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 power train repeatedly "slips" and makes unusual noises during acceleration and deacceleration. 3rd party observers have also and repeatedly made similar observations.
Tcm has been reprogrammed one and 2 new clutches have been installed under warranty. Shudder has returned at around 12,000 miles since last new clutch installed. Ford refuses to do anything since it was 120 miles over the warranty. This is a known issue with these cars.
On Friday 27 of April 2018 I was driving my car, I made a stop on a red light to make a right turn then when I accelerated my check engine turn on and I felt my car mess 2nd gear and lost power for 3 to 4 seconds. After that incident I park my car and I decide to return home so I try to reverse and my reverse wasn't working. Immediately I took the car to a mechanic and he scan it, so he gave me the code indicating it was the clutch actuator B. on Monday I went to buy the part at the local dealer and my mechanic change it and it fix the problem for a week and it did it again on May 5 2018. This time the car lose power while the car was in motion. I was driving at 55 mph and it was risky for myself and family and other vehicles because I could have a accident or put people in danger. The local dealer did the dual clutch replacements, the seals and the tcm control modul around 50000 miles ago and even after those replacement and repairs the car isn't working well and it always has one problem and another. The engine and transmission mounts has been a problem since we got the car. On behalf of the transmission shift problems and poor disign of te transmission I have to change constantly the motor and transmission mounts.I hope Ford company takes care of this problem as responsible of selling defective cars and trying to act like nothing is happening and putting life's on risk....
2014 Ford Focus driving on rt 1 at 40mph just stop moving forward in traffic. Was lucky to pull over to the side of the road. Car would not move while in drive. Turn off car for a few minutes then car was able to move forward. Don't know what to do car only has 19K miles on it. Prior to purchasing car used at Ford dealer with 9K" miles on it. Another time while in a parking lot car was not able to go in reverse or forward at around 11K" miles. Turn off car waited and restarted then it was fine. Also get shuddering in the transmission all the time. Call Ford they where no help on this matter as they stated this transmission would not be covered under warranty.
Clutch recall needs to be expaneded!!! burning smell coming from under the hood. Went to get a oil change and said it was the clutch pressure plate can cause fire. Stopped driving battery died, replaced battery, smell went away and then came back while driving...yesterday before I was exiting the parking lot smelled burning smell then was exiting the parking lot turning left across traffic went to shift and could move gear but car would not go. Was able to get it to work after several attempts as on coming traffic approached. Made it home safely. Can't afford to not have car as we are still making payments but cant drive with kids in the car due to fire risk. Car was made in Michigan has 2.0L gdi engine. Currently only the gtd1 engine is recalled.
- San Diego, CA, USA
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The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving 20 mph, the vehicle began to switch gears independently. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The vehicle was then taken to livermore Ford Lincoln (2266 kitty hawk rd, livermore, ca 94551) where it was diagnosed that the clutch needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The same dealer was contacted a second time and informed the contact that the clutch failed again and needed to be repaired. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that they could offer him a small compensation. If the contact accepted, the manufacturer would no longer be responsible for anything the contact may experience due to the failure. The contact declined the offer. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 3,400.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving 25 mph, the vehicle shifted gears independently. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence and then to capital Ford of charlotte (5411 N tryon St, charlotte, nc 28213). The contact was advised by the dealer that there was a technical service bulletin to repair the transmission control module and replace the clutch on the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer for diagnostic testing. From there, the dealer would be able to determine if they would repair the vehicle for free based on the diagnosis. The contact was still awaiting the determination from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 57,000. The VIN was not available.
Transmission causes vehicle to jerk and shimmy when accelerating from a stop. Will not accelerate while doing this, causing danger when there is another vehicle behind or leaving a stop sign. Transmission clutch was replaced due to this issue and these issues started again after approximately one year.
From a stop L was accelerating and the transmission made a grinding noise. My steering wheel shook or vibrated horribly and the power during acceleration was weak and I could not merge onto the highway in a normal manner. Normal meaning as a commuter to and from work on a daily basis. Highway merging from a stop.
My 2014 Ford Focus has had a myriad of problems from day one. First the trunk will pop open if driving more than 40 mph. My trunk popped open and I lost a 3,000 saxophone. The Michigan state police has proof of my claim. Now trunk will not release. Constant transmission problems even with repairs, the car will lag, sputter and rolls backwards. The car will roll backwards when you stop for a red light or sputter when entering a roundabout.the gas guard will say you have 50 gallons but change to 11 after driving 2 miles. Bluetooth and horn does not work.
I had nothing but problems with this car I've had it for eight months and I am in a death trap Ford is trying to kill me I swear to god I've taken this car in for transmission alignment tire rotation is a full blown body inspection my car pulls me left alright I never watch but I never know which way I'm going I come off the freeway and I better be prepared for head on collision I had a Ford tec, drive with me in this dangerous car and he to felt the car pool one way or the other. Back to the service department guess what there is nothing they can do about it.[xxx] Ford recall staring gears..recall 14V514000 another 16V643000 another 15V813000 more fuel system gasoline devilettes fuel pump many more.. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving at an unknown speed with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle hesitated. The vehicle was taken to grayson Ford (333 C w stevens boulevard, grayson, ky 41143, (606) 474-5414) where it was diagnosed that the clutch in the transmission needed to be replaced and that the transmission control module software needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 43,000.
While under warranty I was driving and the engine shut off. I had to coast to the shoulder on the expressway. This happened four times during the warranty and 6 times since the warranty expired. While sitting at a red light, the light turns green and I begin to accelerate. The engine stalled fours times and three other times it almost stalled. I took the car to the dealer while it was under warranty and only once they said they found a problem with the transmission. They replaced some small part but it continues to happen. One of the times it stalled I took a picture of the message on the dash board. It said: Engine failure service immediately. I showed that photo to the service manager and mechanic at Ford. Both of them said the same thing: "I've never seen that before". makes you feel good about the car you bought from them.also, the rear drivers side door won't open most of the time on the first attempt. I have to pull the handle two or three times before the door will open. For replaced some part on the doors because of a recall but that didn't fix the problem. It still does it. This posting asks you to specify the date of occurrence. It has happened so regularly now there are too many dates to list. I lsted may of 2014 when I bought the car. From then on it has had problem after problem after problem.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. On several occasions, while driving various speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle hesitated for 10 to 15 miles before it accelerated at normal speeds. On another occasion, while driving, the engine revved and the vehicle stalled. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to coccia Ford Lincoln Inc (577 E main St, wilkes-barre, pa 18702, (570) 823-8888) on several occasions where it was diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The clutch was replaced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The contact was transferred to the NHTSA hotline. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 27,080.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 5 mph, there was an abnormal odor from the front of the vehicle and the power seized without warning. The vehicle restarted after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (dave sinclair Lincoln St. Peters, 4760 N service rd, St. Peters, mo 63376) where it was diagnosed that the clutch was burned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that NHTSA issued and expanded recalls. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Start with the transmission RPM go between five and seven after a stop sign are trying to merge onto the freeway second all coming off the freeway are coming to a complete stop anywhere in the street the congress poll either left or right you never really know which way causing you to lose control of the car
Hard shifts from 1st to 2nd gear. Clutch replaced 4 times issue occurring again. Causes car to jump forward during shift. Has almost caused numerous accidents. I leave 1 car space between me and the car in front of me at complete stops just in case the transmission shifts hard. Has been happening since a few days after purchase in 2014 to present.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle experienced hesitation, severe vibration, and lack of acceleration. The failure occurred without warning. Air port Ford (8001 burling pike, florence, ky) was contacted and diagnosed that the clutch pack was defective and needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was also taken to browns Ford Lincoln (1701 w main St, West Liberty, ky) where it was diagnosed that the clutch pack was defective and needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
The first incidence (2/26/18) was while stopped on a highway off-ramp, the engine stalled. The car was able to be restarted and driven. On a second occasion (2/28/18), I was driving and in motion on a residential street when the engine shut off. The brakes and steering was not affected and I was able to stop the car and restart the engine. Prior to this, the check engine light came on and I had scheduled service on the car for 3/7/18 (the earliest they had available). The car has had multiple transmission replacements in the few short years that I have owned it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Westerville, OH, USA