 73,000 | 0 | 1 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Transmission and drivetrain6,804 31%
- Electrical system4,342 20%
- Fuel system2,675 12%
- Engine2,319 10%
- Steering2,101 9.5%
- Other or unknown1,559 7.0%
- Engine cooling1,281 5.8%
- Vehicle speed control1,076 4.9%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2017: “Cruise control fails constantly, has trouble picking up speed going up hills. Can't maintain speed on hills and sloaps. Gave to dealership for two months said it was fine only for them to tell me they had no mechanic. Engine continues to fail and they won't check for new recall for free on my car. My check ending light is currently on, I believe it is the same issue with the other Ford Focus recall.”
NHTSA complaint #11633798, filed 2025-01, 269,573 miles2012: “The car has transmission problems something every common in this make. This has caused me to almost get in some accidents because of the skid created by these transmission problems. The car is very jumpy and will skid when the transmission acts up. This happens while driving, on the move or when I start to move after being stationary for a few moments.”
NHTSA complaint #11388240, filed 2021-01, 1 miles2016: “Check engine light illuminated and my car stalled without warning while driving between 35-40 MPH. Took the car to sayville giant Ford on 1/6/21 for repair under recall #18532. I was told the car passed inspection and the repair was not made. Took the car to an independent mechanic and informed that it is a valve causing a vapor issue in the fuel system.”
NHTSA complaint #11388437, filed 2021-01, 66,925 milesOther Ford models
38,897 complaintsFord Explorer
34,624 complaintsFord Escape
27,530 complaintsFord Fusion
22,441 complaintsFord Taurus
18,162 complaintsFord Windstar
14,152 complaintsFord Edge
14,106 complaintsFord Expedition
9,385 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology