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. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle overheated and the transmission indicator illuminated. The failure recurred two more times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission computer failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.
The car stutters to start moving. The transmission is stuck. It takes a lot of RPM to get the car moving from a stop or start. I have had an episode where the car accelerated on it's own. Took it to the dealership they are aware of the stuttering and are doing nothing for that. They can find no reason my car took of on its own. I feel that the defect in the transmission they know about. And will do nothing about it. I am just getting frustrating why they won't discuss the transmission issue. Thank you.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stuttered. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed. It was diagnosed that the transmission module and clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that, despite the warranty, the contact would be responsible for the repair cost. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000.
Any time I am stopped and start going my car shutters and jerks before it finally catches gear. When I hit the gas it takes about 5-10 seconds before my car will finally start going. Ford says this is normal with this type of clutch and keeps blowing me off
- Marble Falls, TX, USA
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The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While turning at a traffic light, the contact's vehicle stalled and caused a front end collision with another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained minor injuries, which did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch and the tie rod needed to be replaced. Prior to the crash, the clutch was replaced five times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicles shifted into another gear on multiple occasions without warning. It was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.
Transmission: The vehicle has been stuttering and then unexpectedly jumping forward when pressing the accelerator since about 1,500 miles. It's been getting continuously worse since. The first incident that truly endangered my safety was when I was pulling out from a 3-way stop, it almost stalled in front of incoming traffic, then suddenly propelled forward into a gas station curb & blew out my tire. The second incident, which is why I'm filing this report, was with my 2 daughters in the car, leaving a stop light at a highway intersection. It was raining, and I was trying to get up to the 55mph speed limit but the car kept chugging and stuttering. Other vehicles were going around me as my speed slowly climbed, & at almost 50 mph the car suddenly accelerated and, despite tapping my brakes, continued to do so until it hit 65 mph. I was surrounded by other vehicles, and pressed the brake harder to avoid hitting the line of cars in front of me, to the left of me, or having to swerve into the ditch on my right at this high rate of speed, because tapping the brakes cautiously was having effect on the cars acceleration. When it stopped quickly accelerating, it continued to stutter, but seemed to level off at my chosen speed. Since then, its continued to stutter and chug and jump forward almost every time I accelerate, whether from a complete stop or to go faster than my current speed. It's terrifying.
Good afternoon, my family and I have a 2 year old 2014 Ford Focus that we bought brand new off the lot to avoid the problems associated with used cars. 2 weeks ago in the middle of the highway the vehicle began to shudder and lose power and then eventually turned off while in motion. We had the vehicle towed to the dealership and quickly began to try and figure out what is going on. A quick google search revealed we were not the only ones. Experiencing this issue. There appears to be a major issue with the Focus transmission. The dealership state they can find nothing wrong with the car and suggested we drive more aggressively to solve the problem. Immediately we contacted Ford Motor Company as this is clearly a bigger issue than just my car. Fmc states there is nothing they can do because they can't prove that anything happened and there are no codes. No codes=no problem. They have refused to investigate any further. Then next time my car stops could be in front of another car and can kill someone. Ford is refusing to do anything to rectify the issue and is putting my family and many other family's lives in danger. Please help me. Do a search online about the Focus and you will see that I am not the only one. Please. I am scared to drive my own car but I do not feel safe. It lurches forward, stops responding and shudders.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the transmission slipped and caused the vehicle to hesitate before accelerating. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission module and clutch were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 50,000.
Low tire pressure light appears every two to three weeks. At least one tire needs to be inflated, sometimes more than one tire needs to be inflated. The Ford dealer inflates them usually. Tire pro has also inflated tires. Ford doesn't tell me what problem is, they just keep inflating the tires. Light appears when vehicle is being driven on a city street, highway, turning and stationary. Also, vehicle shudders on acceleration from the moment I purchased vehicle. Took vehicle to Ford service department. Vehicle doesn't shudder as bad as before but still has issue.
I would like to file a complaint about a defective transmission control module for my 2014 Ford Focus. I have had it worked on or replaced three times, and am still experiencing issues. After replacement, the transmission control is very sluggish, and then it starts experiencing substantial clutch shudder (shaking with shifting) within a few thousand miles. This has happened every time, and the dealership has not proposed any alternative solutions. I see there is a class action suit about this, and also a recall. Attempting to find out what the next steps should be to resolve this safety issue.
My transmission shudders, does not shift properly, hesitates to go, and jerks while shifting. I took it to mt dealership and they said that this is within the specs of Ford recent repair to the transmission which was recalled. I have taken my car to the dealership several times for this issue and have gotten nowhere! this issue started in April of 2014 and has continued even after the recall repair.
Automatic transmission shutters when starting from a standing stop and when advancing through the gears. Vehicle will drift forward or backward when setting on a slope after releasing the brake but before applying the accelerator. This is supposed to be an automatic transmission but is very dangerous. Dealer refuses to fix the car under warranty.
My vehicle has only 57K miles and the vehicle flutters when accelerating from a stopped position. It does not speed up normally. I fear that when switching lanes or leaving a stop sign/red light I could possibly get rear ended due to the car not speeding up like it should. It shakes and rattles when trying to take off as if it doesn't want to go anywhere. While depressing gas pedal is also makes a loud noise. When on highway, it won't speed up at times or it goes way below speed limits. Cars honk their horns at me as it appears that im not trying to go anywhere. It's been happening since I purchased the vehicle 09/2016.
This a copy of thecomplaint I filed with Ford who responded I should bring it back for service for the 6th time. Hi catherine, #1 when I spoke to your customer relationship center on Wednesday I told daniel who answered the call that I had the car to bill currie Ford 3 times and to parks Ford in wesley chapel twice. He said all he needed was the last place we took it to which I told him parks of wesley chapel. I never even heard of parks Lincoln tampa #2 no the car is not there at the it is in my possession at the moment. #3 the reason as you may well know already is the shifting problem that has been going on for some years in the Ford Focus. This past new years eve with were almost broadsided trying to cross a 6 lane intersection which was the final straw. Here is the history of the car which we acquired on Feb 26th 2015 brand new 5/7 at bill currie Ford re-calibrated transmission a few months later took it to parks Ford, they said they tested and could find anything wrong did not receive a statement but they must have it on record 1/5/16 bill currie Ford said they reprogrammed the clutch 2/18/16 bill currie Ford said they installed new clutch 9/19/16 parks Ford said they tested car and found nothing wrong. 12/31/16 almost got killed because car would not shift correctly.
The vehicle le transmission slips during takeoff from a stop. The vehicle lunges forward then feels like it will stall. Attempts to change driving habits has no effect. It feels unsafe when trying to turn from a stop. This occurred mostly during city driving in all weather conditions. It has also happened while accelerating during merging into freeway traffic.
Since new, this car surges, jumps, and stalls for several seconds when starting from stop. It does not do it all the time but occasionally. This is especially dangerous when entering fast moving highway traffic. The car has stalled several times in the last 3 years almost causing an accident when entering fast moving traffic from a stopped position. I believe several models of the 2014 Ford have this problem. It definitely has a transmission problem but I believe there may also be a fuel problem, perhaps the fuel pump. It is just a matter of time before this problem kills someone. Can"T we require Ford to fix this problem? I have had this car in two different dealerships trying to get it fixed on several occasions. One Ford employee told me that Ford would only fix the transmission if it is making a loud grinding metallic sound. I had the car tested at one dealership and they said the transmission failed their test and they would repair it. I left the car with them for several days and when I came to pick it up they said it had passed their test this time and they would not repair the transmission. The employee that had told me they would fix my car was no longer with them. I am not sure of the exact dates when the car stalled almost causing an accident so I will give you my best estimate on your form. As an individual, I obviously have no power to require Ford to do what is right and fix my car. You are the only entity with this power. Won?T you please require Ford Motor Company to fix this problem before someone is killed" thank you for your assistance. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The transmission causes the car to shudder and jerk on acceleration, and has caused a miss-shift while turning left, shifting into a high gear and stalling in on coming traffic multiple times. The transmission has been replaced twice, with the same faulty design, and is failing a third time with 50,000 miles. Car was bought brand new
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Virginia Beach, VA, USA