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.
The contact owns 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, while shifting from first to second gear, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the clutch release bearing, and the master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V169000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving 35-40 MPH, the vehicle decelerated and would not exceed 5 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the nearby residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the TCM was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was jerking and hesitated to respond while driving from a complete stop. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was test-driven and diagnosed that the failure was related to Ford Campaign Number: 19N08 and the clutch assembly needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the Service Campaign had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they had sent a notice of Ford Campaign Number: 19N08 in 2019; however, the contact stated that the notice was sent to the previous owner as she became the owner of the vehicle after the warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that on several occasions, the transmission would shudder while depressing of the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be serviced under an unknown recall; however, the failure returned after the repair. The contact stated that after the initial failure, the vehicle was repaired four separate times, all related to the same failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered while coming to a complete stop. Additionally, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate from a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the transmission clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was included in Customer Satisfaction Program: 19N08 (Transmission Clutch Shudder - Transmission Clutch Warranty Extension) however, the warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after a jumpstart and stated that she was unable to shift into reverse(R). No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission control module (TCM) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the battery and the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact also stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was jerking and while coming to a stop at a stop signal, the vehicle was stalling. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.
- Columbia, PA, USA
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The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle sputtered upon depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the clutch was replaced; however, the failure recurred two years later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the clutch was replaced for a second time; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified and advised the contact to take the vehicle for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the repair would be covered if the failure was related to the TCM. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the vehicle remained stuck into neutral(N). The vehicle was pushed with assistance. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer, where a repair was completed for the TCM failure; however, the failure reoccurred several times. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission was slipping in and out of gear. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, where it was diagnosed that the TCM had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V523000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
My daughter purchased a 2014 Ford Focus in August of 2021 with roughly 35,000 miles. She was starting college as a full time student and needed a dependable vehicle.....which she DID NOT get. Zeck Ford in Itasca, Tx is where this was purchased and they KNEW of the issue regarding the TCM in this particular vehicle. This vehicle should have never been on that lot for sale. Ford recently closed this dealership in Feb/March 2023. The car did great till about Spring/Summer of 2022. It suddenly started jerking and check engine light would come on. It appeared it was possibly a loose cable...it was not. It drove fine till Oct of 2022 and again did the same thing. Contacted local dealership and we were THEN told of the issue with the TCM. We were also told all we could do was wait untill it acted up again bring it in to the dealership so that they could open a ticket. Well it never acted up in proximity to a dealership. It happened again in Dec of 2022. This time with the rmps revving up so far the vehicle would not drive and she had to have it towed paying out of her pocket. Today, April 3, 2023 she was on her way to school and it stalled on her TWICE going down the interstate. My husband and I had to go get her and he somehow managed to get it back to our house. She did purchase an extended warranty but they helps none in this situation. At this point we were at a loss of what to do. The dealership that has been trying to help us has informed us numerous times that they have not received the TCM part in their dealership in 2 YEARS!!!!! They currently have 2 identical vehicles like my daughters on their lot that DO NOT DRIVE due to this issue and have been sitting there for almost a year. I have reached out to Ford to no avail. Ford and ALL ford dealerships knew of this issue in Feb 2017 but continued selling this vehicle.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shuddering, and the transmission was slipping. The contact stated that the failure occurred on several occasions. Additionally, the contact stated that upon shifting from park(P) to drive(D), the vehicle hesitated. The contact turned the vehicle off, and the vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module (TCM) needed to be replaced. The part was replaced; however, the dealer diagnosed that the clutch also needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the warranty had expired and advised to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
The contact's mother-in-law owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle was shuddering and hesitated while responding. The contact's mother-in-law was able to continue driving; however, the failure reoccurred, and the transmission was slipping while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the transmission clutch was replaced twice within a year and two months; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the transmission control module (TCM) was replaced and reprogrammed, and the transmission clutch position was adjusted under warranty. Additionally, the vehicle was test-driven; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch needed to be replaced at the owner's expense as the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift gear as needed or accelerate properly. The contact stated that the vehicle was losing motive power and stalling while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to side of the road and turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 56,161.
Transmission on these fords are bad!!!!not only me but everyone I know with a ford focus has had some issue with their transmission. My car has spontaneously stopped driving while kids in car. Transmission fault service light and engine light will immediately come on when car starts or it will give you about 1 mile to drive before it shuts car down. Recently dealership -??fixed recalls-?? fuel tank. It is not fixed. I also believe it is the reason my transmission fault come on. I have had the car since April 2022 drove for a few month ran out of gas, because I believed it was wrong because it always is ultimately I only ran out of gas. Since that day I-??ve had major issues. The transmission light was never on until a few months ago, it did use to stall when attempting to start. It would show up spontaneously and once it happens there is nothing you can do. It is very dangerous! I have gotten recalls -??fixed-?? drove the vehicle for 2hours the miles to empty were still reading wrong, dealership said give it a few miles. It never changed, it is still wrong I-??m pretty sure this issue of the fuel tank has brought on transmission issues that are very alarming and costly. The dealership did not successfully fix the issue with the fuel tank because of the obvious of the miles to empty, also engine light came back on, and ultimately did shut the car back down.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would not properly accelerate. While attempting the accelerate from being stationary, the vehicle would not immediately accelerate. The cause of the failure was not yet available. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was available. The failure mileage was 130,000.
The transmission slips and shudders, when taking off from stop, also when driven a long distance transmission with slip and shudder. Yes it is available for inspection upon request Safety is that could be rear ended causing severe injury to myself or other driver. No the vehicle has not been inspected No warning lights
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle started to shudder. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission clutch to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure for a second time in May 2022. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to a second local dealer, Ed Morse Ford Lebanon (260 W Elm St, Lebanon, MO 65536: 417-532-3146) and was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly shift into neutral, causing the contact to pull over and wait until the failure was self-corrected. The transmission failure warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that for the past three months the vehicle remained inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clutch assembly failed and needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated after placing the vehicle into drive(D) and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would hesitate and shudder and eventually begin to gain forward momentum. The contact stated that once the vehicle went through all the gears, at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle would operate normally. However, the contact stated that once the speed was lowered, he would depress the accelerator pedal and the vehicle would hesitate and shudder. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had become a constant failure and would occur at various speeds. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Transmission Control Module and the transmission clutches needed to be replaced. The contact was informed by the dealer that there were two manufacturer Customer Satisfaction Programs Numbers: 14M02 (Power Train) and 19N08 (Power Train) had been issued but that the warranty coverage period had been exceeded. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000.
The contact's wife owns a 2014 Ford focus. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 65 MPH, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle was jerking. The vehicle then decelerated to 5 MPH with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's wife veered to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. Upon restarting the vehicle, the failure persisted, and the vehicle would not exceed 20 MPH while driving. The contact's wife was able to drive to her destination. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module (TCM) needed to be replaced. The independent mechanic related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 14M02. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the part was on back order for 16 months. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 19,972.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Beacon, NY, USA