2017 Ford Focus Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
25/100
#7 most-complained of 9 Focus years
The 2017 Ford Focus has a Complaint Index of 25, ranking 7th of 9 model years and earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Focus years. It carries 10 recalls and 896 complaints, with Transmission & Powertrain issues topping the list at 50% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 896
- Recalls
- 10
- Crashes / fires
- 18 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 16 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 29
- 26 city / 36 hwy
Top 2017 Ford Focus problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain452 (50%)
- Engine326 (36%)
- Fuel System177 (20%)
- Other80 (9%)
- Electrical System41 (5%)
- Steering20 (2%)
- Airbags15 (2%)
- Brakes13 (1%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires12 (1%)
- Structure & Body10 (1%)
What owners report
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in low-to-moderate speed frontal and side collisions, sometimes resulting in injury.
- Owners describe unexpected engine stalling while driving, including during turns, requiring the vehicle to be towed.
- Some vehicles reportedly rolled forward on their own after being shifted into park and turned off, striking nearby objects.
- Brake pedal reportedly went to the floor with no resistance during normal city driving, described by one owner.
- One owner reported the vehicle would not start and produced heavy black smoke after the fuel tank was manually pressurized to get it running.
- A vehicle reportedly surged forward unexpectedly while pulling into a parking spot at low speed, jumping a curb and hitting a tree.
2017 Ford Focus recalls
10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V376000Jun 9, 2026Transmission & Powertrain5,252 vehicles
Power train:manual transmission
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 transmission fluid leak.
Risk: A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will inspect Focus vehicles and replace the clutch assembly as necessary, 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S43. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
- NHTSA 26V369000Jun 9, 2026Fuel System257,868 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:evaporative emissions:canister
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.
Risk: An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
- NHTSA 26V012000Jan 15, 2026Other2,403 vehicles
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
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.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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 block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.
2017 Ford Focus fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 36 MPG
- Combined
- 29 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,250
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- 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.
2017 compared with other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Ford Focus reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2017 Focus a Complaint Index of 25, the 7th highest out of 9 model years tracked, and it carries a "Good" verdict relative to other Focus years. It has 896 complaints and 10 recalls on file.
- What is the top problem area for the 2017 Ford Focus?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 50% of complaints (452 of 896), followed by Engine problems at 36% and Fuel System issues at 20%.
- Does the 2017 Ford Focus have a transmission recall?
- Yes. NHTSA recall 18V845000 covers 2016-2018 Focus vehicles with a 1.0L engine and 6-speed manual transmission where the clutch may fracture and damage the transmission, and a later 2026 recall (26V376000) addresses vehicles that were repaired incorrectly under that original campaign.
- How does the 2017 Focus compare to the 2012 Focus?
- The 2012 Focus has a Complaint Index of 100 and an "Avoid" verdict with 3,768 complaints, far worse than the 2017 Focus's index of 25 and "Good" verdict with 896 complaints.
- At what mileage do 2017 Focus problems typically show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 55,392 miles overall, with Transmission & Powertrain complaints centered around 50,000 miles and Engine complaints around 66,611 miles.