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.
Got home today and smelled burning oil as I parked my car. I went upstairs to grab some paper towels so that I could check the dipstick and I noticed the whole parking garage stank of burning oil when I came back down. I discovered 2 new small oil leaks coming from bolts on the engine. I am seriously upset, this car has 44k and the engine is starting to weep oil from everywhere. I'll be shocked if it even gets to 100k.
My car was brought to the dealer less than 6 months after the powertrain warranty expired (it had 39,000 miles). It was going in to get the clutch pack replaced (already ridiculous). They informed me there is a highly concerning oil leak that needed to be addressed. I told them not to fix it because they also said my front brake pads were metal to metal (Which I knew to be a lie because I had checked them prior to bringing the car in).
I checked out the car myself after I got it back from the clutch repair and found that the engine was indeed leaking oil where they said it was. I have been watching it and I don't see a concerning amount of oil loss from the dipstick, but the underside of my engine is coated in oil. This car had less than 40k on it at the time the leak was discovered and the power train warranty had barely just ended - and of course zero sympathy from the shady Ford dealer. Bill Mitchell at Bill Pierre Ford, you should be ashamed of yourself for lying about issues on a car. If I was less knowledgeable I could easily have been conned out of the $500 you wanted for front brakes. I am uploading photos of the underside of the engine to show the oil leak as well as a photo of one of my front brakes to show they are not even close to metal on metal.
Update from Mar 5, 2020: Forgot to add, it was going to be $1300 to fix the oil leak PLUS $500 more to fix the "worn brakes"
DO NOT BUY A FOCUS. This is not a rant, these cars are known to have extreme transmission and clutch problems, water pump failures, and oil leaks. My car has now developed a front cover oil leak like the other 99% of Focus cars on the road. The replacement parts have been ordered and the job is expected to take the full day. It would be cheaper to own a Ferrari than own a 2014 Ford Focus off warranty. Be warned!
I have changed oil in every car I have ever owned. I'm 60 years old and thats a lot of oil changes. I change the oil in this this 2014 Ford focus SE 4dr Hatchback and the Ed Butts Ford said the oil filter leaked out the oil and blew the engine. Now Ford wants 5 thousand dollars for a new Engine. These engines can not be rebuild. I hope you do not buy one of these vehicles. Not worth the headache you're going to get yourself into. Anyone want to buy a Ford. I'm replacing the engine then selling this junk.
- Daryl B.,
San Dimas, CA, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Brought my car in to have the recall fixed and received a phone call that on top of the transmission problem I had an oil leak. The explanation for the oil leak in my new car was the harsh MN winter. Once again treated as a dumb woman who knows nothing about cars. I do know that my brand new car that lived in the garage all winter and had only 10000+ miles should not have an oil leak. I have never had this problem with past cars.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
click to see larger images
Got home today and smelled burning oil as I parked my car. I went upstairs to grab some paper towels so that I could check the dipstick and I noticed the whole parking garage stank of burning oil when I came back down. I discovered 2 new small oil leaks coming from bolts on the engine. I am seriously upset, this car has 44k and the engine is starting to weep oil from everywhere. I'll be shocked if it even gets to 100k.
- Kieran S., Seattle, WA, US