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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:
9 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,248 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 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2014 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 3 of 15)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #250

Sep 192020

Focus

  • 58,000 miles

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

Ongoing electrical issues that may or may not be related. Vehicle will "stall" while in motion or while powered on but stopped at a light for example. It's an electric vehicle so the cause of the stall is unclear. Vehicle will be inoperable for 1-10 minutes, including power steering while the system resets. This happens usually at slow speeds or while stopped - in reverse, climbing hills, stopped at traffic lights. The problem was "fixed" in October 2019 and we were told that something doing while addressing one of the electrical recalls had caused the problem. Now it's happening again and Ford can't tell us why. We've been stranded pulling out of our driveway in the path of on coming traffic, blocking one lane roads in our neighborhood and at intersections.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #249

Aug 242020

Focus

  • 86,000 miles
The vehicle stalls out at the red lights while waiting for the light to turn green. The vehicle completely shuts down. Then my daughter has to put on the hazard (she is 17) and put it park, then pray the vehicle starts again. Just had the 2 recalls done however was told we need by a purge valve which I found online with these year models when I look up 2014 Ford Focus shutting down during waiting for a red light. It also struggles to get in 1st and 2nd gear. It shutters and jumps. Once you get the vehicle over 40-50 mph on the road it feels okay but when you have to come to a complete stop, good luck. My daughter is terrified to drive the vehicle. When I went to walker Ford, I was told there was nothing they can do about this issue however its all over the internet. What can I do to help my 17 year old daughter feel more comfortable driving?

- Pinellas Park, FL, USA

problem #248

Sep 022020

Focus

  • 61,000 miles
For some time now I have been trying to get 2 recalls fixed on my vehicle : 18V735 and 16V643. When I previously called the dealership they did not have the parts yet for the recalls. Just yesterday while driving with a passenger in the rear seat of the car the rear door came open by itself and now will not close. I called the dealership (loganville Ford in monroe Georgia) who told me 1. that they could not get me in for the repair until next Wednesday (9/9) and 2. they would not provide a loaner vehicle. I explained first that how was I supposed to drive a vehicle for a week with a door that would not close? and second this is my only mode of transportation, this is not something I did to my vehicle, this is a safety defect by the manufacturer that needs to be addressed and Ford and / or the dealership needed to provide a loaner or a rental (at the manufacturers expense) until the safety repairs can be addressed and made. I further explained that safety recalls should take precedence over other repairs as it is a hazard and someone can get hurt. Both Ford and the dealership are both denying use of a loaner and I am yet to hear back about a rental at the manufacturers expense and I do not think it will come to fruition. I am going to reiterate, this is not something that I did to my vehicle, this is a serious safety recall that needs to be addressed. If the latches can be replaced on all 4 doors and the fuel tank deformation can all be repaired in a few hours I have no problem waiting on the vehicle, however we know that these repairs never take less than one day, all reports I read say it may take up to 4. that said, Ford needs to provide either a loaner or a rental at their expense, not mine. This is my last stop to get closure in this case, I have spoken to far too many people and am not getting anywhere, my next stop will be to the local and national news.

- Monroe, GA, USA

problem #247

Jul 262020

Focus

  • miles

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

I was driving home when out of nowhere, my vehicle is starting to stall and I kept punching the gas and it was like the key was off. Luckily, even tho I was in traffic, I was in the right hand lane and there was a shoulder I was able to pull over on. You can turn it over and it quickly stalls. When I got my vehicle to be code read, it said, 'no fuel delivered to the fuel rail.' I could have caused or been in a horrible wreck if luck had not been that I was close to a shoulder to pull over at. I was on the highway driving in multiple lanes this is a safety issue

- Nampa, ID, USA

problem #246

May 142020

Focus

  • 45 miles
I want to fine a complaint against the Ford dealer. I have approximately 3 months with problem. It's because of gas evaporations. I had with me a latter that Ford send me to me for recall which I had to have it repaired and they want to charge me for it. Supposedly they repaired that, when they never did and proof of this is that there is the problem as well as the transmission they just marked done and they never did I, because I don't have the problem before and now I have it. They don't want to repaired those 2 factory failures. I want to see what can I do to they fix it at not cost since. It's a factory failure and I'm not the only one with that problem. That is a serious problem they said that in the latter they send me. I send you a picture I had. They took the another one.

- Kirkland, WA, USA

problem #245

Jul 092020

Focus

  • 69,500 miles
Transmission kept overheating; would not move when in reverse and gas amount inaccurate, car jerks when gas pedal is pressed and it stalls when it turns

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #244

Jul 092020

Focus

  • 69,500 miles

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

Transmission kept overheating; would not move when in reverse and gas amount inaccurate, car jerks when gas pedal is pressed and it stalls when it turns

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #243

Feb 012020

Focus

  • 113,000 miles
My car stalls when driving without warning and shuts off after I fill the tank and when the tank is low. I have difficulty starting the vehicle when I fill up. It's a recall on this particular issue on the make and model of my car but Ford saying is VIN specific and my VIN is not included even though I'm having that problem. I paid for the Ford dealership to diagnose the problem. What's being recalled is the exact problem I am having but they won't fix it because my VIN isn't included.

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

problem #242

May 012020

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
While driving on highway my RPM will fluctuate up and down. RPM's will raise high while my speed doesn't increase. My steering wheel pulls to the left. Car wants to stall periodically. It has a hard idol.

- Lewisville, TX, USA

problem #241

Apr 302020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 94,500 miles
I want to know why the people driving this year of Ford Focus have not been compensated by Ford for all of the "defects" associated with this vehicle? in 3 years time, I have replaced the battery, shocks, repaired oil leak, vapor management valve and replaced tires out of my own pocket. The recalls are unreal! I have had it in the shop for "fuel tank deformation recall", the "tcm clutch shutter" has been replaced 3 times. Not to mention the times I have taken it in for that to be fixed, only to be told it wasn't the problem when it was later verified that it was. And now I receive notice that the doors fly open while driving! I can't trade it in, because I am $3,000 upside down because the vehicle is not worth squat.I have lost employment because of this vehicle and it has significantly impacted my and my family's quality of life because of all of the problems it has caused. I have been losing gas for the past 2 years and the mechanic's can't find the problem. When I fill up, the miles to empty will show for example 274, when I drive 1 mile by the odometer, the miles to empty has indicated 6. that is a huge amount of money I have lost in the past 2 years. This is outrageous that Ford Motor Company has not been forced to compensate us unfortunate people that got "stuck" with a vehicle they knew had issues! I have all paperwork for everything I have stated above but there are over 100 pieces of paper. If you require this from me I can make copies and send to you but to upload everything is too much. Please help! I would like to get into a vehicle that is safe to drive for me as well as my family. I have been driving in fear since a week after I purchased this in Jan 2017!

- Millcreek, UT, USA

problem #240

Jun 042020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 101,714 miles

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

Gas mileage was not correct and took to a mechanic where they found a warped fuel tank that was causing distance to empty to be inaccurate. Told me I needed a fuel tank and charcoal canister that would cost over $1000. Called a Ford dealership to explain that it was having similar issues to a recall Ford focuses are having with the fuel tank but told me there is no recall on my vehicle and reached out to Ford directly and told me the same thing and just to make sure I keep my receipts. This issue occurs in motion on highway and city. The Ford reference number for this recall is 18S32. Https://media.Ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2018/10/25/Ford-motor-company-issues-recall-in-North-America-for-select-201.html

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #239

Mar 092020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 97,000 miles
It clicks constantly - I have start the car with a battery charger although I just put a new battery in the car, I have had the transmission clutch and parts replaced twice. - its still slipping out of gear it sound like grinding metal. Im so done with this car.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #238

Mar 202016

Focus 4-cyl

  • 33,000 miles
The car has a problem taking off and seems to not want to shift. It now will not drive and I have it at the dealership. Paid over $1000 and still not fixed. Said it was the tcm. Now they want another $800 (saying they are giving me a discount) to change the clutch fork and hopefully that will work. I've had problems since I got it in 2016. Called and there was nothing they could do.

- Johnstown, NY, USA

problem #237

Apr 032020

Focus

  • miles
I have had the some part of the fuel and transmission censor replaced a couple of time by buckeye Ford in london Ohio. The last time I it was replaced I was told this happens all the time and that my car could stop running I am concerned that I will be driving and something just makes it stop the rpms go up to 3 or so sometimes at take off and there is a hesitation please look into this for me. [xxx] email is [xxx]the clock and radio display doesn't work and then maybe a few weeks go by and they just star to work. I am afraid to even drive out of town so I rent a car thank you redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Springfield, OH, USA

problem #236

Apr 162020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 83,200 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that on one occasion while attempting to accelerate uphill, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to jack schmitt Ford (1820 vandalia St, collinsville, il 62234) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the powertrain control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced the failure to 19V515000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,200.

- Collinsville, IL, USA

problem #235

Aug 312015

Focus 4-cyl

  • 400,000 miles
The wiper fluid sprayer stopped working. I have no idea why. Then ever since I bought the car it stutters everytime I hit the gas pedal. So each time when taking have it has a shaking sensation. Each time I have taken it to the dealer they say the same thing that the car was made to do that because its an automatic dual transmission.

- Radcliff, KY, USA

problem #234

Jan 012020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 52,877 miles
I've not had a fuel gauge since my 4th warranty repair (turbo replacement turned catastrophic and incurred warranted engine replacement as they blew it in shop and had it for almost three months) and I am not happy at all. And I am now gonna have to go back and get it fixed as this is dangerous for me. I keep a gallon of fuel I'N my car, so I'm basically huffing fumes all the dang time im in my car.. I must keep a gallon of fuel in the car due to the sudden stalls and the subsequent crank, wont start issues. Up until after my car was "repaired".. I didn't have issue until id done run out of fuel and or run out of outa fuel and stalled in most precarious places whilst in motion and driving down the road. I'd run out of fuel and my car would sputter and die. I've walked up to 12 miles to get to a gas station luckily. I am not cool with this [xxx] cause I bought it with lil to no mileage and new off the lot.... [xxx] has a ring to it if anyone could help... to an erratic at best case I've been stranded with no phone, no food nor water at least three times. And they think I'm gonna bring it in for service and allow them to screw me over again? don't think I have a lot of trust for Ford no mo.... I hope they stop playing around with people's lives as seemingly expendables and wasting our valuable time and money. I've lost a job from it and that's no joke. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Lincoln City, OR, USA

problem #233

Aug 172016

Focus

  • 16,000 miles
We purchased the vehicle in 2016. We immediately noticed the problem with the transmission during acceleration. When you accelerate the car stutters and lags and feels like a stall on every acceleration. We took it in and was told that is was the economic part of the vehicle and it was suppose to do that. It has never been better nor did they ever fix it upon servicing. Now we learned it's an issue with all Ford Focus for these years.

- Southlake, TX, USA

problem #232

Sep 112018

Focus

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated a week after purchasing the vehicle the check engine light illuminated. The contact also stated while driving at approximately 55 mph he started smelling gasoline in the cabin of the vehicle and pulled over to address the failure. The contact stated he placed a rubber hose over the gas line. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle had faulty wiring and the battery warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken john megel Chevrolet, llc (1392 ga-400, dawsonville, ga 30534) but no repairs were made. The manufacturer was made aware of this failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referencing this failure to NHTSA campaign number: 19V515000 (fuel system, gasoline) however the vehicle was not included in the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000

- Dawsonville, GA, USA

problem #231

Feb 262020

Focus

  • 93,000 miles
After refueling the vehicle, the first time I go to start the engine it gets to approx: 1000 RPM and then RPM proceed to decrease until the car has stalled. When attempting to start the car the second time, the RPM drop but the car catches it and it does not stall. Only after refueling does this issue occur.

- Mystic, CT, USA

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