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.
Transmission doe not shift gears properly. Car bucks and lurches on starting and feels like it is about to stall. Dealer does not seem to have proper remedy
I purchased my new 2014 Ford Focus in February 2015 with less than 100 miles on it. Drove the car for 5 months with no issues, then in June I noticed a terrible shudder when accelerating from a stop sign. The car jumps and then shudders when taking off from stop. It makes a grinding noise while trying to get in gear and take off. I have taken the car back to the originating dealership twice, so far. I am currently in the process of waiting on a part from Ford to correct this issue. Per Ford, they are applying clutches to the transmission to resolve this recurring problem. The car, in my opinion, is extremely dangerous to drive and very embarrassing to myself on the road. I have owned several different makes and models of vehicles in my life but have never dealt with anything so frustrating as this with any of the cars. This is the first Ford that I've purchased and I am a very unsatisfied customer, to say the least. If the part/clutch doesn't fix the problem, I will be filing a lemon law suit against Ford.
Transmission has issues w/the clutch. Has been taken 2 the dealer now 4X's since purchase in Jan. '15. Has a constant shudder/jerk when taking off from a stop; daughter has never driven a stick so she is not familiar & says she feels like car is about to die. Every time we take to dealer all they say is "all we can do is reprogram the transmission"; car is getting worse. She basically has to slam on gas pedal sometimes to get it to go. Car is dangerous, and is in a stationary motion when this is happening.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While at a complete stop, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle jerked and hesitated without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions when the contact accelerated from a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer on two other occasions to be reprogrammed; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.
The automatic transmission and clutch shifts irregularly and "stutters" on starts and occaisonally when driving at relatively constant speeds. Accelleration is uneven when it does this and the performance is hard to predict. This makes merging onto freeways, entering cross traffic, and other time/performance critical maneuvers uncertain. The car has been seerviced three times for this issue and has had the transnmissionb reprogrammed twice and a clutch is on order.
- Charlotte, NC, USA
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My car is having a clutch issue. The dealership has confirmed the problem, reports I am on a list for a fix, but the parts are on back order. They have stated that currently, they are fixing (though not always successfully) issues diagnosed in May. Dealer reports they cannot state the current problem (that I cannot get fixed timely) will not impact the car/car's performance long term. The car jerks and lurches when shifting gears. I would compare it to a person trying to drive stick shift for the first time or learning but it is an automatic car. It happens a lot, when in motion. I have gotten stuck in reverse and have not been able to move when in reverse. The jerking issues feel like I am getting whiplash.
I purchased my 2014 Ford focuse SE hb in February of 2015. Around 13,000 miles the car began erratically shifting in second and third gear while driving. Having trouble stopping and going again at stop lights. After waiting 8 weeks to get a "new" clutch, the next day the car was grinding horribly when turning. Took it back in and they said it was "fixed" now. The car is still having shifting problems and drives very hard on both city and highway. I have noticed the car lunging forward when attempting to stop, making me very uneasy for my safety in this vehicle. When I asked them to fix it again they said there was nothing they could do, that they didn't see anything wrong with the car.
From a stop the vehicle has a major problem with acceleration 0-30 seems to be where it's at. The vehicle shudders, revs rpms, de-accelerates, slow to accelerate to speed, and has a metal grinding sound on acceleration. This is not once or twice this is every time that the car has to slow down and pick back up speed. I am afraid to pull out into traffic B/C I don't know that my car will make it up to speed fast enough to not get me rear-ended. The car shakes like it's going to fall apart when we accelerate and almost feels like it doesn't want to go into gear. This is the second Ford vehicle that this has happened to my first was a 2012 that had a recall Ford wouldn't honor until the part broke and left me stranded on a bridge on my way home from work at night. This is a 2014 that I'm afraid to drive around in with me child B/C it feels as if the car is going to drop my transmission in the middle of the road. I'm also reading that it has problems braking with this acceleration issue and will jolt out into traffic at a stop light. This is from every stop getting ready to accelerate again. My car only has maybe 10,500 miles on it and I've only had it maybe 8 months. Ford says they will keep fixing it if it breaks under warranty, but my warranty is only so long then I have to pay for Ford' mess up out of my pocket. I don't have that kind of money.
My 2014 Ford Focus began lurching, shuddering and stalling a few months after I bought it in October 2014. I took it to the dealership and it was fixed. Ford even extended the warranty on certain transmission parts to 100,000 miles. The problems have come back, and for four months I've called my dealership to get this fixed. Every time they tell me that Ford will not send parts to dealers so they can't fix the problem. These transmission problems are rampant with the automatic dual clutch transmissions Ford installed in focuses and fiestas, and it's time for a recall. These are dangerous problems, and Ford has chosen to remain silent and refuse to provide solutions.
Please assist with investigating the Ford dsp6 automatic transmission installed in the Focus and fiesta. This transmission is unsafe for operation. Defects can cause lose of power while accelerating, delayed shifting with grinding and shuddering, slipping into neutral, and surging/ difficult to control at low speeds. Ford is well aware of this issue and has offered several "bandaids" none of which has permanently corrected the issue. The transmission suffers from poor driveability and electrical issues. I am afraid that the delay in acceleration/ shudder/ powertrain stumble will cause an accident one day. I had my clutch replaced under warranty however the symptoms have returned. Ford has been less than responsive to its customers, dealer can be difficult to work with as the issues are not always immediately reproducible. This is a major issue that will unfortunately cause someone to lose their life. Please hear the warnings from concerned dps6 owners and immediately open an investigation.
Shifting issues with the 6speed automatic transmission. Car shifting is erratic when starting from a stop, or traveling in a highway condition. Car revs, shutters and stutters. It is very unsafe. I contacted dealership and was told they know about it, but I cannot get my car serviced until 6 months from now. It seems that this issue is getting worse, and while I wait to address issue, I fear that more damage is happening to my vehicle. I may impact more parts on my new car that will cost me money, or worse it will result in a transmission failure which will leave me stranded where I am concerned for my safety, or the safety of a family member. This has been ongoing and increasing since August 2015
When the car accelerates from a stop, the car shudders and vibrates and has a rattling noise. I have taken this car three times for this problem. The Ford dealer has told me that there is a problem with the Focus. They told me that it's an automatic with a manual transmission.
When taking off from a stop, the car feels like its slipping, jumping and jerking. Making it scary to pull out when traffic is coming. Three service managers at three dealerships have all said its the transmission design and that Ford is aware of the problem but doesn't have a fix other than to replace the clutches in the automatic transmission approximately every 12,000 to 15,000 miles
Shudder in first to second gear losing power with engine or transmission; loss of speed and shaking and no accerlation from stop to start; loss of power and auto jumps up and down without going anywhere.
Purchased a 2014 Ford Focus in August 2015, for our daughter who is currently away to college. She states that the car "shudders" all the time when being driven. As a parent this is a huge concern, I investigated the Ford Focus and it didn't take long at all to determine that there are several thousand others in the same condition, as stated earlier our daughter is away at college so it is impossible for us to take care of this situation now. This is very dangerous as several complaints reports state the car loses excelleration and will stall when being driven. Please please help before something really bad happens !!!!!!!!! from what I'm reading Ford is refusing to take action, also reported this to simmons/rocwell where we purchased the car and they stated that other Ford Focus cars that were purchased had tests ran and "no issues" we're determined yet they all reported to have the exact same complaints!!!! I need help as to where do we go from here !!
Vehicle quit accelerating while trying to make a turn into oncoming traffic. Engine didn't die but coasted for 2-4 seconds. Severe transmission shudder and grinding in separate incidents. Has been to dealer 4 times and they can't determine the problem.
2014 Ford Focus SE with 6 speed automatic dual clutch (ddg) transmission, vehicle is 15 months old with approximately 16,600 miles on it. The transmission has developed severe shuddering hesitation and clunking especially in low gears at low speeds. Vehicle acceleration is unpredictable at low speeds and may pose a safety hazard due to loss of power or possible unintended acceleration. Vehicle has been serviced by the original selling dealership numerous times under warranty with no positive outcomes. Dealership has recommended that the transmission be removed from the vehicle and serviced internally, but they state they have not been able to furnish the appropriate replacement parts for over a month.
Vehicle transmission shakes, shudders, or pulses on initial acceleration within city traffic. Misses shifts causing car to surge or hesitate in traffic. Two software updates and replacement of clutch assembly reduced but did not eliminate the issue. Drivability is extremely poor and unpredictable particularly in stop and go traffic.
Takata recall. I have a 2014 Ford Focus bought may of 14, today I was driving down road my check engine light came on & my transmission stopped pulling. Put it on computer at auto zone it says clutch sensor. Won't even go in gear now. I have 73,000 miles 13,000 past warranty. I am not happy. Also my drivers seatbelt sometimes won't latch.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Raleigh, NC, USA