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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:
22 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,168 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2014 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 16 of 66)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1002

Feb 212019

Focus

  • 103,000 miles

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

Car shakes/shatter everytime it shifts between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. Now the transmission it goes back and forward to neutral between shifting.the issues is getting worse and dangerous to drive. After reviewing various complaints I find out that all Ford from 2012 and newer have the same issues and Ford has refused to corrected. They only have a recall on the PCM computer but refused to replace the clutch or transmission. Extending the warranty to 7 years or 100,000 mileage shouldn't be allowed as remedy since the issue continues to come back. It is time for Ford to take ownership on their mistake and be forced to recall all transactions on our cars.

- Mount Carmel, PA, USA

problem #1001

Dec 212019

Focus

  • 180,000 miles
I was driving along the highway 80 in the left hand lane, ready to pass a semi truck when the car lost all power from the engine a light came on and it read engine default service now ok, as all power was shut down. I was then forced to go to the emergency lane. I was almost ran over by two semi trucks coming from the right side of highway 80. I had it serviced at phil long Ford chappel hills in Colorado springs and they wanted $4500 to fix it.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #1000

Dec 312019

Focus

  • 0 miles
Transmission work temporarily in reverse. Then reverse goes out completely. I'm about to take the vehicle back for repair the 5th time. And I'm very frustrated and mad. That I can't drive it. I want another vehicle or be compensated me a check for the vehicle so I can get another one without any problems.

- Macon, GA, USA

problem #999

Apr 152019

Focus

  • miles

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

The vehicle is having hard jerking/shuttering due to a clutch malfunction during first and second gear. For a while I've had the same jerking (sometimes very bad) that everyone else has had due to a clutch malfunction. I received a letter for the recall from Ford and when I went to have the clutch fixed the dealership called to inform me that I was not eligible due to having a branded title. The dealership looked up my VIN number when I was making an appointment and proceeded to tell me after I dropped my car off and they had it for the whole day.the reason my car is a branded title is due to cosmetic damage, nothing to do with the front of the car. All of the parts on the car are the original manufactured parts. This being said, I'm having a concern that even though the clutch is the exact same as others without branded titles I am not allowed to get it fixed even and the part malfunctioning was Ford own doing.

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #998

Dec 212019

Focus

  • 5 miles
We recieved a transmission overheating indicator stating we had to pull over to allow it to cool down during stop and go traffic. We just had the 8th clutch placed in the car!

- Pryor, OK, USA

problem #997

Dec 172019

Focus

  • 137,638 miles
Took my Focus in to have a customer satisfaction recall clutch replacement for the automatic transmission. I experienced bad jerking and acceleration issues. The dealer replaced the clutch 2 1/2 months ago. I'm now at the dealer with my engine light on on and severely bad jerking and shifting issues again. The dealership diagnostic says I need 2 transmission shift levers replaced (levers a &B) cost in excess of $1000. This transmission as a whole is defective. Why is Ford getting away with this"?"

- Adelanto, CA, USA

problem #996

Sep 252019

Focus

  • 69,718 miles

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

I was sent paper work for a recall from Ford motors (19N08 ) ref: My transmission clutch being faulty clutch shuddering which happen numerous times and causing it to feel like the car would stop right there. I called my ;local Ford dealer ref: This recall and was given a schedule time for repair. They checked the Focus and found its transmission had the above problem and need to be fixed. They replaced the clutch parts. When it came time to pick up my call I was told I had to pay the bill to retrieve my car back. $1088 that Ford was not going to pay the repair cost. I called Ford and was told my car has branded title salvage.I didnt know what that meant before the repair. Ford customer service### told me they use a third party to send notices of my VIN. And they didnt see the salvage repaired on my title, thats how I received the recall.

- Caroline, WI, USA

problem #995

Dec 172019

Focus

  • 82,000 miles
Tcm replaced 66,550, clutch pack replaced 68,148, and complete communication failure between the throttle and transmission, tonight at 82,000 miles, I fully opened the throttle pedal down, and transmission failed to give me any acceleration for 3-5 seconds.this almost caused a bad situation tonight. Radiator replaced at 77,600, coolant still drops to the min- line. No reasoning on where the coolant is going.

- Pottstown, PA, USA

problem #994

Oct 022019

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the transmission shuddered and hesitated to move forward. The contact stated that the transmission warning indicator illuminated prior to the failure. The contact took the vehicle to selinsgrove Ford (10 N susquehanna trail, selinsgrove, pa 17870, (570) 374-8131) where the vehicle was initially repaired under warranty; however, the failure continued. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Mcclure, PA, USA

problem #993

Nov 242016

Focus

  • 14,000 miles
When making a left engine would hesitate for 3-4 seconds and not allow transmission to engage.

- Danville, IL, USA

problem #992

Nov 202019

Focus

  • 139,000 miles

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

I was driving my car home on the freeway November 19, 2019. Going about 65 mph and it started shifting weird. I made it home hooked it up to the computer got the codes and it was all related to the transmission control module. The transmission control module was recalled on my car last year and the dealer fixed it. I took it back to the dealer they had it for about a week, called and told me they replace the transmission control module again however there was more damage. Its transmission problems it needs a new clutch assembly, slave cylinder and 2 clutch release levers. They told me this was my fault and it would cost me about $2000. I take very good care of my car I didn't have any problems prior to this. I can't afford the $2000 right now and I'm still making payments on my car every month. Dealership has all the info on their file.

- Victorville, CA, USA

problem #991

Nov 012019

Focus

  • 46,000 miles
Typical Ford Focus transmission clutch failure. Shuddering, jerking, etc., in initial acceleration. Purchased vehicle used on 9/2/17. Took it in to dealer for transmission issue on 9/12/17. Dealer replaced clutch, according to the invoice, under warranty. Vehicle started having same issue, though very slight compared to first time, around 10/19. Went to dealer mid-November 2019. Was given appointment for 12/3/19 for dealer to check transmission. Picked up vehicle on 12/4/19. Invoice states they replaced "seal asy.-oil 8138", "fluid-transm 5017", "clutch asy. 048090", "brake cleaner 21401". they also performed the recall repair - "18S32 fuel tank deformation recall", and, "18S32-a check for available PCM software update, no available software update, no parts replaced." The transmission is an ongoing issue with these vehicles. Wanted to send this to NHTSA so there is a record of another one. Will update in future should tranny fail again. Still awaiting a formal recall on these things as it has been a known issue since the tranny was designed!

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #990

Jan 312015

Focus

  • 1,000 miles
We bought a 2014 Ford Focus new in 01/2015. From day 1 the transmission gave us trouble, it would hesitate and shutter while accelerating causing many close calls of getting hit while in heavy traffic. On one occasion it pop into neutral for a couple seconds before moving. We are afraid to drive this car but don't want to be responsible for someone else's death if we sell it. We gave up on the dealership where we brought it in numerous times trying to get repaired and they would tell us there was nothing wrong with it.

- Menasha, WI, USA

problem #989

Sep 012019

Focus

  • 67,000 miles
I began having problems with the check engine light coming on. Before I could get it diagnosed I was on the road going about 35 miles per hour when I completely lost power. It felt as if the transmission had just switch to neutral and I was giving gas but going nowhere. I was able to pull off to the side of the road put the car in park and turn it off. When I turned it back on I was able to put the car in drive and carry on. A few days later I was on the highway going almost 70 miles per hour when I suddenly completely lost power again. I was able to pull off the side of the highway but it was fairly terrifying to be in the middle of traffic and all of a sudden not have power. It could have been disastrous. I finally got the car restarted and turned around and went back home. During this time I received a letter about a warranty extension all the transmission control module. I made an appointment with my local Ford dealer and they changed the module. I drove it to work after a few days and had the same issue again. I was told it must be a ba D module so they put in a new 1. now have issues with the check engine light coming on that can't be resolved. That is how the transmission issues started originally. I don't trust to take this car on a trip. It only has about 68000 miles on it but I have lost faith in it. What if my daughter or my wife were driving it and this happened. I can't imagine.

- Clemmons, NC, USA

problem #988

Dec 052019

Focus

  • miles
Had to have 4 or 5 different transmission services done under warranty to resolve harsh shifting, erratic shifting, bucking etc. Inluding total clutch rebuilds, software flashes, and total tcm replacement and the issue is still not resolved.

- Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA

problem #987

Feb 112016

Focus

  • 2,000 miles
The vehicle shutters when shifting gears at low speed. Occasionally the transmission will hesitate when taken out of park into drive. The transmission over heated within the first year of purchased and towed to dealership.

- Santee, CA, USA

problem #986

Dec 032019

Focus

  • 68,000 miles
Vehicle alert "stop safely now" came on and vehicle depowered while in motion, driving straight on approximately 8/28/2019. Problem repeated multiple times when vehicle was subsequently stopped same day. Similar to problems explained in NHTSA campaign number: 13V-523. In the affected vehicles, a powertrain control module software problem may result in a stall-like condition. Problem repeated itself each time a start was attempted 11/25-12/3/19, while car was parked.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #985

Nov 282019

Focus

  • 103,000 miles
Took Ford Focus to an estimator at the Ford dealership taylor Ford and reported a major transmission issue. They stated its a fee in advance and it is only looking into one issue called module only the rest would be on us including fee to have this issue/ recall looked at. Now we have no trans and have been told this is a real and yet concealed issue by Ford and all their employees ? what the heck, we were almost killed on thanksgiving and vehicle we were riding in would not shift.

- Romulus, MI, USA

problem #984

Nov 062019

Focus

  • 40,000 miles
Transmission slips from 1st gear to 2nd creating a dangerous jerky acceleration. It has almost got me rear ended. In traffic I was accelerating and it wouldn't short into second correctly. When it did it sent me jerking forward when traffic was stopping forcing me to hit the brakes hard and created a chain reaction which the car behind me nearly hit me. I was sent a notice stating it's a known issue and Ford would fix it at no cost. When I bring it in they are refusing to fix it because of its branded title. The NHTSA needs to make this a mandatory safety recall so Ford will be forced to fix this known issue so they can stop weaseling their way out of repairs that endanger customers safety.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #983

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

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