2015 Ford Focus: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jul 25, 2023 · Acceleration, Engine · LA

2015 Ford Focus, 67,000 miles would jerk , shudder & shut off completely , it would not accelerate or reverse half of the time. Stops in the middle of no wear.. the engine light would come on for a few days then go off and come up again.. the music stopped working& the RPM’s would go pass the 6,7 or 8 at only 10-15 miles & jerk while goin forward .. a safety problem would pop up “ transmission overheating stop safety “ my air would blow hot some days and it would smell like something burning.. confirmed by dealership it’s the clutch .. no warnings for these problems besides jerking / not accelerating at a reasonable speed and safety problem stating to “ stop safely transmission overheating “ &a burning smell & 2 safety recalls for the clutch & TCM with extended warranty. Warranty would not cover for the clutch problem they stated.

Filed Dec 23, 2020 · 21,000 miles · SC · fire

Parked the car, turned motor off, smelled smoke, release inside hood, more smoke coming from under hood, could not open hood up,flames started shooting out, called 911 who called fire department, several small explosions before fire department, whole front car engulfed in flames. Vehicle just turned 21000 miles, h.ad not been driven for a car since I had 2 surgeries for fractured feet and just started driving several weeks ago. Did damage to my sons motor home and driveway. Vehicle had been garage kept since new and no maintenance performed on vehicle other than 1 recall which dealer took care of it in 2/2020. Luckly no one hurt. Vehicle was stationary and just shut off when incident occurred. Can get photos from my daughter-in-law as I didn't take any at the time. Vehicle has been declared a total loss.*dt

Filed Feb 10, 2020 · Transmission · FL

Had taken my 2015 focus into sarasota ford in sarasota,florida to be serviced and recall about the clutch recall. They had issued me a 2018 ford fusion courtesy vehicle for 3 days while working on my car for the recall, as well as the wiperblade motors bogging down to nothing on their own while under warranty. I was given a report upon pickup saying that the technician drove the car to smell for burning disc and looked through inspection port and wrote that there was no burning smell, that clutch is fine and that the wiper issue could not be duplicated. Wiper issue I have personally verified upon picking up my vehicle that was never fixed. Recall issue was never remedied per recall order inspection and or fix including reprogramming. I have gone on multiple websites to pull my car service history and there is no record of my car ever going in for service there. This tells me (speculation) they never reported my vehicle as being serviced, and also all websites including ford pass is stating my vehicle as being unresolved with the issue. I have checked today as well (2-10-20) and no changes or record has been recorded. Currently in the process of finding my vehicle report from them for documentation. Recall was issued for clutch disk fracture/potential fire risk

Filed Oct 4, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · 70,000 miles · PA · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2015 ford focus. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle began smoking without warning. The contact pulled the vehicle over and the smoke and flames became more rampant. The contact called the fire department and had the fire extinguished. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard and the whereabouts of the vehicle were unknown. The insurance company conducted an investigation of the incident and retrieved the service records of the vehicle from chapman's northeast ford (9371 roosevelt blvd, philadelphia, pa 19114, 866‑577‑2408). The contact was informed by the insurance claim adjuster that the fire was caused by an engine block. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed her that the vehicle had been salvaged and was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Jan 25, 2018 · Fuel system · 44,445 miles · TX

While attempting to refuel the vehicle at a service station, I noticed gas leaking onto the pavement coming from underniegh the right rear wheel well. As I further investigated the problem I could see gas draining down from the fuel pipe that leads into the gas tank. I didn't want to try and start the vehicle in fear that the gas might reach the hot exhaust system and catch on fire. I had it towed to the nearest ford dealership who confirmed that the gas fueler pipe had indeed broke and repaired it under warranty.

Filed Feb 5, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 5,000 miles · NY · fire

After stopping to get gas on I-80 at a service area in indiana with the car in park and not running the engine caught on fire. The car is a new vehicle, still under warranty with about 5,000 miles on it. Ford determined that the fire would not be covered by warranty. They offered no proof, and stated that we could not appeal the case.

Filed Nov 13, 2015 · Engine · 120 miles · TX

I bought this car less than 6 mos. Ago. It has had 2 recalls so far. The transmission has a problem. It jumps and acts like it is going to die. Twice when I have started it there was a knocking like the engine had something wrong. When I changed the gear the knocking quit. When I run the heater there is a burning smell. I took it in and told them I was afraid to drive it and they did the recalls then told me they couldn't make it do the other things I had mentioned. I ask them to put me in something else and they said I would have to pay $400.00-$500.00 a month payment. I believe ford knew of this problem but continues to sell them so when people complain they can charge them more money. I am a 55 year old woman that drives 120 miles a day back and forth to work. When I get off work I drive home in the dark. I am afraid to drive this car!!! Ford won't do anything about it! Someone is going to get killed in this car because of the engine hesitation. I picked it up and now it is worse! When I turn the corner it does that jerking thing now like it is going to die. I hope you can help protect consumers . The jerking happens when you are driving, taking off and now even when you are turning. The knocking noise the first time was when I was backing up and the second time was when it was in park and I had just started it.

Filed Jun 29, 2015 · Electrical, Transmission · 500 miles · VA

I traded this vehicle in from a 2012 ford fiesta, which after three years had become a rolling disaster, from the faulty transmission to the always-dying battery and two recalls. The dealer assured me the 2015 focus was redesigned and much better. I'll admit it drives much better, is roomier, and no jerking in the transmission like the fiesta's "automated manual" transmission did. But now when the vehicle gets hot, I smell an overwhelming smell of something burning, almost like a gasket, rubbery type smell. I don't know if it's brakes, engine oil, what. I told the service dept. About it, but they said with july they were short of help with vacations, and since the car only had 500 miles on it, I had "plenty of time" on the warranty, not to worry about it. They said to let it break in at least another 500 miles. So far I've not had smoke, starting or stalling problems like others have reported. I have broken in lots of brand new cars in my lifetime, and never, ever had a burning smell. I contacted ford customer service and got the usual nonsense of "we'll escalate this issue with your local dealer," and like the fiesta, nothing. ....updated 11/13/15 *bf the complaint has since been resolved. The local for dealer performed a thorough check of the vehicle and adjusted the climate control. Updated 11/17/15.