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Owner complaints · Power Train

2017 Ford Focus transmission and drivetrain problems

456 of the 904 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Focus name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 25 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.

456 complaints 50% of this model year’s 5 reports a crash typically at 50k miles

What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain

Source: NHTSA complaint database

456complaints name the transmission and drivetrain

5 of the 456 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.

Filed per year: 2017: 3 · 2018: 19 · 2019: 76 · 2020: 58 · 2021: 33 · 2022: 51 · 2023: 72 · 2024: 70 · 2025: 59 · 2026: 15

50kmiles, typically

Half of the 278 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 22,000 and 80,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

50%of this model year’s complaints

904 complaints in all about the 2017 Ford Focus, 15 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →

Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.

Across model years: Ford Focus transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

My 2017 Ford Focus se has a really bad hesitation when shifting through gears, it will roll backwards on hills after coming to a complete stop. Very horrible shuddering and vibration in front end. Clunking and chattering when driving. Slow response when accelerating. I feel like my car has to search for the gear sometimes.

Power Train at 23,300 miles Jul 6, 2018 NHTSA owner report

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. While the vehicle was stationary, the clutch pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. In order to operate the vehicle, the clutch had to be manually pulled back up. The vehicle was taken to klaben Ford lincoln, inc. the vehicle was not repaired.

Power Train at 9,026 miles Jul 2, 2018 NHTSA owner report

Car hesitates and shakes at acceleration causing risk of accident. It jumps when going from a stopped or slow position to giving it gas. It was in motion when I tried to pass another vehicle and another car was coming head on. My car would not go due to the engine shaking.

Power Train at 11,000 miles Jun 15, 2018 NHTSA owner report

When attempting to shift into first gear the clutch was depressed and did not release leaving the car to coast to a stop in neutral. This occurred in a parking lot, while trailing >5 MPH pulling back on the clutch did not release it and vertical was towed with it still fully depressed .

Power Train at 17,674 miles May 22, 2018 NHTSA owner report

Clutch pedal stuck to the floor for the second time when driving. Was driving about 46 MPH and shifted to 5th gear and the clutch went half way to the floor without returning... Tried to press it in again and it went all the way to the floor and stayed. Had to pull over and pop car out of 5th gear and could no longer move again.

Power Train at 10,008 miles Apr 26, 2018 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recalls filed under this heading

26V376000 High
Jun 9, 2026 · 5,252 vehicles
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.
18V845000 High
Nov 28, 2018 · 2,828 vehicles
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 leak.

25 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading

25E05 Other
Mar 4, 2026
Certain 2015 - 2018 Model Year Focus Vehicles with 1.0L Engine Canister Purge Valve (CPV) Replacement (if required) and Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Reprogramming Submitting Owner Letter
25E05 Emissions
Dec 3, 2025
Certain 2015 - 2018 Model Year Focus Vehicles with 1.0L Engine Canister Purge Valve (CPV) Replacement (if required) and Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Reprogramming

The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Trouble codes named on this system

P0011 P0012 P0014 P0015 P0016 P0017 P0018 P0019

Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2017 Ford Focus names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.

Other systems with a record on the 2017 Ford Focus

Source: the same files

engine problems 314 complaints
fuel system problems 178 complaints

From here

Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Are transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2017 Ford Focus?

They are documented: NHTSA holds 456 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (50% of everything owners filed about it), and 25 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.

Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2017 Ford Focus?

Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 26V376000, 18V845000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2017 Ford Focus?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 50,000 miles; half of them between 22,000 and 80,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?

The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.