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.
This is the second Ford Focus I have purchased and have had problems with manual transmission. I feel the dealer should of told me that the problem was not taken care of before selling me another vehicle that was still having problems. When starting out at a stop sign the car shimmies, and sputters before getting any power.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced hesitation, jerking, and shuttering while being operated at lower speeds. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed as a shuttering transmission. The remedy was not provided. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was approximately 10.
2014 Ford Focus. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle transmission issues. The consumer stated the vehicle had no power, it jerked and slipped upon take off. When driving up a hill, the vehicle went very slow.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate and the transmission would slip. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis where it was diagnosed that the transmission crank had failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 24,000.
- Bullhead City, AZ, USA
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The vehicle shifts between gears bad, sometimes late and sometimes not at all. Also the vehicle does not shift past third gear. This is not a one time issue, the car continues to operate this way.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, the vehicle jerked violently without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
12,771 miles, starter replaced. 14,207 miles, fuel pump replaced. 18,249 miles fuel pump replaced and transmission control module reprogram for failure. 19,999 miles replace clutch and starter motor assembly. About 24,000 miles, car no start, battery replaced "bad battery". 29,975 miles car no start, jumped to start. 31,500 miles no start, battery replaced "bad battery". approx 32,750 miles, replace clutch and whatever else they may find. This car stutters in first gear (automatic transmission) when it was purchased it was fine and then a month later it started to shake and stutter on acceleration from a stop, whether in traffic or in the driveway. Ford told us that it was a "smart transmission" and that it had to get used to two people driving the car although I am the primary driver. New "clutch pac" only temporarily solves the problem and then it starts all over again after a month or so. We have also had a no starting issue. We received a letter from Ford about it, but they cant seem to help and wont replace tcm because they say the dealers can't show the part is malfunctioning.
I purchased a certified 2014 Ford Focus in August 2015 with 48K miles. Drove it like two weeks without any issue, afterwards this terrible jerking, grinding and shudder noise started when accelerating from a stop sign or try to slow down and accelerate near speed bumpers or when accelerating while getting a turn. I took it to the dealer. They did a software update and said it needs to drive 1000 miles or so to automatically reprogram the transmission's computer by understanding my driving patterns. I felt some improvement compared to how it used to jerk while changing gears in low gears. But still shudder (or grinding) noise can be hear once in a while when accelerating from a stop or driving low speeds at speed bumps or while getting a 90 deg turn. Most recently I felt a massive jerking and grinding noise again during a cold day when temp below 50F for the first time in the fall this year. This time it is pretty bad and I don't feel safe driving specially when it is snowing...!! Ford need to fix these cars asap..!!
Our Ford Focus has been chugging and slipping on start from a stop. Ford has replaced the clutch and now 5 months later the clutch needs T be replaced again. Ford isn't honoring the extended power train. This is a none defect and a real safety issue
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While at a stop sign and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate without warning. In addition, the gear shifter would shift into another gear independently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer three times, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
I purchased a new 2014 Ford Focus in February 2015 with 15 miles on it. Drove the car for 5 months with no issues, then in June I noticed a terrible shudder when accelerating from a stop sign. It also makes a grinding noise while trying to get in gear and take off. I have taken the car back to the originating dealership 6 times so far. I''ve had the clutch replaced, the transmission has been reprogrammed 4 times, and still no fix. I will not allow anyone to drive the car, nor will I let anyone ride with me in it due to the poor performance. The car is extremely dangerous to operate and very embarrassing to myself on the road. It has changed the way I drive other cars as well. I anticipate a shudder, lurch, jerk, grind from other cars while I'm driving do to what I experience on a daily basis in this car. The time, stress and frustration this car has caused me and my family is exhausting and so disappointing. This is the first Ford that I've purchased and will definitely be my last. Word of mouth goes a long way too.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While attempting to accelerate from a stop, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the rpms increased; however, the vehicle hesitated to move forward. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired. The clutch was replaced and recalibrated, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and repaired four times for the exact same failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle lost power and would not accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle shuddered. After shutting off the vehicle and restarting the engine, the vehicle operated normally. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000....updated 12/28/16 updated 01/03/17.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times due to a clutch assembly failure. The transmission jerked when the vehicle was started, and the vehicle lunged forward while at a stop and on a hill. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice to service the vehicle for two different recall remedies, which failed to remedy the failures. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V698000 (latches/locks/linkages, structure). The manufacturer indicated that the parts may not become available until mid 2017. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 12/20/16 updated 12/22/16.
Following my low tire pressure indicator coming on, I noticed the power steering issue as I was pulling into a parking spot, and my steering wheel made a squeaking or whining sound. Later, while driving on a city street, as I began to make a turn, my steering wheel started hesitating, and making a gear stripping noise; the steering column locked up and when I tried to turn the wheel it made a loud squeaking sound. Also, my transmission shutters whenever I accelerate and slow down. The transmission issue was initially repaired via a software update before the warranty expired, but it has since started to malfunction again.
Transmission in the new 2014 Ford Focus started shuddering and slipping. It would roll backwards on hills. It would slip in slower traffic. On takeoff it would shudder. Took this in to have fixed. And has been in shop 3 times. This is dangerous in traffic. 4 different times was almost hit by another vehicle when I would try to take off and they would slam on their brakes behind me. And it would just Ram on take off at a light and almost hit vehicle in front of me. This is dangerous and many have reported this to Ford. Seems no one can get anything done. This is a major problem with the transmissions. This should have already been on the recall list. Please help all of us whom have suffered and been scared for our lives. Please look into this thoroughly. So many many complaints
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- North Myrtle Beach, SC, USA