YearToAvoid

2015 Ford Focus Electric Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#4 most-complained of 6 Focus Electric years

The 2015 Ford Focus Electric has 12 NHTSA complaints and a Complaint Index of 40, ranking 4th of 6 model years with a "Good" verdict. It has 2 recalls, including a transmission differential gear defect, but no do-not-drive recalls.

Complaints
12
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
105
110 city / 99 hwy

Top 2015 Ford Focus Electric problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System4 (33%)
  2. Engine4 (33%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain4 (33%)
  4. Fuel System3 (25%)
  5. Steering3 (25%)
  6. Brakes1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Some owners report the vehicle suddenly losing drive power while pulling out from a stop, with a service wrench warning appearing on the dashboard.
  • Owners describe the car jerking forward unexpectedly while slowing to a stop, as if rear-ended, with wheels spinning faster instead of braking normally.
  • Drivers report the vehicle shutting down suddenly while showing available battery power on the dash.
  • Some owners say the car sputters, hesitates, or feels like it is not changing gears on takeoff and during acceleration.
  • Owners report pressing the accelerator in drive or reverse and having the car fail to move despite normal dashboard indicators.
  • A steering warning has appeared suddenly while driving, followed by the steering locking up and pulling to one side.
2015 Ford Focus Electric complaints: complaints filed per month6Jun 2015Oct 2015Jun 2016Aug 2018Feb 2019Nov 2022
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2015 to Nov 2022; peak Jun 2015 (6).

2015 Ford Focus Electric recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V592000Sep 10, 2018Other49,197 vehicles

    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. Cords with part numbers FM58-10B706-AA, FM58-10B706-AB, FM58-10B706-AC, FM58-10B706-AD, FM58-10B706-AE and FM58-10B706-AF were manufactured without thermistors, and during vehicle charging, increased resistance in the house's outlet or wiring can cause the cord to overheat and melt.

    Risk: An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.

    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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S24.

  2. NHTSA 16V479000Jun 28, 2016Transmission & Powertrain865 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: A fractured pinion shaft could cause a loss of motive power and loss of the transmission park function, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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. Ford's number for this recall is 16S28.

2015 Ford Focus Electric fuel economy and fuel cost

City
110 MPG
Highway
99 MPG
Combined
105 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Electricity
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other Focus Electric years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid100693105
2014Avoid80552105
2015Good40122105
2016Best2051105
2017Best070107

All Ford Focus Electric years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Ford Focus Electric reliable?
Compared to other Focus Electric years, 2015 ranks 4th of 6 with a Complaint Index of 40 and a "Good" verdict, though this is relative to other Focus Electric model years, not other models.
What are the most common problems on the 2015 Ford Focus Electric?
NHTSA data shows the top problem areas are Electrical System, Engine, and Transmission & Powertrain, each with 4 complaints and a 33% share of total complaints.
Does the 2015 Ford Focus Electric have any recalls?
Yes, it has 2 recalls: one for a 120V convenience charge cord replacement and one for a transmission differential pinion gear shaft that may overheat and fracture. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2015 Focus Electric compare to other model years?
The 2015 model has a Complaint Index of 40, better than 2012 (60), 2013 (100), and 2014 (80), but worse than 2016 (20) and 2017 (0), which are rated "Best".
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Ford Focus Electric?
EPA rates it at 105 MPGe combined (110 city, 99 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $700.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.