2015 Ford Focus · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 221owner reports
- 69,536median miles
- $1,100median quote
- 5involved a crash
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
803 of the 1,019 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 221 of those describe stalling. Only transmission shudder is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 221 reports
Stalling on other Focus years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (14 reports) and the fuel pump (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
6 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
Also included are four 2017 Ford Focus vehicles that had clutch replacements with potentially affected parts. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
In the affected vehicles, the engine may continue to run after the key or the START/STOP engine button is turned to off.
All 9 recalls on the 2015 Ford Focus, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Focus
Timing belt failure. Open.
Timing belt failure. Closed jul 31, 2026.
Oil pump failure. Closed feb 14, 2024, led to recall 23V-905.
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 20, 2024.
Pedestrian alert sounds. Closed aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V-063.
Engine stalling. Closed jan 16, 2004, led to recall 03V-482.
Engine compartment fires. Closed nov 13, 2002, led to recall 02V-288.
Engine stalling. Closed sep 9, 2002.
Engine compartment fires. Closed jul 31, 2002, led to recall 02V-288.
What owners paid
16 of the 221 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $419 to $3,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 44,470 and 90,000 miles, from the 162 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2015 Ford Focus that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2011-2016 Fiesta and 2012-2016 Focus vehicles equipped with a DPS6 transmission may exhibit intermittent concerns of loss of transmission engagement while driving, intermittent no start or a loss of power.
DPS6 - no satart and/or transmission engagement or loss of power with DTCS u0100, U00101, U1013, U3003 AND/OR P0606
DPS6 - NO START AND/OR TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT OR LOSS OF POWER WITH DTCS U0100, U0101, U1013, U3003 AND/OR P0606 ISSUE Some 2011-2016 Fiesta and 2012-2016 Focus vehicles equipped with a DPS6 transmission may exhibit intermittent concerns of loss of transmission engagement while driving, intermittent no start or a loss of power.
FORD: 2011-2015 FIESTA AND 2012-2015 FOCUS MAY SHOW CONCERNS OF LOSS OF TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT WHILE DRIVING OR LOSS OF POWER *CN
What owners wrote
“The car keeps stalling and losing power while driving. There is no warning sign. Can cause accident if this keeps happening.Is not the first time.”
Filed Jul 10, 2025
“Itâs a 2015 ford focus 1.0 eco boost 6 speed manual. It studders and shakes and stalls at random while driving. It only has 78000 miles on it and I just bought this car from some punk kid. Shakes the car violently as well.”
Filed Apr 18, 2024 · 78,000 miles
“Studdering, wonât shift, stalls out , recall repaired still does the same thing, transmission doesnât shift right and stalls out in traffic.”
Filed Apr 15, 2024 · 157,573 miles
“Car stalling while driving, cutting in and out, completely unable to drive with the risk of it randomly dying”
Filed Apr 16, 2023 · 114,921 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 5 of 221 reports involved a crash and 10 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 295 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 96 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 56 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 51 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 30 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 28 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 25 reports