The best Focus years to buy are 2015 and 2017, and only with a manual gearbox if you can find one. Avoid the 2012 and 2014: their PowerShift automatic is one of the most complained-about parts in our data.
Best years: 20152017 Years to avoid: 20122014
Every Focus year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Focus problems
PowerShift transmission shudder and failure
2,087 owner complaints, usually around 46,000 miles
2012, 2013, 2014Power steering failure
1,243 owner complaints, usually around 75,000 miles
2012, 2017, 2018Purge valve stalling and hard starts
489 owner complaints, usually around 75,000 miles
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 838 | 735 | 7 | Transmission and drivetrain | Watch out |
| 2017 | 906 | 572 | 10 | Transmission and drivetrain | Watch out |
| 2016 | 1,196 | 709 | 10 | Transmission and drivetrain | Watch out |
| 2015 | 1,034 | 511 | 9 | Transmission and drivetrain | Watch out |
| 2014 | 2,661 | 1,212 | 12 | Transmission and drivetrain | Skip this year |
| 2013 | 2,181 | 930 | 12 | Transmission and drivetrain | Watch out |
| 2012 | 3,805 | 1,547 | 8 | Transmission and drivetrain | Skip this year |
About the Focus
The 2012-2018 Focus is cheap, roomy and fun to drive, but most automatic versions use Ford's dual-clutch PowerShift gearbox. It shudders, slips and loses drive, and many owners report several clutch replacements. Ford extended the clutch warranty and settled a class action, so repair history matters more than mileage on this car.
- 2012-2014: Third generation launch years. PowerShift automatic complaints are at their worst, plus power steering failures on 2012.
- 2015-2018: Facelift. Fewer complaints per car sold, but the automatic is the same design; purge valve stalling appears on 2015-2018.
Focus warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Ford files with NHTSA. 369 Focus bulletins are on file in total.
Advance Notice Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
Customer Satisfaction Program 26L02 Certain 2014-2021 Model Year Various Vehicles 1.0L Fox Classic Engine Timing Belt and Oil Pump Belt Interval Change
Certain 2011 through 2015 model year fiesta and 2012 through 2016 model year Focus vehicles equipped with a dps6 automatic transmission - transmission control module extended warranty coverage
Certain 2014 through 2015 Model Year Fiesta and 2014 through 2016 Model Year Focus Vehicles Equipped with a DPS6 Automatic Transmission - Transmission Clutch Shudder / Transmission Clutch Warranty Extension
Ford is extending the warranty coverage on the DPS6 automatic transmission TCM to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, whichever occurs first.
Delivery Hold - Customer Satisfaction Program 16 B02 Certain 2012-2016 Model Years Focus Electric vehicles High voltage Lower battery connector corrosion.
This tsb contains an owner letter.
Certain 2011 through 2014 model year fiesta and Focus vehicles equipped with a dps6 automatic transmission - transmission clutch shudder / transmission input shaft seal warranty extension.
Customer Satisfaction Program 19N09 Certain 2011-2014 Model Year Edge and MKX and 2013-2014 Model Year Explorer, Flex, and MKT Vehicles Left Front Door Latch Extended Coverage
This customer satisfaction program updates the TCM software in affected vehicles to provide improved detection and over warning of electrical circuit failures in the TCM.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Focus
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Engineering analysis EA26004 · 2015–2018 · opened Jul 2026
On December 18, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE25020 to investigate instances of timing belt failure in model year (MY) 2015-2017 Ford Fiesta and MY 2015-2018 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford), equipped with a 1.0L engine and manual transmission (subject vehicles).
Preliminary evaluation PE25020 · 2015–2018 · opened Dec 2025, closed Jul 2026
On December 18, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE25020 to investigate instances of timing belt failure in model year (MY) 2015-2017 Ford Fiesta and MY 2015-2018 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford), equipped with a 1.0L engine and manual transmission (subject vehicles).
Preliminary evaluation PE23015 · 2016–2018 · opened Sep 2023, closed Feb 2024 · led to recall 23V905
On September 20, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-015 to investigate instances of engine failure due to loss of oil pressure in model year (MY) 2018-2021 Ford EcoSport vehicles.
Recall query RQ23006 · 2012–2018 · opened Sep 2023, closed Dec 2024
On September 15, 2023, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) after receiving 98 consumer complaints alleging loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles.
Defect petition DP22005 · 2012–2018 · opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States.
Recall query RQ19005 · 2012–2015 · opened Dec 2019, closed Feb 2022 · led to recall 20V177000
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.
Preliminary evaluation PE16001 · 2012–2015 · opened Jan 2016, closed Oct 2016 · led to recall 16V643000
In January, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on consumers' allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2012-2013 Ford Focus vehicles (subject vehicles).ODI has received 464 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with ...
Preliminary evaluation PE13031 · 2012–2014 · opened Sep 2013, closed Nov 2013 · led to recall 13V523000
In an October 28, 2013 letter to NHTSA, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a recall notice identifying a defect in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software in approximately 2,456 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 Ford Focus Electric vehicles manufactured from September 15, 2011 through August 23, 2013 (Recall No.
Focus vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Ford Focus?
2015 and 2017. The best Focus years to buy are 2015 and 2017, and only with a manual gearbox if you can find one. Avoid the 2012 and 2014: their PowerShift automatic is one of the most complained-about parts in our data.
Which Ford Focus years should I avoid?
2012, 2014. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Ford Focus average.
Is the Ford Focus automatic transmission reliable?
Not on 2012-2018 cars. The PowerShift dual-clutch automatic is the top complaint every year. Ford extended clutch coverage to 7 years or 100,000 miles on many cars and updated parts several times, so ask for proof of the latest clutch and control module replacement.
Is a manual Ford Focus a good buy?
The manual avoids the PowerShift problems, but some 2014-2018 manuals have their own clutch recalls (18V169 and 26V376). Check those show as repaired.
Based on 12,621 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2018, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.