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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 7 of 20)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #261

Sep 142019

Focus

  • 80,000 miles

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

Car stalls at will, gas gauge & miles to empty always wrong, low fuel indicator light never comes on and has huge problem w/ acceleration. It often shakes violently when I hit gas pedal, also takes forever to get up to speed. If it's not shaking violently then it just stalls, literally dies, will not restart. Forget fuel gauge. Not only is it always wrong, it changes at will. I go up or down a hill, gauge & miles to empty changes. Low fuel indicator never lights up so who knows how much gas I have. Last two times it stalled on highway at 65mph. Engine just cut out, died & would not restart. Has been to dealership 3 times in 3 weeks for same issues. First incident, kindle Ford in cape may court house, NJ had it 9 days over labor day holiday. Finally advised repairs eligible under recall however waiting for parts, specifically fuel tank, which according to fedex was in transit. 'lucky for me' he said, finally had loaner available. I'm walking to get loaner when suddenly tech yells over that my car is done! what? he just said tank was in transit! reluctantly took my car only to have it die again. Had it towed to kindle again and he said car started right up for him after he put gas in it. He implied I ran out of gas because gauge was pinned on empty. I had put gas in it that morning. Gauge indicates it was low but it was not pinned on empty (see photo). And if that was the case, warning light never came on (see photo). Now they are saying they can't fix it until they replicate problems for themselves. As if I was lying! car doesn't do it when they drive it so what do I do? I'm afraid to drive my own car but I have to go to work, etc. I just hope my son & I aren't killed when car unexpectedly stalls again while we are on the highway.

- Villas, NJ, USA

problem #260

Aug 182019

Focus

  • 59,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle violently vibrated. Also, the vehicle vibrated when started and coolant was discovered leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to lindsay Ford (11250 veirs mill rd, wheaton, md 20902, (888) 457-7005) where the water pump was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The contact planned to take the vehicle back to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,000.

- Columbia, MD, USA

problem #259

Aug 272019

Focus

  • 65,000 miles
I was driving on the highway and the car just stopped getting gas or responding to me it dropped speed dramatically as a simi was behind me which read oversized load and I was going up hill so I was trying to try my hardest to get in the emergency lane then the engine light popped on fooling a warning of my transmission was hot to stop. I was terrified I had my 2 kids in the back and they were scared also I thought for sure we were going to die that mourning. I'm to scared to drive that car or any other car after going threw that. It's in the shop now but the dearship is already trying to tell me the bill for stuff. I'm confused and vary aggravated thanks to all that I dont know what to do being a single dad trying to do good. This happened on I-25 North bound near highway 66 mead exit. Colorado

- Thornton, CO, USA

problem #258

Aug 102019

Focus

  • 122,000 miles

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

Down shifts and stalls out in traffic without warning.engine light comes on and engine shuts off.

- Beulaville, NC, USA

problem #257

Aug 012019

Focus

  • miles
O2 sensors not set to ready. Unable to pass emissions as a result. Taken to Ford to flash ECM. Did not correct issue. Have read on other forums of other drivers with this issue as well.

- Streamwood, IL, USA

problem #256

Jan 162019

Focus

  • 80,000 miles
While accelerating either uphill or at speeds above 45 the car will begin to shake. I was told to fix my camber and toe bars to alleviate the shaking of the car, my struts, and to replace my tires. Neither of these solutions have helped this.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #255

Aug 152017

Focus

  • 42,000 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 the vehicle hesitated, shook violently, and jerked hard. The vehicle was driven to redwood Ford (1170 S state St, ukiah, ca 95482, (707) 468-0091) where it was diagnosed that a new oil seal was needed. The vehicle was repaired and the power train control module was reprogrammed; however, the failures recurred. The contact scheduled another repair appointment this week. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 42,000. The VIN was unknown.

- Niece, CA, USA

problem #254

Dec 012015

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
2014 Ford Focus. Consumer stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle did not shift into any gear and the engine revved highly and caused the transmission to slip.

- Green Bay, WI, USA

problem #253

Apr 012019

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. Upon purchasing the used vehicle, the contact was informed that there was an active recall on the vehicle regarding the engine. When the contact attempted to schedule an appointment with South Tacoma Mazda (6027 S Tacoma way, Tacoma, wa 98409, (253) 722-2888), she was informed that the parts for the remedy were not available. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The NHTSA campaign information was not provided. The contact had not experienced a failure. Consumer stated my car stop without notice while driving down the street. I learned this also after purchase.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #252

Aug 022019

Focus

  • 25,000 miles
While driving in motion, I ramdonly get an alert that there is an engine malfunction, which then causes my car to have very little power when accelerating. If I come to a stop, then give it gas, it goes extremely slow, causing my RPM's to shoot up. My transmission is horrible while shifting. Its sputters, hesitates, jumps, and feels like it cant make up its mind on what gear to go in. And its only gotten worse. Thre has been 3 different occasions where after stopping for gas, or being at work that I have shut my car off, and when I went to start it up again, it wouldnt. It woulndt even turn over. After trying several times, it would finally start. Whatever is causing all of these problems, is also draining my battery as I had to get a new one after just over 2 years. A battery is supposed to last 5 years. Ford said only 3-5 and therefore would not cover it since I was supposedly coming up on the 3rd year. Which I was not. I do not feel safe in this car. And I now have a newly turned 16 Y/O daughter whos just is about to learn how to drive. And I should not feel its unsafe for her to have to learn in this vehicle I have a few more years to pay on it and it wouldnt benefit me to sell or trade in at this point. I have attached a picture of the second time I got this engine alert. I can't exactly take a picture of how my car drives or how the transmission shifts. If I can send video's, I'd be happy to do so if it would help.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #251

Jul 312019

Focus

  • 30,000 miles

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

My vehicle has at multiple times lost acceleration power at high way speeds and had a transmission warning flash on, causing myself to have to stop on the interstate and attempt to coast to the shoulder amid highway speed vehicles. I have also lost acceleration power going uphill, and my vehicle shudders at acceleration which makes it hard to merge on and off the highway or to turn at intersections, as I can't get guarantee my car won't hesitate and cause a collision, my car also sometimes accelerated forward in stopped traffic, so I always am super wary in stop go traffic. All of these problems typically occur when I am attempting to accelerate or decelerate. Multiple transmission repairs with same issue. Still happening to date.

- Fortville, IN, USA

problem #250

Jul 312019

Focus

  • 23,130 miles
I purchased a used Ford Focus in July of 2016 from joe machens capital Ford in jefferson city, mo. It was sold with a 100000 mile warranty and had 20,725 miles on the odometer. Within 24 hours of driving it home to rolla, mo I started noticing a shudder and shake while driving the car. I was unsure what was going on and called the dealership only to be told this was normal due to the type of clutch installed in the Ford Focus and not to worry about what I was experiencing. This went on for some time and grew progressively worse. I received a recall on the shuddering problem which I learned was actually a clutch issue. I took my car to the local Ford dealership in rolla to have the clutch assembly replaced for the first time on 9/21/16. It should be noted the previous owner had the transmission control module replaced on 2/8/15 and replaced again on 8/3/15 at the jefferson city, mo dealership. After having the clutch assembly replaced in rolla it was only a matter of weeks before the problem was back - shuddering, jerking, sounds like a chain being dragged underneath the motor or gravel crunching, and sometimes, even had the car hesitate or completely stop in the middle of the road. The car was in motion each time I experienced the above situations. It does it upon take off, while driving, up hills, pulling out into traffic, etc. It has had the same problems day after day except for maybe hours after having it in the shop. I drive my car for work every day and was not able to have it back in the shop until January of 2018 to have the clutch assembly replaced again along with some other recall work that was done at the same time. When I picked the car up after the repairs were made a second time I was given a printout of operating characteristics of the powershift 6-speed transmission. What a load of crap that was.

- Rolla, MO, USA

problem #249

Jul 292019

Focus

  • 61,000 miles
My car engine would not shut off!

- Mexico, NY, USA

problem #248

Jul 012014

Focus

  • miles
Transmission and clutch issues when trying to accelerate

- Baytown, TX, USA

problem #247

Jul 252019

Focus

  • 129,000 miles
Often when driving, the transmission will shudder, specifically with hitting the gas. I'm often concerned about turning up front of cars as it shudders before finally going. This has been continual with this vehicle

- Novi, MI, USA

problem #246

Jul 242019

Focus

  • 149,500 miles
Dps6 powershift. I was at a very busy big intersection..right in the middle of it the car slips/jerks like it put itself in neutral and would not accelerate at all..a transfer truck was coming and barely got stopped almost T boned me on driverside with my son in the car. Please tell me how this is not a safety concern"? does someone have to die for the NHTSA or Ford to take this seriously?" this has went on for way to long for nothing to be done about it. No matter how dangerous it is to me, my family, and other drivers I have no choice but to drive it. It's our only vehicle and we still owe 11,000 on it and it's only worth 3,000. I have to leave a hour early for every trip bc I know I'm going to be stuck on the side of the rd literally every 5 min...or worse in the middle of an intersection. Something needs to be done about this...I am begging you!!!

- Newton, NC, USA

problem #245

May 302014

Focus

  • 15 miles
Takata recall - I have been experiencing jerking and stuttering with my vehicle since I purchased it new in 2014. My vehicle will stutter and jerk upon pressing the gas from a standstill in traffic, on a highway and it is even worse going uphill. It is slow to pick up speed no matter how much pressure I put on the gas pedal. Now there is an issue with something revving under the hood and also with the vehicle overheating. I have had several near accidents due to the vehicles jerking and stuttering when moving from a stopped position to a forward mortion in traffic. These incidents have happened over the course of five years of me purchasing the vehicle new. The stuttering and jerking happens daily.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #244

Jun 042016

Focus

  • 36,000 miles
When I first purchased the car I had issues from the start. I would press on the gas and the car would hesitate to go forward and then jerk. It felt like I was driving a manual car but I had an automatic. I found out that there was a recall on the car for this specific reason. I took the car to my local Ford dealer in clarksville in and had to wait over 3 weeks for the part to come in. I was not offered a loaner car or anything. Once I got the part it was ok for like literally maybe 1 or 2 months and the issues arose again. I took the car back and was told it was the last time I would be able to get the issue fixed for free. This all happened in 2016. It is now 2019 and I am still having the same issues. Also the passenger side seatbelt works intermittently. And the car doors do not always latch tightly when you shut the door. I have been told several times that there is nothing that can be done. Now I am stuck still making payments on a car that I do not feel safe driving. I did have a wreck in the car back in 2016 where I was pushing on the gas and it jerked really hard and then went forward violently and I hit a pole. The damage is still on my car which includes a busted front bumper and the car horn is not working.

- Jeffersonville, IN, USA

problem #243

Mar 312013

Focus

  • miles
The car does not shift correctly it sputters when accelerating. When accelerating it doesn't shift properly like its not getting enough gas. Also when you are sitting in traffic and go to accelerate it jumps forward. This car also has died while driving as it is shifting gears. Even though there is a date at the bottom this has been like this since I purchased it. I was told by the dealer its the way I drive it the computer shifting has to get use to my driving habits.

- Gramercy, LA, USA

problem #242

May 162016

Focus

  • 10,000 miles
Car shakes when going from a stopped position then pressing on gas. Feels like it jerks. Also my catalytic converter has been faulty since 2 years after I got my car in 2014

- Theodore, AL, USA

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