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.
When accelerating from a stop the car jerks and shudderes very hard. I live in a rural area and I need to be able to accelerate. The car did not do this for the first 20,000 miles. I took it to dealer and they supposedly reprogramed transmission. This vehicle now lurches forward and shudders. I drive through many highways I am afraid that car will not accelerate enough to get me through intersections. Please help with this matter.
The clutch in my 2014 Ford Focus has now been replaced 3 times, with the most recent time being this week. I purchased this car in Feb. '14, and it has 30K miles on it. When the clutch needs to be replaced, the car shudders and jolts coming out of first gear, leaving me unsure of whether it will accelerate properly. The vehicle is sluggish when accelerating through the gears, especially when driving up a hill. Once the vehicle maintains a constant speed, the problem is resolved until I stop or slow down. The dealership does not seem to be able to fix the problem. In fact, it just keeps getting worse. The first time that I took the car in to have it inspected for the shuddering (~11K miles; Aug '14), it was displaying problems above 400 RPM. The second time that I took the car in for the same problem (~23K miles, may '15), I had nearly been in an accident in rush hour traffic in atlanta, ga, and the car failed the clutch test at 400 RPM. This last time that I took the car in to be repaired (30K miles, Sept '15), it was failing at 500 RPM. A Ford representative told me that the car is considered unsafe to drive at 550 RPM. Nonetheless, they still left me to drive the car for 3 weeks while I waited on the part to come in and the dealership to have the availability to see me. When I picked the car up from the dealership yesterday for the third clutch to be replaced, I drove ~5 miles and heard a strange noise coming from the front driver's side wheel at all speeds. I immediately informed the dealership, who requested that I bring the car back in to be further inspected. I am awaiting further information about this latest incident.
Previously, due to the transmission shifting into reverse while the gear selector is in "D" drive, I backed into a female pedestrian hitting her and almost running her over. There are still scratches from her rings on my back bumper. Ford has performed numerous tsb's and recalls to "fix" the issue. Upon the most recent tsb and recall update, I was promised it would take care of any issues, including an issue where the vehicle would shudder and search for a gear before engaging and spinning out from a complete stop. After driving it for 30 miles, I noticed the engine running rough, shaking, and slowing down while in idle. I stopped for a refuel. I got back in the vehicle and calculated my mpg's as I always do - only 19mpg, which Ford says is "within spec" as long as it is not more than 8mpg off. (the on board mpg calculator shows 22.7mpg - always incorrect). It should be 26city, 36hwy. I placed the gear selector in "D" drive (as was also referenced in the on board screen). Once pressing the accelerator, the vehicle's in dash screen flashed that I was in "R" reverse and the vehicle lurched backwards. I braked, then the engine revved and went automatically back into "D." I drove 2 blocks, at a speed of 40 mph in "D, " it again switched to "R" revving the engine, then slowed to a stop. I pulled over, turned the engine off and waited before turning it back on. The drive home, it would jump between gears "searching." I let it sit overnight, and today it has not exhibited these actions. I'm uploading a photo showing the car doing 35 in the "R" position with the RPM jumped up to 3500. I was actually going forward. In "R, " car should not go over 20mph. This is evidence that it switched mid "D" drive. Also, the tires are starting to form pits and has a circumference of separation/splitting which dealership said is "fine." This is causing a vibration and whirring noise.
Transmission shudders in first and second gear. Bought my car brand new. At 45,000 miles I had to have the entire transmission and clutch replaced! how is this even possible on a 2 year old vehicle? well, again 6 months later, at 57,000 miles sure enough the transmission is messing up again. This needs to be recalled! more than a recall, this is unsafe. Ford needs to buy back every one of the Focus' effected because there's no way someone could sell this car!. the car grinds, shudders, and stalls.
- Irmo, SC, USA
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Severe shutter when accelerating form a stop. At times the transmission has a long hesitation while accelerating on the freeway to change lanes. Sometimes there is a clunk noise after stopping.
When the car is at a stop, while the vehicle is warm, when you start to take off the vehicle jerks and does not properly engage the transmission. At an intersection or when merging into traffic the vehicle does not respond properly and cause a danger to passengers and all other vehicles on the road
Bought brand new. When accelerating, somewhere between 2nd and 3rd gears it hesitates and shutters and grinds and there is considerable delay in acceleration between 2nd and third gear. It then seems to grab onto a gear and plunge forward. It is an automatically powered manual transmission so I do not shift, it shifts automatically.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving at various speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that a clutch within the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving and at a stop sign or a stop light, the accelerator pedal was depressed and there was an abnormal loud noise coming from the transmission. In addition, the vehicle shook without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the transmission was reprogrammed but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 11,500.
I am aware this vehicle is equipped with a dual clutch automatic transmission, though the behavior of this vehicle is outside the bounds of safety and acceptability. The car acts, at random intervals, like a vehicle with a manual transmission in which the driver "popped" the clutch, to cause the drive wheels to spin in place. This Ford Focus does this, randomly, at traffic lights. I have nearly smashed into the car in front of me four times. Also, at the ripe old age of 18,500 miles, the clutch slips, and will need to be replaced (under warranty). This is covered under warranty, but clearly there is a serious design flaw, creating multiple safety concerns in the transmission of this car. In summary, these are: Randomly revving high and popping the clutch (think drag racers) and premature wear and slipping so bad I am unable to safely merge into traffic. Ford must be held accountable.
Dps6 transmission contains one or more design and/or manufacturing defects that cause problems and unsafe conditions, including, but not limited to, sudden lurches forward, delayed acceleration and sudden loss of forward propulsion from 16 Sep 14 to 25 Aug 15 we brought vehicle 5 times into first Ford fall river, MA service department. After having the vehicle for about 10 months, and numerous car issue appointments, we were told by first Ford technicians that the issues with the car are a result of our driving habits, and gave us instructions on how to drive differently, and to accelerate differently. Those instructions are not possible to follow, because to quickly accelerate is not even possible in stop and go traffic without hitting the vehicle in front of you. And its also not possible to do that in heavy traffic conditions, or speed bumps. Those instructions, along with the problems/defects of the car, have caused it to become a hazard on the road, and we are often just trying to avoid accidents. It is an unsafe vehicle to drive. There were no issues with the vehicle until Jul/aug14, and yet the first Ford technicians tell us that it is completely normal for this type of transmission. According to them, it is completely normal for this car to shudder and feel like it's going to stall, and normal to feel like it's in the wrong gear, and feel like it's not accelerating forward. No one would think that is normal. It's important to state, that the first Ford service manager, handed me the instructions given to service departments, on how to handle customers when they come in with these problems. It is called, ?Ford powershift 6-speed automatic transmission (dps6) service customer handling guide?. handling the customer does not solve the problems with the car. Fmc instructed ff on what to do with the car, but ff ignored it, no call back.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the vehicle jerked forward and intermittently stalled. The dealer informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V514000 (steering). The vehicle was repaired under the recall but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,000.
The 6 speed dual clutch transmission is becoming very troublesome over past 3000 mile.it shudders when taking off and grinds when shifting gears.it sometimes gets lost between gears when shifting down and will lung when it finally catches gear.I do have an appointment with my local Ford dealership in regards to this issue, but everything I have read concerning this problem does not sound to encouraging.sounds like Ford is in denial over this issue but the problem with this transmission has been going on for 5 years. Its time for Ford to do the right thing by either coming up with a permanent fix or recall these cars.
After completing a stop, when pressing gas pedal, car/transmission stutters then jerks forward. I've tried accelerating more slowly and then tried it faster with more gas, but it makes no difference. The car won't accelerate fast enough to safely make turns before oncoming traffic. I've had this new car 11 months.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While the vehicle was parked on a hill, the brake pedal was released and the vehicle rolled backwards. The failure recurred multiple times. While in the stop position, the vehicle started to vibrate. The failure recurred multiple times. While driving approximately 10 mph, the vehicle made a jerking motion and hesitated to accelerate. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000.
Vehicle shakes, shudders on acceleration. Also, bogs down on take off from a stop. This car shakes so bad it knocks coffee out of my cup. Also, pulling out into oncoming traffic is almost impossible. When you put your gas pedal to the floor and get almost no response you fear for your life.
September 10, 2015. 2014 Ford Focus SE. Transmission slipping, grinding, hesitating and making loud noises.very unsafe driving conditions. Had the Ford dealer service department look at it and they made an update to the programming. It was worse after this so I took it back the same day. It was even worse after they worked on it the second time. I ask if I could leave it with them until they could fix it and the service advisor said, "my mechanic says there is nothing wrong with the car so there is nothing I can do. I ask if he had driven the car and he said he did and noticed the issues I was talking about but Ford says that is the nature of this transmission.
While pulling from a stop sign, in the process of the dct transmission shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, the engine speed abruptly jumped to 7,000 RPM as the transmission behaved as if a missed shift had occurred or the clutch was slipping. This was the worst such incident involving many missed or erratic/searching shifts that can be disconcerting or dangerous depending on traffic conditions and situations. Even though I understand the operational characteristics of the Ford Focus dct is different when compared to a traditional automatic transmission, the erratic and anomalous operational performance of this design is poorly executed.
The car is unsafe to drive and it has gotten worse since I purchased it new. As I pulled out into traffic the car suddenly lost power requiring me to quickly push the gas peddle to the floor to avoid getting rear-ended. The car only slightly accelerated, then jerked forward into a hard acceleration and sounded like the engine was going to explode. Even though I know about this behavior, (and try to take steps to avoid scenarios like this), the occurrence of this behavior it is very regular, (several times a week), yet erratic and unpredictable, meaning I can not take measure that guarantee it will not happen, nor should I have to. I have spoken with the dealership about this erratic behavior only to be told it will get better as I drive it as the transmission learns my driving habits and will adapt. I have driven many cars and trucks for over 40 years and have never had a problem driving any type vehicle. I can emphatically state that this transmission has not adapted to anything. At all. My concern is that the more miles I put on the car waiting for it to adapt, as per the dealer, the further away I get from being protected by any type lemon law. My basic complaint is that this car is unsafe to drive because of the transmission and it has gotten worse since I purchased it new in February 2015. And, I am told by Ford to just drive it because this is normal!?!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Myrtle Beach, SC, USA