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.
The car want start it will turn on then when trying to go the car stalls out and the car keeps acclerating. It reads engine failure and I havent even had this car two years yet and aint even finish paying I off. I had to get tolled off the highway with my kids do to the car want start and when got it home it started but keeps accelerating. I need this car to get checked or something this is unsafe for my toddlers when I have to use that vehicle to get back and forth to work and take my kids to daycare..what am I suppose to do with a vehicle im still paying on and want start. I have been researching and seen that multiple people been having problems with there Ford Focus the same problems im having.
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 contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled and would not properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to autonation Ford located at 2525 34th St N, St. Petersburg, fl 33713 who replaced the dual clutch shifter but the failures continued to occur and the message transmission failure was displayed. Additionally, the sunroof would not completely close causing rain to leak into the cabin of the vehicle, all 4 doors would not shut properly, the tire air monitoring system malfunctioned, and the catalytic converter failed. The cause of the failures were not determined. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 63,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure recurred. The contact stated that she received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was taking to the #1 cochran Ford located at 110 rte 908 building 1, natrona heights, pa 15065, where the technician was unable to repair the vehicle. The technician stated that a diagnostic trouble code was not present. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Previously got recalls fixed on the car which fixed all stalling problems. 3 months later I go to drive and while in motion it starts stalling and the check engine light comes on and stays on.
- Dayton, KY, USA
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About two weeks after purchasing my pre-owned 2014 Ford Focus, I started to experience some slight jerking whenever I pressed on the accelerator pedal. The jerking gradually got worse and I continued to drive to my home. My car stopped suddenly when I was traveling uphill on a highway. I had to sit and wait for a few minutes before I was able to keep driving. When I finally arrived home, I turned my car off and went in. I came back later to go somewhere and my car wouldn't start. I resolved to leave it be since it was the weekend and dealerships were closed. The next day my car started, but the jerking remained and now my check engine light was on. I drove with it for the time being because the dealership (Toyota) that I purchased it from said they couldnt look into my possible transmission issues because I didn't purchase the extended warranty. I finally looked pretty deep into the issue and found there was a recall on the car I purchased and that many people experienced the same exact problems as I have.
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.
My vehicle stalls while driving, and shakes when I press on the gas. I have to drive my car extremely slow or else it will shake. Sometimes it gives me a problem when trying to start my car.
I want to know why the people driving this year of Ford Focus have not been compensated by Ford for all of the "defects" associated with this vehicle? in 3 years time, I have replaced the battery, shocks, repaired oil leak, vapor management valve and replaced tires out of my own pocket. The recalls are unreal! I have had it in the shop for "fuel tank deformation recall", the "tcm clutch shutter" has been replaced 3 times. Not to mention the times I have taken it in for that to be fixed, only to be told it wasn't the problem when it was later verified that it was. And now I receive notice that the doors fly open while driving! I can't trade it in, because I am $3,000 upside down because the vehicle is not worth squat.I have lost employment because of this vehicle and it has significantly impacted my and my family's quality of life because of all of the problems it has caused. I have been losing gas for the past 2 years and the mechanic's can't find the problem. When I fill up, the miles to empty will show for example 274, when I drive 1 mile by the odometer, the miles to empty has indicated 6. that is a huge amount of money I have lost in the past 2 years. This is outrageous that Ford Motor Company has not been forced to compensate us unfortunate people that got "stuck" with a vehicle they knew had issues! I have all paperwork for everything I have stated above but there are over 100 pieces of paper. If you require this from me I can make copies and send to you but to upload everything is too much. Please help! I would like to get into a vehicle that is safe to drive for me as well as my family. I have been driving in fear since a week after I purchased this in Jan 2017!
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.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was taken to downtown Ford sales (525 N 16th St, sacramento, ca 95811, (916)299-3529), where the vehicle was inspected. The contact stated that months later while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered while the accelerator was depressed without warning. The same dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle had a salvage title and the dealer would be unable to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,700.
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).
I've not had a fuel gauge since my 4th warranty repair (turbo replacement turned catastrophic and incurred warranted engine replacement as they blew it in shop and had it for almost three months) and I am not happy at all. And I am now gonna have to go back and get it fixed as this is dangerous for me. I keep a gallon of fuel I'N my car, so I'm basically huffing fumes all the dang time im in my car.. I must keep a gallon of fuel in the car due to the sudden stalls and the subsequent crank, wont start issues. Up until after my car was "repaired".. I didn't have issue until id done run out of fuel and or run out of outa fuel and stalled in most precarious places whilst in motion and driving down the road. I'd run out of fuel and my car would sputter and die. I've walked up to 12 miles to get to a gas station luckily. I am not cool with this [xxx] cause I bought it with lil to no mileage and new off the lot.... [xxx] has a ring to it if anyone could help... to an erratic at best case I've been stranded with no phone, no food nor water at least three times. And they think I'm gonna bring it in for service and allow them to screw me over again? don't think I have a lot of trust for Ford no mo.... I hope they stop playing around with people's lives as seemingly expendables and wasting our valuable time and money. I've lost a job from it and that's no joke. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle shuddered and stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to capital Ford of hillsborough dealer located at 350 churton St, hillsborough, nc 27278, where it was diagnosed that the purge valve in the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The repair was still pending. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000. The VIN was not available.
On Monday March 9th around 5pm my car had stalled while taking a left hand turn. It took about an hour to re-start with key fob. On March 9th at 11:30 pm turned off vehicle to go into a store and would not start for over 2 hours. I found out there was a recall to this vehicle today on 3/12/2020 I had purchased this vehicle on 01/06/2020 with out any knowledge of a recall. I want out of the vehicle as it is unsafe.
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.
Car shudders when starting from a step position to an accelerated speed. Example: Sitting at a stop light and when the light turns to green and gas pedal applied the car shudders or does not move. When it doesn't move forward when applying the gas pedal it feels as though the wheels are just spinning. At other times the car will automatically jerk forward when not intended. At other times the car doesn't move forward when you apply gas the pedal. I have had the transmission replaced 4 times. I have had several software updates. I have had seals replaced. Milage as to date is 31400
After refueling the vehicle, the first time I go to start the engine it gets to approx: 1000 RPM and then RPM proceed to decrease until the car has stalled. When attempting to start the car the second time, the RPM drop but the car catches it and it does not stall. Only after refueling does this issue occur.
Hello, this information is to be added to my previous complaints. I could not find a way to add to existing complaints on the web site so I did another complaint. Reference: Tracking # 11308693 #11308409 and request #266675 Focus complaint. The attached pictures are of the leaking washer fluid pump that I replaced. Ford Motor Company knew they had an issue with these pumps. The original factory pump was manufactured in china and the new Ford motorcraft washer pump that I installed is now manufactured in poland. This repair cost me $724 and I did most of the work myself. All the dealer did was install and program a new BCM module.
The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Very dangerous. Constantly battling with this car daily.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Jacksonville, FL, USA