Skip to content
Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2017 Ford Focus Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
455about this part
Share
51%of 900 total for the year
Median mileage
50,000miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 455 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2017 Ford Focus, 51% of the 900 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 50,000 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“2017 Ford Focus shudders when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear when hot. When cold, no issues. After a long road trip on the highway, we stopped for a quick break and started the car up again. This time, I noticed a very harsh shudder and shake as I accelerated from a stop. No indicators on the dash, normal pressure and temp levels, oil level perfect.”

NHTSA complaint #11396047, filed 2021-02, 45,000 miles

“I was accelerating from a stop sign when the car didn't want to go forward, the rpms just idled as the engine revved but I couldn't drive forward, then the vehicle lunges forward, as if the transmission was stuck in neutral. After it jumped forward it began making a terrible grinding noise and lost control, almost driving straight into another car. …”

NHTSA complaint #11318392, filed 2020-03, 70,192 miles

“When accelerating, typically from a stopped position but not exclusively, the transmission shudders. This started happening at about 20k miles and I'm told by the Ford dealership some shuddering is to be expected & cannot be repaired . I disagree. This is not to be expected as no other vehicle I've owned did this unless there was a mechanical problem.”

NHTSA complaint #11363046, filed 2020-10, 20,000 miles

“My 2017 Ford Focus is slipping into neutral at various speeds, hesitating to find the right gear, jolting forward will driving and at a stop, losing power due to slipping into neutral, and revs up to six thousand r.p.m.'s while trying to take off from a stop. It has an automatic transmission in order for my wife to transport the kids to and from school.”

NHTSA complaint #11318507, filed 2020-03, 82,000 miles

“Transmission slips. At time when driving, it slips and the RPM's rev up to 5-6 and the car has no power. It lasts for 3-4 seconds and sounds like the car is in neutral and gas peddle pushed to the floor. It does this off and on every time I drive it. Started around the 9,000 miles mark. My car is a 2017 Ford Focus with 11,800 miles on it.”

NHTSA complaint #11243905, filed 2019-08, 9,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201831938%
201745551%
201667457%
201555955%
20141,57660%
20131,10252%
20121,44738%
20112018%
20104516%
20093917%
2008239%
20074311%
2006147%
20054711%
2004205%
2003485%
2002586%
2001905%
20002256%

Other parts of the 2017 Ford Focus

Engine
230 complaintsFuel system
177 complaintsEngine cooling
81 complaintsOther or unknown
81 complaintsVehicle speed control
37 complaintsElectrical system
36 complaintsSteering
20 complaintsAir bags
15 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsExterior lighting
9 complaintsWheels
8 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2017 Ford Focus

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology