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:
22 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,816 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.
After purchasing this car brand new from a Ford dealer in dayton, oh in December 2013, I have experienced a violent shudder of the car when initially accelerating from a stopped position. I went back to the dealership after 1,500 and was told that this is normal for this car and that not to worry about it. I currently have 94,000 miles on the car and have returned to the dealership every 10-15K to inquire of a fix for the car. Around 60,000 miles in they finally said that they had a software update for the fix. They performed this update and the issue went away for a few weeks but returned shortly after.
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!!!
The transmission is being defective since I initially purchase the car in August 2014, I did not noticed it right away, it was until I was driving with a passenger that he mention the shake that the car have when I was in a stop and begin to accelerate it start shaking like when you are driving a manual and don't know how to properly change the shift. It keep doing it so I took it to the Ford dealership mechanics and they told me they know about the problem but they couldn't do anything about it since all the transmissions were dual even if they change it I will still experience the same. So at that moment they told me they could only reset the computer to see if alleviate the problem, it didn't so I try to take it again but they will tell me they didn't have the personal to do transmission work or things of that nature.
The car sputters, bucks and will not accelerate. This began to happen roughly 6 months after I purchased the car in fall of 2013. It continues to happen to this day. It is intermittent but extremely stressful when driving in heavy traffic or on the freeway. This only happens when accelerating either out of a stop or while try to increase speed. Ford has attempted several "fixes" but the problem is not resolved.
- Marietta, GA, USA
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The transmission has obvious issues. I have to gun it from a stop so it doesn't chug every single time I stop. One time I really feared for my life was when I was on a major thoroughfare and someone slammed their brakes on in front of me. I, in turn, slammed my brakes on to avoid an accident, which happened to be in the middle of an intersection. My car would not go back into gear immediately and take off. I was stalled and helpless. I felt like a sitting duck ready to be ran over. I fear for anytime I have to slam my brakes on to avoid an accident that I will again be sitting waiting to be hit. I bought my car used. I took it in to a dealership for recall work that I assumed would resolve the problem only to be told that no it didn't cover my issue. I was also told that it was a known issue by Ford, and that the previous owner had gotten the tramsmission fixed while it was still under warranty but that the warranty time for the fix was now up and it would cost $1200 to fix. They told me even if I paid to have it fixed, it would inevitably happen again as they see this problem everyday. I do not have the money to get a new car. In fact, it is now the only car in our household as my husband is disabled. I feel I've been betrayed and left out to dry. I'm thoroughly disappointed in Ford. I do not make a lot of money as a school secretary. I regret putting my trust in a company that had a great reputation before this issue. I wish I could get my money back and rethink my purchase.
I have had multiple incidents with my 2014 Ford Focus related to the faulty transmission. Besides rough shifting and lots of shuddering over the years, my car has completely stalled on me while in motion, driving on the highway 2 different times. I lost the ability to accelerate while going more than 65 miles per hour, and I had to coast through high-speed traffic to get to the shoulder (both times). The first time this happened was July 29th, 2017 in fort lauderdale, Florida. The 2nd time was June 6th, 2019 on the sawgrass expressway in broward county, Florida. Both times were very scary and put myself and others at risk for a serious and dangerous accident. Early on, the Ford dealership told me that the rough transmission is normal and would get better if I improved my driving habits. More recently I have been told that the transmission would fail again but that the warranty has been extended.
The transmission is known to be faulty. Mine studders when going from first to second when taking off from a stop like someone who can't drive a manual. My 01 Focus is a manual. It has slipped out of gear multiple times on me and friends driving it in intersections, and highways. The car is 5 years old. Should not have these problems. I fear it will wnd up causing harm to myself or others. It needs to be addressed and fixed
On my way to work I was taking a left turn onto the highway. In doing so, the car cut power causing the cars behind me to almost hit the back of the car at about 40 miles and hour. This is a very unsafe vehicle, I am waiting for the day someone isn't paying attention when the transmission fails to perform in a usual manor and I, or someone else in the car, is seriously injured.
Incident #1 - while traveling on the interstate, I attempted to change lanes to prepare for an upcoming exit. Noticing faster moving traffic approaching from behind (I had just entered the freeway), I pressed the accelerator to speed up during the lane change. My vehicle "shifted" into neutral, causing me to lose acceleration when I absolutely needed it to match the speed of overtaking traffic. I quickly moved back to my original lane to avoid being struck from behind. Incident #2 - while stopped at a yield, waiting to enter a traffic circle, I attempted to accelerate into the traffic circle, but just as my car began to move forward, the transmission shifted into "neutral", rpms went up to about 4,000. When I took my foot off the gas to apply brake and stop my entrance to the traffic circle, the transmission caught (clutch engaged) and propelled me into the traffic circle, which by this time had approaching traffic. Narrowly avoided a serious collision by steering to the shoulder of the road.
Loses power during acceleration from dead stop or onto freeway, transmission bucks and does not engage from first gear to second gear in alleged automatic transmission. Slips into neutral while the car is in motion. Dealership said that Ford is aware of the problem, but has no plans for a long term fix.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle shuttered, jerked, and failed to shift in and out of gear. The vehicle was slow to change gears at any given point without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and failed to shift into reverse several times intermittently. In addition, the malfunction indicator lamp flashed. The vehicle was towed to david stanley Ford of midwest city (6601 SE 29th St, midwest city, ok 73110, (405) 733-1611) where it was diagnosed several times, but failed to provide a permanent remedy. The dealer later diagnosed that the transmission assembly needed to be replaced and the vehicle was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train). The contact stated that the failure that the vehicle exhibited was related to the recall campaign. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for further diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was not available.
I bought the car used with around 28K miles. I have had to have the transmission serviced twice already, and it continues to act up intermittently. Symptoms include shuddering and jerking, especially in the first two gears, unexpected acceleration in both forward and reverse (throttle input gives different results in different conditions) failure to accelerate in a many circumstances: Often reverse takes a few seconds to engage, and if you need to accelerate quickly, such as to avoid an accident or hazard, too heavy of an input causes the engine to rev very high but the car doesn't go anywhere. The unit also has delayed or "sticky" downshifts, especially in an emergency stopping situation. And over the first 3 years of ownership, fuel economy seems to be decreasing. The vehicle has been exclusively serviced by Ford dealers under my ownership. I understand what the transmission is, how it functions, and I drive accordingly, including trying to rev match shifts. It continues to act up mildly every day, and severely on occasion. It is both the newest and least trustworthy vehicle I've ever owned, and I expect an expensive and catastrophic failure before I've paid it off. In addition, the horn has failed several times and will now need to be replaced.
Dual clutch system, loss of power when trying to accelerate, shuddering when slowing down. Rolling backward when accelerating after stop on incline. Have had three replacements and brought in for fourh time only to be told its normal.
Dps6 transmission is unreliable and vehicle is unsafe to drive due to inconsistent vehicle response when pushing accelerator pedal and Ford cannot correct the recurring problem. The problems have occurred many times since we took delivery of the new vehicle in Feb, 2014. Vehicle has been to dealership 9 times for shuttering/shaking, no response when pushing accelerator pedal, surging forward several seconds after pushing accelerator pedal following no response, hesitation when pushing accelerator pedal. Ford has replaced the clutch 4 times in the past 5 years and the problems randomly persist. The vehicle is at dealership now for most recent clutch replacement. Ford has updated the tcm/PCM at least 4 times and the same problems still recur. After the updates to the tcm/PCM and/or clutch replacements we've continually been told that the road tests are within Ford specifications but the problems continue. In the most recent occurrence on 7/1/19, my daughter was turning left onto a busy road with cars traveling at 50 mph; her Focus started into the oncoming traffic lane then hesitated while the accelerator pedal was pressed and the vehicle would not respond. The car coming toward her had to slam on his brakes to avoid T-bone collision. Her Focus finally responded and she was able to complete the turn, but she came close to being seriously injured or killed. Upon hearing this situation, I immediately called the Ford dealership to bring the car in. In June, 2018, at a stop light the Focus would not respond when pressing the accelerator pedal, then after several seconds it lunged forward and almost hit the car in front of her. I bought this car new for my daughter. After reading the 7/12/19 detroit free press article, it's clear this is a flawed design. My daughter will never drive this vehicle again. It's a ticking bomb. It needs to be recalled.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford, Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle slowed down while accelerating and jerked while driving 10 mph. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to lonnie cobb Ford (1618 us-45, henderson, tn 38340, (731) 989-2121) where it was diagnosed that the computer module was calibrated and repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 31,000.
Transmission shifting problems: Hesitation/jerking while shifting; this problem is well known by Ford & the dealers; transmission slips. Anytime/where I'm driving my automatic-transmission 2014 Focus and press the accelerator after slowing down to or starting in first gear (as in from a stop), the transmission races as if caught between gears. This makes me press the accelerator down more to force it into gear. Sometimes it feels like the car is coasting along in neutral until it kicks into gear. This has also happened on the highway between other gears - there is loss of forward motion. I've been to Ford to "reset the transmission gauge" 4 times now- including for the 2 recalls for this dps6 transmission. The last time they had the car I had a rental for just over 3 weeks while they were replacing parts that they claimed caused the slipping. Since then, the problem has been better, but whenever I turn on the A/C and it's raining out, the problem returns. This has been going on since the 2nd month of ownership (Oct. 2014) - a 5-year problem. There are several recalls and articles (eg https://Ford.oemdtc.com/1650/14M01-dps6-transmission-clutch-shudder-transmission-input-shaft-seal-warranty-extension-2011-2014-Ford-fiesta-Focus) that relate to Ford's knowledge and repair attempts for this issue. Date on this form is first occurrence, not the last
Transmission has had serveral computer updates and clutch replacements for shuddering when accelerating. While towing behind a motor home with transmission in tow mode the transmission somehow went from neutral to drive and caused the transmission to fail to the extent of total rebuild at the dealer. After the rebuild it still shudders and hesitates when accelerating in drive.
I was coming home on Thursday night in dark July 11,2019 and my car was trying cut off. I was able make it in yard. I told my mom she thought I was out of gas. I had over half tank.so mom said let's drive it to store. We crank up it wouldn't go in reverse. The next morning I call trophy Ford and told them.I would be bring it in if it would go in reverse. Ok so it did but kept trying cut off a car almost hit me as I was trying get it.across highway. I purchased this car July of 2017. I have never received no kind of recall on anything, but now they say it's all these recalls. The door latch mess up last Monday I had to hold door with my arm out window while I was driving. The told me.oh recall we fix it free. Took them 3 days fix it I almost miss work trying get ride. Now my transmission gone out and they say I need clutch which I had to pay but it was in recall. This is not fair at all I like to get lawyer but I am.too poor my son start college and has no way there now cause car broke.we work minimum wage at restaurant. How can this be fair after he almost got killed. We have a Ford Ranger truck we had for 16 yrs no motor or transmission problems so I always purchase Ford but now I see I have to put the word out these Focus are a piece of crap. Please help me please I'm begging don't stop my.son education.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Buffalo, NY, USA