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:
9 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,860 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.
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.
The push start/stop button will not stop the engine sometimes! I have not had any problems starting the car using the same button. The vehicle was stationary and in park.
1. clutch slips in transmission causing vehicle to stall or reach dangerous RPM's before switching into another gear. 2. repair was denied by Ford stating that it wasn't related to the current recall but was the clutches that needed to be replaced. Clutches are going out due to the tcm that was recalled on the vehicle. 3. horn has decided to stop working along with controls on the steering wheel due to a wiring issue with the vehicle. Fuses have been changed ensuring that it is a wiring issue. 4. hazard lights as well as half the buttons on the dash including radio, etc. Have also decided to stop working due to a wiring issue in the vehicle. No hazards making it a risk and unsafe to pull vehicle off of road in case of an emergency. 5. Ford dealership that car was taken to stated all recalls were completed but when VIN is entered through Ford website it states that all recalls are incomplete. Ford sent me a notice for repairs on transmission stating it will be almost $1400 to replace clutches in transmission. There would be no problems with the clutches if there was never anything wrong with the transmission control module to begin with. Repairing the transmission should not be on the owner of these vehicles and Ford should be liable for the repairs to an issue that was their responsibility to correct from the beginning and was not corrected in a timely manner.
Ongoing electrical issues that may or may not be related. Vehicle will "stall" while in motion or while powered on but stopped at a light for example. It's an electric vehicle so the cause of the stall is unclear. Vehicle will be inoperable for 1-10 minutes, including power steering while the system resets. This happens usually at slow speeds or while stopped - in reverse, climbing hills, stopped at traffic lights. The problem was "fixed" in October 2019 and we were told that something doing while addressing one of the electrical recalls had caused the problem. Now it's happening again and Ford can't tell us why. We've been stranded pulling out of our driveway in the path of on coming traffic, blocking one lane roads in our neighborhood and at intersections.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Engine stopped while in motion on freeway. Entire electrical system and acceleration would not power back on. Steering and brakes were still operational. After pulling over, the car will not turn on, and doors will not remain locked.
The power steering just stops working from time to time. This happened while taking a curve the last time this happened. I have found that numerous people are having this issue with a number of their Ford that have the electronic sterring assist. This happened to me the first time on March 5 this year. (2020) I remember because it was my birthday.
The horn stopped working most of the time. It very rarely works. Our local Ford dealership says its out of warranty and it will be $224 to replace it. Given the large amount of problems this vehicle has had, I suspect its a widespread problem.
Horn doesn't work or only intermittently when parked, moving in all situations or road conditions, or during locking/unlocking doors with remote..have had this problem for at least 2 years. Apparently from a web search, this is known problem for this model..have tried to fix it, checking the electrical connections, spraying WD40, checking and tightening the mounting bolts. Attempts to fix may only last a few days or hours. This is a vital safety component to reduce risks of crash and should be subject to a recall or repair or replacement of the horn assembly or wiring.
3 times car would not start. All lights wipers radio and all gauges worked when turning key but car would not turn over. Happened when shopping had to have car towed home. After sitting for a day car would start
Check engine light comes on and the engine has stopped while in motion, have had it checked out 4 times already. 1st time dealer said there were some wires that are close to the manifold were frayed and then repaired. The last 3 times the check engine light came on I pulled over while driving, turned the engine off waited a few minutes and restarted the car and was able to drive a few miles. I have now taken the car to a different for dealer 3 times in the past 5 weeks and every time it's a different code with the exception of the 3rd time. They replaced the battery at no charge now today 5 days later the check engine light came on again. This will be the 5th time! this has happened on the highway and on city streets. We have spent over $500 and my time getting back and forth from this dealership to remedy this problem.
Horn stopped working. Took it to the Ford dealership. They charged me $67 to clean the erosion from around the connector. Two weeks later, horn stops working again. Took it to the Ford dealership and they stated the horn needs to be replaced. I was charged another $67. Never in my entire life had I ever had to replace a horn. This is a safety issue that needs to be addressed by Ford. There are many other owners of the Ford Focus who have had this same issue. Read it at https://www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-T11974_ds503836.
Repeatedly the speakers will randomly pop very loudly, even when radio is off, and the speakers will not function again until car is restarted. The loud noise is very startling and dangerous. It occurs at irregular intervals, when moving and not, and with radio on or not.
Wiring harness that controls the transmission control module had 6 wires rub on the throttle body causing them to break or tarnish which caused the vehicle to stop in the middle of the road while driving on a city street on 2 occasions. Dealership that did repairs stayed this is a common problem. They had 3 other vehicles in for service with same problem.
My car is shutting down and the code P068A and I know someone that has the same car same model year same problems transmission problems car not moving no matter how much you hit the gas and he got recalls on the car my car is having the same problems I will be driving on the road and the car will jump shake than go and it's keeps doing it as well as I can be going 20 mph and my RPM is at 6 not dropping unless my foot is off the gas.
It clicks constantly - I have start the car with a battery charger although I just put a new battery in the car, I have had the transmission clutch and parts replaced twice. - its still slipping out of gear it sound like grinding metal. Im so done with this car.
Was driving and heard a very loud pop and crack noises. There was no audio and the car wouldn't let me turn the radio on nor off. While this was happening the pop and crack noises still continued. I did some research and it turns out these Ford radio are known to do this and I just want to report it as a safety issue due to the fact that when my radio is off the noises are still going on and they are very loud. This could cause other people accidents and is very irresponsible on Ford behalf.
I purchased the Ford Focus titanium hatchback in 2014 new, and since then it has been to the dealership/mechanic over 25 times due to 2 major defects -- Ford powershift transmission and electric/engine issue with draining the battery. I've had 4 batteries and average 6-8 jump starts per year due to the electric problems with the computer draining my battery. I've come very close to having at least 8 accidents due to the transmission fault. The transmission was replaced a couple years ago and it worked without having the shifting stall problem for about 2 months. My dealer said that's "all they can do... Ford doesn't offer any payback or refunds due to these 2 well-known lemon defaults. I just called the 800 number for Ford to file a complaint (800-392-3673) and they stated that I'd have to call back in 2 hours because their system is down. I asked if I could file a complaint online and they stated, 'no', you must call us to file the report. Details involving the lack of safety due to these 2 issues -- I've had my engine stalled in the middle of traffic on average of 6-8 times per year, putting my young children and self in great danger. I've also had my battery die just hours after parking it in a metropolitan city (miami/tampa/Washington DC/Chicago/detroit) and had to wait at my vehicle with my children for Ford or aaa to help replace/charge my battery -- which took on average 1-2 hours each time. I am requesting that Ford purchase my vehicle for the full blue book value, in addition to $10,000 due to the loss of work and lack of safety/hardship/disregard to my safety issues that I've brought to their attention over the past 6 years. Please contact me at [xxx] and leave a message if I'm unable to answer. Thank you, [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Horn goes in and out, and appears to be affected by speed humps.causing a security risk. Backup camera fades from clear view, to no view, to an upside down view daily.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Elizario, TX, USA