2017 Ford Focus Electric Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Focus Electric, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical327.3%
- Engine327.3%
- Powertrain (other)218.2%
- Brakes19.1%
- Driver assistance19.1%
- Fuel system19.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving around [XXX] PM on Thursday, [XXX], the Focus Electric displayed a "Stop Safely Now" message and proceeded to cut power going to the electric motor, allowing the car only to coast as if it was in neutral. Luckily no vehicles were around in my lanes, as that easily could've caused an accident. Electric steering, regen braking, and air conditioning were all disabled. I was able to coast it into a nearby FireHouse Subs parking lot, and directly into a parking spot. Had to disconnect the 12 Volt battery for 5 minutes and reconnect to hopefully reset the computers in the car. Still displayed SSN message after reconnection. I let the car sit for another 30 minutes and was able to start it up like nothing happened. Drove it home and read the stored DTCs, which were the following: ===BECM DTC P0AA2:00-08=== Code: P0AA2 - Hybrid/EV Battery Positive Contactor 'A' Stuck Open ===TCM DTC P0AF8:16-08=== Code: P0AF8 - Hybrid/EV Battery System Voltage ===GFM DTC U0111:00-08=== Code: U0111 - Lost Communication With Battery Energy Control Module A It will be going to Thomasville Ford on Wednesday [XXX]. That is the earliest they can accept it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
CAR HAS ABOUT 13,000 MILES. SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. 'STOP SAFELY NOW' WARNING SHOWED ON DASHBOARD. TRIED FOR 10-15 MINUTES TO RESTART, FINALLY RESTARTED AND COMPLETED COMMUTE TO WORK. DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER SAME DAY. AFTER ONE WEEK, DEALER HAS NO DIAGNOSIS AND HAS MADE NO REPAIR. I CANNOT DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR ON MY DAILY COMMUTE, WHICH INCLUDES HIGHWAY DRIVING. FORD IS OBVIOUSLY ON NOTICE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND THEY HAVEN'T FIXED IT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Electric propulsion system shut down while driving on westbound interstate 495 in queens county. Stop Safely Now (SSN) red warning light on the instrument cluster appeared and I was forced to coast down a hill in neutral. Unable to restart car and became stuck in side of parkway exit ramp. Car then had no power with 12v battery going dead just trying to keep radio on. Third time SSN light has come on while driving. First time while actually stuck in traffic that the car shut itself off.
I BUY A 2017 FORD FOCUS SE. ON SEPTEMBER 2017 THE ENGINE LIGHTS TURN ON, I LEAVE THE CAR IN GREENFORD EAST COLONIAL TO FIXED. NOW ON DECEMBER THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON AGAIN. I DON'T WANT A CAR THAT I HAVE TO LEAVE ON GUARANTEE TO FIXED THE ENGINE LIGHT. I DON'T WANT THIS LEMON CAR. I WANT THE RELEASE OF THIS CAR TO BUY OTHER BRAND NEW CAR. THE CAR RUNS , BUT IS A NEW CAR AND IT'S NOT SUPPOSED THAT HAPPEND
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR HAS ABOUT 13,000 MILES. SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. 'STOP SAFELY NOW' WARNING SHOWED ON DASHBOARD. TRIED FOR 10-15 MINUTES TO RESTART, FINALLY RESTARTED AND COMPLETED COMMUTE TO WORK. DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER SAME DAY. AFTER ONE WEEK, DEALER HAS NO DIAGNOSIS AND HAS MADE NO REPAIR. I CANNOT DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR ON MY DAILY COMMUTE, WHICH INCLUDES HIGHWAY DRIVING. FORD IS OBVIOUSLY ON NOTICE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND THEY HAVEN'T FIXED IT.
BRAND NEW FOCUS ELECTRIC, LESS THAN 3 DAYS OLD FROM DEALER ON 8/17/2017. FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS, I HAVE DRIVEN LESS THAN 100 MILES. CAR WAS CHARGED OVERNIGHT AND SHOWS FULL CHARGE THIS MORNING. I DROVE THE CAR LESS THAN 30 MILES TODAY. IN THE EVENING, WHEN I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE STOPPED SUDDENLY ON THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS IN STEADY SPEED ON A CITY STREET IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I WAS NOT ACCELERATING. I WAS NOT BRAKING. ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR BEHIND ME. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. BATTERY STILL SHOW 80 MILES CHARGE. INDICATOR WARNING SHOWS: "STOP SAFELY WARNING LAMP" AND "ELECTRIC MOTOR WARNING LAMP". ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE BRIGHT WHEN THE CAR DOOR IS OPENED, IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THE BATTERY CHARGE IS LOW. ALSO THERE IS NO WARNING OF "LOW BATTERY" BEFORE THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I ALSO NOTICED WHEN I TURN OFF THE "POWER/START BUTTON", THE "INFORMATION AND ENTERTAINMENT DISPLAY/GPS" STAYED ON. EVEN AFTER I HAVE CLICKED THE "LOCK" BUTTON ON THE REMOTE CONTROL KEY. AFTER PRESSING THE "POWER/START/STOP" QUITE A NUMBER OF TIME AND SWITCHING BETWEEN THE TWO KEYS, THEN THE "DISPLAY CENTER" FINALLY TURN OFF. WE HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE CAR TOWED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REGENERATIVE BRAKE SYSTEM OCCASIONALLY CAUSES PROBLEMS WHEN ON BUMPY, SLIPPERY, OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT. THE BRAKES APPEAR TO LOCK-UP, OR "SKIP" WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE FORWARD ABRUPTLY. I AM NOT SURE OF THE EXACT CAUSATION, HOWEVER I THINK IT MAY BE DUE TO THE CAR SWITCHING FROM REGENERATIVE TO FRICTION BRAKING. THIS FORM REQUIRES A DATE AND MILEAGE ENTRY, HOWEVER I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I AM BRAKING ON LESS THAN PERFECT PAVEMENT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving around [XXX] PM on Thursday, [XXX], the Focus Electric displayed a "Stop Safely Now" message and proceeded to cut power going to the electric motor, allowing the car only to coast as if it was in neutral. Luckily no vehicles were around in my lanes, as that easily could've caused an accident. Electric steering, regen braking, and air conditioning were all disabled. I was able to coast it into a nearby FireHouse Subs parking lot, and directly into a parking spot. Had to disconnect the 12 Volt battery for 5 minutes and reconnect to hopefully reset the computers in the car. Still displayed SSN message after reconnection. I let the car sit for another 30 minutes and was able to start it up like nothing happened. Drove it home and read the stored DTCs, which were the following: ===BECM DTC P0AA2:00-08=== Code: P0AA2 - Hybrid/EV Battery Positive Contactor 'A' Stuck Open ===TCM DTC P0AF8:16-08=== Code: P0AF8 - Hybrid/EV Battery System Voltage ===GFM DTC U0111:00-08=== Code: U0111 - Lost Communication With Battery Energy Control Module A It will be going to Thomasville Ford on Wednesday [XXX]. That is the earliest they can accept it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving around [XXX] PM on Thursday, [XXX], the Focus Electric displayed a "Stop Safely Now" message and proceeded to cut power going to the electric motor, allowing the car only to coast as if it was in neutral. Luckily no vehicles were around in my lanes, as that easily could've caused an accident. Electric steering, regen braking, and air conditioning were all disabled. I was able to coast it into a nearby FireHouse Subs parking lot, and directly into a parking spot. Had to disconnect the 12 Volt battery for 5 minutes and reconnect to hopefully reset the computers in the car. Still displayed SSN message after reconnection. I let the car sit for another 30 minutes and was able to start it up like nothing happened. Drove it home and read the stored DTCs, which were the following: ===BECM DTC P0AA2:00-08=== Code: P0AA2 - Hybrid/EV Battery Positive Contactor 'A' Stuck Open ===TCM DTC P0AF8:16-08=== Code: P0AF8 - Hybrid/EV Battery System Voltage ===GFM DTC U0111:00-08=== Code: U0111 - Lost Communication With Battery Energy Control Module A It will be going to Thomasville Ford on Wednesday [XXX]. That is the earliest they can accept it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .