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.
Ever since around 10,000 miles, my 2014 Ford Focus has been experiencing delayed acceleration and deceleration, grinding noises coming from the transmission, shaking, rough starts, and shuttering. It's caused the vehicle to lurch forward rapidly after not initially accelerating, with a few close calls in traffic. Ford is aware of this problem. I've taken this vehicle in to be serviced, only to have them tell me the part isn't available. It's been 4 months, still waiting. This is unacceptable.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning while driving approximately 40 to 45 mph. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 266. Updated 7/10/15 the consumer was informed the problem was the transmission computer module. However. 100 miles later, the problem occurred again. Updated 05/05/16.
After driving into houston last year, came to a stop light on the tollway. The light turned green, I pressed the accelerator and the engined revved high followed by a metal "clapping/clanking" noise when vehicle changed gears. I took my foot off of the accelerator, but car still accelerated on its own. I ended up running into a curb to keep from hitting other vehicles. The next day, going up a parking garage at 2-5mph, transmission exhibited erratic movement and had a sudden acceleration in reverse (gearshift was in the "drive" slot). A girl was passing behind me and was struck as I was reacting to the sudden change in direction trying to brake. She put her hands out to push herself away and her ring scratched my back bumper and her hand dented in my back license plate. Her hand was turning red and bruised, but she refused to leave her info with me (she looked to be about 15). Service dealers in houston could not "replicate" problem and said this is "normal." After this incident, my highway mpg's have dropped from 35-42mpg to no more than 27mpg. City went from 26-30 to no more than 24mpg. Drove to austin in April, strong hesitation and "stuttering" from a complete or near stop. At highway speeds, it feels jumpy. Vehicle will accelerate on its own between 5-20mph, and 45-55mph. I drive on a college campus where speed is 20mph and I will have to put car into neutral to keep it from accelerating. I took this vehicle to the dealership at around 100 miles - they gave me a printout from Ford showing why this behavior is "normal" and will get better with more mileage. At around 6000 miles at the dealership in houston after injuring someone, they said it was "normal" for this vehicle to exhibit "undesirable conditions" and I just need to further break in the transmission. Now the problem is even worse, and my local dealership says it will take at least 2 weeks in the shop.
I was driving on the freeway at 70mph in fifth gear and something in the engine blew. I started blowing oil and smoke out the rear, "service engine soon" came on, and the oil light came on. I lost all power and power steering, so I made my way to the shoulder. I pulled the hood latch and stepped out of the vehicle. Upon exiting the vehicle I witnessed flames shooting out from underneath the hood in the engine bay. I backed up and watched the front of the car fully engulf into flames.
I have taken the Focus back to the dealer 3 times due to the transmission shuttering, sometimes very violently, no doubt a safety hazard. It still does the same thing. I have been told parts are on order, but not heard back from them in months. These cars should be recalled.....
- Gun Barrel City, TX, USA
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The car has been to the Ford dealership on a number of occasions due to jerky shifting of the transmission at take off, starting around 5,000 miles. The dealership even said on invoice, "operators should read owners manual for characteristics of operation." The car is now around 11,000 and the issue continues to present itself. The dealership has done several "software updates, " with none ever working. They are incapable of handling transmission work at their shop, so we had it towed 120 miles to miami, where the "hardware was upgraded." The car has been back less than two weeks, and now the transmission is acting up again.
When the vehicle comes to a complete stop then when you speed up it jerks 5 to 8 time failing to speed up. The only way it can speed up is if you press the pedal more and try to go faster. Also today 5/6/2015 we were at the interstate and we were in traffic and the car didn't wanted to pick up, only if you press the pedal more then is making the car go faster then I want to go. Is like it doesn't want to go no where. Then on my way back on the interstate I press the pedal and at 30 mph going up the slope I slowed down it did a hard jerk. Other thing I noticed is that when I use the electronic manual shift is delayed making the car go on a high RPM. Car purchase date 5/1/2015 2014 Ford Focus.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving at 62 mph, the vehicle decelerated independently and vibrated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000.
Car unexpectedly hesitates, due to transmission design, when accelerating from a stop. This causes vehicles behind you to rapidly catch up, making a rear impact/accident more likely. Also, this same transmission hesitation causes the inability to accelerate out of harms way when necessary.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to accelerate, lunged forward, and stalled without warning. The contact mentioned that the gears were difficult to change over into second and third gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they replaced a seal within the transmission but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who replaced the clutch but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who replaced the clutch a second time and a fuel vacuum line but the failure recurred. A fourth occasion, the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced a third time, however the part was on back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 16.
I have owned my Ford Focus for about 1 year- it's a 2014 model. I bought the car after I was told it would not have the same problems as my 2012 Ford fiesta, which I traded in for a Focus after having the transmission completely rebuilt because of transmission problems. The dealer who sold me the car had suggested I go to a Ford Focus and told me the transmission was different from my fiesta. He clearly was not honest with me about this issue and now, I have started experiencing the same problems Ford Focus as early as last month; the same issues that led them to rebuild my fiesta transmission, which did not end up fixing the issue. It has begun shaking and grinding when accelerating. It grinds while in motion at speeds below 40 miles per hour. I have been doing research and have been finding that several reports and law suits have been filed with no response. I am filing a complaint in hopes that something will be done about this. It is not ok that these cars are being sold.
The 2014 Ford Focus has a problem with the transmission. It lurches as slow speed of less than 20 mpg and it hunts for a gear when passing other cars (50 to 60 mph). The transmission is two three speed manual transmissions shifted electronically and it does not work. I would imagine there have been accidents because if you are not ready to catch the car when it lurches it will run into other vehicles. I have taken the car back to two different dealerships and neither one of them can fix the problem. What I think needs to happen is Ford needs to get an engineer that understands how to program the transmission and spend some time working with the shift points.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving at various speeds, the engine stalled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,588. Updated 6/4/15 the consumer stated the vehicle would stall, shudder and slip out of gears. Updated 12/17/15.8jb updated 10/11/2017
Vehicle shakes, hesitates, shudders from stop and at slow speeds. Very jerky and inconsistent shifting through the first 2 to 3 gears. Not as apparent at speeds over 25mph.
Within the first few hundred miles I drove the car I noticed that when I was at highway speed and tried to accelerate the car acted like it couldn't get in gear and go. The acceleration was delayed dramatically. That has continued ever since. More recently from a dead stop when I accelerate the car shudders, makes loud, odd noises and accelerates with difficulty. This car is a danger to me and to others.
The Ford Focus has had shifting issues since first purchased. Ford performed a reprogramming of the computer module, did not solve the problem. Ford repaired the clutch and it seemed to solve the problem for a few months. The sluggish shifting reappeared a few months after the repair conducted on battlefield Ford (va). Took the vehicle to ted britt, Ford chantilly va, according to the technician the problem could not be replicated. "Ford states that some shifting lag is acceptable" of concern is that I've owned a Ford, Ranger/Fusion/Explorer/ Ford Fusion hybrid, none of these vehicles have this issues with shifting. Its Ford going to wait until someone gets seriously hurt?
Transmission shudders upon acceleration. On numerous occasions the car has almost stalled out almost causing us to be rear ended. I have taken the car to the dealer, the first time they replaced the clutch assembly. 2nd time they had to reprogram the part that was replaced. Car is currently in the shop awaiting outcome this time. Very upsetting considering this is supposed to be a reputable company that has been around for many years. I am very disappointed and I hope they do recall on these transmissions.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Clemente, CA, USA