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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:
12 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
30,340 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 1 of 8)

problem #145

Jul 152023

Focus

  • miles

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

I was driving the 2014 ford focus and it slipped out of gear no warning lights when accelerating only rpm-??s would go up the vehicle still out of gear I immediately put on my flashers and pulled to the side of the highway with cars going by and the vehicle would restart no go in or out of gear. I had it towed to the nearest dealership after pulling over and turning car off after I turned key back on the engine light was on red and stated transmission fault, repair immediately. It was very dangerous situation I was in four lanes of traffic doing 65 mph when the vehicle slipped out of gear with no acceleration. It completely stalled at 65 mph.

- Starcity, AR, USA

problem #144

Oct 082021

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
When driving the car will just shut itself down. We took the car to a Ford dealership in Sterling Colorado in October of 2021 and was told that there was a recall on the electronic control module, transmission control module and that due to Covid it would take up to 8 months for the part to come in. When we contacted the dealership at the end of the 8 month wait they stated that they couldn-??t repair the car to take it to a different dealership in Wray Colorado. We were again told that it could take several months to get the part in, we waited for several months for the part and it still didn-??t come in. We contacted Ford about the issue and they told us to take the car back to the first dealership and have them put it on the computer just to confirm that it was the electronic control module, transmission control module and it would be taken care of. We did that and now Ford is telling us that they won-??t fix the car because they can-??t get the part, they want us to pay for a new transmission at the tune of $8000 and said that since the car was over 80,000 miles and out of the original warranty they won-??t cover the repair for a new transmission. The dealership said the only way to fix the car is to have a new transmission control module or a new transmission. The recall on the transmission module covers the car up to 150,000 miles and our car has under 127,000 miles on it. We have tried since 2021 to get this taken care of.

- Akron, CO, USA

problem #143

Aug 302022

Focus

  • miles
transmission control module faulted out. In 2018 a recall for the dual powershift clutch was repaired, now the TCM faulted out in the car while i was driving, i had an infant in the car and it died in the middle of a busy highway almost causing us to crash! I had to be towed, I called ford motor company to be told it was not under recall, only to find out that in fact it is, and their in a lawsuit currently for these problems. I work 2 jobs, Latham ford refused to even look at my vehicle for 2 months, i work, i cannot go without a car. The tcm is currently on a national backorder for thousands of people. I had no means of transportation for an entire month, it cost me hundreds of dollars for taxis and ubers. I found a replacement part on my own and had it installed yesterday. the manufacturer stated in the description, that the part was already programmed, it was not. It was misrepresented, and it cost me an extra $400 to have it programmed, and also the software needed to be updated to clear error codes in the tcm for it to be relearned. So far im out about 2 thousand dollars for a known manufacturing issue that could have ended FATAL. I want to be reimbursed for every dime i spent, and the inconvienience! I have reciepts for the part and labor! I will never buy a FORD product again after this. I could have died, along with my passenger. something needs to be done!

- Rensselaer, NY, USA

problem #142

Jan 072022

Focus

  • miles

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

The components and systems that failed are my engine and gas tank, they both are available for inspection upon request. My safety was put at risk, approximately two minutes before my vehicle slowed down enough to stop my brakes wouldn't work. Yes I have called the dealership and the problems that the representative listed explaining a recall; is what I have been experiencing with my vehicle. Yes, 6/15/2022 the day after my engine failed my car was diagnosed by All 4 U Auto and he confirmed that the engine had blown and along with the gasoline tank both needed replacements. No, there were no warning lamps nor messages prompting alerts of my vehicle. There were several symptoms of the problem prior to the failure that occurred before and after the Ford recall; 18S32. I completed the recall fuel tank deformation 1/3/2019. I am still experiencing issues with my gas tank, which are listed on the official Ford website. I can only pump approximately 80 miles worth of gas or 1/4 full worth of gas. If I pump anymore the vehicle will stall and require for me to restart it multiple times 2 - 10, the more I "over pump" the more I will have to restart and longer it will stall. During pumping even 1/4 worth of gas my entire vehicle will shake and make a loud sound, and with re cranking causing engine malfunction. The website mentions; "Owners are advised to maintain at least a half tank of fuel until their vehicle is serviced for this issue." although I can only pump 1/4 full worth of gas at a time. Another issue is I cannot leave the vehicle idle over 5 minutes, even when in traffic if I do not keep driving up 6 inches every five minutes it will turn off. This problem has negatively affected my battery, on a few occasions leaving the vehicle idle has caused my battery to need to be recharged and replaced. Lastly the vehicle does exactly what the recall mentions; "inaccurate fuel gauge readings". While pumping gas the mileage on the dashboard sometimes does not increase.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #141

Jan 282022

Focus

  • miles
My car keep stalling while driving on the freeway with my daughter in the car skipping and jerking than it slow speed down extremely low no pressure at all very dangerous

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #140

Jan 142022

Focus

  • miles
On January 14, 2022, at approximately 5:20 P.M. my wife was traveling southbound on Pleasant Hill Road in Lafayette, California towards the freeway entrance when the Ford Focus Electric she was driving displayed a Stop Safely Now message and almost immediately thereafter lost motive power at the busiest intersection in the City of Lafayette. She was able to steer the car to the shoulder since she was in the right hand lane. The vehicle would not move and the steering wheel locked up. She called for assistance and I drove down and exchanged cars with her within approximately 15 minutes. After approximately 10 minutes of trying, I was able to get the vehicle to turn off and to turn on again without the Stop Safely Now warning and was able to return the approximately 1.5 miles to our residence. The sudden unexpected loss of motive power and loss of ability to accelerate is extremely dangerous and frightening and that danger can be extreme when traveling on roads without shoulders or in any lane except the right lane on a freeway.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #139

Jan 242021

Focus

  • 164,203 miles

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

When I accelerate it keep stalling, speed won't change it takes like 10 seconds to pick up speed.

- Daytona, FL, USA

problem #138

Jan 012021

Focus

  • 80,000 miles
Transmission doesn't work correctly

- Cordova, TN, USA

problem #137

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 #136

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 #135

Aug 312020

Focus

  • miles

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

Ford dealership would not repair my transmission control module/ shudder even though it is covered under warranty, because "it had not failed bad enough yet". they are aware of the issue and said the part was failing. If the part had not failed bad enough yet, then I would be responsible for the fees.

- Napa, CA, USA

problem #134

Aug 162020

Focus

  • miles
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.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #133

Jun 292020

Focus

  • 122,450 miles
Back at the end of June, first part of July I had a check engine light on and then the next day it was off but some stupid "my key came on and not it regulates my speed and volume. I am not paying over $200 to have it removed. But the most important thing is the clutch on my transmission is out and Ford won't replace it for free and I dont have the money to fix it. I believe Ford should fix it for free since they can't build good transmissions.

- Kouts, IN, USA

problem #132

May 012020

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
While driving on highway my RPM will fluctuate up and down. RPM's will raise high while my speed doesn't increase. My steering wheel pulls to the left. Car wants to stall periodically. It has a hard idol.

- Lewisville, TX, USA

problem #131

Jun 022020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 57,000 miles
My dps6 transmission again had a severe shuddering incident when pulling out into 55 mph rush hour traffic on a 6-lane highway. After the shudder discontinued and speed was increased to approximately 50 mph, while attempting to navigate into another lane, I had a significant loss of power after engaging the accelerator to the floor with zero response from the transmission. Due to this defect, my vehicle was struck in the rear by an oncoming vehicle.

- Spring Hill, FL, USA

problem #130

May 172015

Focus

  • 100 miles
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

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #129

Feb 092019

Focus

  • 95,000 miles
The vehicle idles rough, the transmission slips and the rpms get high in first and second gears, it takes forever to accelerate, the fuel gauge will say 100 miles till empty then die on you, I have been stranded 5 times in less than a year due to that, recently on 2/8/20 the car wouldn't accelerate in the middle of a busy intersection and proceeded to stall in the middle of the road. I had to literally push the car out of the intersection and into a store parking lot during 5pm traffic. I cannot believe this car received a 5 star safety rating, I feel a number of things about this model car and company but safe definitely is not one of them. Doors that have defective latches, opening at anytime, transmission problems leading to cars constantly almost rear ending you, and a car that can stall in the middle of a busy intersection or freeway, is not by any means a definition of the word safe. I will never buy another Ford again, and I will convince any else to not buy from a company that values profits over consumer safety by installing cheap, defective parts and components

- Sandia, TX, USA

problem #128

Nov 272019

Focus

  • 48,020 miles
The car slipped to neutral without any warning while driving 65 mph. I was lucky that no one was behind me or I would have got rear ended and get killed or maybe the other driver would have been killed.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #127

Nov 012019

Focus 4-cyl

  • 74,400 miles
The vehicle was purchased on August 11, 2019 from ourisman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of bowie. A few days after, I started noticing issues with acceleration, deceleration, and fuel gauge issues with the vehicle. I went back to the dealership and I was told that fixing the fuel tank recall and transmission warranty extension on the vehicle will fix the issues. I took off a day from work and took to ourisman Ford & Lincoln in alexandria, Virginia. After several hours of waiting, I was told that I will have to drop it off another day because some part(s) will be ordered. About a week after, I dropped it off and it stayed for over 3 days. I was told that everything was okay. Perhaps, just about 1000 miles of driving in about 6 weeks after the repair, I almost had an accident due almost sudden stop on the highway on Friday, November 1, 2019. I was driving at about 60mph when the vehicle almost stopped with the alert 'transmission fault service now'. I managed to pull off the road, turned of the engine and turned it on after about 20 minutes and the alert came up again. I drove at no more 20mph with the hazard lights on to my home. I scheduled appointment with darcars Ford in lanham md to drop it off on Monday, November 4, 2019. I am complaining because I have owned this for less than 90 days but I have gone through a whole lot. Now it's becoming clear that the dealership knew, concealed and sold a severely useless vehicle that almost took my life. I am frustrated because the absence of a vehicle will obstruct my work, my son's school and all our medical appointments for the week. I sincerely need help...

- Springdale, MD, USA

problem #126

Oct 232019

Focus

  • 73,207 miles
I started my car the check engine light came on, I put it in gear and it hesitated to accelerate. It also when I had it in park and went to put it in drive, it started going in reverse. Had a diagnostic test done and it came back: P0902 clutch actuator circuit low. I only drive the city streets.

- Columbus, OH, USA

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