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:
23 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
12 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,541 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 a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at 20 mph, the vehicle started hesitating when the accelerator pedal was applied. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to local dealer West herr Ford (5025 camp rd, hamburg, NY 14075, (716) 649-5701 multiple times, where it was diagnosed but no failure was detected. The contact stated that the vehicle continued with the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the vehicle was shaking violently. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact slowed down but was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to capital Ford services dealer (2805 E millbrook rd, raleigh, nc 27604, (877) 660-1721), where diagnostic testing determined that the failure was the clutch seal was leaking and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact also stated that while driving, the fuel gauge failed to provide the accurate reading causing the contact to run out of fuel. The contact also stated that when the vehicle was idling it would stall. In addition, the vehicle would accelerate and decelerate independently. The vehicle was taken to R D sawyer motor co dealer (404 is-64, manteo, nc 27954, (252) 473-2141) where it was advised to keep the tank half full. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number: 17794117. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Car experiences severe shuddering, lurching, and skipping when accelerating from a stop. Does not matter if it is accelerating slowly or quickly. It shudders when switching gears well driving. Very persistent when leaving stoplights. Purchased car in February 2015 and it has had this issue since shortly after purchase. Has been in twice for service. First time they said it was normal. When it progressed into a more severe issue they told me to trade it in for a new car.
Car has stalled six times in one week transmission has shift to neutral while in drive when car stalls have to pull to side of road and put in park and restart transmission shudders no power very dangerous situation almost rear -ended by truck an engine malfunction service now message will display on message screen yesterday was by far the worst day engine dies pull to side of road put in park restart put in drive like it was in neutral turn car off restart put in drive very little power to transmission pull back over to side of road restart put in drive had power to transmission.will park vehicle until situation is resoved
- Strunk, KY, USA
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Car stops accelerating at roughly 25 mph despite continuous pressure on gas pedal. Only to get the car moving again was to bring the car to a complete stop and then press gas pedal again only to have the problem repeat. The clutch system on this care and the related software was replaced 6 weeks ago. This is a absolute safety hazard. Please help as this is a widely known issue and the manufacturer is unwilling to respond to the matter. The repair cost for new clutch is $1,000 + each time.
Transmission shudders upon acceleration from a stop or from a slow speed. Repairs were made under warranty a few times. Issue has returned but Ford is saying car is out of warranty so we must pay for repairs. There is a recall 14M01 that extends warranty on transmission for our year, make, model, symptom, and transmission but Ford says our VIN is not included. They cannot tell me why it's not included, just that it is not. Car has 51,000 miles on it, and requires its 4th transmission repair. Dealership has told us that our car has same problem with transmission that many Ford focuses have.
When driving down the highway going 70 mph, the door bell started sounding, the check brake fluid read out came on like the car had a major problem electrical. This happened four times thru this past winter 2018/2019. The temperature on the dash was 10 degrees or below every time it happened. Rude awakening on the highway. Also the front wheels will spin when trying to take off from a stop sign on occasion. Like it can't get going. One more thing is going down the highway I've had no power like the car is in neutral when I've had the cruise on. This has happened twice. I don't have exact dates one date was 12/26/2018
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact purchased the vehicle in April of 2019. While accelerating from a stop, the vehicle shuddered. The VIN was excluded from tsb number: 16-0109 and customer satisfaction problem 14M01 # 6. the dealer (northside Ford, 12300 san pedro ave, san antonio, tx 78216, (210) 319-5734) diagnosed that the vehicle needed a new clutch; however, the vehicle was not included in the extended warranty for the clutch and transmission leak. The manufacturer was contacted and agreed with the dealer. The failure mileage was 88,800.
After the recall "repair" my car began exhibiting the issues described in the recall. This system caused my clutch to burn up and now Ford will not repair issue. Stepping on the gas either floods engine or stalls engine. Issue is especially noticed when leaving a stopped state.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving 40 mph, the engine stalled and the transmission fault service warning indicator illuminated. The contact was able to safely park the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to smith Ford (located at 908 E oak St, conway, ar 72032, (501) 329-9881) to be diagnosed, but no failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,914.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 50 mph, the transmission overheated and check engine warning indicators illuminated and the vehicle stalled. A message displayed on the instrument panel, indicating to wait five minutes to restart the vehicle. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, but the mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code or reproduce the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. Joe myers Ford (located at 16634 northwest fwy, houston, tx 77040, (713) 766-3600) was contacted via telephone. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.
We got in the car and turned it on and engine wouldn't turn over. Eventually it started after a couple of turns of the key and check engine light came on. Put shifter in reverse and nothing happened. Acted as if was still in park or neutral. Once in drive hard shifting into second and third gear as it's done in the past. First time the tcm was replaced and second time the clutch was replaced. All within the last six months. This will be the third time with the transmission acting up. This vehicle is unsafe! unfortunately it's the only vehicle I have and is my families transportation. Should be my second complaint. First time was through Ford Motor Company over the phone.
While driving down the highway, the check engine light came on unexpectedly. Shortly thereafter, the car went into limp mode and I lost all power to the wheels. When I tried to accelerate, the engine would rev but would not accelerate. I was forced to pull over on the highway as a result of this transmission failure.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While operating the vehicle in lower gears, it suddenly began to shake and vibrate. The cause of the failure was not determined. Corwin Ford of springfield (3241 S. glenstone ave, springfield, mo) and the manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact indicated that the power train was previously repaired in 2016 and the clutch and control module were replaced; however, the failures continued. The failure mileage was 14,000.
I bought my car with 70,000 miles on it (not from a Ford dealership) about 10 months ago and from day one I noticed a slight shudder when taking off. Now I'm at 86,000 miles and the shuddering is becoming more violent and my car seems to be bogging down frequently and is very slow to take off. After bringing my car to framingham Ford in framingham MA I was told I needed a new clutch but I was not under the extended manufacturer warranty and the fix would be $1,800! the guy I spoke with at the Ford dealership told me to call Ford and tell them the situation because this is an very common problem that Ford is well aware of. I called Ford and spoke with a woman that told me there is nothing they can do for me and I should keep my receipts from any future fixes for the transmission and hope that Ford sends out refunds.
Vehicle stalls as if it has lost power. Engine light active. Transmission affected due to vehicle not accurately shifting gears (I.e. drive to reverse or vice versa)
I own a a 2014 Ford Focus. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle shuddered and shook violently. When shifting between first and second gears, there was an abnormal vibration in the vehicle. On several occasions, when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle over and under accelerated and then hesitated. The dealer diagnosed that the manual clutch, power train control module, and transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the total costs is $1,590. The Ford dealership did not contact the manufacturer to make them aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While operating the vehicle, the engine randomly shuddered and hesitated. The vehicle was taken to village Ford (23535 Michigan ave, dearborn, mi) where it was diagnosed that the power train control module was faulty and needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was 29,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle shuddered when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Also, the fuel gauge failed to display the correct fuel level. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact called lafontaine Ford of birch run (11661 N beyer rd, birch run, mi 48415, (989) 652-6157) and was informed to have the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 108,980.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Buffalo, NY, USA