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.
The faulty transmission cause clutches to run out that may cause the car to stall. I have 2 clutch replaced by new car warranty. Last diagnostic showed that I need to change clutches again but my new car warranty is expired. Since the transmission is defective clutches should be changed periodically, probably every 5K - 12K miles. For some reason Ford didn't include my car under 14M01 warranty extension. I do risk that my car to be stalled due to clutches run out because of faulty transmission.
I was going down the road and went to slow down to turn and the transmission wouldn't go back into gear. I just had another transmission put in and the very next day an alert popped up on my dash saying transmission fault service now. When I took it back to the mechanic shop they said that the issue wasn't my transmission itself and that it was a communication issue between the PCM and the tcm. Overall this car has had several issues with the style of transmission
My car had a recall on it for the clutch pack that is bad. I took my car into the dealership to have it fixed and was told that because my car was built after June 2014 they would not honor the recall. I would like to make a complaint due to the same bad parts being used on my car even though it was made after June. The dealership wants $3000 to fix a bad part that was put in my car by Ford. I feel that Ford should fix the problem since the same part was used on my car. It's not fair that my car isn't getting fixed due to when it was made but has the same bad part.
The contact's mother owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While the contact's mother was driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The driver was able to park the vehicle on the side of the road. The driver attempted to shift into reverse, but the vehicle failed to move backwards. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 82,000.
The transmission in the car is jerking when below 10mph and acts as if it is slipping. After research, this seems to be a common problem in low mileage vehicles of this type. Safety issue when at stop lights and when accelerating from a stop. Afraid to take vehicle on road.
- Dayton, VA, USA
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While in accelerating vehicle stalls and trembles before making a lot noise and then it accelerates. Yesterday the vehicle started decreasing spontaneously when shifting gear. It feels like the transmission wants to fall of the car, it lit the check engine sign, the millage on it is 60675. I've taken it to the dealership and have had the clutch replaced twice. Also every 3 to 5 months I also have to go under the car and clean the horn plug since it keeps going malfunctioning ( I have even tried sealing it with electrical tape) and currently I have no radio and no bluetooth since it also stop suddenly while driving.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the gears would not switch properly and the vehicle would not accelerate properly. Also, on several occasions, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to blake fulenwider Ford (115 w houston St, beeville, tx 78102) where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module was faulty and needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 114,000.
When shifting down from drive to park, my shift gets stuck in neutral or when I am shifting from park to reverse, I am unable to move the car into another gears. When I am at a stop light and the light turns green my car seems to stalls to take off. When I drive down the street the car acts like it wants to shut off. A Ford truck almost hit me because the light was already green and my car stalled and would not go. I had my hazard lights and he swerved into another lane where the traffic was headed toward the truck. This very dangerous.
In the course of less than a month, the car's problem progressed from intermittent starting issues that left me stranded to a full-on failure of the transmission control system. The clutch of the vehicle had been replaced and the transmission repaired in June 2018. On May 30th, 2019, the car was taken in due to transmission starting issues. The lights would turn on when turning the key, but the engine would not crank. The car was returned after the transmission control module was replaced. On June 11, 2019, the car was returned to the dealership for the same issue. Car would not start and took about 50 tries after having been stranded for several hours. Car was returned to me several days later because nothing was found. On June 19, 2019, I was driving down the highway, I was in the left lane going about 60 mph. I tried to accelerate to pass someone, and my car would not accelerate. When I looked down, my check engine light was flashing, my battery light was on, and my oil light was on. The car downshifted and started to rapidly decelerate. Engine shut down, and car was rolling to a stop. I had to rush to the right lane in rush hour traffic, and I managed to roll my way up the exit ramp, where my car shut down completely at the top of the exit ramp. Car would not restart, and I was stranded there for over an hour in a dangerous place and situation. I called a tow, and after trying to start my car intermittently for over an hour, the engine finally started. I drove it straight to the dealership to be checked out again.the same issue with transmission control has persisted, resulting in me having to take the car in on three separate occasions in about two weeks. It started of from intermittent starting issues to the car shutting down completely while traveling at a high speed. This car has done nothing but put me in danger, and I haven't even paid it off yet.
The car hesitates every time you try to accelerate. It does this when you are stationary and first starting out and when you are already in motion. Sometimes it's so pronounced that I'm afraid it's going to stall completely. This has happened since the 1st day I bought it and the dealer where I bought it said there was nothing wrong with it that's the way it's supposed to be. Something about a different kind of transmission.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). While driving 40 mph, the vehicle began to hesitate and the service engine warning indicator illuminated. Afterwards, the contact parked the vehicle. When she placed it in reverse, the vehicle failed to move backwards. The contact stated that helfman Ford (located at 2220 southwest fwy, meadows place, tx 77477, (281) 240-3673) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair and stated that the part was not available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The part was not available for the repair. The failure mileage was 109,925. Parts distribution disconnect.
When in drive does not want to shift from first to second, car acts as if it is in neutral while driving causeing a a serious saftey hazard as this occurs while car is inmotion.
Whenever accelerating from being stopped (red light, stop signs, etc) the transmission hesitates and slips before changing gears. Appears to happen while trying to shift to 2nd and/ 3rd gear. This has occurred since day one of owning the car. Bought brand new.
I have taken this vehicle into a dealership for transmission hesitation 3 times and they tell me there is no recall on my car and charge me $175 diagnosis fee. Ford knows there is a problem with this transmission and will not take care of its customers. I know I will never purchase another Ford because of this issue. Wheen I accelerate the car hesitate jerks shake before it actually goes.
We have the titanium version in the hatchback. We purchased the vehicle new and to date have had 11 clutches replaced by the dealership. The car keeps hesitating when starting to move, then chatters between lower gears. This issue started 1 month after purchasing new and has been an ongoing battle.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While accelerating from a stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated once the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to magic city Ford Lincoln (located at 809 williamson rd ne, roanoke, va 24016, (540) 345-0911) where it was diagnosed that there was internal clutch failure in the transmission. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired, which was still pending. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Well first gear to 2 gear have sifting problem car only 65K I need get repair this car have alot off recalll pls I need get repair my email adres [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
I was turning to the right when my vehicle stalled, my rpms went real high and then the vehicle engaged into the next gear resulting in a jolt forward. When the vehicle stalled the car was almost hit from behind by other car, luckily I was turning and car proceeded to move forward.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the check engine indicator kept randomly flashing. Crown Ford (256 swain St, fayetteville, nc 28303, (910) 920-9614) was notified of the failure several times, but was unable to determine a permanent remedy to repair the vehicle after it had been back and forth to the dealer more than three times. The vehicle shuttered and shook abnormally. While driving approximately 65 mph, the speed decelerated to 0 and the contact quickly maneuvered the vehicle to prevent a crash. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but the contact was uncertain if the manufacturer had a permanent remedy. In addition, the diagnostic trouble codes flickered when checked by an independent mechanic. The approximate failure mileage was 65,574.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Waltham, MA, USA