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:
10 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,578 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.
Five times this car has completely stop at 60mph driving on major highway 494 minneapolis, mn. Stalled 5 times. This car has almost killed me 5 times. Its been serviced 5 times with no resolution. I want my money back or a new car that wont kill me. Every time its serviced the dealership charges me a fee.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving 25 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact also noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust of the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed that the gasket on the fuel tank seized, which caused limited amount of fuel to enter the engine. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was not available.
Transmission: The vehicle has been stuttering and then unexpectedly jumping forward when pressing the accelerator since about 1,500 miles. It's been getting continuously worse since. The first incident that truly endangered my safety was when I was pulling out from a 3-way stop, it almost stalled in front of incoming traffic, then suddenly propelled forward into a gas station curb & blew out my tire. The second incident, which is why I'm filing this report, was with my 2 daughters in the car, leaving a stop light at a highway intersection. It was raining, and I was trying to get up to the 55mph speed limit but the car kept chugging and stuttering. Other vehicles were going around me as my speed slowly climbed, & at almost 50 mph the car suddenly accelerated and, despite tapping my brakes, continued to do so until it hit 65 mph. I was surrounded by other vehicles, and pressed the brake harder to avoid hitting the line of cars in front of me, to the left of me, or having to swerve into the ditch on my right at this high rate of speed, because tapping the brakes cautiously was having effect on the cars acceleration. When it stopped quickly accelerating, it continued to stutter, but seemed to level off at my chosen speed. Since then, its continued to stutter and chug and jump forward almost every time I accelerate, whether from a complete stop or to go faster than my current speed. It's terrifying.
While accelerating, vehicle frequently stalls and/or hesitates to continue acceleration creating a jerking affect until it can actually catch again or provide fuel to accelerate. This typically occurs when pressing on the pedal both when stopped/start or if in motion and accelerate to go onto the highway. This happens frequently while driving on a daily basis.
I purchased this Focus in September of 2013. Little did I realize that this was probably one of the worst mistakes I made in my life thus far. I didn't even have the car 3 months before the transmission issue started happening. I don't drive erratic or aggressive I have taken the car to the dealership 12 times for the same issue since I have bought it, to the point that I have made friends with some of the guys there. The clutch has been replaced 4 times and the module has been reprogrammed and everything that Ford claims will "fix" the issue. It has not been fixed, the most recent time I took the car to fix it I couldn't accelerate onto the highway because the gears wouldn't grab after second, then the car stalled and the engine shut off, so I had to nurse the car to the side of the road and restart it and I finally made it to the dealership. I called Ford, and the bad thing is, is that they know that this problem exists they just don't want to do anything because they know that they will lose money. I finally spoke to a rep at Ford that directed me towards the BBB because she found out that I was in the military, saying that the military members shouldn't have to deal with things like this because we do so much for the country. I have contacted the BBB and they finally said that they will have a resolution within 14 days from yesterday. And what is really alarming is that the only reason I found out about the BBB option is because of my military service. It is ridiculous because I know this issue is nationwide and Ford wants nothing to do with it. It is sad to say like with the issue that Toyota had with their cars is that someone has to die and sue Ford before this issue will get resolved, unless you want to take direct action against Ford.
- Manassas, VA, USA
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The car was driving rough and stalled while idling at a red light in a left turn lane on a 6-lane state highway. It wouldn't restart. I had to have it towed to a nearby mechanic who discovered that the fuel pump was bad and had to be replaced.
My 2014 Ford Focus hesitate, then it takes off, when mergining into traffic it stalls, transmission seems to be slipping, I was almost hit twice from it stalling, transmission service light comes on, radio display not working
I was driving my 2014 Ford Focus SE and the engine light came on. I took my car to the repair shop and was told that my fuel tank, fuel pump and vapor management valve needs to be replaced and it will cost 2000 dollars. This was not covered by warranty. Ford refuses to do a recall even knowing there were issues with this problem
2014 Ford Focus with 45K miles, completely stock. Fuel tank collapsed due to evap solenoid failure. This caused the fuel gauge to read inaccurately and the vehicle ran out of fuel while driving down the interstate at 75mph with no warnings. No check gauges light, no sel light, no codes, nothing but complete automotive failure. Ford refuses to fix this known failure under warranty claiming it is not covered under the powertrain warranty (not sure how emissions equipment and fuel isn't powertrain components.......). Ford wanted $900 to fix just the fuel tank, plus additional costs for the evap canister, evap solenoid, and fuel sending unit. I will have to fix this my self even though I still have 15K miles left under my powertrain warranty and this is known failure from Ford (they have tsb's for their techs to follow for this very specific reason!!!!!!). unacceptable
The transmission started stalling going down the highway, RPM's high without vehicle going forward. Took it in to the dealer on 05/10/16 and was told there was a recall that had to do with the clutch inside the transmission. I had just bought the vehicle in March 2016 for my daughter and was never told there was a problem with the power train and I told them I had safety concerns. The dealer ran a diagnostic and said they reprogrammed it and should take care of the problem for a bit. The fix did not work. We went there today. 06/15/16 and will take the vehicle back to the dealer on 06/22/16 for them to tear down the transmission and to clean it up to keep it running. We were told it will take a while to get the part in that was needed. I complained to the manager this time. I am worried about my daughter's safety with this vehicle stalling and then picking back up with the RPM's at a high rate.
First problem was the car shuddering and jerking. Ford garage, repair some transmission seals, programming, replaced fuel tank, fuel pump and engine wire harness repair. Shortly after the car began to lose ability to move when accelerating, the engine RPM's would rev and vehicle had little power to move. Ford garage replaced clutch and did programming. On the way home from that repair, our care suffered the same symptoms it was brought in for. It is currently in the shop and we have no confidence in what we will get back.
This is the 3rd time my car lost power while driving with no warning.driving and the car cuts completely off. I have to get towed because it will not start. It also hesitate after I stop at a traffic light and/or stop. Mostly it stalls out on a major highway
Car hesitates when accelerating, especially from a slow or stop. Cannot tell if its a transmission issue or fuel related. Very dangerous, causing car to buck & jerk. Makes it difficult to control vehicle. Seems to be getting worse the higher the mileage.
Throttle body assembly has been replaced 3 times along with the pedal and the car keeps breaking down. Complaint has been filed with Ford and they refuse accept any liability. I broke down 3 times doing 70 miles per hour and almost got into a serious accident. Each part we rec'd has been defective and will only work up to a certain mile and then the car shuts off. I understand that in 2013 they had the same issue but also refused to do national recal. We waited over 30 days for the part to have it crap out again. I was told this part was on national back order as the entire country was oos. To only have the part replaced 3 time.S
When starting the vehicle it has a 'hard start' and idles extremely rough for a car with only 18200 miles. It has done this since I purchased it in June 2014. I've had enough cars to know that this is indeed not "normal". it feels like the idle is not set right and it vibrates enough that you can feel it while in park and idling. I was told by the service manager who is obviously not a mechanic that this is 'normal' for the 4 cylinder engine to vibrate. Also the car continuously shudders, lurches and loses power on acceleration as a result of a faulty transmission. Clutch assembly was replaced at 9300 miles. Note to everyone, upon taking the car to the garage for the fuel pump recall in Dec 2015, the car had to be put in the garage again in Jan 2016 for the purge valve to be replaced, which resulted in my tank becoming deformed (deformed means it shrinks, but no one bothered to explain that to me). Within a month (after 4 repeated trips to the garage for the same issues: Distance to empty calculations and miles per gallon were all over the place, no gas mileage to speak of but each time was told that when diagnostics were performed my car was getting 35 mpg). However, when I put gas in it, I had a 12 gallon tank before purge valve was replaced in Jan 2016, 9 gallons was all it would hold and the gauge showed full. The the car used 1/4 tank of gas to drive 27 miles. The vehicle is still shuddering at a stop light & lurching when accelerating and feels as though the tires are grabbing for traction. But it is within 'specs' according to the technicians. I have had the following replaced: 2nd fuel tank; 3rd fuel pump; 2nd purge valve; and 2nd clutch assembly and the car isn't even 2 yrs old yet and has under 20,000 miles. It is a road hazard. I've had it to 3 different garages and still no resolution. Contacted Ford (dont bother), I have since contacted the BBB.
I have the same "shuddering" issues as many of these other complaints. I have had the transmission reprogrammed several times and the issue goes away temporarily and then comes back. Worse, the vehicle has stalled while driving on the highway twice. I thought the first time was a fluke because I was able to get going again, but after the second time I had it towed to a dealer. They started the car and let it run for an hour, then plugged in the computer, and called me and said they didn't find anything wrong with it. Meanwhile I see several recalls online related to engine stalling related to electrical signals and fuel pump issues. While my car doesn't have any outstanding recalls right now, I can't help but believe this is the issue. I drive over 300 miles each weekend on busy highways, and now I have a car payment on a vehicle I can't drive because no one can fix it and the problem is still there, a huge safety hazard! I will never buy a Ford again, and I'm selling my stock.
I have had problems with my car ever since I bought it brand new. I have taken it back to the dealership so many times but nothing has been done about it. I feel unsafe driving this car.
My car has been a problem since I purchased it new in December 2013. It would make a loud grinding noise, slip when shifting or when downshifting to come to a stop, bog down when taking off and also jerk when shifting after taking off from a stop. I've taken it to the Ford dealership several times for the issues and they fixed the clutch once but even since then it still has issues shifting. Also since then I've had to replace the fuel pump as there was a recall on it for my car which the dealership was surprised by because it was the first of this recall they had seen for this car. I've also called Ford headquarters twice personally to see about a buy back or trade deal and they said they could do nothing for me at this time. This car is a brand new, junk, safety hazard and needs taken off the road but Ford will do nothing. I'm disabled so if it causes a crash I will die instantly and then they will have a big lawsuit on their hands from my family. I've also contacted attorneys and am part of the class action lawsuit for this car as well as speaking to a lemon law attorney. All they would have to do is step up and except responsibility for this and make it right but they won't do anything.
I have escaped being hit multiple times with my car doing this. I have a fear I am going to be rear ended or killed because of my car. The car stalls on the road there is something wrong with the transmission our car has been at the dealership for over a month, second time on the transmission jerking and stalling on the road when you would be stoped at a red light then in motion it jerked when you increased your speed, very unsafe to drive and no one is doing nothing about it. Ford can not fix the problem. Should be a national recall.. not japordizing my family life for a car that stalls on the road.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V005000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Hopkins, MN, USA