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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:
18 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 1
Average Mileage:
41,323 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2014 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 4 of 20)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #321

Apr 232018

Focus

  • miles

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

Jan.26th 2018 I purchased a 2014 Ford Focus SE from Pacifico Ford. I was told by salesman No Recalls and No safety Issues. The car was on the lot with new inspection stickers. I was given a clean car fax. I was deceived. The car was returned the next day for driving improperly. It gave too much gas or not enough, was shuddering and sticking, steering issues, drifted to the right, and steering wheel had to be crooked to park to adjust the wheels, and car had a burn smell. Ford found transmission problem, engine leaking oil, clutch problem, cpu issues, failed road test and leaky seals. A week later, I was told all was fixed as new. April 23rd 2018 the car malfunctioned disabling me for life. While I was parking, the car accelerated forward, slammed into a barrier, roared up in the air, slammed down a slope and into a tree. Malfunction codes from an auto collision center were it was towed were achieved, one of which is an acceleration malfunction code. No air bags deployed, no warning. I found out after the malfunction there were many safety issues and recalls that I was not told of day of sale. Ford, a once trusted company, disabled me for life.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #320

Oct 122020

Focus

  • 124,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at 5 mph, the vehicle would stall and shudder as the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to bowditch Ford Inc (11291 jefferson ave, newport news, va 23601) where it was diagnosed with the transmission clutch needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

- Hampton, VA, USA

problem #319

Mar 012021

Focus

  • 105,000 miles
Continues to have transmission shifting issues even after being assessed by 2 mechanics. Shutters in first gear on takeoff. Loses power while in motion on the highway.

- Elizabethtown, KY, USA

problem #318

Mar 112021

Focus

  • 108,000 miles

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

I have had so much trouble with this car I am upside down on it. Now all the electrical stuff seems to be shorting. I was driving and my fuel gauge kept going to zero then back up to half a tank. Then my check engine light came on. My horn doesn't work which is is huge safety concern for me those are just the new issues I also have had the tcm replaced twice and it never made a difference to the car.

- Slippery Rock, PA, USA

problem #317

Feb 102021

Focus

  • 84,000 miles
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 #316

Jan 142021

Focus

  • 73,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while at a standstill the vehicle had difficulty starting, when the vehicle was started and loses approximately 1/4 tank of gas and the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle would stall. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to local dealer green Ford service center (3800 w wendover ave, greensboro, nc 27407 (336) 439-3886) where it was not diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired as of yet. Upon investigation the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer had been informed of failure and was told that since the dealer cleared the vehicle from the recall they couldn't do anything. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #315

Jan 142021

Focus

  • 8,000 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 while driving 35 mph, the stop safely now warning light was illuminated and steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to her residence. The contact called the local dealer galpin Ford (15505 roscoe blvd, North hills, ca 91343, (818) 787-3800) and made the dealer aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.

- Reseda, CA, USA

problem #314

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 #313

Jun 212017

Focus

  • miles
Front timing cover oil leak. Faulty silicone won't seal.

- Santa Maria, CA, USA

problem #312

Dec 102020

Focus

  • 87,000 miles
The car has issues on take off, like a slipping transmission...I see that there was a recall for this problem...I would like my car repaired...

- Waco, TX, USA

problem #311

Nov 112020

Focus

  • 30 miles

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

I just purchased used Nov 2020 it did not make it 30 days and has to have transmission, radio doesn't work. It slips bucks no acceleration and cut off in middle of interstate 3 times. Now I am stuck with this nightmare I don't have $4500.to fix!

- Va Beach, VA, USA

problem #310

Nov 132020

Focus

  • 84,000 miles
Gear shift isn't shifting automatically past 20/30 mph. Car jolts forward on it's own occasionally without gas pedal being pressed. When first pressing on gas car trembles.

- Alvin, TX, USA

problem #309

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 #308

May 122020

Focus

  • miles
My car jerks when I stop and start. Had sparks plugs replaced becsuse I thought they were day. It will not back up when engine light comes on. When going up hills it seem to hesitate on switch gears. Car cuts of at times when driving and had to get coolant and heater hose replaced. When engine light is on sometimes the car will not start.

- Seneca, SC, USA

problem #307

Aug 272020

Focus

  • 192,840 miles
I have a Ford Focus 2014.3recalls.1st recall transmition, for the longest time Ford dealership would not fix.finally I contacted the NHTSA then told Ford what I did they finally fixed it but I don't think they did a good job. 2nd recall fuel system, I received a recall about cpv that might stick open.that would cause engine light to come on, inaccurate or erratic fuel gauge, inaccurate distance to empty, engine stall while driving without warning that could cause a crash. My car has all these symptom, took it by the dealership to get fixed they said Ford would not fix the defects. Because special codes didn't come up. Sounds like a scam to me. Ford does not want to cover their recalls !!!

- Jim Thorpe, PA, USA

problem #306

Dec 022018

Focus

  • 80,000 miles
I purchased my Ford Focus 2014 with 40,000 miles for $17,000, mid year of 2017. The car drove perfectly before its first recall in December of 2018. Ever since then the car has broken down at least every 3 months. I have had four recall repairs since the purchase, I believe the recalls are the reason it needs so many additional other repairs. Besides the car itself I have spent over $35,000 on additional repairs. I have paid Ford, murray's auto / acima, all 4 U auto, Firestone and best tires for repairs. I have researched the recalls and other people's experiences with the car, many of the customer experiencing way more troublesome activity with the cars with the recall than what is stated in the mail letter. I would like to request a settlement reimbursement of a new car due my unsatisfied experience with my car. I will attach all my paid and ongoing debt receipts for my car's maintenance. After one of my recalls in 2018 the car was returned to me in even worst condition, with engine failure at the wake forest nc location. I received a diagnosis at the cary crossroads, nc location that said the car would need a $10,000 new engine. I thought this was unfair because I had not had engine problems before the recall, and researching online many dissatisfied customer agreed that the specific recall was causing engine failure, and my advisor agreed that the recall fault part and engine could have negatively affected one another although refused to pay for the repair. I called Ford corporate and explain to them what happened they deducted over $6,000 from the entire engine price. I was not satisfied with the cost I had to pay but paid the cost because I still had close to $10,000 to pay my bank secu from the lease car loan. The alignment, rods, and brakes were also a major expense I had to pay.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #305

Jan 302015

Focus

  • 300 miles
My 2014 Ford Focus hatchback has had concerning safety issues due to the dual-clutch automatic transmission since I bough the car brand new in January 2015. When I try to accelerate driving down the street and on the highway my car lurches multiple times and I'm unable to accelerate. This has almost caused many car accidents and terrifies me every time I drive.the lurching has also loosened parts of my car and feels like parts of my car could fall off at anytime. My engine also has issues and I've had to stop on the side of the road at least twice now due to the engine overheating. I have never felt safe driving this car. I've taken it into the dealership many times since the first week I bought the car complaining about the transmission and the employees kept telling me that they couldn't do anything about it. I never would have purchased this car if I had known about these issues and I will never purchase a Ford car again.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #304

Aug 242020

Focus

  • 41,000 miles
I started my car and began to drive. Two minutes after driving I was going 25 mph on a town street and my transmission fault light came on. I lost power and control of the car, almost getting hit by a large truck.

- Kearny, NJ, USA

problem #303

Apr 012015

Focus

  • 103,772 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 55-60 mph and accelerating, the vehicle failed to shift to the next gear. The contact pulled over. Additionally, while at a stop, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate or accelerated and decelerated independently. The vehicle revved up with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact called keller motors (700 Cadillac ln, hanford, ca 93230, (559) 582-1000) and was informed that there was no transmission technician at the location. The vehicle was taken to will tiesiera Ford (2101 E cross ave, tulare, ca 93274, (559) 688-7471) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission clutch and module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 103,772.

- Coalinga, CA, USA

problem #302

Aug 242020

Focus

  • 86,000 miles
The vehicle stalls out at the red lights while waiting for the light to turn green. The vehicle completely shuts down. Then my daughter has to put on the hazard (she is 17) and put it park, then pray the vehicle starts again. Just had the 2 recalls done however was told we need by a purge valve which I found online with these year models when I look up 2014 Ford Focus shutting down during waiting for a red light. It also struggles to get in 1st and 2nd gear. It shutters and jumps. Once you get the vehicle over 40-50 mph on the road it feels okay but when you have to come to a complete stop, good luck. My daughter is terrified to drive the vehicle. When I went to walker Ford, I was told there was nothing they can do about this issue however its all over the internet. What can I do to help my 17 year old daughter feel more comfortable driving?

- Pinellas Park, FL, USA

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