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.
While driving my 2014 Ford Focus on the highway, the car almost stalled during a backup in traffic. While normal driving the car lost power and the RPM gauge started dropping as the accelerator was been depressed further. While traffic to overtake on the highway the car actually slowed down while trying to go faster. The car behave like the transmission is having problems switching to lower gears.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle shut down while driving on the freeway. The service and check engine warning indicators illuminated and the rpms revved. The vehicle slowed down and the contact merged onto an emergency exit. The vehicle was towed to atchinson Ford (9800 belleville rd, belleville, mi 48111). The dealer stated that they would have their transmission specialist diagnose the vehicle and call the contact back. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 88,000.
Takata inflators. This car was unsafe to drive, when you get to a red light, the car jerked you, when you place your feet on the brakes. Then when you press the accelerator to go it jerk back and pulled you forward. Changing geers would hard to shift and sometimes stick. The engine light would come on, the car was taken to Ford dealership 3 times and tested, they never fixed the problem. I almost crased at the stop sign trying to stop, the brakes got stuck. I had the car for one month, and filled a lemmon law complaint on line, and they insisted I had to wait a period of time, because I just purchased the car. After the 3rd, time visting the Ford repair shop, in one month time, I was disappointed and where I bought the car from at a Kia dealership, they would not give me my money back, only offered to trade the Ford Focus in back to them and buy a Kia car from them, I loss my down payment, and got stuck with a roll over fee of 4,500 from the remaining balance of the Ford Fusion added on to the new Kia. And a higher car payment. They sold E a lemon, and had a warranty and still refuse to fix the car. The transmission was bad and they sold the Ford to the auction to get it off their hands. I was stalled for 30 days believing they would fix the car, the lemon law couldn't help me after I faxed all the papers to them. The Ford Focus was on the recall list, and I don't have the car now, is there anyway I can get credited for the $4.500 in a law suit for buying the Ford under warranty and they refuse to fix the car right.
Ford is refusing to perform recall 18V-735. The car stalls, runs out of gas, has erroneous mileage and dte readings. The local dealer was "obligated" to perform the recall service when I had it in for a different safety recall for faulty door latch. They didn't seem to know much about the recall on the fuel system. They didn't know about the gas tank. I had to tell them. They reprogrammed the PCM which did nothing. The recall on this car was closed. I called Ford. They said the recall was still open and take it to where we purchased the car new. That dealer says the recall is closed on that car. The car stalls, ran out of gas yesterday with my wife on a busy highway. This is a dangerous car. Called Ford again. They say the recall service was performed and the car is fine. Look at the photo. Does that look like it is fine" 39.8 mpg" not a chance. The car lurches, stalls and runs out of gas between 120 and 60 miles left on the dte gauge. When you fill up you can tell their is 3 gallon at least in the tank. The gas tank is collapsed. The sending unit / fuel gauge is crushed. Yet Ford says the car is fine. It's fixed.
Vehicle has a strong shudder when accelerating from a stop or from low speeds. Gaudin Ford in las vegas told me the 2014 Focus has a problem with their clutch that causes the shuddering. I had the clutch replaced at 7500 miles. The shudder came back at 55000 miles and is getting worse now at 75,000 miles. There is a recall for this exact problem for the same year make and model but for some reason my VIN isn't included. The problem affects me; Ford service has already confirmed it. I need my VIN included in the recall/extended warranty.
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
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The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled, jerked, and the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle would not reverse once in the park position. The contact took the vehicle to five star Ford stone mountain (3800 highway 78W, snellville, ga, (470) 552-0862) where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the failures recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 133,000.
Transmission is sluggish, tugging..taking off, not shifting or shift all at once. Even up hill, in traffic. Car speed will take off on its own. Hard to brake. Went down hugh hill, car in control tugging back so hard, the noise was so loud that we thought car was going to blow. 15yr old in car. Dealership had me drive car off lot with a temporary inspection and come back in month. Its not a temporary sticker. I couldn't take car home night I bought it. So all these things happening after taking car off lot. I went back in a couple days later. Told to buy a warranty, they reset the transmission, as if I owned the car for years. This isn't right. They prolonged helping, etc...even asked for my car back. Then thrown in my face that it was at auction. Nobody was helping. Send letters, did a survey, calling, dropping in, etc...I documented everything. I need help!! this is a dangerous lemon and they took advantage of me. CEO is contacted to. I need help incase I get the run around again. The car has someone else's inspection on it 7-19 come back in 4wks...what?? day I brought it home. All these suprises!
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While the vehicle was idling, it failed to move when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle also experienced hesitation when accelerating and shut off on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer where it was diagnosed that there was electrical failure and a faulty transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 56,000.
The recall that hasn't been satisfied as of yet regarding the cpv has caused major issues with my car yet I can't get it fixed as the dealer replied saying it wasn't available yet when the recall was October 2019. I also believe I've had a faulty transmission and yet the dealer has also said they couldn't do anything about it.
Vehicle shudder problem 2014 Ford Focus SE I bought the car from an auction on May 13th, 2019 with slightly more than 78000 miles on the odometer. I could not drive it away because I did not have a second driver and the auction was 1 hour away. I picked up the car two days later. When I put the car in gear and started driving, I immediately noticed the car shuddering/stuttering. This happened every time I came to a stop and tried to accelerate from stop or merge into traffic. The vehicle takes long to accelerate and shakes while trying to pick up speed. I was afraid and still am afraid that it was going to stall. I've since gone online to do some research and I am finding that this seems to be a universal problem for this car. Now, I know auction cars are sold as is, and I understood this when I bid for the car but this seems to be a manufacturer defect that has not been corrected by the manufacturer on many of these cars. The problem in my case is that I bought this car as a surprise for my 16 year-old daughter who is soon going to be 17 and is due to take her road test. With the type of acceleration and stalling issues being reported online, how can Ford not take action to recall/and or fix the problem.
I was driving and all of a sudden NY check engine light came on, my car began to shudder and lurch forward a few feet as I tried to accelerate, it seemes like I has a sudden loss of power as well. I drove home immediately and upon getting home realized I could not reverse. As I tried to reverse my cas engine simply just revved.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle delays to accelerate and the abnormally shook. The dealer and the manufacturer had not been contacted. The failure mileage was 70,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at 20 mph, the vehicle started hesitating when the accelerator pedal was applied. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to local dealer West herr Ford (5025 camp rd, hamburg, NY 14075, (716) 649-5701 multiple times, where it was diagnosed but no failure was detected. The contact stated that the vehicle continued with the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the vehicle was shaking violently. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact slowed down but was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to capital Ford services dealer (2805 E millbrook rd, raleigh, nc 27604, (877) 660-1721), where diagnostic testing determined that the failure was the clutch seal was leaking and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact also stated that while driving, the fuel gauge failed to provide the accurate reading causing the contact to run out of fuel. The contact also stated that when the vehicle was idling it would stall. In addition, the vehicle would accelerate and decelerate independently. The vehicle was taken to R D sawyer motor co dealer (404 is-64, manteo, nc 27954, (252) 473-2141) where it was advised to keep the tank half full. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number: 17794117. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Car experiences severe shuddering, lurching, and skipping when accelerating from a stop. Does not matter if it is accelerating slowly or quickly. It shudders when switching gears well driving. Very persistent when leaving stoplights. Purchased car in February 2015 and it has had this issue since shortly after purchase. Has been in twice for service. First time they said it was normal. When it progressed into a more severe issue they told me to trade it in for a new car.
Car has stalled six times in one week transmission has shift to neutral while in drive when car stalls have to pull to side of road and put in park and restart transmission shudders no power very dangerous situation almost rear -ended by truck an engine malfunction service now message will display on message screen yesterday was by far the worst day engine dies pull to side of road put in park restart put in drive like it was in neutral turn car off restart put in drive very little power to transmission pull back over to side of road restart put in drive had power to transmission.will park vehicle until situation is resoved
Car stops accelerating at roughly 25 mph despite continuous pressure on gas pedal. Only to get the car moving again was to bring the car to a complete stop and then press gas pedal again only to have the problem repeat. The clutch system on this care and the related software was replaced 6 weeks ago. This is a absolute safety hazard. Please help as this is a widely known issue and the manufacturer is unwilling to respond to the matter. The repair cost for new clutch is $1,000 + each time.
Transmission shudders upon acceleration from a stop or from a slow speed. Repairs were made under warranty a few times. Issue has returned but Ford is saying car is out of warranty so we must pay for repairs. There is a recall 14M01 that extends warranty on transmission for our year, make, model, symptom, and transmission but Ford says our VIN is not included. They cannot tell me why it's not included, just that it is not. Car has 51,000 miles on it, and requires its 4th transmission repair. Dealership has told us that our car has same problem with transmission that many Ford focuses have.
When driving down the highway going 70 mph, the door bell started sounding, the check brake fluid read out came on like the car had a major problem electrical. This happened four times thru this past winter 2018/2019. The temperature on the dash was 10 degrees or below every time it happened. Rude awakening on the highway. Also the front wheels will spin when trying to take off from a stop sign on occasion. Like it can't get going. One more thing is going down the highway I've had no power like the car is in neutral when I've had the cruise on. This has happened twice. I don't have exact dates one date was 12/26/2018
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Uniondale, NY, USA