2017 Ford Focus: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
902 NHTSA owner complaints · 10 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The 2012–2016 Focus is the best-known transmission failure of its decade. Ford's PowerShift dual-clutch automatic (the DPS6) shuddered, slipped and lost drive, and the 2012 model year alone has close to 3,800 complaints on file — more than most nameplates accumulate across their entire run. Read the full note on the model page. 2017 specifically: 902 complaints on record, score 62/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Ford Focus and Fiesta 2011 to 2016: the PowerShift transmission, explained for buyers, including 2017 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 902 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 100.22
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
We have a recall for our car. The recall is 18532A. In this recall it states that if there are drivability issues with this car they are to replace the canister purge valve. We have complained of these exact issues which include complete loss of power while driving and they have refused to replace the CPV. They are attempting to get us to agree to running diagnostics and will only replace the part if it comes back ba…
2017 focus slow down for traffic go to accelerate and nothing like it wasn’t in gear had to jump out and push car out of intersection told the clutch stuck or tcm but ford won’t fix their mistakes and nobody makes them stand behind their mistake it bad when nobody cares after the sale and they have ur money. Someone help
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer for a recall repair associated with an engine oil failure and tensioner replacement. The contact stated that after the recall repair, while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking and then unintendedly accelerated. The "Service Engine" light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however…
Recalls: 10 campaigns (6 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 19V515000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | 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. |
| 26V369000 | 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. |
| 26V376000 | 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. |
| 26V011000 | Equipment:Electrical:Engine Block Heater | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in. |
| 26V012000 | 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. |
| 18V735000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | 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. |
| 23V905000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication:Pump | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport vehicles. The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure. |
| 17V528000 | Seat Belts:Rear/Other | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Focus vehicles. The rear left side seat back frame may have an insufficient weld between the outboard pivot bracket and the pivot nut joint, resulting in the seat back having reduced strength. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 29 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,100
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Power Train453 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Engine232 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Fuel/Propulsion System117 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Unknown Or Other81 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Engine And Engine Cooling81 complaints · typical job: Water pump, thermostat and coolant service (3.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,040
- Fuel System61 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
Other Ford Focus years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Ford Focus?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (453 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2017 Ford Focus a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 62/100, computed from 902 NHTSA complaints and 10 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2017 Ford Focus's most common problem?
453 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2017 Ford Focus sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is transmission service or clutch-pack repair: about 7.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,290–$4,040 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2017 Ford Focus cost to run per year?
About $5,933 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $29,668 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2017 Ford Focus have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 10 recall campaign(s) for the 2017 Ford Focus, 6 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 05/07/2019. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2017 Ford Focus really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 902 complaints, 10 recalls on record
- 902 NHTSA complaints on record (100.2/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (111.2/yr)
- 10 recall campaigns, 6 touching safety-critical systems