2015 Ford Focus Electric Owner Complaints

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. I just wanted to let others know that this item that has had a recall on earlier years still persists with the 2015 model.

NHTSA ID

11493726

Incident

Nov 15, 2022

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK JUST GOTTEN OFF THE FREEWAY IN THE CITY OF CERRITOS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A WARNING CAME ON AND SAID STEERING LOSS STOP SAFELY AND THEN IT LOCKED UP AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME BUT WAS LUCKY. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD USING ALL MY STRENGTH BUT IT WAS TERRIFYING AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE REALLY BEEN INJURED OR WORSE. I HAVE ONLY HAD IT 2 AND 1/2 YEARS

NHTSA ID

11205542

Incident

Apr 19, 2019

Mileage

84,000 mi

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. THE DEALERSHIP IS NO HELP AND TOLD ME THEY COULD FIND NO INFORMATION REGARDING IT EVEN THOUGH I DID.

NHTSA ID

11181991

Incident

Feb 16, 2019

Mileage

39,000 mi

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. IT SAYS THE CAR WOULD NOT START (WHEN DRAINED). I BROUGHT IT IN BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT STOP. AFTER THEY INSTALLED A NEW MODULE, THEY GAVE ME THE OLD DEFECTIVE ONE WHICH I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION.

NHTSA ID

11154365

Incident

Nov 3, 2018

Mileage

44,010 mi

RACK AND PINION EPAS FAILED--GRADUALLY AT FIRST, THEN COMPLETELY. THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED IN OTHER FORD MODELS BUT NOT IN MINE--YET. THE REPAIR BILL WAS $2800. IT HAPPENED WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF 3-YR WARRANTY EXPIRATION AND I FILED A CLAIM WITH FORD. THEY REDUCED THE COST BY $2000, BUT I STILL HAVE AN $800 BILL TO PAY TODAY, AS THE CAR HAS BEEN FIXED. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE ALL COVERED UNDER A RECALL EXEMPTION. SHOP IS SERRAMONTE FORD, 999 SERRAMONTE BLVD, COLMA, CA 94014. REPAIN # 227 328.

NHTSA ID

11121276

Incident

Jul 16, 2018

CAR WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WHEN THERE WAS SUDDEN MAXIMAL ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A CRASH WITH PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID

11023526

Incident

Aug 16, 2017

Mileage

20,000 mi

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 IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING UNTIL IT DOESN'T MOVE OR IT ROLLS UNINTENTIONALLY. ALSO THE RANDOMNESS OF THE MALFUNCTIONS DOES NOT GIVE ME PEACE IN MIND, AS IT IS MY PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION AND ONLY CAR I OWN.

NHTSA ID

10871723

Incident

May 24, 2016

Mileage

6,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10865171

Incident

May 14, 2016

Mileage

7,600 mi

ON 2 OCCASSIONS WITH THE DASH INDICATOR INDICATING AVAILABLE BATTERY POWER, THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY.

NHTSA ID

10783697

Incident

Sep 29, 2015

Mileage

85 mi

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP BEFORE A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR JERKED FORWARD LIKE I WAS BEING REAR-ENDED. SEVERAL TIMES I WAS GOING OVER A MAN-HOLE COVER; THE LAST TIME I WAS GOING OVER THE RAIL TRACKS. IT SHOCKED ME AS I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS HIT FROM BEHIND, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS TRYING TO STOP AND THE WHEELS JUST SPUN FASTER. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH DISTANCE IN FRONT AND DIDN'T HIT ANY CAR IN FRONT OF MINE.

NHTSA ID

10745386

Incident

Jul 29, 2015

Mileage

5,100 mi

MY INITIAL COMPLAINT WAS POSTED ON 06/19/2015, THE DAY OF MY TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. MISTAKENLY, I FILED THE COMPLAINT UNDER THE REGULAR FOCUS MODEL AND NOT THE ELECTRIC. LAST FRIDAY, I JUST CHARGED MY CAR TO 100% AT WORK. LATER, I WAS DRIVING HOME AT 40 MPH WITH NO PROBLEMS UNTIL I WAS ABOUT TO HIT MY FIRST RIGHT TURN. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE STREET LEADING ME TO THE 210 W FREEWAY. WHILE TURNING RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND FROZE UP AND DID NOT ALLOW ME TO MAKE A FULL TURN. I WAS FORCED TO MAKE THE WIDEST TURN POSSIBLE, THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO CARS OR IT COULD'VE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR STRAIGHTENED OUT SMOOTHLY AGAIN. HOWEVER, BECAUSE I AM 8 1/2 MONTHS PREGNANT I FELT SCARED TO GET ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER WHAT JUST HAPPENED I DIDN'T WANT TO RISK MY OR MY UNBORN CHILD'S LIVES ON THE FREEWAY.I TURNED AROUND TO TAKE STREET HOME. AS I DROVE, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF MY RADIO SAID "TURNING OFF AUDIO TO SAVE BATTERY". I WAS CONFUSED AS TO WHY I WOULD GET THIS MESSAGE BECAUSE WE HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND IT WAS FULLY CHARGED. THEN EVERY MINUTE THE RADIO WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. NOT TOO LONG AFTER CONTINUING ON STREETS THE CAR MADE A CONTINUOUS ALARM SOUND WITH A MESSAGE THAT SAID "PULL OVER SAFELY, RIGHT NOW!". I WAS SCARED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE CURVE WHICH WAS, UNFORTUNATELY, PAINTED RED, IT WAS A MERGING LANE. I TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS,WITH EVEN GREATER DISAPPOINTED, THE LIGHTS JUST FLICKERED THE ENTIRE TIME. THIS WAS IN EVENING, MY CAR IS BLACK AND THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHILE IN A MERGING LANE. IT TOOK ME APPROX. 15 MINUTES TO SAFELY GET OUT OF CAR WITH HOPES I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CRASHED INTO. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SEVERE INJURY OR EVEN A FATALITY. FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SHOWED UP 90 MINUTES LATER. FORD ADVISED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO DEALER AND THE PROBLEM IS YET TO BE RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10730238

Incident

Jun 19, 2015

Mileage

845 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10724651

Incident

May 20, 2015

Mileage

1,400 mi