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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:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,131 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2014 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 11 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #60

Mar 052017

Focus

  • 34,000 miles

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

The car stutters to start moving. The transmission is stuck. It takes a lot of RPM to get the car moving from a stop or start. I have had an episode where the car accelerated on it's own. Took it to the dealership they are aware of the stuttering and are doing nothing for that. They can find no reason my car took of on its own. I feel that the defect in the transmission they know about. And will do nothing about it. I am just getting frustrating why they won't discuss the transmission issue. Thank you.

- Eaton, OH, USA

problem #59

Feb 182017

Focus

  • miles
Well on February 18, 2017 I purchased a 2014 Ford Focus SE from lewis Toyota in topeka, ks. The car I traded in, (2004 Lexus) I told them how unhappy I was because the gentleman who sold it to me said he did a car fax on it but did not. I should have asked for a copy. There was a major recall on it! since 2011. I purchased it in 2016. Well the 2004 Ford Focus has an open recall. It is against the law so I was told to sell a call with an open recall. I brought it to the sellers attention. He said it had been taken care of or that it wasn't that bad. Well, door latch? driver's door coming open while driving. Proven incidents. I call that a problem.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #58

Jan 112017

Focus

  • 34,000 miles
The 2014 Ford Focus only has one door lock/unlock button which is located on the front middle panel near the radio controls. There are no manual lock/unlock mechanisms on any of the doors - if a crash occured, how would anyone in the back seat be able to get out if the driver is unable to push the button for them" that seems like an unsafe decision for a vehicle made for multiple passengers. Second, occasionally while driving in rainy weather, I have switched the wipers on to find that they hesitate for a few seconds before finally wiping the windshield. This does not happen every time, but I expect them to move when I turn them on, not a few seconds later. In the rain, a few seconds of non-visibility can be dangerous- even more so if it happens at night the next time. Are these electrical issues? could the unlock feature be an electrical if for any reason the battery goes or hits water"

- Tewksbury, MA, USA

problem #57

Feb 122017

Focus

  • 71,000 miles

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

Good afternoon, my family and I have a 2 year old 2014 Ford Focus that we bought brand new off the lot to avoid the problems associated with used cars. 2 weeks ago in the middle of the highway the vehicle began to shudder and lose power and then eventually turned off while in motion. We had the vehicle towed to the dealership and quickly began to try and figure out what is going on. A quick google search revealed we were not the only ones. Experiencing this issue. There appears to be a major issue with the Focus transmission. The dealership state they can find nothing wrong with the car and suggested we drive more aggressively to solve the problem. Immediately we contacted Ford Motor Company as this is clearly a bigger issue than just my car. Fmc states there is nothing they can do because they can't prove that anything happened and there are no codes. No codes=no problem. They have refused to investigate any further. Then next time my car stops could be in front of another car and can kill someone. Ford is refusing to do anything to rectify the issue and is putting my family and many other family's lives in danger. Please help me. Do a search online about the Focus and you will see that I am not the only one. Please. I am scared to drive my own car but I do not feel safe. It lurches forward, stops responding and shudders.

- Cleveland, TX, USA

problem #56

Aug 272015

Focus

  • miles
I filed a complaint under the mn lemon law due to repeated transmission issues on my car. When driving the vehicle it is quite noticeable that the transmission does not shift properly because it causes the vehicle to shudder when shifting. The vehicle is an automatic transmission, but at times it feels like I'm driving a very sensitive manual transmission and will cause a shudder feeling at shift. I have taken my vehicle in to North country Ford in coon rapids, mn on 4 separate occasions. The dates were 8/27/15, 10/16/2015, 2/18/16 and 8/21/16. The dealer has been unable to permanently fix the issue and my concern is that this has been a repeated problem with my car and that it could be costly to me in the near future.

- Saint Cloud, MN, USA

problem #55

May 012016

Focus

  • 5,000 miles
My car has bad hesitation incredibally jerky when starting grinding noises transmission not shifting properly Ford mechanics have admitted to knowing about the problem and has told Ford that it is dangerous. Hesitation when accelerating especially at lower gears. Make sit very dangerous to cross busy intersections. Currently don't have any pictures but plan to start recording my car.

- Sturbridge, MA, USA

problem #54

Nov 072016

Focus

  • 60,000 miles

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

Rear window blew out while driving 45mph outside temperature was 35 degrees.this happened 2 miles from home residence.so within 4 minutes of driving

- Oswego, NY, USA

problem #53

Feb 112016

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
I bought a 2014 Ford Focus SE July 2015 since its been in and out of shop my steering wheel is getting tight while driving were I can not control plus hesitation rolling back words shuttering jerking it iv had the steering rack replaced tierods nothing worked then I got a recall letter on the tcm it needed 2 be updated did that still didn't help took it back the tcm needed to be replaced so Ford told me it will be a couple weeks but I can drive it and the tcm or trans has nothing 2 do with the steering finally got the tcm replaced few weeks later but didn't help and seemed worse I called Ford corporate they would not help at all I kept calling but same results they would not fix it with out me paying a lot of money and they would not buy it back cuz it had 70000 miles I bought it with 35000 recently I took it 2 a local shop by work they drove it told me my trans is messed up it is not shifting right and that will cause the steering wheel the mess up as well I'm afraid to drive it risk my life and my children lives but Ford still will not help me at all this car has had 7 recalls on it I can not control the car I can not drive the car since it gets stuck and I feel like I get whip lash and I'm afraid I'm going to end up getting in to a accident the local Ford dealer told me they put the wrong trans in it that they been having issues with the trans I'm afraid I'm a be on the freeway and its just going to quit working or I'm a loose control or I will not be able to get up to speed Ford should be helping us out since there is pages of people with same issue there is investigations in to it law suits and my last thing I can do is talk to a lawyer and the news and file this complaint I been fighting with Ford calling going to dealers for 6 month now and no 1 will help not even my dealer whats it going to take some 1 2 die.

- Taylor, MI, USA

problem #52

Sep 252016

Focus

  • miles
Takata recall

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #51

Sep 272016

Focus

  • 24,000 miles
Clutch in automatic transmission is stalling, car shutters at 24,000 miles. Car doesn't want to go up hills, and acts mine it's stalling out when you pull out. This is my daughters car and I do not feel she is safe.

- Canton, NC, USA

problem #50

Aug 232016

Focus

  • 30,000 miles

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

I bought the vehicle in 2014 new. A little less than a year after I had the car, I started having problems with the sync system that allows me to use my cell phone hands free. It will stay paired with my phone for about 3 to 4 weeks and then will drop the connection with my phone. I have had it in to the dealership 5 times and the problem is still not fixed. I have been in contact with the regional manager of Ford corporate and they are refusing to give me a buyback option so I can go purchase another vehicle that will actually work with my cell phone. It is their problem with their vehicles and they are refusing to take responsibility for a defective product.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #49

Sep 162016

Focus

  • 56,604 miles
Rear passenger door latch broke while in motion; door will not close or lock.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #48

Feb 012016

Focus

  • miles
1.transaction was sliping had to take in got it out an had to take it in for the second time for the transaction 2. took car back cuz if I honked the horn the car would die I had to put it in park and take the key out an hit the alarm reset the alarm to start the car it been in the shop going on three times now I was driving on the freeway the car died an alam light horn go off an dies on the freeway not safe at all I had to put it in park on freeway

- Reno, CA, USA

problem #47

Jan 012016

Focus

  • miles
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?"

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #46

Aug 202016

Focus

  • 25,000 miles
I was driving in stop and go traffic and a notice came up on the screen that my transmission was hot and that I needed to stop for 5 min. I pulled over and stopped for 5 min. And began driving again, and within 5 min. The notice came back on and it smelled like fire. So I pulled over and let the car idle until traffic was gone and then since traffic was done, the notice never came back up.

- Montrose, CA, USA

problem #45

Jul 212016

Focus

  • 41,234 miles
Yes I just recently financed a 2014 Ford Focus SE from the dealer ship in hagerstown md after two days of driving it started shifting funny I loose power it bucks and acts like it's going to stall I have children I told Ford in hagerstown they knew about the transmission problem and didn't tell us they say the transmission is junk that it needs replaced it's been over a month still have no transmission and they won't tell me why plus the car is drifting backwards I'm afraid forr I my husband and children's safety I have to travel for my work it's the only family vehicle I need some help please

- Waynesboro, PA, USA

problem #44

Aug 302013

Focus

  • miles
This is exactly the issue I've been having. 8/5/2016 I took my car in for the 3rd time concerning the transmission. I was told it was no longer a covered issue. When I bought the car I asked for a different one because the one I test drove literally felt like the transmission was slipping so bad I wasn't going to get it back to the dealership. I drove another one and it was better, however still shuttering. I was assured by the sales person at beechmontford this was normal, it was a new type of transmission with a dual clutch.everytime I took the car in for an oil change I complained about the transmission getting worse. I was told by 2different service department employees that Ford was aware of the issue and they were extending the warrenty.the shuttering increasingly became worse and had began a loud grinding noise and was stalling so bad at take off I was worried about having an accident because of it.the engine would rev up but wasn't going anywhere, then would jerk into gear.in December of 2015 I took my car back to beechmontford, they said it needed a new transmission control module and a new clutch.to which my car was at the dealership for 42days.because the problem is so wide spread the parts were on back order and my car was deemed to dangerous to drive.this was covered under a recall. On July 15th I took the car in and again made an appointment for the transmission.I spoke to a service person who told me that Ford is aware of the issue and there was an unbelievable amount of vehicles coming back in for the 2nd with the exact same issues and they're replacing the clutch again.on 8/5/2016 I took my car in and was then told this time Ford would not pay for the repairs.I was told again Ford's aware of the issues, Ford knows it's dangerous, yet they aren't covering it to have it fixed again. Although it was fix in December for the exact same issue under a recall.

- Felicity, OH, USA

problem #43

Jan 052015

Focus

  • 1,500 miles
Found 2 inches standing water in passenger back seat... has been into dealer over 8 times for over 40 total days and the carpet remains wet. Now causing mold. They send it out to a special water remediation vendor and insist that the issue is corrected but when you put your hand under the carpet, even after it has not rained for a couple weeks and your hand will come out dripping water. With how many times the carpet has been pulled out and replaced it is now all stretched out and panels where they have gone into the doors and dash fall off transmission issues with shuddering and losing power, dealership repaired but issue is starting again. Loses power going up very slight hills, will lug down on the flat like it has been dropped into a lower gear. No power when trying to accelerate navigation has gone out and requires yet another trip into the service center car currently has less then 8000 miles on odometer.

- Lynnwood, WA, USA

problem #42

May 152016

Focus

  • 29,000 miles
Transmission "stutters" and car shakes when accelerating - especially from a stop. The last couple of weeks, the rpms accelerate when driving; however, the car feels like it is in neutral. When accelerating - especially from a stop - the car "hesitates" and doesn't accelerate immediately. These problems have happened continuously since I bought the car in September, 2015, and occur at varying speeds.

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #41

May 012016

Focus

  • 30,000 miles
When I accelerate my car hesitate, jerk like it is getting worst. Slow down when take off and while driving

- North Chesterfield, VA, USA

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