2017 Ford Focus Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,176 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2017 Ford Focus, alongside 10 recall campaigns and 5 defect investigations. It scores 18/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 52,800 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2017 Ford Focus has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2017 sits among all Focus years
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after the battery was replaced, the vehicle cut not reverse when needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission control module failure due to a faulty battery. The dealer repaired the transmission. The…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Focus
“The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Focus
“Recalled for fuel system issue. Issue was fixed at dealership. The issue still persists even after problem was “fixed” at ford dealership. Gas is not getting to the engine.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Focus
“The clutch on my 2017 Ford focus needs to be replaced due to it slipping/shuttering when I go to accelerate.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Focus
“This will be my second complaint, as i have a complaint # cas-12526659-q7s5m2 with ford but i am being told that this is how the car is. Accident waiting to happen. Can not see speedometer during daylight hours or dusk or dawn.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Focus
“Vehicle stays in high gear, even when parked, i turn the vehicle off, then back on, and the car is still in a high gear and the engine revs. Also, the battery dies after the car is turned off for even 5 minutes.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Focus
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 638 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 56,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 30,600 and 80,463 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (10)
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.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
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…
Fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available.…
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…
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine…
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.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine…
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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the oil pump tensioner assembly and oil pump drive belt, free of charge. If engine failure occurs due to a damaged oil pump belt and/or oil pump belt tensioner, Ford has…
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…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will…
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…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip, and will replace the clutch, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began…
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.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will…
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,…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the rear second left side rear seat back as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 10, 2017. Owners may contact Ford…
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…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 23V905.
Led to recall campaign 22V063000.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2017 Ford Focus reliable?
The 2017 Ford Focus drew 1,176 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 18/100, scored against the model's worst year (2000).
What are the most common 2017 Ford Focus problems?
The top reported problems for the 2017 Ford Focus are transmission & drivetrain (450 complaints), engine (306), and fuel system (176).
At what mileage do 2017 Ford Focus problems show up?
Owners most often report 2017 Ford Focus problems around 56,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 30,600 and 80,463 miles.
Does the 2017 Ford Focus have recalls?
10 recall campaigns apply to the 2017 Ford Focus. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.