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.
Focus was bought brand new with 24 miles on it, December of 2013. Around 6 months into having it the Focus started to shudder anytime the gas pedal was pressed, then will take off like normal after a few seconds. This is happening driving down the road or coming from a stop. We've almost been hit several times due to delays in intersections. It has been taken to Ford many times first they would tell us "oh it is just the way the engine works, it's how you get great mileage".. then heard about the recall, took it in and they replaced the ac clutch telling us that is why it shuddered. Not even a week later same problems started happening. They kept refusing to fix the problem. Now, after the manufactor warranty is expired they tell us the clutches need to be replaced, and that it is not covered under transmission warrenty.. this has been on going since 2014, it needs to be fixed. Also the horn stopped working one day for no reason at all, they looked at that it. The tech said they need to replace the entire horn and that its a common problem among the Focus. This is unacceptable and Ford needs to fix these problems.
I was driving my 2014 Ford Focus came to a light to make a right turn, came to a stop, then proceeded to turn when car hesitate to drive when I pressed on the gas, it was like the car had shut down, engine like was flashing, but was able to coast to a area where I was safe. Turned ignition off then tried to restart, car would not start.
For the second time now, my transmission is jerking, stuttering, and hesitating, with the addition of it completely not going into drive at all this time, and the check engine light came on. This issue has been known by Ford for a very long time, and you at the NHTSA have been informed as well. The dealership supposedly fixed this once, and I have that paperwork, but like thousands of other consumers who are having this issue and had it supposedly fixed, it has returned! why are you waiting until this actually kills someone, before you do anything? my fiance was at an onramp entrance that was right at the gas station when this happened this time and because it wouldn't even switch to drive, he was almost rear ended. Someone is going to get hurt or killed with this transmission. It effects people in various ways, at various times, has caused some people to receive tickets because it refused to decelerate in school zones, which could have killed children, it stutters upon acceleration and then jerks into speed, it doesn't go into gear at times, it isn't shifting properly, and all kinds of stuff. And even when the dealership "fixes" it, it is a temporary fix and it goes back into the same issue within 40,000 miles. This is a very serious and dangerous issue that isn't being taken seriously enough! it is very well known by Ford, as when I took it to dealership for this the first time, the guy (I have all his info and paperwork) informed me that just at that dealership alone, they do about three of those trans issues per day. All they do is " see history for sop. Installed bv6Z 7B546 F: clutch asy. Verified concern. Check oasis. Found tsb 15-0120. Reprogrammed PCM and tcm. Cleared codes....removed and replaced transmission and new clutch...reprogrammed...etc.." which is only a temporary fix and they know it. Everyone has to bring back over and over! someone will die!!
When driving vechical it will sometimes shutter when going up an incline and when I stops at a stop light or sign and I accelerate the car to go the car will lung forward at times. I have a little over 17,000 miles on my car and as of August 7th 2017 the cluches have to be replaced by a Ford dealership.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While attempting to accelerate to approximately 70 mph, the vehicle failed to respond or would jerk excessively until the desired speed was reached. Broadway Ford diagnosed that the clutch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact returned the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed the same failure. The contact was informed that the failure would continue despite a repair. The vehicle was not repaired and the contact traded in the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened case number: 12381390. The contact stated there was a class action lawsuit; however, because the vehicle only received diagnostic testing regarding the failure twice rather than at least three times, the contact was not able to receive reimbursement. The approximate failure mileage was 21,000.
- Greenbay, WI, USA
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The transmission on this vehicle is terrible. I have taken the car in for the recall on the clutch assembly but that has not helped the issue. There is major hesitation when first apply the gas pedal at take off and it cause the car to "jump" or hesitate. This as almost caused accidents on may occasions and you have to be really careful when pulling into the flow of traffic. I feel that it is a real safety issue and I am not sure what the fix is since they have repaired it once already. It doesn't happen on a highway, it only happens when taking off from a stopped position. This has been an on going issue since I purchased the vehicle. It is the last Ford product I will ever own, bad design
When driving at low speeds transmission shimmers and there is hesitaion. Also when staring off from a stop the car is slow at accelerating. Windshield wipers when set to low or high only run for a few minutes then switch to intermittent. I was almost in an accident today telraveling at 50 mph because the windshield wiper issue in a bad storm wipers stopped and went to intermittent. The power train issue started in 2015.
Delayed acceleration and problems with downshifting result in unsafe movement. These unsafe conditions occur when accelerating from a stop, decelerating, and while in motion on city streets and highways. The clutch has been replaced twice and yet the problem continues. My vehicle only has 38,000 miles on it. These problems have been present since the day I drove the brand new car off the lot. I have not been in an accident because of this yet, but feel very unsafe and an accident is inevitable. Ford service has been unable to fix the problem.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle did not accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact called the manufacturer and was advised to bring the vehicle to the dealer (peacock Ford in maitland, Florida) for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was diagnosed as having clutch failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred four other times and the vehicle was taken to sun state Ford in orlando, Florida. The clutch was replaced again, but the failure recurred. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.
2014 Ford Focus. Consumer writes in regards to transmission slips and shudders. Consumer states vehicle has manual transmission disguised as automatic transmission. The consumer was advised by the dealer that vehicle was operating as designed. The vehicle was reprogrammed and the clutch was replaced. The failure worsened. The maufacturer was contacted, but did not offer any assistance.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While the vehicle was at a complete stop, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle jerked, stalled, and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. In addition, the contact experienced a failure with the gear shifter changing gears. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (monaco Ford, 767 new london turnpike, glastonbury, ct, 06033, ) where it was diagnosed that the E-vap chamber failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
Ford Focus will lose power on the highway. Ford told me that's how the car is and that the clutch on the Focus and fiesta are faulty from the factory. The car is a 2014 with 62,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle would experience severe jerking and vibration when shifting gears. The vehicle was taken to the dealer jurgeson Ford located in rich field, Utah where the vehicle was diagnosed that the clutch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The clutch was replaced but approximately 4 years later the failure had reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 24,000.
There is a problem with my tmc which controls my clutch. The tmc had to be recalibrate a year and a half ago and a new clutch need to to be installed. When there is an issue the car "shudders", loses speed, has trouble merging into traffic or taking turns. Again my car felt the same way. Apparently this time there is nothing wrong with the tmc, but the clutch needs to be replaced again, just about 18 months later. To have my clutch replaced twice within three years seems absurd. Even the dealership notes that the clutch package put in my car the first time had known issues and weren't that great. This is a safety concern for myself and others on the road. I'd hope Ford or someone looks further into this. There seems to be a class action law suit in the works, but I at least wanted to voice my safety concerns. Kindest regards
On May 6, 2017 while driving on the highway at approximately 55-60 miles per hour, the engine suddenly propulsion, and effectively stalled. The check engine light came on simultaneously. (it was not on before). The vehicle slowly lost power. I was able to get it off the highway and safely into a parking lot. I had it towed to a nearby Firestone, which ran a diagnostic which revealed that a portion of the engine was defective and has resulted in splicing of wires, which needed to be replaced. I was informed that there is a technical service bulletin, #14-0215 but that for is refusing to pay for the repairs even though the vehicle still is under powertrain warranty. The vehicle seized and effectively stalled on the highway without warning, and I'm lucky that no one was harmed. See attached invoice for repair information.
On accelerating car will jerk /stutter as in not go..this happens also after slowing to go through a dip then accelerating to go again, happens after slowing to make a turn.also.happens when accelerating to go up inclines sometimes to as if it can't decide what gear it wants to be in..my car has an automatic transmission..sometimes scared me cause will do it when I'm pulling into on coming traffic..and car won't go.I have contacted service dept at Ford and they told me this year vehicle was known for this..I again have scheduled an appt for it to be checked..this has been going on since I first acquired my car in Aug 31 2016...
When beginning to accelerate the transmission has a delay and/or a 'buck' causing hesitation or unwanted surge in acceleration. I have had this to the dealer soon after purchase and they did not resolve.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while accelerating from a red light at 4 mph, the vehicle jerked forward as the clutch slipped. The vehicle was taken to ramsey Ford located at 1233 telegraph rd, rising sun, md 21911 where it was diagnosed that the clutch had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred two more times. The vehicle was taken to ramsey Ford each time, given the same diagnosis, and given the same repairs. The failure then recurred a third time and the vehicle was taken to a dealer located at 1701 belair rd, bel air, md 21014, where it was diagnosed that the clutch had again failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate from a stop. The contact had to remove his foot from the accelerator pedal in order for the vehicle to accelerate. The failure recurred four times. The vehicle was taken to the jc lewis Ford dealer in savannah, ga where it was diagnosed that the clutch failed due to age and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that a few years ago, the transmission was reprogrammed, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that his VIN was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 mph and when the vehicle needed to switch gears, it failed to down shift. The contact attempted to reverse the vehicle to avoid being in traffic however the reverse function failed as well. The contact had the vehicle towed to the koons silver spring Ford dealer who diagnosed that the transmission and clutch failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the clutch had previously replaced on June 10, 2015. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the repair was previously provided due to the customer satisfaction warranty which had since expired. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fort Campbell, KY, USA