2017 Ford Focus Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Engine › Crank/camshaft position sensor
  1
• Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
  1
• Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1811%
• 25k–50k
  2616%
• 50k–75k
  5132%
• 75k–100k
  3623%
• 100k–150k
  2415%
• 150k+
  53%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the purge valve had failed. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, upon replacing the engine coolant, she noticed that the coolant was leaking from the coolant hose. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who replace the coolant hose. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle a few days later, the vehicle started with delay and the transmission was slipping while driving. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the vehicle was overheating, and the thermostat was replaced. Additionally, the independent mechanic diagnosed that the transmission had failed. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the dealer for diagnostic testing, the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed engine. The contact was informed that metal shavings were found in the brake booster assembly. The contact stated that the failure started with the engine fault service engine now warning light illuminating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed a software update. The software update was performed, however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed brake plug. The contact was informed that the brake plug needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the parts were in backorder. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while stopped at the bank drive-thru line, the vehicle stalled. After several attempts, the vehicle restarted. The failure was progressively worsening. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the fuel pump, AX Sender, and pump assembly, AA gasket, B sensor, and fuel injector pressure parts were replaced. The contact stated that on another occasion, while driving in heavy traffic at 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled with several warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that several months ago, on a separate occasion, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart, and the contact waited for approximately an hour before the vehicle restarted. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stationary, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal and the vehicle jerked forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally hesitated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and to a dealer; however, the neither the dealer nor the independent mechanic were able to determine the cause of the failure. On another occasion, the vehicle stalled and unintendedly shifted to neutral, and then lunged forward while driving 20 MPH. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed the vehicle stalled every 30 seconds. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was diagnosed with an electronic clutch failure. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine and low oil pressure warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle was still losing motive power. The contact pulled off the road and depressed the brake pedal to slow the vehicle however, the brake pedal was very stiff. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the oil pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was advised that the failure of the oil pump had also damaged the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. The contact inspected the coolant reservoir, and the coolant level was low. The contact refilled the coolant reservoir. The contact stated that three months later the failure reoccurred. The coolant level was refilled. The vehicle was taken an independent mechanic; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact was informed that there was no evidence of a coolant leak. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed coolant pump, fractured belts, valve cover gaskets, and corroded engine mounts. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH on an off-ramp, the contact had to depress and apply additional pressure to the brake pedal. The engine and oil warning lights were illuminated. The contact called the independent mechanic, who informed the contact to check the oil levels. There was no oil on the dipstick, though the oil had been changed a week prior. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the PSI had no pressure, the turbocharger and engine assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and Warranty Company inquired about the oil pump belt status and informed them about the oil pan teardown removal and fees. Additionally, there was debris in the oil pan, the belt was not fractured, and the Warranty Company declined the claim. The vehicle was not repaired. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the temperature gauge was moving into the HOT zone and the speedometer displayed that the vehicle was decelerating. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer several times, and on several trips to the dealer, the vehicle had to be towed. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and advised the contact that the vehicle had been repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently taken to the same dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the failure recurred after the recall repair. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was idling very rough. The contact stated that while idling, the vehicle shuddered and jerked significantly, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot. The contact was able to restart the vehicle with assistance. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had illuminated several times. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where diagnostic trouble codes related to a stuck canister purge valve were retrieved. Additionally, the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch and the engine mount needed to be replaced. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low engine oil pressure warning light illuminated, and the contact stopped driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the engine oil pump, the engine, and the coolant gasket housing were replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the vehicle started overheating. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer several times, and the contact was eventually informed that diagnostic trouble codes indicating an overheating failure were retrieved when the vehicle was initially taken to the dealer. The contact stated that the dealer stated that the overheating failure was not related to the recall repair. No further assistance was provided. …

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Engine complaints in other Focus years