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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:
39,086 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 18 of 69)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1028

Aug 012015

Focus

  • miles

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

At around 20K the car started jumping and shuddering from a stop and would also accelerate and the RPM's would increase on its own while on the highway, very scary. I took the car back to the dealership and they said they would reprogram the computer.I took it back at around 40K and they installed the new transmission, so they say. I took it back at just over 60K (around 60,500) and they said it was a bad transmission and it was out of warranty and would cost around $1,600 to $1,800. They gave me the runaround and I left never wanting to do business with them again. The problem has increased in frequency to the point of insecurity. My odometer is at about 118000. I didn't have the money to fix it then and I don't have the money to fix it now. What else can I do? I'm at wits end.

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #1027

Aug 172016

Focus

  • 16,000 miles
We purchased the vehicle in 2016. We immediately noticed the problem with the transmission during acceleration. When you accelerate the car stutters and lags and feels like a stall on every acceleration. We took it in and was told that is was the economic part of the vehicle and it was suppose to do that. It has never been better nor did they ever fix it upon servicing. Now we learned it's an issue with all Ford Focus for these years.

- Southlake, TX, USA

problem #1026

Jun 152014

Focus

  • miles
Transmision R-call, dealer keeps telling me that the transmision suppsed to act skipping and bouncing because it has a dual clutch when going up a hill or starting to move from standing still.

- Lexington, MA, USA

problem #1025

Jun 122019

Focus

  • 10,000 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 hesitated while accelerating, without warning. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (power train). The vehicle was taken to classic Ford Lincoln located at (8540 tyler blvd, mentor, oh 44060) however, the dealer decline to perform the recall repair due to the vehicle having a salvage title. The contact was informed that the manufacturer had to authorize the repair for the dealer to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure however, a decision was not reached as to how to proceed. The failure mileage was 10,000.

- Richmond Heights, OH, USA

problem #1024

Feb 172020

Focus

  • 146,000 miles
I am suffering with the known shuddiring of the dps6 transmission. I am now on my 3rd clutch and it isn't a permanent fix. Ford customer service refused to help or escalate to someone who could help defray the $2000 I just had to pay for a repair which won't permanently fix it.

- Trenton, MI, USA

problem #1023

Mar 012020

Focus

  • 96,000 miles
The transmission light keeps saying the transmission is hot and the car stops and you have no gas power at all. Very dangerous. My daughter was in 4 lanes of traffic when the 2014 Ford Focus lost all power. Ford keeps saying they cannot find anything wrong. This car is dangerous and needs recalled immediately! this has happened twice and two Ford dealers said they cannot find the cause. Ridiculous

- Ponca City, OK, USA

problem #1022

Dec 242019

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 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 stop safely now warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train) with the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. Consumer states that failure was the same as safety recall 13S09 for reprogramming. Consumer says that the flasher warning lights would not turn off to be restarted and the vehicle was left stalled in moving traffic. Vehicle was taken to galpin Ford (van nuys, ca) where the software was reprogrammed. Manufacturer was notified of failure, but refused to assist.

- West Hills, CA, USA

problem #1021

Feb 132020

Focus

  • 4 miles
Clutches on car have been replaced a few times due to the recall on clutched, transmission computer got changed about 2-3 months ago due to defect. A week ago while driving the car at frequent stop and go traffic (about 1hr0 the car send a transmission overheating warning turn off car for 5 minutes. I stopped for 215 minutes and drove again for 10 minutes and car give me the same message again. Ford said there is nothing wrong with the car. That the problem is my driving habits that make clutched to overheat? never had similar problem with my other cars. This happened to me at the border wit Mexico tying to cross. I had card infront, in the back an left side of my car.

- San Luis, AZ, USA

problem #1020

Feb 132020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 123,000 miles
As there are many lawsuits against Ford right now for the dps6 transmissions, I find it quite absurd that there has been no recall made in this matter. I have a 2014 Ford Focus that has almost killed my children and myself countless times. Often times the vehicle will hesitate when I try to pull out somewhere and often times will surge forward. When trying to pull hills it is a nightmare, if you do not take it at a higher rate of speed it will bog down and then take off out of nowhere. When I took it in before 100K miles I was told they couldn't replace the clutch in the transmission because I was out of my mileage coverage and then not long after I reached 100K miles they extend the warranty to 100K. This particular car has now had three clutches put in and it drives like a nightmare. No wonder why the 1st owner gave up on it after 33K miles and 2 clutches later! what needs to happen is someone other than people that are for the dealer need to drive it. I will give you full consent and urge you to drive mine and tell me if you would truly want your loved ones driving or riding in such an unsafe vehicle! this vehicle started having problems at 14K miles! you can look at carfax to see two of the clutches that were replaced and the other clutch was done at ken wilson Ford in canton, nc and I have all of my records at home as to how many times I have taken it in for this issue. I stopped after the last time when they told me it was out of warranty coverage because I can not afford to pay to have that done. If you have any questions please call me at [xxx] or email at [xxx] thank you for your time! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Franklin, NC, USA

problem #1019

Aug 192019

Focus

  • 45,000 miles
Car shudders and shakes at high speed. It does not go into gear and rpms are over 6500. I must step on brake to get car to shift gears. Car completely lost power on freeway twice at 55 mph. Car was towed to dealer and transmission control module was replaced. Transmission has been replaced five times. Car makes cranking noises in reverse. Car rolls backwards when taking off brake on hill and would hit someone if they were behind me. Car makes cranking noises on streets and when engine is off and key is taken out of car.

- Manchester, MO, USA

problem #1018

Jan 202020

Focus

  • 208,000 miles

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

Here is another picture. This is the electrical connection to the washer fluid pump. Fluid leaks out of the electrical connections to the pump and gets pushed through the wiring loom and the fluid leaks onto the body control module causing corrosion and failure of the BCM.

- Munith, MI, USA

problem #1017

Feb 032020

Focus

  • 87,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at 5 mph, making a right turn to go up a hill, the vehicle shuddered and loss motive power without warning. The vehicle rolled backwards downhill and crashed into another vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. There was no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle operated as intended. The vehicle was taken to (North county Ford located at 450 w vista way, vista, ca 92083 760) 945-9900) where it was determined that the clutch and clutch lever for the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact mentioned NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train) as a possible solution to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #1016

Feb 092019

Focus

  • 95,000 miles
The vehicle idles rough, the transmission slips and the rpms get high in first and second gears, it takes forever to accelerate, the fuel gauge will say 100 miles till empty then die on you, I have been stranded 5 times in less than a year due to that, recently on 2/8/20 the car wouldn't accelerate in the middle of a busy intersection and proceeded to stall in the middle of the road. I had to literally push the car out of the intersection and into a store parking lot during 5pm traffic. I cannot believe this car received a 5 star safety rating, I feel a number of things about this model car and company but safe definitely is not one of them. Doors that have defective latches, opening at anytime, transmission problems leading to cars constantly almost rear ending you, and a car that can stall in the middle of a busy intersection or freeway, is not by any means a definition of the word safe. I will never buy another Ford again, and I will convince any else to not buy from a company that values profits over consumer safety by installing cheap, defective parts and components

- Sandia, TX, USA

problem #1015

Apr 182018

Focus

  • 96,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the gear shift selector was placed in reverse however, the vehicle failed to respond. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to norris Ford dealer, (901 merritt blvd, baltimore, md 21222, (410) 285-0200) and was diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the transmission was replaced previously, however the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not assist and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 96,000.

- Manassas, VA, USA

problem #1014

Jan 212020

Focus

  • 103,895 miles
Clutch malfunction. Gear slipping. Not shifting properly.

- Mount Carmel, PA, USA

problem #1013

Apr 032017

Focus

  • 42,000 miles
Problema de transmisin Y clutch desde las 42000 millas Y lo lleve dentro de los 90 das de garanta cuando lo compre pero el el vendedor dice que ES problema de fbrica el carro SE jala Y no entran bien los cambios

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #1012

Sep 012019

Focus

  • 190,000 miles
The vehicle will shudder while driving (city and highway), hesitate significantly when accelerating, has died in the roadway, has been in gear but would not accelerate, and jumps in and out of gear while traveling down the road. I took it to the dealer and they advised that both clutch actuators are defective. This is not in relation to any prior recalls. Was advised this is also a major issue that the dealer service department sees. This began happening several months ago and they want an outrageous amount to fix it. Major safety issue because people do not want to pay the high fee so these cars are staying on the road.

- Columbus, IN, USA

problem #1011

Jan 272020

Focus

  • 86,000 miles
Car was taken to Ford dealership to have the recalls done for the transmission, fuel tank evap and door latch. Ford completed the recalls for the fuel system and door latch at this poticular time the transmission was not fixed.(did not pass Ford shutter test). At this time the check engine light was on because of the transmission, according to the Ford dealership. I picked the car up amd drove with my son the vehicle did not drive right because transmission issues. I contacted the dealership again after contacting Ford Motor Company about my concern with the drivability of the car. I made an appointment but had to wait approximately three weeks because they were replacing the floor in their shop. The check engine light remained on the entire time until the appointment. After dropping he car off and Ford diagnosing the problem, I received a call saying Ford motor is now covering the transmission and they will have to wait for parts to finish it. At this time they also informed me that the check engine light is now on because of the purge valve. I had barely driven the car since the last visit when the recalls were taken care of?? they stated that the purge valve would not be covered because the recall had been completed on the fuel tank. Reluctantly I told them to replace at my cost. The dealership called to say the vehicle was complete. I picked it up that evening and made it 7 miles away from the dealer and the check engine light came on once again. I called the dealer immediatley to let them know and they could not get me in right away. My son and I took it for a ride the following day and approximaty 40 miles the car lost power and could not go above 40mph on the interstate. I called to make another appointment when they diagnosed this time both catylitic convertors are bad and will cost $2100 to repair. What caused these to go bad this was not an issue until reca

- Clear Spring, MD, USA

problem #1010

Jan 022019

Focus

  • 90,000 miles
Car studdering hard time going faster even getting on freeway, car stalled at light with other cars behind all of a sudden multiple times

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #1009

Jul 152017

Focus

  • 25,000 miles
See file upload

- Snohomish, WA, USA

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