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.
Since since bought this car brand-new in 2014 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.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving 30 mph, the engine hesitated and attempted to stall. The transmission warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle would not shift into reverse. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V813000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
My 2014 Ford fous has a shuddering and shifting issues on acceleration. Sometimes my car will not go into gear. Ford keeps telling me that is normal and to bring the car in if the check engine light comes on. My fear is that this will happen in a intersection causing a accident. Ford is just dragging thier feet on this issue until the warranty expires and consumers like me are left with the bill. Ford knows that there are problems and refuses to fix it. Does it take the motoring publc to lose lives before anything is done?
Transmission hesitation from a stop, typically in gear (drive or sportmode), sometimes severe, causing jerking. Been happening literally since I've owned the vehicle, but seems to be now more pronounced, especially after longer drives. On the highway with stop & go traffic, and this problem is very unsettling and dangerous.
When stopped at a light or something, car hesitates like it's gonna die. The RPM's shoot way up and if I go to brake, they like almost get stuck in high RPM. Transmission shutters. Tire pressure warning light stays on when I've checked the tires pressure and everything
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving 10 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle shook and lost power. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission computer needed to updated. The vehicle clutch was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 18,000.
We bought this car to have a safe, reliable vehicle. I live in a mountain community with plenty of wildlife and very few other drivers on the road. My car broke down on the mountain highway when leaving for work at 5:15am. I got barely 2 miles from home and I lost power and the check engine light came on. The car would not accelerate more than 10 miles per hour and jerked, hesitated, made grinding noise. It has hesitated from take off since we've had it. We received a recall notice and took it in immediately. That did nothing to take care of the problem. Now it stopped running completely and the check engine light came on. It was towed to the shop and we have been told that the part (tcm module) is on back order and we could be without our car for 1 to 8 weeks. They could care less that this is our main form of transportation and I will have to get a rental in order to get to work in order to make car payments for a car I can't drive. I escalated my concerns all the way up to corporate customer relations at Ford. So going into the weekend I had no help at all from anyone at Ford and was forced to obtain a rental at my cost. So far I'm looking at $300 and praying that my car is back before I have to return the rental. This is a bunch of [xxx] from Ford. It's all over the internet the issues with these cars. For them to not provide assistance with rentals is the worst possible service ever. I bet they sure will expect my payment on time won't they? I've filed claims with a lemon law attorney and a class action lawsuit attorney. As well on carcomplaints.com, center for auto safety and NHTSA. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
We are experiencing exactly the same issue as many other people (41) reported on this website and more people on other websites on internet. NHTSA conducted official investigation on this issue (NHTSA action number: PE13031). We have to unfortunately report that Ford has not addressed this issue till this date (9-3-2016). Our car was multiple times in different Ford dealerships but none of them were able to resolve the issue. The replaced battery, high voltage harness, reprogrammed PCM and tpm modules several times but the serious safety issue is still present. We have experienced this issue more than 10 times since 2014 (we stopped counting), even 5 times in one day. Issue: The vehicle, while in motion, suddenly loses power and driver receives a red triangle indicator and the message "stop safely now" in the instrument cluster. Driver unfortunately cannot stop safely because the vehicle losses all engine power and is decelerating very fast so the driver doesn't have time to pull over while in traffic or driving on a freeway. We would like NHTSA to take action again as the issue was not addressed in 2013 as stated under NHTSA action number: PE13031. This is safety issue not only for the driver and vehicle occupants but also for other people in surrounding vehicles.
Focus 2014 been in the dealer ship in fairfax..ted's for over a month now.I called 4 times and no one answers my calls or return them...I don't need the car any more since I had to buy another one..I shakes when ever you it starts moving very violently and constantly stall for no reason it's not going anywhere and have some sounds that the whole engine is about to break...the seat belt don't work all the time or the air bags offen start beeping on the dash bord...it's been a really ruff ride for a car that has less then 30000 limes on it...it's been a real problem and headache since I got it...returned it to check few time but nothing...can they pay for my car value"?? or my laon?"
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While accelerating from a stop, the transmission clutch shuttered without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the transmission control module was reprogrammed. The dealer proceeded to remove the transmission to replace the dry clutches. The failure recurred and the dealer repeated the same remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Severe transmission/clutch problems. Shudders, hesitates and surges when shifting or even just driving. Cannot slow then accelerate without stopping without heavy jerking. When trying to pass on a freeway, car falls into neutral and won't accelerate. Car has fewer than 10,000 miles and clutch is already 25% worn.
Drifts backwards in drive, and drifts forward in reverse. New clutch ordered for replacement at no cost. May take up to 10 weeks to receive the clutch. Drifting occurs on any incline. Also, car shudders intermittently while driving, as if front wheels are not turning smoothly (jerking sensation). Purchased car with 26,800 miles on it. Have since learned that this is a common Focus problem. Ford has only extended the warranty coverage to the transmission control module, under customer satisfaction program 14M02. This program states that the Focus may experience intermittent loss of transmission engagement while driving.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle shuddered and shook violently. When shifting between first and second gears, there was an abnormal vibration in the vehicle. On several occasions, when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle over and under accelerated and then hesitated. The dealer diagnosed that the manual clutch, power train control module, and transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000.
Transmission rattles, car cant find proper gear at slow speeds, shifts up and down at random.sometimes no acceleration at takeoff, dangerous pulling out into traffic.tcm has been replaced as well as clutch packs.car has been back to dealer 4 times.purchased new 7/9/2014, ,,,,car has 23000 miles and is still under warrenty.
When starting from a start, the vehicle frequently jumps, surges, and occasionally stalls for several seconds. My wife was nearly hit from behind when entering an interstate highway when the vehicle stalled for several seconds.
Every year (10,000 miles) I take my car back to Ford for a new clutch. I have had two new clutches in two years. The dealer said that Ford will not admit their is a problem. They told me that I will need a new clutch every year. They said Ford only patches the problem and will not spend the resources to repair properly. The transmission is jerky at most speeds under 50 mph. It is jerky on small hills. The sift is inconsistent from day to day. Please help the driving is not safe.
Transmission hesitates and shudders on acceleration, have had it repaired twice and now Ford says that its within the limits and does not need repair drive it some more until it gets worse.
When I first got the car, I noticed, slight jerking and shuddering. I complained to the dealer, and was told it was "learning". it progressively got worse, and would shudder upon hitting the gas after leaving stop lights/signs instead of moving, until it finally got into gear. It would randomly lurch forward, white in traffic if you hit the gas after you were slowing down or stopped. Etc. I contacted the dealer again, and they flashed the module. It stopped for a while, then started getting worse. I contacted the dealer, and they replaced the clutch pack. It would get better, then start happening. I was then told by the dealer, and Ford, this is normal. It's just how the transmission is. While coming off of an exit, I hit the gas and the car pulled onto the road, then just wouldn't move. I pushed the pedal all the way to the floor and it started shuddering, and finally got in gear and lurched forward. I contacting the dealer again, explaining how unsafe the car was with it stopping and shuddering before it will go, or just randomly lurching forward in traffic. The dealer flashed the computer 4 times, and replaced the clutch pack 3 times. It always gets better, then starts happening again. I finally traded the car in. It's very unsafe when you don't know if your car will just stop and shudder while pulling into traffic, or if it will lurch forward when you touch the gas. I've been told there are several complaints about it. Ford now even offers a rebate if you trade in a car with that transmission, but you have to purchase a Ford to get the rebate. They also still manufacture their cars with a known issue.
From the date of purchase in 2014 this car hesitates upon acceleration shutters and shakes. There have been numerous times when I have felt unsafe and at risk for bodily harm. I have taken it to my dealer numerous times and have been told repeatedly "this is the worst transmission Ford has ever made." But they explain that Ford will do nothing about it. "I wish they would, everyone complains about this car." On numerous occasions while traveling between a stopped position and five, 10, or 15 miles an hour this car hesitates shakes and shimmying. I had it in a little over a month ago with the same issue. They did nothing and told me "Ford says if it falls within a certain parameter there is nothing we can do. Our hands are tied." This morning I was heading to a family funeral, pulled out of my driveway tried to accelerate and my car choked and died. I have been unable to get it restarted and had to have it towed to a different dealership hoping to get better customer service. I honestly believe there should be a class action lawsuit against the Ford Motor Company for this inferior product. Also, my radio has never worked correctly. If I turn the rear defrost on there is horrible static over the radio. The dealer just keeps on telling me "you have bad reception. "
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Uncasville, CT, USA