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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:
49,937 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 8 of 15)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #146

Mar 092019

Focus

  • 50,000 miles

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

I have a recall for possible deformed fuel tank. It is making my car stall at any time to include using cruise control or stopped at a light. The issue is known by my local Ford dealership. Their advice is to keep the gas tank filled above half but I have stalled after driving 30 miles after filling up. I had them inspect my car and they said everything looked fine. I asked about the stalling and they said wait for the software. I guess they expect that I walk to work until they fix the issue. I had a local mechanic look at it and they recommend I wait for the recall because they are unsure if the part will fix the problem without the software. I already had to rent a car for a family emergency and dont want to get stranded while driving to work because I am forced to drive a faulty car with no fix. I can afford to buy or rent a car until an unknown date.

- Alamogordo, NM, USA

problem #145

Apr 302019

Focus

  • 100,000 miles
After the recall "repair" my car began exhibiting the issues described in the recall. This system caused my clutch to burn up and now Ford will not repair issue. Stepping on the gas either floods engine or stalls engine. Issue is especially noticed when leaving a stopped state.

- Chapel Hill, NC, USA

problem #144

Apr 122019

Focus

  • 71,000 miles
I recently bought a 2014 Ford Focus hatchback from elliott Chrysler Dodge Jeep in carthage Texas not knowing I was buying a vehicle with a active safety recall. Was told buy the salesperson there was no recalls on the vehicle that they are required by law to fix them prior to selling it. And I was driving home 11 days after getting the car and it stalled out in the middle of the highway in the left lane and would not accelerate and the check engine light came on and I was almost hit by another vehicle. I sent the car back to the dealer you tried to give it back to me again telling me that they drove it the check engine light isn't on anymore and we looked up your website to see if the car had an active recall which it did. We refused to take the car back unless they fixed the recall. So they said they were sending the car to excel Ford in carthage Texas. That they had called them and verify the recall in which we found out about the recall from the paperwork from the dealership giving us the website. The service tech called and said he called Ford verifying the recall and that the parts for fixing the recall we're on backorder and could take quite a while. A day later elliott Dodge of carthage called us back where we bought the car and said they had the car back the recall was fixed. Along with the piece of paper stating it was fixed but not how. And now a week later if that and the car stalled out again check engine light on and did the same thing it did before the recall was allegedly fixed. Once again nearly causing an accident when the car stalled and will not accelerate. I was just driving down the highway and it stalls check engine light flashes then stays on losing all power and will not accelerate.

- Carthage, TX, USA

problem #143

Apr 092019

Focus

  • 20,000 miles

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

I took my car in for a recall a few months ago also mentioning that it has been saying it's overheating and they gave my car back saying nothing is wrong and now I've been driving with my newborn daughter and all of the sudden my car wouldn't go past 65 & then after it started working again my battery goes out I thought it was because the gas light had been on and so I called aaa and had someone come down they put in gas and got it started but to my dismay I wasn't even able to make it home seeing as how my car could barely accelerate and again it shut off at first I was driving on the freeway and when I slowed down to stop at a light my battery symbol went on and then the car shut off & after I got it working again it was working and then it slowed and would let me press the brakes anymore and since the. It won't start

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #142

Dec 032018

Focus

  • 39,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). While driving various speeds or while the vehicle was idling, it would stall without warning. The vehicle was taken to Ford of kendall (305-238-9211, located at 15551 S dixie hwy, miami, fl 33157), but the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #141

May 012018

Focus

  • 108,980 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle shuddered when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Also, the fuel gauge failed to display the correct fuel level. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact called lafontaine Ford of birch run (11661 N beyer rd, birch run, mi 48415, (989) 652-6157) and was informed to have the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 108,980.

- Saginaw, MI, USA

problem #140

Mar 292019

Focus

  • 150,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle decelerated and stalled without warning. In addition, the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, it operated in limp mode. Varney Ford Inc (located at 237 moosehead trail, newport, me 04953, (888) 460-7356) was contacted and an appointment was scheduled to have the vehicle diagnosed on April 12, 2019. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was also made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

- Etna, ME, USA

problem #139

Dec 012018

Focus

  • 64,000 miles
This vehicle has had door issues where the door would open unexpectantly, the transmission has caused hydroplaining and has also caused the car to stall on the freeway. Even though they fixed the transmission the problem has returned and insist on being a continual issue. Now there is an additional recall for December and that is cpv. When I contacted Ford in order to have a refund or be able to return the car and switch it out for something else... I was told no there wasn't an option to do so. Is this true that I have to just continue going along with the car and continue to have these types of issues through the lifeblood of this vehicle?

- Leavenworth, KS, USA

problem #138

Mar 302019

Focus

  • 146,000 miles
Was driving vehicle then all of a sudden it started shuddering and seemed like it was having trouble shifting gears pulled into parking lot then vehicle wouldn't go into reverse all other gears worked fine and the rpms on vehicle would rev up on their own without pressing on the gas pedal after about 20 to 30 minutes was finally able to get out of reverse

- Lubbock, TX, USA

problem #137

Mar 292019

Focus

  • 151,354 miles
Electrical wiring malfunction, internal computer is malfunctioning not giving detailed on info for my car if anything is wrong. Fuel line malfunction. Small leak and smell

- Rowlett, TX, USA

problem #136

Mar 202017

Focus

  • miles

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

I purchased a 2014 Ford Focus used with 86K miles, upon taking delivery of the vehicle we noticed while driving the vehicle when starting from a complete stop the car jerks and bucks. I took the vehicle for recalls to be fixed, in which I believe the transmission issue fell under the tcm module recall. My daughter was driving back to campus and the car was bucking and jumping and then finally cutoff while driving!!!

- Morrisville, NC, USA

problem #135

Feb 072019

Focus

  • 2 miles
February 12 our way to work about 1/4 mile away. At the stop light waiting for the other car to turn. I let go of the break then car just stopped in the middle of the road while in driving. Lights are on. Power windows. Fuel tank deformation. I got it towed to the dealership. Saying I have to pay $800 something dollars for diagnostics and the other problem he is saying. Until now I still don't have a car. They did not give me a rental car or have the car towed. This defects puts my life and the other person in danger and now I have to pay for the company defects? I called 3 different mechanics about it. Doing my own research what is really going on. Take note: These people have not seen or touched my car. I just simply stated what happened. And I told them about the recall.

- Trenton, NJ, USA

problem #134

Mar 212019

Focus

  • 58,800 miles
(1) I scheduled service at darcars Ford lanham md for 9/11/18 for poor driving & extremely poor gas mileage (was filling up about 2X/week instead of 1X/2 week). Car had 53,166 miles, & no warning lights ever came on. Darcars did a tune-up which did nothing to improve the gas mileage. (2) I scheduled service for 9/18/18. Darcars found problem: Seized fuel canister that damaged the fuel pump and caused fuel tank to implode. All parts were replaced. (3) after repairs, gas mileage was better but not back to normal. Used to get > 30 ml/gal, & when I filled up, display always said >400 ml to empty. Now I get 27-28 ml/gal, and after fill-up display says ~330 ml to empty. (4) I received NHTSA recall 18V-735 in 12/18. It indicated there was no fix yet. (5) scheduled an oil change for 1/30/19 and asked darcars for status of recall. Darcars said there was a fix: Parts replacement & reprogramming. Darcars determined that parts previously replaced were ok, so only reprogramming was done. (6) real problems began 3/1/19. Car suddenly drove extremely poorly while on highway. It would hesitate, & when I gave it a little more gas, it lurched & drove erratically. It then stalled out completely. I tried to restart car a few times & after a few minutes it started. Car had ~3/4 tank of gas and no warning lights ever came on. I scheduled service on 3/5/19. Darcars added or replaced a transmission module. (7) no change in gas mileage, & latest serious problem happened 3/21/19. While on highway, car stalled out completely with no warning. Gas tank was near full, & no warning lights ever came on. Tried to restart car several times but it wouldn't start. Called for a tow. Tried to restart car couple more times while on phone with aaa but no luck. ~10 minutes or so later, while waiting for tow truck, tried to start car again & it started.

- Crofton, MD, USA

problem #133

Sep 112018

Focus

  • 53,166 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving, the fuel gauge dropped quickly without warning even when the vehicle had a full tank of fuel. The vehicle was taken to darcars Ford lanham (located at 9020 lanham severn rd, lanham, md 20706, (301) 459-1100) where it was diagnosed, but a failure could not be found. The failure recurred and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the fuel canister seized, which damaged the fuel pump and caused the fuel tank to implode. Both components needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53,166.

- Crofton, MD, USA

problem #132

Mar 092019

Focus

  • miles
Multiply safety recalls and I took to 2 different dealerships, but dealerships refused to do or to fix my car. Now my check engine light is on again. Code reader has 2 codes 1450 and 144A. Needs to be repaired, but dealership filed a false report stating the recalls were already done. It is not the case. The only recall that was done was for the door latches. The purse valve and fuel sensors still need to be fixed.

- Shawboro, NC, USA

problem #131

Mar 142019

Focus

  • 61,000 miles
My vehicle was serviced under 18S32 for a potential stuck evap purge valve causing excessive vacuum in the fuel system. As my vehicle did not have a failed part at the time of the recall service, only a PCM update was performed. Less than 2 months after the recall service, the purge valve failed and caused random stalls of the vehicle, including while the vehicle was in motion. Ford claims the recall was completed and I, the consumer, am responsible for the cost of the repairs, even with the original part, subject to the recall 18S32, was the fault for the issue. I believe that the recall needs to be re-opened on all the vehicles that did not have the purge valve replaced and the part needs to be replaced to prevent future safety issues with the vehicle.

- Mentor On The Lake, OH, USA

problem #130

Mar 052019

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
While driving the vehicle in traffic, my 17 year old daughter has experienced extreme shuttering, followed by engine shut off. This has happened 3 times at multiple speeds, once decelerating at a red light, once accelerating while merging into traffic and once while driving 45 mph on a highway. Luckily, she has not yet been involved in a car accident as a result. After the first incident, the car was serviced at a local Ford dealership in 12/2018. The same problem has occurred 2 additional times since then. This particular VIN is not under a recall although we are experiencing the same safety issues other Ford Focus 2014 recalled vehicles have reported.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #129

Feb 222019

Focus

  • 90,000 miles
I bought a 2014 Ford Focus back in June of 2018. I had to have the transmission fixed a few days later due to an open recall. After that I had no issues. October 2018 I found out about the most recent recall with the cpv and such. Since then, my car has not run good. It jerks, acts like it doesn't want to go, and my fuel reading is almost always wrong. I have two young children and am scared to drive my car. When I call my local dealership they tell me there's is no remedy available yet and to just keep it at under half a tank of gas. Which is stupid since I can't get an accurate fuel reading! I can fill it completely full, drive one mile, then suddenly be on 3/4 tank. That's is ridiculous.

- Rising Sun, IN, USA

problem #128

Oct 082018

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for repair. The contact received the recall notification in October of 2018. The contact called apple Ford (1820 hwy 290 w, brenham, tx 77833) and was informed that the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was also contacted and stated that the parts were unavailable. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Washington, TX, USA

problem #127

Sep 202018

Focus

  • 55,000 miles
Vehicle stalled while driving 60 mph causing a skid. Then, would not restart. Luckily, control was barely maintained and no one was injured

- Carson City, NV, USA

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