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.
My 2014 Ford Focus shudders and jerks when taking off from a stop. This is extremely dangerous especially at traffic lights or on the highway because it is extremely difficult to resume driving after a slow down, and I am scared that I will get hit because my car cannot accelerate fast enough. This happened recently in March of this year on the highway, and I was fortunate to escape being hit at the last minute. I have taken the car to two different Ford dealerships in houston for them to check if the car is part of the transmission recall, but they wanted to charge me for the diagnostic test, I do not think this is fair since this is a known issue with this car.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. When the contact depressed the accelerator pedal, the transmission would become stuck in between gears, which caused the vehicle not to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to harris Ford Lincoln (20006 64th ave w, lynwood, wa 98036) where it was diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the clutch had previously been replaced three times. The manufacturer was also contacted and did not assist. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 85,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While accelerating from a stop, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to fox Ford Lincoln (2501 N elston ave, Chicago, il 60647, (773) 687-7800) where the transmission clutch was replaced three times and the power train control module was repaired once; however, the failure continued. The dealer informed the contact to have the transmission clutch repaired a fourth time. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 63,286.
Car shudders when accelerating from a stop through the 1st gear. Had software reset and clutch replaced, but the problem still exists. There is a technical service bulletin on this issue, and as I understand, I can have the software reset and clutch replaced 2 more times, and then possibly get some monetary abatement if it's still not fixed.
Every time my Ford Focus shifts from 1st-2nd or 2nd-3rd the entire car not only shutters but its extremely sluggish and seems like it's going to stall out. (automatic transmission) there are no warning light lit on my dash and the car barely has 56,000 miles on it. When I bought the car it had 35,000 miles and the problem existed then and has progressively gotten worse. Yesterday I was at a yield sign to enter the round about near my house and when I pressed the gass my car shuttered horribly and only went forward a few feet, I was nearly struck by a truck that had to suddenly swerve to keep from hitting us. I took my foot off the gas. When I pressed it again, this time with more force, it shuttered and jerked so hard it forcefully threw my head back against the seat! my 5yr old daughter that was in the back seat was crying uncontrollably, scared because we were almost hit by a truck! the seatbelts in the backseat of my car, have came unbuckled several times while my 2yr old and 5yr old children were in their carseats. When I attempt to rebuckle them it takes about 15- 20 minutes of my consistently trying to get the buckle to latch onto the seatbelts!
- Denham Springs, LA, USA
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The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle shuddered, the vehicle decelerated, and the gears were extremely difficult to shift. The vehicle was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train) and NHTSA action number: PE13031 (power train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 39,682.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the transmission was faulty and the vehicle would not shift into drive or reverse. The vehicle would also shudder and hesitate while driving. Furthermore, the battery was faulty and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to terry hendricks Ford (904 stryker St, archbold, oh 43502, (419) 445-7460) where it was diagnosed that a new clutch needed to be installed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the new clutch failed. Shortly after, the vehicle was repaired again by an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and did not assist. The failure mileage was 89,000.
My car alerted traction control/hill assist issue while driving under 35 mph. (note I work 3rd shift) next morning got off work and it was dead but was able to jump it. Next night I removed keys from ignition from parked car and vehicle continued to run. Next morning car would not start and was able to be jumped. Took to local Ford dealership and they diagnosed it as the tcm (transmission control module) module which they replaced and returned my car. Same night car would not start again. Took over an hour to get the car charged just to drive to dealership 3 minutes away and the car would not go over 1500 RPM and wouldn't allow me to go over 15 mph. Got to the dealership and had worker witness a test drive in the passenger seat, then parked withe worker still inside and she was able to witness the car not shutting off after key removal. Notified today from service department manager it is now the BCM (body control module) and will be $2900 plus tax to replace the BCM as well as the wire harness that has melted now due to this issue. Ford has told me that they have no programs or recalls to help cover these costs. After research I have discovered that this is and issue with others that have the same vehicle and Ford issued a recall for the 2015 Ford Focus for this same BCM issue but of course my VIN (2014 Ford Focus SE hatchback) is not included. I have had nothing but issues related to the transmission and computer of my car in the 49 months that I have owned it.
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.
The 2014 Ford Focus transmission control module (tcm) is defective. In 2018, the vehicle was at a stop light and when the driver began to accelerate, the vehicle went into reverse. Numerous reoccurring issues most recent was on or about 1/16/19. This is the 7th time the 2014 Ford Focus has been taken into the Ford dealership for the same issues of shuddering, misfiring, faulty clutch, engine light on and tcm malfunction. Dealer service counselor/technician reports the tcm is defective and owner will continue to have this issue whenever the module overheats.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. Within less than six months of purchasing the vehicle from autonation Ford (1400 interstate 20 w, arlington, tx 76017, 1-(817) 200-4503), it was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (engine and engine cooling) and field service action number: 14M02 (transmission control module extended warranty coverage). The dealer had not verified if there would be an option for a loaner vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced reduced engine power. The contact stated that the vehicle was unable to be driven because it could stall at any moment. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was not available. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled in the middle of traffic. The vehicle was pulled over to the road shoulder. After the contact added fuel to the vehicle, the body of the vehicle shook violently. Also, the vehicle accelerated on its own and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to North side Ford (12300 san pedro ave, san antonio, tx 78216, (210) 525-9800) where it was diagnosed that the horn needed to be replaced and new tail lights were needed. The horn and tail lights were repaired, but not the power train and engine. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 86,514.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle suddenly shut off, erroneously shifted, and surged backwards while stopped. The vehicle was taken to crossroads Ford of wake forest (10101 capital blvd, wake forest, nc) where it was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000(fuel system). After the contact retrieved the vehicle, the failure continued. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the clutch failed and the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle was taken to courtesy Ford Lincoln (1313 ne 122nd ave, portland, or 97230, (503) 255-1771) where the clutch was repaired and the power train control module was reprogrammed. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 34,475. Consumer stated vehicle shudders on acceleration, inconsistent acceleration no check engine light. Dealership reprogrammed & cm. On March 2016 vehicle shudders on acceleration inconsistent acceleration. No check engine light. Dealership replaced the clutch. On August 2016 recalled transmission dealership replaced the clutch. In August of 2016 recalled transmission was replaced. On May 2017 vehicle shudders on acceleration: Inconsistent acceleration and no check engine light. Dealership replaced the clutch. On Feb. 2019 vehicle shudders on acceleration inconsistent acceleration no engine light. Dealership replaced clutch. The check engine light has not illuminated during any of these situations. Each replaced clutch has failed to work safely and predictably. The vehicle shudders and hesitates at all speeds when accelerating from one gear to the next. The vehicle does not predictability and reliability accelerate into traffic at highway speeds. The dealership has replaced each clutch. The manufacturer extended my warranty but will not buy the vehicle back. A class action lawsuit exists for this problem.
The car turned completely off, engined light would come on and off, the car would stall and while driving on the interstate the acceleration didn't work and the car started moving backwards.
When accelerating, either from a complete stop or while in motion, car shudders violently while switching gears. Sometimes this results in loss of acceleration.this has scared us quite a few times when accelerating through an intersection as the power loss has put us in situations when an accident could easily have occurred. This shudder happens 90% of the time when accelerating, and is getting worse. Clutches were replaced not long after we bought it (bought used from dealer in 2016), and we were told by the dealer in 2018 that the clutches needed to be replaced again, and since they were 2 months out of warranty, we would have to cough up the $1800 ourselves to replace the clutches for the second time in a car that was then 4 years old.
My car has literally lost power and turned off while driving at speeds in excess of 55 mph on multiple occasions, once almost resulting in a crash in a local traffic tunnel. I have also been stranded twice without fuel due to innacurate distance to empty readings. The local autonation Ford dealership in mobile, al has refused to reprogram the powertrain control module per the recall issued by the nhsta without a fee of $130. What recourse do I have to have this recall addressed at no expense which is clearly expressed in NHTSA recall number 18V735.
Takata recall. While going down the highway, my car shuddered harder than usual and seemed like it lost power. My transmission light came on soon after this. I took my car to a local dealership and they explained that there was a recall on my car for a control module that would cause my car to stall without notice. When my car stalled it made a loud knock and my clutch brake broke. The dealership told me that the breaking of my clutch brake could not be covered in the recall because it is different section of the transmission. My question is if the transmission is faulty to begin with then wouldn't it affect my clutch brake and cause it to be under too much stress? I now have to pay 1500$ to have it fixed, but the recall is free of charge.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Katy, TX, USA