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CarComplaints.com Notes: For the third year in a row, the 3rd generation Focus is experiencing massive transmission problems.

Most notably owners keep complaining about how there's bad hesitation and jerking when starting from a stop. This isn't the result of an old, worn out part. In fact, the average mileage it's reported to us is just over 15k miles.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
22 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,168 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2014 Ford Focus drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2014 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 11 of 66)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1102

Feb 102021

Focus

  • 84,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled as the power steering assist service warning light illuminated. The contact managed to coast the vehicle to the shoulder, steer the wheels off the freeway on to the main road and came to a complete stop applying the brake pedal in the parking lot. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was then towed to germain Ford of beavercreek (2356 heller dr, dayton, oh 45434, (937)429-1300) where it was diagnosed however, the contact was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting the diagnostic information. The contact mentioned a power train recall associated with the VIN and research NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train) was referenced as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000. ## VIN failed ## 2014 Ford Focus ##

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #1101

Nov 162020

Focus

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owned a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to bayou Ford (555 belle terre blvd, la place, la 70068) where the failure was diagnosed as a faulty transmission. The dealer informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle. The contact stated the vehicle was towed to a scrap yard to be destroyed. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000. The VIN was not available.

- La Place, LA, USA

problem #1100

Feb 182021

Focus

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while stationary at a traffic light, the vehicle failed to shift into gear. The contact was able to drift over the right and park at a nearby parking lot. The contact stated that the transmission warning light illuminated after parking the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired as of yet. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #1099

Feb 042021

Focus

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission in this vehicle shutters, slips, loses power or loses acceleration when accelerating from a dead stop, or accelerating in speed when shifting gears. This happens from a dead stop, when accelerating in traffic to merge, change lanes or pass a car; pretty much anytime the gas pedal is pressed the car will lurch and/or shudder and/or lose power, resulting in many near misses and almost accidents in the time that we have owned the car. This car was purchased used mid-2015. By November 2015 the first replacement of the clutches was done. In March of 2018, just a few months out of the two-year warranty, the clutches needed replacing again. It was too expensive for us, so we opted to have the software flashed instead. Under the extended parts coverage offered by Ford, the clutches were replaced for a second time in December of 2019. By January 2021 the car needed new clutches for the third time. The dealership contacted Ford to see if they could do anything about it, and Ford refuses because the car and the clutches are slightly out of warranty, the clutches only out by a month, even though this six-year-old car is on its third set of clutches.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #1098

Dec 282020

Focus

  • 49 miles
I changed the battery after I left the car sitting in my garage for several months. I tried to drive it after and it shook and jiggled, it stuttered and nearly halted completely. I barely made it home, only 10 minutes away. I called the dealership in regards to the multiple recalls on the transmission. The valley picked it up because I was too afraid to drive it. It is "fixed" but with the list of issues and the amount that needed fixed has made me nervous about divin G it.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #1097

Jan 142021

Focus

  • 101,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while at a standstill, the transmission does not receive enough power to operate the vehicle. The contact stated a warning light was illuminated but does not remember which light came on. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the clutch position circuit replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of failure and told the contact that since the vehicle was out of warranty they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.

- Concord, NC, USA

problem #1096

Jan 012019

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the dual clutch transmission had failed on several occasions. While stopped on an incline, the vehicle would roll backwards upon release of the brake pedal. The contact also stated that the vehicle shuddered and downshift while accelerating from first to second gear, without warning. Additionally, while the cruise control was engaged, the transmission downshifted from third to first gear while going downhill, without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to schicker Ford of St. Louis (3300 S kings highway blvd, St. Louis, mo 63139) and the mechanic twice performed an electronic update and had the transmission clutch replaced however, the failure recurred soon after the repair. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 19V515000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The car didn't malfunction shortly after being repaired. The replacement clutch usually lasts 6 months before the usual shudder, rolling at stops, cruise control RPM issues. The failure mileage was unknown.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #1095

Dec 012017

Focus

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked, shuddered, and failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle stalled and was towed to the local dealer sames bastrop Ford located at 1115 tx-71, bastrop, tx 78602, who diagnosed that the engine and transmission were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #1094

Feb 272020

Focus

  • 173,640 miles
A friend and I were in jackson, Tennessee on 9/28/2018. We were stopped(stationary)at the light on oil well drive and 45 bypass. While we were at the light, the car started going in reverse and my friend asked me "doris, why are we going backwards?" a few seconds later, the car's notification system gave a message for transmission problems and please move the car to safety. After I stepped on the brakes to stop the car, it shot forward and we managed to get to the nearest parking lot. Roadside assistance called a towing company, and they pulled it to golden circle auto group, where I had purchased the car from in 2013. The problem was supposed to be fixed by them, and another Ford dealership, steve marsh Ford was the last one to do repair work on the car. I paid them $700, and they said that I need another $2000. The car does not run, and is sitting in my yard. I have had problems with this lemon ever since I bought it in 2013.

- Milan, TN, USA

problem #1093

Aug 242020

Focus

  • 96,000 miles
While my daughter was driving with 2 young children in car on a city St/highway, car suddenly stopped, & had to be towed to a repair shop.. mechanic reported that electrical wires were laying against engine, which overheated & melted wires, causing vehicle to stop... he added that it could have caused a fire & ought to be a recall item.

- Spring Grove, PA, USA

problem #1092

Dec 012015

Focus

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after shifting into drive, the vehicle failed to drive forward while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to steve marsh Ford located at 12415 S 1st St, Milan, tn 38358, who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but, no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Milan, TN, USA

problem #1091

Nov 082020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 111,000 miles
My car began to stall as I started driving and the gears had trouble shifting to the next gear and the car couldn't go faster than 30 miles per hour without wanting to turn off. I took it to boggus Ford in harlingen, Texas and they took a week to inform me that they had fixed the problem and that it was the clutch. There was a recall on this problem back in January 2020 and I took my car into the same dealership to get the recall fixed but leading up to now, it wasn't fixed. I picked up my car from the dealership November 22,2020 and as I drove off my car stalled by the highway so I called the dealership back to tell them and they said there's nothing they can do and the problem must be internal. My car got picked up by raymond's transmission shop because it didn't turn on anymore. They worked on my car and I was told that the recall had not been done and that's why my car gave up. I paid raymond's transmission $1,600 to get it fixed. Boggus Ford in harlingen Texas did not fix my recall so I want to report their wrongdoing and seek compensation for the financial burden they imposed upon me. I did not have my vehicle for almost 3 weeks and I had to get rides every day. Please let me know if anything can be done to help me. Thank you, sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Harlingen, TX, USA

problem #1090

Apr 112017

Focus

  • 25,000 miles
We are experiencing transmission problems. The vehicle will shutter once it has had a chance to warm up.

- Fryeburg, ME, USA

problem #1089

Apr 232018

Focus

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owned a 2014 Ford Focus that she purchased from pacifico Ford, Inc.(6701 essington ave, philadelphia, pa 19153). She stated that the vehicle would stall while driving at various speeds without warning soon after purchase. She took the vehicle back to the dealer and after a week, the vehicle was returned to the contact. Upon return of the vehicle, the vehicle independently accelerated while attempting to park without warning. Due to the failure, the vehicle slammed into a barrier and flipped over into slope and landed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact was assisted by a bystander and was taken out of her vehicle. The authorities arrived at the scene and the contact was taken to a hospital to be treated for her injuries. Since the accident, the contact stated that she was treated for a concussion, four different brain injuries, a broken neck, a broken upper and middle back, a broken left hip disc, and a broken left knee. A police report was not filed at the scene. The vehicle was destroyed at the scene and was towed to an independent mechanic where it remained in there possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that there were two recalls on the vehicle for NHTSA campaign numbers: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 20V331000 (latches/locks/linkages). The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #1088

Sep 202020

Focus

  • 115,985 miles
Transmission shuddering and locked up in traffic I had to cycle the ignition key to get the vehicle off the road. I have 2 field service actions for my vehicle however Ford won't repair my issue due to the vehicle having a branded title. I had to replace the first transmission due to a cycling inside transmission which ended up busting transmission case.

- Simpson, PA, USA

problem #1087

Nov 062020

Focus

  • 58,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact a warranty repair done on the clutch back on 01/2020. The repairs were done at the dealer jacky jones Ford Lincoln 714 new highway 68, sweetwater, tn 37874 (844) 844-0096. The issue recently recurred again and the dealer stated that since they replaced the clutch twice before the repair cost would for the contact to pay. The manufacturer told the contact also that repairs would not be covered. The failure mileage was 58,000.

- Madisonville, TN, USA

problem #1086

May 282020

Focus

  • 6 miles
NHTSA recall 18V-735 and code P0606 indicates a fault in the ECM/PCM /P06B8 internal control module transaction.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #1085

Oct 192020

Focus

  • 90,000 miles
The car displays the P0902 obii code. The engine stalls and wont change gears properly. This is specially dangerous when turning since the cars behind you can't see you're stalling and may crash into you. Some times it gets so bad that the dashboard displays a message that the transmission has heated up and I have to pull over immediately. The car won't even run or change gears at that point. This problem happens randomly when driving. Specially when the vehicle is idle for a while.

- San Elizario, TX, USA

problem #1084

Oct 222020

Focus

  • 40 miles
Transmission doesn't shift stay on 1st gear, vehicle with only 77kmiles. Checking on line found out I am not the only one has this kind of problem and sounds like manufacturer issue

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #1083

Apr 132016

Focus

  • miles
I had 3 clutches transmission go out on me and I want to have Ford buyback my car then my clutches transmission went out again for the 4 time I don't have any warranty on it I my service manager said it's going to get worse he told me to do the buy back program jimmy

- Plymouth, MN, USA

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