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.
I bought this car used in December 2015. It has been in the shop twice since I bought it. It shudders when taking off and going up a hill. It also rolls backward by itself. It is definitely unsafe to drive. I bought additional warranty with it. I was just informed when I picked it up after being repaired the last time that Ford Focus has a junk transmission and will got out again. I realize that it is not covered under the lemon law because it was purchased used but the main concern is the safety. It rolled backwards on a slight hill even though I had my foot on the brake. It was a city street. Luckily, the person behind me was not too close and the I had stopped a little ways from the person in front of me, because I had to gas it to get it to quit rolling backwards.
The transmission/engine hesitates/stalls while driving. Rough accelaration.the first time this happened I was driving on the freeway 65mph and notice the vehicle was driving weird when trying to accelerate, when I slowed down the car would shake when trying to gain speed again. I immediately got off of the freeway pulled into a parking lot to look the car over. Turned off the car to call someone, tried turning the car back on within 5 minutes and the car had completely locked down, had to call a tow truck to tow to dealer car had 21,000 miles on it. Dealer stated the issue would be fixed some type of update needed done to the transmission. The update did not fix the problem but the dealer states everything is working properly. The car still hesitates on acceleration. I bought the car for my teen driver but I am afraid to let him drive it because I don't know how safe the car is. There is a serious issue with how this car operates on acceleration.
My car was not fixed. The car continues to hesitates or putters while driving. I was wondering if the government could file a class action suit against Ford concerning this problem. I talked to a representative at corporate office and that person seems to not be concerned. He told me that the only open recall was concerning the door latch. Recalls were VIN specific. How outrageous is that. Please help me with this problem. I am a faithful Ford purchaser. Ford should be held accountable for its product. Can an recall be reissued due to lack of effectiveness? thank you for your time and response. I don't know when the problem first started.
I contacted Ford local and corporate. Ford corporate told me that recalls were VIN specific. I told them that was concerning. I am still having problems with my puttering car. I took the car in for a recall previously and the problem was not fix. The general manager called me in response to my not being satisfied. He left a message. I did not return his call. Recently, I got another recall concerning door latch. I set up an appointment for that recall. The previously recall with the switch was not fixed properly. Now my car defrost system is not working. Sometimes my seatbelt won't buckle. Why want Ford take responsibility concerning their products. I am an avid Ford buyer. Please document my concerns concerning by engine stalling, defroster and seatbelt. I noticed that there were 8 recalls for the 2014 Ford Focus. I relayed this to Ford. They told me that recall were VIN specific. I have contacted you before concerning a complaint. I am schedule to visit local Ford service department for the door latch recall tomorrow. Thank you for your response and help. I really don't remember the dates of all these problems. [xxx] 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 starting to drive the vehicle, it shook violently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,343.
- Gretna, LA, USA
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Engine over revving to shift. No engine revving or acceleration while turning. Rough shifting. Engine hesitation. Cannot maintain highway speed.gears slipping. This is the second clutch pack (they last about 10K miles) on a vehicle with 21,000 miles. The car was dangerous to drive and had to be towed to the service center.
I filed a complaint under the mn lemon law due to repeated transmission issues on my car. When driving the vehicle it is quite noticeable that the transmission does not shift properly because it causes the vehicle to shudder when shifting. The vehicle is an automatic transmission, but at times it feels like I'm driving a very sensitive manual transmission and will cause a shudder feeling at shift. I have taken my vehicle in to North country Ford in coon rapids, mn on 4 separate occasions. The dates were 8/27/15, 10/16/2015, 2/18/16 and 8/21/16. The dealer has been unable to permanently fix the issue and my concern is that this has been a repeated problem with my car and that it could be costly to me in the near future.
Since I purchased the vehicle (new), I have had problems with the engine. I have taken it to be repaired to an authorized Ford deal during the 3 years I have owned it - once, they replaced/rebuilt the clutch, twice for updates to the computer, and a separate time for the tires and wheel well (the dealership said some of the problems were caused by unevenness in tires, the wheel well also needed repair after my tires were rotated). The car consistently struggles to accelerate after coming to stop, such as at a yield, merge, stop sign, stop lights, or from slowing down. It shakes, jerks, stutters, makes a creaking metal sound, and most concerning, stalls. I have been told by the dealership the vehicle needs to learn my driving style, however, three years is an unacceptable amount of time. I take the car to the dealership for all maintenance. I have my oil changed and tires rotated regularly, in addition to the inspection done by the dealership at that time. When I press on the gas from a slowed or stopped position, the car should accelerate, but it stalls. It consistently stalls every time I drive it. This is not safe, especially since this is a brand new car. I have continued taking it for repairs to a Ford authorized dealership only, leaving the vehicle for days at a time, and the problem has not been resolved. Additionally, the mileage I get with the car is lower than expected and a Ford employee asserted to me it is due to the engine issues.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving at any speed and merging onto the highway, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle hesitated and would not accelerate. The vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred numerous times. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 21,000. Updated 03/29/17lj
Transmission shudders while changing gears. Had bommarito Ford dealership in hazelwood, mo inspect on 12/7/2016. Was told the clutch needs replacement. The car has 19,674 miles when inspected. Clutch is backed order and the car has not been fixed.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shuttered when the brake pedal was released. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch and seal needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 73,500.
My car has bad hesitation incredibally jerky when starting grinding noises transmission not shifting properly Ford mechanics have admitted to knowing about the problem and has told Ford that it is dangerous. Hesitation when accelerating especially at lower gears. Make sit very dangerous to cross busy intersections. Currently don't have any pictures but plan to start recording my car.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power while driving 75 mph on the highway. The check engine indicator illuminated on the instrument panel when the failure occurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 86,000. Updated 02/07/2017 consumer state vehicle is still stalling at times. Updated 7/13/18
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While attempting to make a left turn, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was an issue with the transmission. Also, the PCM/tcm clutch needed to be re-learned. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 27,300.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. After attempting to drive, the vehicle reached first and second gear, stalled, but continued to roll. The dealer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was operating as designed. The contact mentioned that the failure was progressing and felt unsafe driving the vehicle. The failure mileage was 40.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle jerked or accelerated as soon as the brake pedal was released and without depressing the accelerator pedal. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the transmission module was reprogrammed. The issue persisted and the vehicle was taken to the dealer again where the clutch was replaced. The failure recurred 1,000 miles later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a third time where the transmission module was reprogrammed again. The contact stated that the clutch also needed to be replaced, but the part was unavailable. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was given the number csp:14M01 to have the warranty extended. The failure mileage was 35,000.
From the first week I had the car something has been wrong with the transmission. It jerks and doesn't accelerate like it should, makes a horrible crunching sound. Several times I have been in the turning lane and had ample room to turn before a car got to me but the car jerks and stalls so that I have almost been hit because it has no power. The dealer had the car for a week, said they "couldn't replicate" what I reported. It doesn't do it every time but if they really drove it for a week, it would happen. Everyone who ever rides in the car with me asks why it chugs like it does. I'm going to get into a wreck one day because I should have plenty of time to make my turn but the car stalls and chugs so much that it takes much longer than it should to get safely into where I am turning. It makes me pick a date below, but this is a several times a week for 3 years occurrence.
On accelleration the vehicle shutters and rumbles and doesn't "go". I don't have the gas mileage for this vehicle that was advertised as this rumbling and shuttering stalls the movement and created a sort of push back and causes the RPM's to skip and jump. It happens so much at times I can't seem to move the car and I worry that I will be stalled during an intersection or attempt to get out of traffic flow. My car has 42,000 miles at this point. It happens every time I drive and every time the car shifts from 1st to 2nd gears. I have a "power transmission".
I purchased this Focus in September of 2013. Little did I realize that this was probably one of the worst mistakes I made in my life thus far. I didn't even have the car 3 months before the transmission issue started happening. I don't drive erratic or aggressive I have taken the car to the dealership 12 times for the same issue since I have bought it, to the point that I have made friends with some of the guys there. The clutch has been replaced 4 times and the module has been reprogrammed and everything that Ford claims will "fix" the issue. It has not been fixed, the most recent time I took the car to fix it I couldn't accelerate onto the highway because the gears wouldn't grab after second, then the car stalled and the engine shut off, so I had to nurse the car to the side of the road and restart it and I finally made it to the dealership. I called Ford, and the bad thing is, is that they know that this problem exists they just don't want to do anything because they know that they will lose money. I finally spoke to a rep at Ford that directed me towards the BBB because she found out that I was in the military, saying that the military members shouldn't have to deal with things like this because we do so much for the country. I have contacted the BBB and they finally said that they will have a resolution within 14 days from yesterday. And what is really alarming is that the only reason I found out about the BBB option is because of my military service. It is ridiculous because I know this issue is nationwide and Ford wants nothing to do with it. It is sad to say like with the issue that Toyota had with their cars is that someone has to die and sue Ford before this issue will get resolved, unless you want to take direct action against Ford.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Sevierville, TN, USA