Print this page

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:
5 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,904 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 body / paint problems

body / paint problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2014 Ford Focus:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2014 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #51

Oct 202023

Focus

  • miles

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

I noticed that KIA had a recall for emergency trunk release. I have a 2014 Ford Focus. The manual says there should be a release latch in the trunk, but there is none.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #50

Mar 302023

Focus

  • 123,365 miles
Back passenger side door won-??t latch

- Jacksonvile, FL, USA

problem #49

Jan 272022

Focus

  • miles
Was told parts still backoreded. Door latches present safety hazard

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #48

Jul 162022

Focus

  • miles

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

My daughter opened the passenger side rear door. When she pulled it shut it would not catch. Because the door would not shut the door ajar warning is staying on. We were out so I had to drive it home and it came open. So we tied it with a rope. I'm taking it to a dealership tomorrow.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #47

May 232021

Focus

  • miles
Just to get it out of the way, my vehicle is currently in Italy due to my work location. The car is also US spec but was transported here. Approximately 2 months ago, my rear driver door latch gave out, this causes my door to swing wide open since it is unable to latch on and lock. After having this issue, I found out that there was a recall for this already. I then took the vehicle to the nearest Ford dealership to me. They said they would email me when the part came in since they have to order it first, about a month goes by and no email so I drive there again and they say they have the part. I am then told to make a date to get the work done, roll over a few days and I get the car there and drop it off and wait. After the long 2 hours, I am informed that they replaced the 2 front door latches, then they proceed to tell me that the recall is only for the front doors and that I would have to pay out of pocket to get the rear latches done. Confused, I show them the statement from the Ford and NHTSA website that states, "OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY MAIL AND INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A FORD OR LINCOLN DEALER TO HAVE ALL AFFECTED DOOR LATCHES REPLACED WITH A MORE ROBUST SERVICE PART. THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE FOR THIS SERVICE.". To this day, I am still being told that same information from them that it is not covered in that recall. I am now stuck and don't know what to do since I cannot get the work done any where else because of my location. I have tried using the Chat Now feature on Fords' website without any luck.

- Alabaster, AL, USA

problem #46

Sep 022020

Focus

  • 61,000 miles
For some time now I have been trying to get 2 recalls fixed on my vehicle : 18V735 and 16V643. When I previously called the dealership they did not have the parts yet for the recalls. Just yesterday while driving with a passenger in the rear seat of the car the rear door came open by itself and now will not close. I called the dealership (loganville Ford in monroe Georgia) who told me 1. that they could not get me in for the repair until next Wednesday (9/9) and 2. they would not provide a loaner vehicle. I explained first that how was I supposed to drive a vehicle for a week with a door that would not close? and second this is my only mode of transportation, this is not something I did to my vehicle, this is a safety defect by the manufacturer that needs to be addressed and Ford and / or the dealership needed to provide a loaner or a rental (at the manufacturers expense) until the safety repairs can be addressed and made. I further explained that safety recalls should take precedence over other repairs as it is a hazard and someone can get hurt. Both Ford and the dealership are both denying use of a loaner and I am yet to hear back about a rental at the manufacturers expense and I do not think it will come to fruition. I am going to reiterate, this is not something that I did to my vehicle, this is a serious safety recall that needs to be addressed. If the latches can be replaced on all 4 doors and the fuel tank deformation can all be repaired in a few hours I have no problem waiting on the vehicle, however we know that these repairs never take less than one day, all reports I read say it may take up to 4. that said, Ford needs to provide either a loaner or a rental at their expense, not mine. This is my last stop to get closure in this case, I have spoken to far too many people and am not getting anywhere, my next stop will be to the local and national news.

- Monroe, GA, USA

problem #45

Nov 012019

Focus

  • 63,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled and would not properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to autonation Ford located at 2525 34th St N, St. Petersburg, fl 33713 who replaced the dual clutch shifter but the failures continued to occur and the message transmission failure was displayed. Additionally, the sunroof would not completely close causing rain to leak into the cabin of the vehicle, all 4 doors would not shut properly, the tire air monitoring system malfunctioned, and the catalytic converter failed. The cause of the failures were not determined. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 63,000.

- Largo, FL, USA

problem #44

Jun 022020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 57,000 miles
My dps6 transmission again had a severe shuddering incident when pulling out into 55 mph rush hour traffic on a 6-lane highway. After the shudder discontinued and speed was increased to approximately 50 mph, while attempting to navigate into another lane, I had a significant loss of power after engaging the accelerator to the floor with zero response from the transmission. Due to this defect, my vehicle was struck in the rear by an oncoming vehicle.

- Spring Hill, FL, USA

problem #43

Apr 272020

Focus

  • 5,600 miles
I went to get in my car whei got in I close the back right door and it wouldn't close I then went to see that it was a recall. The next day I took my car to Ford I was told that it wasn't my vi. That was in around September 2019. Bc last Monday I went to my appt got in my car close the door and it wouldn't close so now my driver side want close and I am at a lost because I have nothing but problems with this car I don't miss payment I just want a reliable carn

- Rialto, CA, USA

problem #42

Feb 012020

Focus

  • 38,292 miles
The rear passenger side door lock has malfunctioned. Causing door not being able to relock or close. I have 38292 miles on my car that I'm still paying on. I cannot drive my car unsafely with my two grandchildren (who live with me). The door could open at anytime.

- Beeville, TX, USA

problem #41

Aug 232019

Focus

  • 36,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving, the front end of the vehicle shook and vibrated before the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact discovered that the engine mounts failed and caused the engine to fall from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to yreka motors Ford (1545 S. main St, yreka, ca), but the cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 36,000.

- Yreka, CA, USA

problem #40

Aug 022019

Focus

  • 136,000 miles
Complaints: Power train (currently-5th clutch asy having serviced), body: Locks and hatch donot work most of the time..passenger door knob just fell off in passenger hand, excessive fuel consumption, car jerks and stalls, false digital readings on dash. Some lights stay on continuously. Had to have to tire pressure monitoring sensor replaced 2 yrs of having the vehicle.all supporting documents available upon request. All documents have VIN and my name on them, so cant upload them. Multiple dates of service, but am listing the last dos. My vehicle has been at the Ford dealership for 3 wks so far. Awaiting list for a loaner car is 3 wks out. I am without transportation still. Currant dos is an approximate date, as it is still with the Ford mechanic. I bought this vehicle bc I inherited raising 2 grandchildren, and needed a economical and reliable vehicle to Transport them to and from dr appts, school, preschool ect, but this vehicle is anything but reliable. It's been an expensive nightmare. My extended warrant already paid for this fix last time, and now I've been told that my policy maximum may have been reached, thus making me responsible for all balances due from this repair. I have been unable to work bc of unreliable transportation, and do not have the monies to pay for this repair. This design flaw in the dual clutch transmission, there is no permanent fix. The problem recurs continuously. If my warrany policy doesnt pay for these and future repairs, nd Ford isn't paying them, I will either have to have the bank repossess the vehicle, possibly sued by Ford for non payment. I have been seriously just filing bankruptcy. Is there anything that can be done to help me out of this mess? Ford will not take this vehicle back bc it has over 60,000 miles etc. Unable to select boxes, due to frozen boxes.

- Dahlonega, GA, USA

problem #39

Jan 252019

Focus

  • 49,000 miles
Rear doors - latches were bad. Passenger side opened while turning. Used bungee cords to keep it shut until latches could be replaced. Transmission - chattered upon driving, like when 1st learning to drive stick shift. Sometimes it would not shift until reaching high rpms. Occasionally would momentarily seem to pop into neutral. That happened January 25, 2019. Was pulling out of a restaurant after dark, turning left on a 4 lane divided highway. It paused half way across the near lane, a car was coming directly toward me and I turned too sharply and ran over the median. Ended up cracking the oil pan, messing up the steering and cracking the engine. It was a total loss. I was livid when I found out that the transmission was well known to be defective and don chalmers Ford knowingly sold it to me.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #38

Jul 102019

Focus

  • 76,000 miles
First, drivers side door would not latch shut. Found while stationary. This was repaired. 8 weeks later, the passenger side door would not latch. This was discovered while driving in a parking lot when the panel light came on and said door was open. When turning to park to check, the door swung wide open. It would not latch shut.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #37

Apr 252019

Focus

  • 6 miles
April 25 2019 to this day July 10th 2019 is when everything started breaking down out of nowhere, I'm going to work at 6am I notice my car starting up odd and so on my way to work I was getting on the high way as I was accelerating something happened in my car that made a loud noise and my car bucked as if it was having trouble trying to rev so I turned my emergency lights and managed to get to work by driving slowly and man was it a scare. I ended up leaving my car overnight at work and got it towed to a local mechanic saying my radiator was busted ($260 out my pocket), looked online to see about any recalls and saw I had a couple to be fixed and that's when I took it in to a local dealer Ford dealership and they supposedly fixed my car but when I got it back it was just as bad and I even started getting messages on my dashboard about my lid compartment being open making me get off on red lights to get out and close the trunk. Then my second time being stranded on my way to work, same thing starting off my car felt odd but this time I made it to work but as soon as I pulled into the parking lot my car had felt like it died and stalled right as I was parking and when I got off and locked my car it started making weird mechanical noises, that's when I had to get it towed the next day again but this time the mechanic told me it was my transmission module, so I go online again and see there is an extended warranty for my exact problem. So I take it in to the dealer so they can fix it but they turn out telling me I have a hole in my transmission and that they can't fix the problem even though it's due to the computer software malfunctioning causing it to break now the dealership is asking 2,000-5,000 to replace. I'm sick and tired to be honest I'm about to lose my job for going in late, I've paid a month already without even using the car I need help.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #36

Jul 032019

Focus

  • 150,000 miles
The rear passenger side door latch disengaged without warning when I was turning out of a parking lot, swinging the door open while moving. The latch will not engage anymore, and the door is stuck open. There is a recall for the latch, but my VIN number is not under the recall.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #35

May 062019

Focus

  • 120,000 miles
2014 Ford Focus SE. Driving on highway. Heard a loud sound. Car began to lose power and the oil light began to flash. Within seconds smoke and flames came from engine. Front end was engulfed in flames within minutes. Car had been to three shops prior and nothing was ever said about there being a problem. Even was taken to Ford dealership.

- Chicopee, MA, USA

problem #34

Dec 012018

Focus

  • 64,000 miles
This vehicle has had door issues where the door would open unexpectantly, the transmission has caused hydroplaining and has also caused the car to stall on the freeway. Even though they fixed the transmission the problem has returned and insist on being a continual issue. Now there is an additional recall for December and that is cpv. When I contacted Ford in order to have a refund or be able to return the car and switch it out for something else... I was told no there wasn't an option to do so. Is this true that I have to just continue going along with the car and continue to have these types of issues through the lifeblood of this vehicle?

- Leavenworth, KS, USA

problem #33

Mar 142019

Focus

  • 97,500 miles
My Ford Focus drivers side door latch bailed. The door latch was recalled and I had all the doors fixed from the recall. The door would not close and latch properly. I had to hold the door shut to get back home. I went to the Ford dealer later that day and the customer service manager said he didn't have the part but he was trying to get permission to separate the 4 pack of latches as part of the recall. If my car was fixed as part of the recall, why did the latch fail? they were able to separate the four pack of latches and fix my car, but I'm concerned this could happen to others, especially since there is a recall on some part of the latches.

- Union Grove, NC, USA

problem #32

Feb 092019

Focus

  • 130,000 miles
Takata recall complaint. My son and I purchased a 2014 Ford Focus together. The rear door was a constant problem in latching properly and this is complaint #1. complaint #2 is the inability to drive the car any more. The car motor seized (my son said the the engine blew up) while driving on the freeway in calif. And had to be towed away. My ex wife spent $4,500 to have the transmission repaired prior to this incident, by a local repair shop in California only to have the car back in the same undriveable condition. Apparently the new transmission now had electrical defects. The local Ford dealer told my son to take the car back to the repair shop that performed the work on the car. The concept of the 14mo2 recall or failed service action never arose. We still have a balance on the loan to Ford credit and an undriveable 2014 car. I find it hard to believe that after patronizing Ford by purchasing 2 Explorer prior to this Focus, that such mechanical issues would exist.

- Langhorne, PA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?