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:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,239 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.
Recall on the transmission. Car jerks, when starting up from a stop, lurches forward. In motions both city street and highway, starting up from a stop.
The [xxx] transmission shudder and shake Ford won't fix it and it's been in the shop numerous times parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Takata recall the vehicle shutters on take off as well as it doesn't shift so the engine just revs till you take your foot off the gas and try to get it to shift like that. The clutch has gone bad on all vehicles so it keeps doing it and gets worse and unsafe to drive on freeway and on regular roads because it looses power when it shutters. It does it when turning as well as even just being at a stop light and trying to take off. Cost over 1,400$ to repair
Vehicle fuel system leaking, gas tank disformed. Danger to my self and everyone around my vehicle. The dealer in Napa doesn't know why this happened. But they replaced the parts. This car is danger to everyone and public. Please make them replace this car before someone death. It can explode disformed gas tank and fumes makes this car a bomb. Please help the dealer wont return parts to me. Or tell me the cause. My number is [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
Door latch recall. Been to the johnson Ford dealership in pittsfield mass a couple of times now to get the door latches fix on my 2014 Ford Focus SE. The dealership always saids the parts are being ordered and will be delivered in two weeks. Two times I've been told this and the parts never come in. One time they told me the latches would be fix that day and had my car at the dealership for over eight hours. When I called to see what was taking so long that's when they told the latches had to be ordered. Then why take and keep my car for eight hours then. They are obliviously just giving me the run around and I'm not sure where to turn or what to do.
- Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Focus was bought brand new with 24 miles on it, December of 2013. Around 6 months into having it the Focus started to shudder anytime the gas pedal was pressed, then will take off like normal after a few seconds. This is happening driving down the road or coming from a stop. We've almost been hit several times due to delays in intersections. It has been taken to Ford many times first they would tell us "oh it is just the way the engine works, it's how you get great mileage".. then heard about the recall, took it in and they replaced the ac clutch telling us that is why it shuddered. Not even a week later same problems started happening. They kept refusing to fix the problem. Now, after the manufactor warranty is expired they tell us the clutches need to be replaced, and that it is not covered under transmission warrenty.. this has been on going since 2014, it needs to be fixed. Also the horn stopped working one day for no reason at all, they looked at that it. The tech said they need to replace the entire horn and that its a common problem among the Focus. This is unacceptable and Ford needs to fix these problems.
Hatch open warning light came when I hit a bump while driving on interstate at approx 60 mph. Light has come on before while car was parked but never while in motion at highway speeds. Have over 37000 miles on it. Rear hatch recall was completed in January
When pressing the gas pedal, it shakes and hesitates and jumps/shutters for several seconds until it gets up to a certain speed. This happens on the highway and basically everywhere I am starting from a complete stop. It has also started hesitating when put into gear. My son drives this car sometimes and I'm afraid for his safety because you don't know if it's going to go or not when you pull off from a stop.
On May 6, 2017 while driving on the highway at approximately 55-60 miles per hour, the engine suddenly propulsion, and effectively stalled. The check engine light came on simultaneously. (it was not on before). The vehicle slowly lost power. I was able to get it off the highway and safely into a parking lot. I had it towed to a nearby Firestone, which ran a diagnostic which revealed that a portion of the engine was defective and has resulted in splicing of wires, which needed to be replaced. I was informed that there is a technical service bulletin, #14-0215 but that for is refusing to pay for the repairs even though the vehicle still is under powertrain warranty. The vehicle seized and effectively stalled on the highway without warning, and I'm lucky that no one was harmed. See attached invoice for repair information.
On accelerating car will jerk /stutter as in not go..this happens also after slowing to go through a dip then accelerating to go again, happens after slowing to make a turn.also.happens when accelerating to go up inclines sometimes to as if it can't decide what gear it wants to be in..my car has an automatic transmission..sometimes scared me cause will do it when I'm pulling into on coming traffic..and car won't go.I have contacted service dept at Ford and they told me this year vehicle was known for this..I again have scheduled an appt for it to be checked..this has been going on since I first acquired my car in Aug 31 2016...
My vehicle had been brought in for transmission issues before for slipping, and delay when the gas is depressed. Since the repair I've noticed the car's transmission while put in reverse will feel like it slips into neutral. It happened while I was backing into my parking spot in my apartment complex. The transmission is also very jerky when accelerating on an incline and will start to roll backwards. This was also a problem prior to the initial repair so I don't know if this is signifying the return of the problem. In addition to the transmission problem the controls on the steering wheel are also non-responsive or will control something other than what it is supposed to be for (ex: Volume + and - change the radio station or end a call). In addition to this, the sync system will either not connect to the phone via bluetooth occasionally or it will not be able to recognize the device. Keep in mind that the phone connecting is a galaxy S7, so I know it is compatible. The electrical problems have been on going and were addressed in the initial transmission repairs but they were not resolved. The second transmission issue occurred again on the annotated date.
Break light on dash said break light fails all break lihts on when pushing break pedel my wife checked it light came on and warring transmishin running hot tap breaks back trunk lach on the back everytime I hit a bumb the light comes on the dash and today when I was backing up all thje indercater light went out on dash.it was in the shop on 3/28/2017
It all started one day after I purchased my 2014 Focus car from a dealer. When I pull out from a stop sign or when accelerating as the light turns green, the car hesitates and sputters before finally kicking into gear. It seems to be fine once it settles into place but it's pretty scary until it does. I dread when I have to slow down or stop. It seemed to be close to breaking down or stalling on a few occasions. I'm only a few days into owning this car and I really don't know what to do. I was promised a long life for this car but now I'm not so sure, the symptoms are somewhat similar to the last car I owned (an escape) - sputtering, hesitation, stalling and then it totally quit on me in the middle of the road on a hill. The engine blew up. This happened after I picked up the car after repairs from the same dealer. For the same symptoms. More to that story but I am afraid to bring it back for repairs fearing whatever is wrong with it, it wont be covered. But what choice do I have" help"
The transmission problems. The dealership pennyrile Ford in hopkinsville ky. Has known about this every since my daughter has had the car. Yet just patches it up. She bought the car brand new from them. Now that warranty is out she has to pay. The transmission has been in a problem in these vehicles I have been told. Yet the place that sold the car to her do not take responsible or even Ford motor. You can reach her at this number. [xxx] ask for [xxx]. the car was faulty when purchased. In my opinion Ford needs to make this right at no cost to the purchaser. Its is an on going problem. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
Ford Focus recall. Had recall done March 7, 2017. Driving car at 65mph on freeway I-45 sudden lost of power like transmission went into neutral. Had to get off to right shoulder of freeway. Turned off car waited 5 minutes turned on car was able to drive. Two days later driving car 40 mpg service road hwy183 lost power again like car went into neutral. Same thing pulled off road and turn off engine. Took car to dealer. They say can't find anything wrong.
Manufacturer recall #16S30; NHTSA recall #16V643: Door latches malfunction. Recall statusrecall incomplete, remedy not yet available. Ford notified consumers of this problem in September 2016 and yet parts are still not readily available. How are they permitted to take so long to resolve the issue. I don't want to hear about manufacturing issues or the large number of cars that this affects. I want it fixed!!! I don't want to endanger my grandchildren or any other passengers in the car. What is being done to resolve this issue"???" I'm sick of their excuses.
The car stutters to start moving. The transmission is stuck. It takes a lot of RPM to get the car moving from a stop or start. I have had an episode where the car accelerated on it's own. Took it to the dealership they are aware of the stuttering and are doing nothing for that. They can find no reason my car took of on its own. I feel that the defect in the transmission they know about. And will do nothing about it. I am just getting frustrating why they won't discuss the transmission issue. Thank you.
Well on February 18, 2017 I purchased a 2014 Ford Focus SE from lewis Toyota in topeka, ks. The car I traded in, (2004 Lexus) I told them how unhappy I was because the gentleman who sold it to me said he did a car fax on it but did not. I should have asked for a copy. There was a major recall on it! since 2011. I purchased it in 2016. Well the 2004 Ford Focus has an open recall. It is against the law so I was told to sell a call with an open recall. I brought it to the sellers attention. He said it had been taken care of or that it wasn't that bad. Well, door latch? driver's door coming open while driving. Proven incidents. I call that a problem.
The 2014 Ford Focus only has one door lock/unlock button which is located on the front middle panel near the radio controls. There are no manual lock/unlock mechanisms on any of the doors - if a crash occured, how would anyone in the back seat be able to get out if the driver is unable to push the button for them" that seems like an unsafe decision for a vehicle made for multiple passengers. Second, occasionally while driving in rainy weather, I have switched the wipers on to find that they hesitate for a few seconds before finally wiping the windshield. This does not happen every time, but I expect them to move when I turn them on, not a few seconds later. In the rain, a few seconds of non-visibility can be dangerous- even more so if it happens at night the next time. Are these electrical issues? could the unlock feature be an electrical if for any reason the battery goes or hits water"
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Green Valley, AZ, USA