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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:
12 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
30,340 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.

2014 Ford Focus engine problems

engine problem

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2014 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 2 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #125

Jul 272019

Focus

  • 75,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When accelerating, the vehicle will shake and shudder due to a problem with the dual clutch as described by the manufacturer https://media.Ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2019/08/14/Ford-statement-on-dps6-customer-satisfaction-actions.html I have contacted Ford about my issue but they said my vehicle would not be eligible unless the check engine light came on even though I am having the same problems described.

- Dacula, GA, USA

problem #124

Oct 012018

Focus

  • 1 miles
Not sure why but car studurds going in to 1st gear and 2nd. Fuel for this vehicle is consumed very fast.

- Yuma, AZ, USA

problem #123

Sep 142019

Focus

  • 80,000 miles
Car stalls at will, gas gauge & miles to empty always wrong, low fuel indicator light never comes on and has huge problem w/ acceleration. It often shakes violently when I hit gas pedal, also takes forever to get up to speed. If it's not shaking violently then it just stalls, literally dies, will not restart. Forget fuel gauge. Not only is it always wrong, it changes at will. I go up or down a hill, gauge & miles to empty changes. Low fuel indicator never lights up so who knows how much gas I have. Last two times it stalled on highway at 65mph. Engine just cut out, died & would not restart. Has been to dealership 3 times in 3 weeks for same issues. First incident, kindle Ford in cape may court house, NJ had it 9 days over labor day holiday. Finally advised repairs eligible under recall however waiting for parts, specifically fuel tank, which according to fedex was in transit. 'lucky for me' he said, finally had loaner available. I'm walking to get loaner when suddenly tech yells over that my car is done! what? he just said tank was in transit! reluctantly took my car only to have it die again. Had it towed to kindle again and he said car started right up for him after he put gas in it. He implied I ran out of gas because gauge was pinned on empty. I had put gas in it that morning. Gauge indicates it was low but it was not pinned on empty (see photo). And if that was the case, warning light never came on (see photo). Now they are saying they can't fix it until they replicate problems for themselves. As if I was lying! car doesn't do it when they drive it so what do I do? I'm afraid to drive my own car but I have to go to work, etc. I just hope my son & I aren't killed when car unexpectedly stalls again while we are on the highway.

- Villas, NJ, USA

problem #122

Sep 042019

Focus

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle did not respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact merged to the shoulder and then kept driving until the desired speed of 65 mph was reached. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

- Templeton, CA, USA

problem #121

Aug 272019

Focus

  • 65,000 miles
I was driving on the highway and the car just stopped getting gas or responding to me it dropped speed dramatically as a simi was behind me which read oversized load and I was going up hill so I was trying to try my hardest to get in the emergency lane then the engine light popped on fooling a warning of my transmission was hot to stop. I was terrified I had my 2 kids in the back and they were scared also I thought for sure we were going to die that mourning. I'm to scared to drive that car or any other car after going threw that. It's in the shop now but the dearship is already trying to tell me the bill for stuff. I'm confused and vary aggravated thanks to all that I dont know what to do being a single dad trying to do good. This happened on I-25 North bound near highway 66 mead exit. Colorado

- Thornton, CO, USA

problem #120

Aug 082019

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. On several occasions, while stopped at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle failed to respond. On another occasion, while attempting to exit from a parking lot the vehicle failed to start. Roadside assistance was contacted and was able to provide a jump start. The vehicle was taken to pacifico Ford (located at 6701 essington avenue, philadelphia, pa 19153, (877) 349-3923) where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The transmission control module and transmission clutch needed to also be repaired. The fuel tank and transmission control module were replaced; twice however, the failure recurred. The contact was also informed that it would cost $947 to replace the transmission clutch. The repair was not performed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- Aldan, PA, USA

problem #119

Jun 222019

Focus

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My Ford Focus would rev up and down.... and when I would hit a speed over 50 mph I couldn't press the gas anymore. I would have to coast to the side of the road because my gas pedal wouldn't take me anywhere. The last time it happened, I almost died. I was pulling out of the gym parking lot and it started acting up again and it stalled in the middle of the road with on coming traffic. The car will stay on but when you press the gas it goes no where. I took it to Ford, and they replaced what they believe is wrong with their current transmission problems. But it still continues to do the same thing. They are not safe cars!!!!

- Simpsonville, SC, USA

problem #118

Aug 022019

Focus

  • 25,000 miles
While driving in motion, I ramdonly get an alert that there is an engine malfunction, which then causes my car to have very little power when accelerating. If I come to a stop, then give it gas, it goes extremely slow, causing my RPM's to shoot up. My transmission is horrible while shifting. Its sputters, hesitates, jumps, and feels like it cant make up its mind on what gear to go in. And its only gotten worse. Thre has been 3 different occasions where after stopping for gas, or being at work that I have shut my car off, and when I went to start it up again, it wouldnt. It woulndt even turn over. After trying several times, it would finally start. Whatever is causing all of these problems, is also draining my battery as I had to get a new one after just over 2 years. A battery is supposed to last 5 years. Ford said only 3-5 and therefore would not cover it since I was supposedly coming up on the 3rd year. Which I was not. I do not feel safe in this car. And I now have a newly turned 16 Y/O daughter whos just is about to learn how to drive. And I should not feel its unsafe for her to have to learn in this vehicle I have a few more years to pay on it and it wouldnt benefit me to sell or trade in at this point. I have attached a picture of the second time I got this engine alert. I can't exactly take a picture of how my car drives or how the transmission shifts. If I can send video's, I'd be happy to do so if it would help.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #117

May 292019

Focus

  • 112,000 miles
My car has been down for 2 months. I immediately took my car to Ford because it hasn't even been a year since my purchase. After having my car for a week they decided that my car needed a new clutch. Now that I'm reading all of these reviews that are very similar to mine I need answers. My car was shuddering when I first made the purchase, but I was told those types of cars just drive like that. Ford said that my clutch was not covered and I have to pay $2500 to get it fixed. When it's clear that Ford was already having issues with these transmissions. Now I'm stuck between having a repossession or having to come up with $2500 and pay my car note still. This is insane.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #116

Jun 302018

Focus

  • 154,000 miles
When entering high way and step on gas car struggles and stays at a low speed and will no speed up until after awhile it starts to shift gears. When going at a high speed wheels start to shake car can't go faster than 55mph. When making a complete stop and the. Step on gas it struggles to shift gears, when turning car off and then turning it on after 10 minutes car will not turn on even with a new battery. You have to keep trying to idle until car turns on.

- Maplewood, MN, USA

problem #115

May 302014

Focus

  • 15 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall - I have been experiencing jerking and stuttering with my vehicle since I purchased it new in 2014. My vehicle will stutter and jerk upon pressing the gas from a standstill in traffic, on a highway and it is even worse going uphill. It is slow to pick up speed no matter how much pressure I put on the gas pedal. Now there is an issue with something revving under the hood and also with the vehicle overheating. I have had several near accidents due to the vehicles jerking and stuttering when moving from a stopped position to a forward mortion in traffic. These incidents have happened over the course of five years of me purchasing the vehicle new. The stuttering and jerking happens daily.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #114

Mar 312013

Focus

  • miles
The car does not shift correctly it sputters when accelerating. When accelerating it doesn't shift properly like its not getting enough gas. Also when you are sitting in traffic and go to accelerate it jumps forward. This car also has died while driving as it is shifting gears. Even though there is a date at the bottom this has been like this since I purchased it. I was told by the dealer its the way I drive it the computer shifting has to get use to my driving habits.

- Gramercy, LA, USA

problem #113

Jun 052019

Focus

  • miles
I was sitting at a stop light and when the light turned green my car wouldn't move, looked down at the spot on the dash where it says what gear you are in and it was flashing. Finally got the car to move into a parking lot. I has it looked at and they said it was fixed. The next day I was driving and it started slipping gears.

- Rochester, MN, USA

problem #112

Jul 202019

Focus

  • 92,000 miles
Car was working fine most of the day. Got in my car and it would not start. I tried it three times, no luck. I shut everything off, pulled the keys, opened the door. I then tried again fo turn on car, came right on. Now however, the car is having over accelerating and decelerating problems which it didnt have two hours ago. Going up/down any type of hill is where its the worst at accelerating and decelerating randomly. Sometimes it over accelerating and I dont even have my foot on the gas at that moment. And it has a hard bucking problem between the two random accelerating/decelerating problems.

- Franklin, TN, USA

problem #111

Jun 132019

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
Car jerks and stalls, outstanding recall, dealership insists that parts are unavailable for repair

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #110

Jan 102019

Focus

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While the driver was pulling out of the driveway and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to move forward. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to victory lane Ford (located at 903 old rte 66 N, litchfield, il 62056, (217) 324-3965) to be diagnosed, but a failure code could not be found. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the failure occurred on two different occasions. The vehicle was taken several times to the same dealer where the transmission and clutch were replaced twice. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

- Donnellson, IL, USA

problem #109

Apr 302016

Focus

  • miles
I have transmission problems since I bought my car in 2016. Lose of power on freeways and acceleration problems all the time. The service engine light continues to turn on and off unexpectedly. Ford continue to denying those problem, causing a lot of stress every time that I drive long distances

- Hudson, FL, USA

problem #108

Sep 012014

Focus

  • 3,000 miles
My 2014 Ford Focus began shuddering almost immediately after I bought it, which was May 2014. I took it to my Ford dealer to explain. I was told it wasn't a problem and I should continue driving it. The shuddering continued. It normally happens when pulling out from a stopped or near stopped position, on flat and inclined surfaces. I took it back to the Ford dealer once again. They said they adjusted a few things and I would be fine. Took it back a 3rd time and they said they had to order a new clutch. Scheduled an appointment to have that done. It worked fine for a few months, but I was back at the dealer multiple times with the shuddering and transmission/clutch issue. It has been replaced twice in my 2014 Ford Focus. I went back again to complain of same issue, I was told my warranty ran out and they could only replace clutch if I paid for it!!! I still drive it daily, with the shuddering. Worried at every stop, I hope the car doesn't stall, speed up or cause an accident!!! it occurs on city streets, ramps onto highways, at traffic lights, stop signs and yields. Car is usually going from stopped or slow speed going straight or turning. Please help me!!!

- Tamaqua, PA, USA

problem #107

Jul 012016

Focus

  • 10,000 miles
The Ford Focus stutters when taking off. Everytime I go to get on highway it wont accelerate and shakes. It's scary I always feel like it will cause an accident and Ford service shops refuse to do anything about it even though my vehicle has been under warranty.

- Bunker Hill, IL, USA

problem #106

Jun 292019

Focus

  • 89,000 miles
My vehicle is currently in the shop for transmission repair. National news reports that these vehicle models, along with fiesta's have transmission problems that cause shuttering and/or acceleration issues. My vehicle had both these issues, fortunately, I was not killed before I could get it to the shop. My car would accelerate on its own which is absolutely terrifying. I wonder why there is not a safety recall due to this issue? I will now have to pay out of pocket for the repairs.

- Denver, CO, USA

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