Print this page

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 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 1
Average Mileage:
42,019 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

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2014 Ford Focus:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2014 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 20)

problem #395

Jan 032024

Focus

  • 107,000 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 gear had to be shifted from park to neutral and back to park to start the vehicle. The vehicle started and the contact depressed the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond but the engine revved up. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked, and the transmission slipped and delayed while downshifting. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly without warning. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the -??Transmission Hot - Pull Over Safely - Wait 5 Minutes" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The dealer stated that the actuator had seized and burned the clutch. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #394

Jan 082024

Focus

  • miles
There was a Purge Valve Replacement and a Valve cover replacement recall on other Ford Focus Models. Ford Customer Service personnel and website stated not on my model.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #393

Sep 252023

Focus

  • miles
I was driving my 2014 Ford Focus electric car sometime in 2023 and the system told me to immediately pull over for no reason. I was able to pull it over but it would not start again after turning it off. I let it sit and came back the next day since I needed to go somewhere and it started. The car then had issues starting and I tried to diagnose with the dealership and we ended up recharging the battery because it was low. It was a little more consistent but it died again but this time it would not turn over. I finally got the car to the dealership to diagnose and it took them over a month to do so. It seems the High voltage wire harness was bad and needed to be replaced. It seems that this should be a recall because it is a major component and even a safety issue since the car died while driving.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #392

Dec 302023

Focus

  • 201,000 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 the vehicle was parked, the contact received a call from a family member who was driving by the contact's residence. The family member informed the contact that the vehicle was on fire. The local fire department was contacted and arrived and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 201,000.

- Iuka, MS, USA

problem #391

Feb 182023

Focus

  • 121,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle decelerated to 15-20 MPH. The contact merged to the right lane and continued driving at a slow speed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start while in a parking lot. The contact waited 30 minutes and was able to restart the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact then shifted into reverse(R), but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that she turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. The contact received notification of Ford Service Campaign Number: 14M02, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with transmission clutch shudder. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

- Cathedral City, CA, USA

problem #390

Oct 012023

Focus

  • miles
My 2014 Ford focus SE hatchback is having bad transmission codes throwing at me. Automatic transmission electrical system codes and transmission stuck in clutch A. I have 123,000 miles on it. I'm afraid to drive it as it being a electrical problem and I have my teenage son in the car with me. I'm afraid of a fire. Ford wants hundreds of dollars just to diagnose what 3 other mechanics have already diagnosed it. I have a picture of the codes. Ford knows about this problem but wants hundreds of dollars to tell me what I already know and then thousands of dollars to fix it.

- St Paul , MN, USA

problem #389

Sep 222021

Focus

  • 135,610 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 would shake uncontrollably, and the vehicle was hesitant to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact also became aware that the clutch was slipping. Additionally, the vehicle occasionally failed to start with a clicking sound coming from the engine compartment. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was 135,610.

- Diamond Bar, CA, USA

problem #388

May 082023

Focus

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered with an abnormal sound coming from the rear passenger's side wheel. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the tire but provided no diagnosis for the warning lamp. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, who diagnosed failures with the rear passenger-??s side wheel bearing and clutch. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 98,000.

- Brandy Station, VA, USA

problem #387

Nov 082019

Focus

  • 91,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after the vehicle was refueled, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and DTC code: P1450 (EVAP Emissions Control System) was retrieved. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 15V813000 (Electrical System) and 14V495000 (Electrical System) as a possible cause for the failure; however, the vehicle was previously repaired under the recall repairs. The contact stated that the transmission control module and the clutch had been replaced several times however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 91,000.

- Grafton, OH, USA

problem #386

Oct 162023

Focus

  • miles
My clutch which we paid out of pocket for the first time we need to get it fixed and I only had the car for 6 months when the clutch went out the first time then only a year later I had to get it fixed again and got it under warranty and then the following year I had to get it fixed and it was covered again under warranty and now 2023 again a year later my clutch went out and even tho my clutch was covered under a two year warranty they are refusing to fix my clutch because it is a "transmission issue" even after running my diagnostic it clearly states it is a CLUTCH issue and since they are calling it a "transmission issue" my car can no longer be fixed and covered under warranty because it is not a "transmission issue" it is a CLUTCH issue. I have only ever gotten my car fixed from Ford and we cant understand why this is a recurring issue and there for WHY FORD CANNOT FIX THIS ISSUE.

- Comstock Park, MI, USA

problem #385

Sep 042023

Focus

  • miles

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

I know it-??s the transmission because it gears just goes and the car doesn-??t go anywhere. Now I have my car parked

- Dallas , TX, USA

problem #384

Oct 142023

Focus

  • miles
The engine control module failure. I was on a busy two lane highway and my car stalled out almost causing me to get hit from the back. I had to be pushed off the busy road from a police officer so I wouldn-??t get hit by the heavy trucks. This is a dangerous for anyone whom experienced this. An investigation need to or process

- Lorain, OH, USA

problem #383

Sep 212023

Focus

  • miles
My car has Direct Clutch Transmission that I am told has a design flaw so even after a $3,000 transmission repair the problem will re-occur. The car revs like crazy & doesn-??t move forward. It is so dangerous when I am transporting my grandchildren to & from school crossing 4-lanes if traffic in town to get to the other side & the transmission does this in front of oncoming traffic! And no - no fatalities yet!

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #382

May 042020

Focus

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owned a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle was hesitant while accelerating. The contact heard an abnormal sound before the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The engine failure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed away from the scene and deemed a total loss by USAA Insurance Company. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #381

Sep 142015

Focus

  • 22,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle jerked and hesitated to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. The contact stated that on several occasions, the vehicle failed to respond upon depressing the accelerator pedal, causing the contact to pull to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic, where unknown repairs were completed; however, the failure recurred. The contact received notice of Ford Campaign Number: 14M02. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the TCM and the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the TCM would be covered under the campaign; however, she would be charged a repair and labor fee for the transmission clutch replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #380

Aug 292023

Focus

  • 112,665 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with evap purge valve failure. The contact was informed that the evap purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) had expired. The contact stated that there was two parts to the recall repair being completed and only one part was completed. The failure mileage was approximately 112,665.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #379

Aug 142023

Focus

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 65-?"70 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

- Gastonia, NC, USA

problem #378

Jul 252023

Focus

  • 84,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 1 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart after an hour. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that an unknown part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000.

- Easthampton, MA, USA

problem #377

Jul 012023

Focus

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop, she depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that she applied more pressure to the accelerator pedal and the vehicle slowly responded. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated while driving and the message "Transmission Overheated" was displayed. The contact veered to the side of the road to allow the transmission to cool off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic on several occasions, and the grill shudder module assembly, the transmission fluid, and the transmission clutch actuator were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 19N07. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

- Kew Gardens, NY, USA

problem #376

Jun 092023

Focus

  • miles
There are 2 recalls listed for my vehicle, 1) the Transmission Control Module, and 2) the Transmission Clutch Shudder. I had brought my car in to the dealership a couple of years ago to ask about the two issues/recalls listed, as my transmission was overheating and I was unable to accelerate, and the engine shuttered when shifting between 1st and 3rd gear, and was told that the Transmission Clutch Shudder recall had expired and the active recall, the Transmission Control Module, could not be repaired due to parts being on backorder, and I was told that the parts for that specific recall were not longer being made. The clutch recall lasted for 7 years and/or to 100k miles, whichever came first. My car is under 100k, and I had gotten the car in 2017, but it is a 2014 model so that recall cannot be covered by the dealership. I have been informed, though, that the Clutch issue directly correlates to the function of the TCM (transmission), so without that issue being resolved, the TCM will continue to have issues. I understand that the warranty has expired for one recall, but since it directly correlates to the function of the other recall, it doesn't make sense to have one expire before the other. Without it resolved, my transmission runs the risk of overheating again, and in previous instances I have had to pull over on highways, on roads where there were no safe places to pull off, and delayed other drivers due to the cars inability to accelerate properly, which has occurred at stop signs and at traffic lights which poses a risk to my safety and others. The dealership has informed me that the issue is in relation to the two recalls, but again with one expired I am expected to cover it even though the issue lies with Ford.

- Chantilly, VA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?