Most common 2015 Ford Focus Electric problems
Share of the 12 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Focus Electric complaints by model year
Best Focus Electric years: 2016, 2017, 2015. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2012. Compare all years →
2015 Ford Focus Electric recalls (2)
Equipment › Electrical
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 120V Convenience charge cords that were supplied with and sold for use with 2013-2015 Ford C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi vehicles and 2012-2015 Ford Focus Electric vehicles.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120V convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019.
Power train › Driveline › Differential unit
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Ford Focus Electric vehicles manufactured August 20, 2015, through April 13, 2016. The transmission's differential pinion gear shaft may overheat and fracture.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission differential assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2015 Ford Focus Electric:
Door Latch Failures
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.
Door Latch Failure
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 over 200 claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion.One consumer…
Pedestrian alert sounds
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. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2015 Ford Focus Electric owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
I powered on the car, selected drive or reverse, and pressed the accelerator but the car did not move. The green car with the arrows indicating that the car is ready was illuminated and the handbrake was released. The light in the instrument cluster correctly showed the gear that the lever was in, and when in reverse the backup camera came on as usual. There have been three instances of this malfunction happening in the past two weeks. Which prompted me to take it into the local Ford service shop. Ford engineering has known about the issue since October of 2015, and has no estimation of a scheduled fix. They have given instructions to turn off and on the car until it is able to drive (usually takes 3 or 4 cycles). When parked on a slope it acts like the transmission is in neutral (when in drive or reverse) so the car will roll unintentionally. …
This engine on this vehicle sputters and hesitates on take off . As I continue to drive it tends to choke or like the transmission is not changing gears. I took it to the service dept twice and was told that the electronic engine has to to used to my handling the vehicle that was after 1600 miles. It never straightened out so I took it back at 6000 miles and the save service attendent told me again that it was still getting used to me. Well I'm at 7600 miles and it sputters, tends to choke while driving on the freeway and when I get to a stop it drives like it needs a tune-up. I will take it in again to see what happens
Electrical system
When driving my car the first day I bought it, the wrench icon illuminated, telling me to check the manual. I figured I would do so after work, but as I tried to start the car to leave work, I received a "Stop Safely Now" message and could not start the car. It had at least 30% charge, being electric, so that had nothing to do with it not starting. I am glad this did not happen when I was driving, as I have seen other instances of earlier years of the Ford Focus electric with this same issue. In other cases, it came in while the owner was driving, causing all power to the accelerator to stop. It was recently serviced since I just bought it, so I know there shouldn't have been any outlying service to be done. I am calling a tow service in the morning to have it taken to a dealer, so hopefully they can figure out the issue. …
Driving my vehicle in normal conditions with over 30 miles left to a charge on a suburban street going approximately 45 miles per hour, suddenly a red triangle warning appeared on the dash stating stop safely now. 60 seconds later the vehicle shut off and I lost all power leaving me stranded in the dark in the middle of the street. After about 20 minutes I was able to restart the vehicle and proceed home. There is never any prior warning to this happening. This has happened 3 times to me within a 2 month period and I have taken it to my dealership twice with no results. I drive 40 miles to work one way on very busy phoenix freeways and am petrified this will happen in the hov lane and I end up in a dangerous situation. I have found this to be an issue on previous years model recall no 13v-523000. …
Engine & cooling
While parked (stationary) I could not turn the engine off even though I pressed the on/off button. (the battery would drain down to zero. I could recharge it 100% but it would not hold the charge.) I brought it to Ford service. They charged it up and said it was working fine. I told them to let it sit over night. They checked it the next day and it was drained. They told me that the problem was a defective "body control module" which needed to be replaced. I informed them that Ford already recalled the 2015 Focus because of defective body control module. They said that my Focus was not covered by that recall. I told them that a car that keeps running and cannot be turned off is dangerous, therefore should be recalled. What makes it particularly dangerous is that the engine is running and you can't even tell because Electric cars are silent. (their repair paperwork is disingenuous. …
While pulling out from stop sign on two occasions the vehicle lost drive power. A wrench appeared on the dashboard that said service. Had I had to get out of the way of an approaching vehicle I would not have been and this issue could have resulted in a crash resulting in injury or death. I brought the car to dealer and they agreed the issue was a serious issue however said they could not do anything since and error code was not generated. We are still trying to get this issue addressed.
2015 Ford Focus Electric engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | FWD | 110 / 99 / 105 MPGe | 76 mi |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Ford Focus Electric a good car?
Based on 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 Focus Electric rates better than average: 59% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Focus Electric at the same age. It is one of the best Focus Electric years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Ford Focus Electric?
The transmission & drivetrain — 4 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (4) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 2015 Ford Focus Electric have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2015 Ford Focus Electric, the most recent from September 10, 2018 (electrical). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Focus Electric?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2017 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014 and 2012. See the full Ford Focus Electric years comparison.
At what mileage do 2015 Ford Focus Electric problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 8,000 miles; 90% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.