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 contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the dealer replaced the clutch assembly three times, but the failure continued. The vehicle randomly stalled, lunged forward, and the gears skipped several times when placed in reverse. The contact was unable to determine if the vehicle would be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no solution. The failure mileage was not available.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle failed to shift properly without warning. The failure occurred on two occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving 5 mph, the vehicle jerked violently without warning. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to move forward and shook forcefully. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that the transmission slipped while shifting into gear. The dealer made three attempts to reset the computer system, but the failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 49,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond and shuttered without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the internal clutch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. While driving at an unknown speed, the rear hatch open warning indicator illuminated. In addition, the doors began to lock and unlock independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V643000 (latches/locks/linkages); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was 24,172. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Hamilton, OH, USA
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The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shuttered and jerked without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the transmission was the reason for the failure and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was brought back to the dealer a total of twelve times for the same failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated and made an abnormal noise when it came to a complete stop. The failure progressed without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
Repeated issues with transmission, shuttering when driving. Also have had the care hesitate when accelerating from a stopped location almost causing an accident two different times. Took car into dealer to get fixed and they stated they were unable to find issue. Contacted Ford Motor Company corporate office requesting a buyback due to the unsafe conditions, they did an "good faith review" and informed me that they would not buy back my car. The would not explain the reasoning or issue and paperwork showing the review, "Ford does not have to release the findings since it was a good faith review".
Since I bought a used 2014 Ford Focus, this year, there has been a grinding stuttering shaking and jerking of the transmission when in motion. This happens whether the car is on the highway or at a low rate of speed but mostly when driving forward from park. Ford attempted to upgrade the software to the transmission several times which has never worked. This is a known issue to Ford and they are claiming that it is a characteristic of the transmission and it is normal activity. The transmission shutters and jerks so much that the car will not shift and will not move forward appropriately and I have come close to getting rear-ended several times because the transmission cannot catch up with the acceleration. I am asking Ford for assistance in trading the car in since the value in the car depreciated so much because of all of the transmission issues and they are refusing to help me. My third Ford, never again!!!
Every time I have to take it back to dealer for transmission repair or recall its worse than before they worked on it. Every time I take off it jumps & jerks, every time I remove my foot from accelerator it down shifts.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. When attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle jumped as if it would accelerate at a high speed. The dealer stated that there may be an issue with the transmission; however, they were unable to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The approximate failure mileage was 46,000. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle rolled backwards suddenly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to have the software updated. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced violent jerking and hesitation when accelerating from a complete stop. The failure occurred without warning. The dealer diagnosed that the failure was inherent to the vehicle's transmission. The vehicle had its software updated, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100.
I've have had to have three updates done for the transmission. About a month ago, I almost got killed pulling onto a country highway, due to inability to pick up power and they had to replace the clutch. Today, the car had to be towed to the dealership due to lack of power, hesitating, and odd noise while driving. This car isn't 2 years old, and it's been constant problems.
While driving on city streets the transmission slips and jerks and sounds like it's going to fall out of the vehicle. This is a known issue by Ford with this vehicle and is unsafe to drive, especially merging into traffic. Ford needs to buy all these vehicles back! this continues to happen on a daily basis. It's been in for repair twice and a recall once. Still not fixed. I would sell this car if I could but the value has dropped significantly due to this known issue.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked violently when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the diagnostic results were not disclosed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200.
My transmission has been progressively getting worse on my 2014 Ford Focus. It shudders, jerks, and hesitates when I start accelerating. I took it to the dealer for service and they have to change the clutches which takes them 8 days! the car has only 27,500 miles on it.
Clutch in automatic transmission is stalling, car shutters at 24,000 miles. Car doesn't want to go up hills, and acts mine it's stalling out when you pull out. This is my daughters car and I do not feel she is safe.
Within the first 10,000 miles of ownership the transmission in our 2014 Ford Focus has been rebuilt and the clutch has been rebuilt/fixed as well as multiple software updates applied, and we have complained every time we take the car in for service that the transmission is still broken. It shudders, jerks, rumbles, hard shifts and even comes close to stalling with no acceleration/movement at times. I fear driving it that I cannot take off from a stop safely without the transmission failing and I will end up being hit by another vehicle as a result. This transmission is dangerous and will result in accidents. Worst transmission I have ever owned and Ford will not fix nor buy us out of the car...its a lemon!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Portland, OR, USA