2017 Ford Focus: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 892 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 10 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
892
Complaints
10
Recalls
18
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
16
Injuries
23.8
Severity index
Severity index 23.8 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 136 2017 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2017 Ford Focus ranks 125 of 136 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 8% of its model-year peers. See the full 2017 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 450 | 50.4% |
| ENGINE | 226 | 25.3% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 116 | 13.0% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 80 | 9.0% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 80 | 9.0% |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 61 | 6.8% |
| GASOLINE | 61 | 6.8% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 38 | 4.3% |
The single most-reported system is POWER TRAIN, cited in 450 of 892 complaints (50.4%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 34 |
| 2019 | 131 |
| 2020 | 103 |
| 2021 | 67 |
| 2022 | 110 |
| 2023 | 125 |
| 2024 | 173 |
| 2025 | 113 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 25 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.5x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18V735000 | 22/10/2018 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system. |
| 19V515000 | 05/07/2019 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 and 2017 Focus vehicles equipped with 2.0L GDI gasoline engines and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles equipped with 2.0L GTDI engines, previously recalled under 18V-735. The affected vehicles did not have the Powertrain Control Modul |
| 18V845000 | 28/11/2018 | POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L Fox GTDI engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak. |
| 17V528000 | 28/08/2017 | SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Focus vehicles. The rear left side seat back frame may have an insufficient weld between the outboard pivot bracket and the pivot nut joint, resulting in the seat back having reduced strength. As such, these vehicles fail to c |
| 16V698000 | 28/09/2016 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Ford Focus hatchback vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 26, 2016 and equipped with a manual transmission. The hatchback of the affected vehicles may be unlatched with a single press of the interi |
| 23V905000 | 22/12/2023 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport vehicles. The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure. |
| 26V011000 | 15/01/2026 | EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in. |
| 26V012000 | 15/01/2026 | EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in. |
| 26V369000 | 09/06/2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving. |
| 26V376000 | 09/06/2026 | POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.