2017 Ford Focus Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2017 Ford Focus, 9% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 79,252 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil pump” (27% of reports).
- 81engine and engine cooling complaints
- 79,252median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 47%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil pump: mentioned in 22 of 81 complaints (27%)
- Engine cooling contacted: mentioned in 19 of 81 complaints (23%)
- Motive power: mentioned in 19 of 81 complaints (23%)
- Failed accelerate: mentioned in 7 of 81 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 58 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 81 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Ford Focus engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Focus | 124 | 15% | 65,619 |
| 2017 Focus | 81 | 9% | 79,252 |
| 2016 Focus | 50 | 4% | 87,000 |
| 2015 Focus | 7 | 1% | 103,603 |
| 2014 Focus | 8 | 0% | 70,000 |
| 2013 Focus | 14 | 1% | 19,000 |
| 2012 Focus | 27 | 1% | 14,500 |
| 2011 Focus | 1 | 1% | 47,000 |
| 2010 Focus | 11 | 4% | 34,324 |
| 2009 Focus | 7 | 3% | 39,253 |
| 2008 Focus | 7 | 3% | 57,000 |
| 2007 Focus | 12 | 3% | 21,000 |
| 2006 Focus | 6 | 3% | 13,000 |
| 2005 Focus | 18 | 4% | 14,578 |
| 2004 Focus | 22 | 6% | 49,380 |
| 2003 Focus | 60 | 6% | 56,189 |
| 2002 Focus | 103 | 11% | 50,000 |
| 2001 Focus | 243 | 14% | 52,450 |
| 2000 Focus | 474 | 13% | 56,750 |
| 1999 Focus | 6 | 55% | 119,754 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pump
Problem: 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.
Risk: A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the oil pump tensioner assembly and oil pump drive belt, free of charge. If engine failure occurs due to a damaged oil pump belt and/or oil pump belt tensioner, Ford has authorized dealers to replace the engine assembly as an interim repair before the availability of remedy parts for the final repair. This repair will be free of charge (parts and labor). Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S64.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low engine oil pressure warning light illuminated, and the contact stopped driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the engine oil pump, the engine, and the coolant gasket…
See attached document for complaint.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2017 Ford Focuss have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 81 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2017 Ford Focus (9% of the 898 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Ford Focus engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 79,252 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2017 Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “oil pump”, in 22 of 81 complaints, followed by “engine cooling contacted” (19).
Other 2017 Ford Focus problems
See all 2017 Ford Focus problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Focus years.