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 that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked. In addition, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact had to apply force to the accelerator pedal in order for the vehicle to move forward. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 24,000.
I purchased this vehicle new in October 2013 from a local dealer. It was not disclosed to me at the time of purchased that the transmissions on this car was one that was experiencing problems and was a known fact by Ford Motor Co. I started experiencing issues with my transmission a few months ago that have progressively gotten worse: Jerking, noises, not properly shifting, lurching forward, stalling. I have recently learned that this problem has been present in the Ford fiesta and Focus models for a few years. I took the car into the dealer service department, only to find out what I already suspected, that I need a new clutch. One was ordered but I was given my car with the defective clutch to drive until the new clutch comes in (4-6 weeks estimate). I feel cheated and unsafe. Big corporate wins again. Consumers are out on a limb. I have filed a complaint with Ford Motor Co.
Within the first 6 months/8,000 miles, I noticed a hesitation when I attempted to accelerate from a stop. I'd step on the gas and nothing would happen; then suddenly I'd be spitting gravel or leaving rubber on the road. I knew the problem was with the car and not my driving. By 12 months/12,000 miles, I started getting a "clutch shudder, " mostly when accelerating around corners. The shuddering continued to get worse. Soon, it was happening even when accelerating straight ahead. Now the shudder and/or hesitation has been happening at higher speeds (around 45 mph) and/or in higher gears. This problem has been ongoing and getting worse for over a year, so I do not have a specific date.
Multiple dates of incident, the one listed below is the most recent. Vehicle shudders, jerks, and shakes while in motion, often on streets, sometimes on highways. Can occur when either going forward, backward, or making a turn. Sometimes jumps forward when first placing foot on gas (rather than smoothly accelerating) and has twice stalled out while driving. Have brought it to the dealer's service station four times, and each time has had it "adjusted" only to have problem return. Have contacted Ford customer care, been referred to Ford regional manager, and told, based on our service history, we don't meet company "guidelines" for a buyback or replacement. Was told he could not legally tell me what those "guidelines" are. This is playing with public safety. Did not use vehicle for over three weeks, tried it yesterday, same problem. It is back at the dealer for servicing but was told they might not "get to me" for a few weeks. Useless as a safe mode of transportation.
- Mahopac, NY, USA
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Car stopped driving on interstate 66 no power though engine was running this was only two weeks after having a new clutch for juddering and shaking and jumping forward this incident was life threatening
This is new accident that occurred. This car was purchased and driving home started loosing power, shifting hard, not accelerating, jerking, the transmission seams to want to fall apart, shuttering, banging. I was almost hit when the power cut out on highway. Then when I get in city, the transmission again lost power, and I was almost hit, car had to swerve, then jolted and skipped in intersection. I immediately took it to Ford dealer, they said it was normal and were extremely rude and negative. I took it to a second for dealer and they informed me that there were open recalls and they reprogrammed the transmission and that the vehicle needed new clutches. They said they will order and it could take several months. The reprogramming made the vehicle significantly worse. Unsafe. I contacted the dealer again, they said it was nothing they could do until they get the part. I contacted Ford manufacture. They informed me they will contact the dealer. It has been two months and the dealer, I have contacted the dealer 13 times and they inform me it would be several more months, I contact Ford manufacture and they said that what there telling me is incorrect and they will call them. Again, months into driving and unsafe car, that they know is unsafe, two dealers and Ford involved I cannot get any help even when they say the car is broken. So I'm driving this vehicle at low speed three days ago, turing left, in rain and gravel and the the transmission sputter, loses power, then jolts and skips into the curb. Damaging my rim, tire was scraped and made my alignment worse. I called cspd to file police report and no other property or curb damage they do not come out. This again scared me and I sold the car last night because it is dangerous to drive and I could not get for to fix it. Loosing significant monetary taxes, fees, price.
Driving downhill at approximately 50-60 mph near payson, AZ, the transmission suddenly revved to 5000 RPM and my acceleration was limited. I had to slow down significantly before the transmission reached the correct gear. The car also shudders and the transmission is unpredictable and jumpy at slow speeds (driving through parking lots and residential areas). Acceleration is often delayed and jerky. This issue has become progressively worse over time. A google search for "2014 Ford Focus transmission issues" reveals numerous complaints and media coverage of this ongoing issue. Please force Ford to recall these defective transmissions.
Vehicle had a recall on the transmission control panel. It was reset by Ford dealer in champaign. Not long after pulling into a drive way heard a loud pop and gas and break would not work. Had to have towed to Ford, and they ended up ordering a replacement part. They then replaced the transmission control panel. I am still having issues and my car is only 13 months old. When I am at a stop sign and press the gas the car starts kicking before it will take off. The car makes grinding sounds and the gear needle is unstable (tachometer). The problem has not been fixed I have a follow-up appointment but they keep telling me it's fine and I have to drive it 1,000 miles before I will know if problem is fixed. There is a lawsuit going on and appears to be a dangerous problem and do not want to risk getting hurt/accident over this.
This vehicle shudders and stalls out on the road. Will do it while running, while being stopped, while taking off or even while driving. It has done it on the highway, interstate, side streets everywhere. It has happened over and over again and Ford will has changed the dual clutch once and have it scheduled to change again. This car is very dangerous. Ford customer service will not answer phone calls.
Car jerks and shakes. Especially when taking off or on turning vehicle jerks badly. I understand that is when automatic transmission is trying to shift gears. I have had the clutch replaced once already. This causes a huge danger to me because if I would like to try to make a left turn in front of traffic I never know if my car will go or resist. Sons days are so bad that I just give up driving because it feels as if my car will stall. This is not what you expect a car that you've bought new and paid thousands of dollars on to run like daily. Dealership, today, says it's fine. Initial issues date back to August 2014.
2014 Ford Focus with auto transmission. This problem started from day 1 when I bought it and continues to present. Car shudders under slow acceleration - like from a stop or slowly going over speed bumps or after making a turn or going slow in school zone or going slow in any speed restricted area. It is almost like someone that is learning how to start out from a stop with a manual transmission (feels like gas, brake, gas, brake, gas brake).
This car's transmission is nothing but trouble. It gets stuck in gear at times where I try to get going from a stop. Dangerous at times as I have gotten stuck trying to pull out into an intersection which has been scary. I have also gotten stuck in reverse. This car shutters in stop and go traffic, and has overheated in traffic as well causing me to pull over. I'm fed up and would dig more into it but I don't have the time or money to do so which is frustrating as I am making payments on this vehicle.
Had the car since August 2014 and over past few months (currently at 19K miles) it experiences a very bad "stutter" in acceleration at low speeds, from a stop, and/or in stop and go traffic. Vehicle does not accelerate at first when pressing the gas, and you can feel it stutter several times before the engine power is applied to the transmission and the car starts to go. This is very dangerous.
Auto has been shuttering, sometimes lounging, and slow acceleration. Took car for regular maintenance and reported it. Dealer said they would be extending my warranty as this is a know problem. (I know 4 different people with similar issue). After taking car in for service, the diagnosis was bad clutch assembly. Next day received call saying Ford motor is saying this is not a covered car for this issue, even though it the same issue many others have reported. Currently driving a car that could be dangerous as it is not consist on acceleration.
Transmission shudders, lurches, stalls, fails to shift, will take off, and then suddenly stop in traffic. Currently 31,000 miles, issues began with 15,000 miles. In first second and third gear, the car will either shudder or lurch out suddenly no matter the speed. At times it will lunge forward and come to a stop while trying to upshift, suddenly, in the middle of intersections and at stop signs. This has caused me to nearly rear-end other drivers, and other drivers to nearly rear end me. It has also caused me to come to almost a complete stop in oncoming traffic after leaving a stop sign. You must completely let off the gas, and then slowly accelerate until the car catches a gear and can get moving again. Sometimes this does not always happen soon enough before oncoming traffic reaches me. My car has already been re-programmed, and I'm awaiting an 8-12 week recall for a clutch. Was told by the dealership that this is normal behavior for a manual transmission. I've driven manuals all my life, and they didnt nearly kill me. Before this car, I purchased a 2013 Ford fiesta, it has the same issues. After replacing the clutches failed to fix the safety issues. I traded it on the Focus thinking I had a lemon. Now I'm having the same safety issues as before. I let the dealership know this morning that the car was a definate safety concern, and I got no response. I want this on record in case of an accident that causes injuries. I'm not safe driving this car on the road.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 10 mph up a hill, the vehicle shook violently and lost power without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission chip needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,000.
I have had my car to Ford for my transmission problem 3 times! hesitation/shudder when accelerating. Ford claims this is normal? should not be the case when driving. They will not "fix" the problem. A car should not operate that way with no resolution. My concern is this has a potential of being a safety issue. This car is an automatic. It is difficult operating the car on hills, car rolls backward when accelerating!! car is still new and in warranty.
Vehicle has had a red fluid leak for quite some time. The car has been back to the dealership for this issue many times and currently filing lemon law arbitration. The car has been out of commission for 55 days altogether since it's purchase in January this year due to the fluid leak which seems to be more of coolant than anything else. It is burning oil and or losing it somewhere that isn't visible. It also has had electrical problems with starting as well as the radio clock and presets all resetting after sitting for more than 24 hours. I have had to have the sunroof resales after it had leaked for over two months and the dealership wasn't able to find the leak. The front end makes horrible noises when decelerating. It grinds and whines as if something is about to blow up. I've taken it into the dealer for all of these concerns and only one of them has been resolved fully. I'm very disappointed in my purchase.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Minneapolis, MN, USA