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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.

2014 Ford Focus drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2014 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 53 of 71)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #364

Jul 182016

Focus

  • 12,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle surged and hesitated. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing and the transmission control module needed reprogramming. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also stated that the failure started two weeks after the vehicle was leased in 2014. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was unable to repair the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 12,000.

- Norwalk, OH, USA

problem #363

Jun 012016

Focus

  • 65,000 miles
My 2014 Ford Focus is having problems with shifting and hesitation at starts. The vehicle, at 35 miles per hour, just jerked and then would not accelerate. The engine was still running but would not respond. The check engine light came on and I pulled the vehicle over. Took the vehicle to the dealer and was told the seals had failed and the tcm transmission control module was reset. The problem came back within 3 weeks and the vehicle has now been with the dealer for going on 3 weeks with no resolution. I am reading complaints from across the country that are almost verbatim to my complaint as well as what the dealers are telling the car owners. When will Ford be held accountable for their known problems with this issue.

- Rio Rancho, NM, USA

problem #362

Sep 092014

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving at any speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission and the clutch needed to be replaced. The parts were not available for the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed that she would be called back. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #361

Dec 052015

Focus

  • 4,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving at any speed, when the gear shifter was shifted to the drive position, the vehicle hesitated before it accelerated. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be reprogrammed. The transmission was reprogrammed; however, the failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 4,500.

- Wyomissing, PA, USA

problem #360

May 122014

Focus

  • 200 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving 30 mph, the transmission hesitated without warning. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the dps6 clutch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200.

- Brownsdale, MN, USA

problem #359

Jul 082016

Focus

  • 22,311 miles
The vehicle jerks and jumps to gears, feeling like skipping gears, . I have had it to the dealer a number of times, they replaced clutch, still not better, Ford says that is all they can do. The dealer says a known Ford engineering issue and that they wish they'd get recalled as hundreds at just thsi dealer complaints.

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

problem #358

Jul 072016

Focus

  • 13,488 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. After the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train), the vehicle continued to exhibit transmission failures and the check transmission warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle became inoperable and was towed back to the dealer for diagnostic testing; however, the details of the diagnosis could not be provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,488.

- Pearl, MS, USA

problem #357

Jul 052016

Focus

  • 34,000 miles
Faulty clutch. I have just had the clutch replaced for the second time on the listed vehicle. While picking up the car from the dealer this morning, another Focus came in with the same problem. A coworker has a leased Focus, and he has the same issues. I know two other owners of the Focus, and both have had clutch replacements and continue to have problems. The vehicle, when accelerating, does not shift evenly or smoothly. Often times, it drives as if it is dragging or pulling something, feeling significantly underpowered. When attempting to speed up in situations such as merging into freeway traffic or passing a slower vehicle, it simply will not downshift, or it will down shift too far. Either way, it does not accelerate and poses a safety issue. Last week, before turning the car back into bob maxey (not purchased there, but their service department rocks!), the car would not accelerate while attempting to enter eastbound 1-94 from 12 mile in roseville, mi. I had to take the shoulder because the semi behind did not have room to move over and avoid my Focus that simply would not accelerate fast enough to safely merge into freeway traffic. This is a safety issue and I do not have confidence in this car to perform as it should.

- Chesterfield Township, MI, USA

problem #356

Jun 082016

Focus

  • 8,500 miles
The car shutters during take off. It also shutters at the 10 and 20 mph mark. Clutch was replaced in March 2016 after being on back order for 4 months. Ford extended the warranty on the part because of design issues. Part has malfunctioned again; however, Ford said the shuttering is not sever enough at this time to warrant replacing the part. I have to wait until it shutters worse before they will replace the part.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #355

Jun 242016

Focus

  • 15,000 miles
Almost immediately after purchasing I noticed the vehicle had difficulty shifting properly. It seemed to be jumpy when I accelerated after a complete stop. Then, I began to notice the car struggling to accelerate while I merged into traffic. I felt what could be best described as a frog hopping when I was in stop and go traffic. Turning corners also made my car launch forward then backwards suddenly. Car was repaired. Condition slightly improved but I could still feel a constant hesitation upon acceleration. I became used to having to mash my foot onto the gas to get the car to accelerate normally, then taking my foot off as it violently jumped into each gear. After a few weeks, the problem began to occur upon deceleration too, lunging forward suddenly after I had come to a complete stop. I then began experienced a loss of acceleration while sitting at red lights, or in the middle of intersection, while merging onto a on highway, or going around corner. This annoying condition quickly became a serious safety issue when was almost hit on two occasions because of a failure to accelerate. Clutch was then replaced again. Immediately upon receiving my 'fixed' vehicle for the second time, the sputtering continued. This time it was worse. The vehicles rpms seemed to be out of sync with the gear shifts. The car was constantly revving up and down when I was at a consistent speed. When I accelerated the vehicle jerked, skipped, and seemed to lose power before suddenly kicking into drive. When I came to a stop my vehicle always jerked forward before completely stopping. There were several occasions where I nearly rear ended the car in front of me because it suddenly lunged forward after I braked. Just received my car back after the third fixing and I am still experiencing the same shaking, grinding, jolting, and jumping. I have never felt more unsafe in a vehicle.

- Fort Walton Beach, FL, USA

problem #354

Jun 232016

Focus

  • 24,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Automatic transmission hesitates, lurches, and stalls in motion on a city street at slower speeds.

- North Lauderale, FL, USA

problem #353

Jul 022016

Focus

  • 1 miles
While I was driving my Ford focuse SE it lost the power at the red light. The car died on me, it was the scariest moment, I almost lost my life getting hit by another car trying to push the car to the side. Very unsafe car, would never drive that car again !

- Encino, CA, USA

problem #352

Aug 132015

Focus

  • 10,000 miles
Transmission slipping, rough start, grinding noise. Vehicle has been serviced numerous time. Passenger side front hub and lower arm replaced due to failure of a bearing. Vehicle taken in for the slipping/ rough start, the clutch is on back order. Was told by the service adviser that approximately 38,000 consumers nationwide are waiting for the same part for the same issue. He also advised that the vehicle will always have this issue from having a duel clutch system, and that Ford will not cover any costs past the warranty 36K/50K

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

problem #351

Jun 292016

Focus

  • miles
Transmission shudders from start to 2nd gear. While moving at low speeds (5mph) and accelerating the car jerks that everyone in the car notices. The transmission clutch has been replaced 3 times, the transmission reprogrammed 4 times. Car has less than 40,000 miles. The ball joint has been replaced at 27,000 miles.

- Clearwater, FL, USA

problem #350

Jun 222016

Focus

  • 28,000 miles
Ford Focus 2014 titanium. Faulty transmission replaced after 15,000 miles. Now I'm approaching 29,000 miles, the power train is jerking again and needs to be replaced again. The power train jerks while in forward and reverse.

- Hermosa Beach, CA, USA

problem #349

Jan 012015

Focus

  • 5,000 miles
Car was bought new by me in August 2014 with 34 miles on it. At 5,000 miles the transmission began shuttering when accelerated from a stop and now shutters from a stop and when accelerated in motion. The vehicle now has about 14,000 miles on it and it is a normal occurrence for the car to shake and shutter when accelerated.

- Assonet, MA, USA

problem #348

Jun 102016

Focus

  • 30,000 miles
Have had vehicle for 1 year & feels like transmission slipping, jerky, & feel unsafe in car. Has been to dealership twice for computer updates & is just getting worse. No longer want car & very unsafe to have car jerking & I feel like it is going to break down any minute.

- Damascus, PA, USA

problem #347

Jun 232016

Focus

  • miles
I have reported to my dealership and Ford Motor Company that I do not feel safe driving my 2014 Ford Focus it has bad hesitation, and jerks and shudders and even rolls backwards on a very small incline at a stop light. When you try to pass a vehicle it will start cutting out which is extremely dangerous. I am afraid that it will get me and my family hurt and I bought it brand new less then a year ago for over $20,000 and now my dealership told me they would only give $14,000 for it and they sold it to me knowing that there was an issue. It has been in the shop already 5 or 6 times now they tell me that they have ordered another clutch pack this will make the second one they put in it since I bought less then a year ago but it is back ordered for 2 months. Their mechanic already told me that this is another temporary fix. Please help

- Birch Tree, MO, USA

problem #346

Mar 072016

Focus

  • 24,000 miles
My vehicle was purchased new and currently has 29,000 miles on it. The air bag housing was loosed and has play on it, when reported to a Ford dealer in merced ca, I was told their was nothing wrong. The other issue is the transmission, it slips. I recently recieved notices in the mail from 3rd party lawyers stating that it is a common problem with the Focus, and "shuttering" may also appear. The lower arm, rotor housing was recently replaced because of the bearings failing due to "freezing up." Ford representatives are down playing the shuttering and saying it is due to a program issue, and "when" it occurs, to bring it in.

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

problem #345

Jun 172016

Focus

  • 8,750 miles
Transmission hesitates and actually fails to move the car especially starting from a stop or on an incline. Can't be sure when I step on gas that it will move. When it does it sounds like a race car and and your head hits the headrest because it jerks from sudden acceleration. Scary to drive. Stopped in traffic on a hill friday6/17/2016 tried to continue when light changed and the car would not move then it learched forward. Been in 2 times to dealer.

- Youngstown, OH, USA

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