2017 Ford FOCUS - Ratings, Complaints and Recalls

The 2017 Ford Focus 5 HB FWD has an excellent safety rating of 5 out of 5, showcasing top-notch protection for both front and side crashes. The car also scored well in rollover and side pole crash tests. Additionally, it comes equipped with standard electronic stability control, which enhances safety by helping drivers maintain control in challenging situations. While the car does not have forward collision warning, it does offer optional lane departure warning to assist drivers in staying within their lanes.

In terms of complaints and recalls, there have been 591 complaints reported for this model, along with 6 recalls. Despite these numbers, the overall safety features and high safety ratings make the 2017 Ford Focus a safe choice for drivers looking for a reliable and secure vehicle.

auto generated summary, may be inaccurate.

Top stats at a glance

Complaint Count

591

Recall Count

6

Investigation Count

2

Safety Rating

5/5

Search Vehicle Details

Advanced Search

The advanced search lets you search by safety ratings and features. This will return a list of vehicles that match your search criteria.

Safety Features

2017 Ford Focus 5 HB FWD Safety Features

Here are the safety features that come as standard on the 2017 Ford Focus 5 HB FWD

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ESC is an advanced safety feature in vehicles designed to help drivers maintain control during challenging driving conditions. By continuously monitoring various factors such as steering angle, vehicle speed, and individual wheel speeds, ESC can detect and reduce the risk of skidding or loss of control. It achieves this by automatically applying brakes to specific wheels to stabilize the vehicle.

Standard
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is a safety feature in vehicles that helps prevent frontal collisions by alerting the driver of an imminent collision with a vehicle or obstacle ahead. Using sensors such as radar or cameras, FCW monitors the distance and speed of vehicles in front, and if it detects a potential collision, it provides visual and/or auditory warnings to prompt the driver to take evasive action.

No
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is a safety feature in vehicles that alerts drivers when their vehicle unintentionally drifts out of its lane without signaling. Utilizing cameras or sensors to monitor lane markings on the road, LDW detects when the vehicle crosses these lines and triggers visual, auditory, or haptic alerts to notify the driver of potential lane departure.

Optional

2017 Ford Focus 5 HB FWD Safety Ratings

Here we have the crash and rollover ratings for the 2017 Ford Focus 5 HB FWD Where possible we've included the ratings for the oldest and latest models of this car so you can compare how the safety ratings have changed over time.

Frontal Crash Ratings

Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.

Test 2005 Score 2017 Score 2018 Score
Overall Front Crash Rating Not Rated 5 5
Front Crash Driver Side Rating 5 5 5
Front Crash Passenger Side Rating 4 4 4

Side Crash Ratings

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Test 2005 Score 2017 Score 2018 Score
Overall Side Crash Rating Not Rated 5 5
Side Crash Drivers Side Rating 3 5 5
Side Crash Passenger Side Rating 4 5 5
Combined Side Barrier Pole Rating - Front Not Rated 5 5
Combined Side Barrier Pole Rating - Rear Not Rated 5 5
Overall Side Barrier Rating Not Rated 5 5

Rollover Ratings

The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.

Test 2005 Score 2017 Score 2018 Score
Rollover Rating Not Rated 4 4
Rollover Possibility % 0% 0% 0%
Dynamic Tip Result No Tip No Tip
Side Pole Crash Rating Not Rated 5 5

Complaints for the 2017 Ford FOCUS

This chart show the number of complaints for each car component. A Higher number of complaints could indicate that this car might have a common fault. Something to look out for when purchasing one.

Component Complaints

Choose a component to see what complaints people have made about them.

Complaint:
"to whom this may concern the system that has failed is the power train, more specific the transmission/ clutches inside of transmission. this has put my safety at risk because the car will not want to pull out sometimes its very jumpy and hesitant. it loses its power and the transmission just slips in gear like it's in neutral but you van feel it slipping trying to go. i think it is ridiculous that this has been an ongoing issue with ford cars since 2012 and it seems they won't do anything to fix the problem besides slap another clutch in for the same thing to happen down the road this is a scam it costs around 4500 to have tranny and clutches replaced by a dealership and the car doesn't even have 80000 miles on it. there is no reason an automatic car should be chewing itself apart every 80k for it to be taken and have a new transmission installed thats a big ask for someone who bought their car and relies solely on that vehicle for daily travel. and then add the stress now trying to figure out and wonder when and where this vehicle will leave you stranded or sitting next which is also a safety issue because the car will actually not even start at times because the "clutch" in an automatic car is stuck engaged. the codes were read multiple times all finding the same issue for clutch b stuck engaged/ clutch b friction element stuck on. the problem doesn't need reproduced it never left . the car is being taken to place of purchase feb 5, no other issues or warnings have been visible prior to 2 days ago when it started the issue. it now will not go in reverse at all, just acts like it's in neutral . the warning lamp illuminated right after putting into reverse and it just reved and wouldn't move. my fiance has a 2012 focus and has had all the same exact problems but his is the slap shift. could someone please look into this because it seems like ford is just throwing ideas at it hoping one works and i think that is crazy ford needs to solve this the right way"
Components Involved: POWER TRAIN
Date of incident: 2025-12-01
Complaint:
"the contact owns a 2017 ford focus. the contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "transmission overheating" was displayed, and the vehicle lost motive power. additionally, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started shuddering, vibrating and failed to properly accelerate. the vehicle was towed to the local dealer who replaced the transmission clutch. the contact stated that the transmission clutch had been replaced on five separate occasions. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 50,000."
Components Involved: POWER TRAIN
Date of incident: 2018-10-10
Complaint:
"the contact owns a 2017 ford focus. the contact stated while accelerating the vehicle was shuddering. there were no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the seal and clutch needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the warranty had expired. the dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission, clutch, and valve needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and referred to the nhtsa hotline. the failure mileage was approximately 22,000. the vin was not available."
Components Involved: POWER TRAIN
Date of incident: 2019-01-12
Complaint:
"the contact owns a 2017 ford focus. the contact stated that while his daughter was driving 30 mph, the engine overheated. the contact stated that the transmission overheated message was displayed. the driver pulled over to the side of the road and allowed the engine and the transmission to cool down before driving to the residence. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed with stage-2 clutch failure. the vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 18v845000 (power train). the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and suggested that the contact call the nhtsa hotline. the failure mileage was 89,252."
Components Involved: POWER TRAIN
Date of incident: 2024-10-11
Complaint:
"the contact owns a 2017 ford focus. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the gear shifter failed to function as intended. the contact stated that the gear shifter failed to shift into reverse. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with failed clutch accelerator sensor and the contact was informed that the clutch accelerator sensor needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 72,000."
Components Involved: POWER TRAIN
Date of incident: 2024-06-12
Complaint:
"the contact owns a 2017 ford focus. the contact stated that vehicle intermittently hesitated while in second gear. there was no warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic test was performed; however, the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. the failure persisted, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where a service tech drove with the contact. the service technician witnessed the vehicle jerking while in second gear. the service tech informed the contact that the clutch assembly needed to be repaired. the contact was also informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired but remained with the dealer. the failure mileage was approximately 80,000."
Components Involved: POWER TRAIN
Date of incident: 2023-01-03
Complaint:
"my car is takes a while to pick up speed when pressing on the accelerator. also when pressing on the accelerator my car jerks. i took it to the dealership and they said it’s my transmission. i didn’t receive a warning light."
Components Involved: POWER TRAIN
Date of incident: 2024-10-12
Complaint:
"i am writing to bring to your attention a matter of significant concern regarding the transmission system in ford focus vehicles, and i kindly request that you consider issuing a recall for the affected models. i am the owner of a ford focus [2017], and unfortunately, i have experienced a critical issue with the transmission. after conducting thorough research, it has come to my attention that a substantial number of ford focus owners are grappling with similar transmission failures. this widespread problem is causing distress among ford customers and has the potential to pose serious safety hazards. the transmission failures in ford focus vehicles have been well-documented, and the frequency of reported incidents indicates a systemic issue that warrants immediate attention. as a loyal customer of ford, i believe it is crucial for the company to take responsibility for these recurring problems and take proactive measures to rectify them. several reasons support the urgent need for a recall: safety concerns: the transmission failures in ford focus vehicles can result in sudden loss of power, delayed acceleration, and unpredictable shifts. these issues pose a significant safety risk, especially during highway driving or in emergency situations. the potential for accidents and injuries is alarming and demands swift action. in light of these concerns, i urge ford motor company to initiate a recall for ford focus vehicles affected by transmission failures. by taking proactive steps to address this issue, you will not only ensure the safety and satisfaction of your customers but also uphold the integrity of the ford brand."
Components Involved: POWER TRAIN
Date of incident: 2024-06-12
Complaint:
"the contact owns a 2017 ford focus. the contact stated while attempting to reverse, the vehicle failed to respond. there was no warning light illuminated. the contact stated that he could shift into drive(d); however, the vehicle failed to shift into reverse(r) after several attempts. an unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact the vin was not covered under an unknown recall. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the nhtsa hotline for assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 111,000."
Components Involved: POWER TRAIN
Date of incident: 2023-08-12
Complaint:
"the contact owns a 2017 ford focus. the contact stated while driving in stop-and-go traffic, the vehicle would hesitate or stall without warning. the vehicle had been serviced on three separate occasions under warranty by asheville ford (611 brevard rd, asheville, nc 28806) and frederick motor company (1 waverley drive, frederick, md 21702) where the dual-clutch system was replaced. the contact stated that after each repair, the failure returned within 6-8 months after the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 15,000."
Components Involved: POWER TRAIN
Date of incident: 2018-01-08

Recalls for the 2017 Ford FOCUS

Component Recalls

Choose a component to see what recalls people have made about them.

Recall:
"ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 ford focus vehicles with a 2.0l gdi or 2.0l gtdi engine. the canister purge valve (cpv) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system."
Consequence:
The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.

Component(s) Involved: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE > STORAGE
Date of incident: 2018-10-22
Recall:
"ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2012 and 2017 focus vehicles equipped with 2.0l gdi gasoline engines and 2013-2014 focus st vehicles equipped with 2.0l gtdi engines, previously recalled under 18v-735. the affected vehicles did not have the powertrain control module (pcm) updated as intended. therefore, the canister purge valve (cpv) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system."
Consequence:
The excessive vacuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began July 29, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S22.

Component(s) Involved: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE > STORAGE
Date of incident: 2019-07-05

FORD Overall Complaint Ranking

This table shows the ranking of car manufacturers when it comes to most complaints and recalls. The manufacturer with the most complaints is at the top. However this doesn't necassarily mean they should be avoided. Some manufacturers might just have more popular or affordable cars which a lot of people have bought. Which means there's more scope for a complaint to be made. Use the ranking table below as a part your wider research into buying a car.

FORD ranks 1 out of 44 in the complaints ranking table.

Manufacturer Complaint Count Recall Count Ranking
FORD 208,358 3,259 1
CHEVROLET 111,306 2,082 2
TOYOTA 81,019 1,852 3
HONDA 61,937 1,268 4
NISSAN 56,226 930 5
DODGE 45,756 827 6
HYUNDAI 44,150 649 7
GMC 34,441 1,410 8
KIA 29,832 501 9
CHRYSLER 27,698 254 10
TESLA 26,230 730 11
BMW 24,890 1,877 12
VOLKSWAGEN 23,125 829 13
MERCEDES-BENZ 19,066 2,925 14
SUBARU 18,513 703 15
MAZDA 10,599 364 16
PONTIAC 10,430 138 17
CADILLAC 9,434 444 18
AUDI 7,865 1,093 19
BUICK 7,851 279 20
SATURN 7,672 84 21
MERCURY 7,374 135 22
LEXUS 6,373 408 23
LINCOLN 5,897 423 24
ACURA 5,722 382 25
MINI 5,585 366 26
INFINITI 4,000 187 27
MITSUBISHI 3,912 397 28
VOLVO 3,875 727 29
PORSCHE 2,646 1,231 30
SUZUKI 2,272 123 31
FIAT 2,205 80 32
SAAB 1,536 76 33
JAGUAR 1,195 198 34
SMART 528 17 35
GENESIS 436 42 36
ISUZU 249 37 37
ALFA ROMEO 161 37 38
MASERATI 76 46 39
BENTLEY 46 159 40
POLESTAR 42 2 41
LUCID 14 6 42
CODA 4 2 43
MAYBACH 0 0 44

Related Vehicles

Why not check out other FORD vehicles?

2008 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC
FORD
  • Overall Safety Rating: Not Rated
  • Complaints Count: 23
  • Recall Count: 2
View Car
2011 E-350 P12
FORD
  • Overall Safety Rating: Not Rated
  • Complaints Count: 18
  • Recall Count: 20
View Car
2018 F-150 SUPER CREW
FORD
  • Overall Safety Rating: 5
  • Complaints Count: 1119
  • Recall Count: 15
View Car
2009 ESCAPE HYBRID
FORD
  • Overall Safety Rating: Not Rated
  • Complaints Count: 148
  • Recall Count: 1
View Car