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.
There was an open recall on the vehicle that was extended to 2021 regarding the clutch. There is a shudder that occurs when the vehicle is accelerated from a stop. I bought the vehicle used from a dealership in April 2022, and this problem was obviously not fixed. The dealership did not indicate any past recalls or current issues with the vehicle, even though the problem has persisted. I now have an unsafe vehicle that needs a complete part replacement. I am being quoted at 3,500 dollars. I am baffled that the safety of the person driving the vehicle and others on the road is being blatantly disregarded. Is there anything that can be done about this with Ford. I know that the recall warranty expired in 2021, but this issue should have been fixed upon the vehicles purchase by the previous owner or fixed under their ownership as they had almost 8 years to fix this recall.
While in heavy traffic, the car started to "shake". At one stop point I removed feet from brakes pedal to move forward, but car did not reacted and stayed in same spot as if car was parked. I then put the par in "P" and then "D" and then I was able to continue driving. Car has been "shaking" and "pulling" after that. That happened two week ago, I call Ford, but they hang up, I leave voicemails and they have not responded.
The car was having problems shifting and the check engine light came on. Took car to independent mechanic and they discovered the Transmission control module needs to be replaced, but not able to get one. Told there is a 50,000 on a waiting list to get one. Went to trade car in at ford dealership towards a new ford and they will give $100 for our 2014 focus with the TCM problem.
Transmission has failed. It-??s available for inspection. Car wouldn-??t drive up an incline. The problem has been reproduced at 2 mechanics. In the first 2 years of owning the car I had taken it to 2 Ford companies and the dealership that it was bought from. Jerking, slowing down between 15-25 miles, car wouldn-??t start the first time after turning the key, when opening the door I heard noise coming from under the hood, the radio would turn on when opening the door.
- Far Rockaway , NY, USA
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When Ford looked at my car during a recall for the locks I informed them of some problems I noted and they informed me that there were several reports with Ford Focus's concerning the Clutch and The Transmission control module. They said there were no known recalls regarding it. However my car once the RPM hits below a certain point like going to a stop light or going speeds below 35 the car starts to either drag when I accelerate or outright refuse to accelerate. This has happened on several frightening occasions on my way to and from work and almost caused an accident because of the drag. There were no lights or indications that there is a problem with the car.
When pulling into a parking space a few weeks ago all of the sudden my steering became extremely difficult, and an error code came up on the dash. I turned the car off, waited a few minutes, then turned it back on and everything was normal again. Then a week later while pulling out of my driveway it happened again. I pulled back in and shut the car off again, waited a few moments, turned it back on and it was normal again. The following Monday I took it to Crouse Ford in Taneytown, MD to have it evaluated. The service dept determined that the power steering electric rack and pinion assembly needs to be replaced. My car is a 2014 and has just under 67,000. This is not normal wear and tear, and this is definitely a safety hazard as it is extremely difficult to control the car, and there is no warning when it happens. I am very lucky the problem happened to occur while driving very slowly in a relatively safe place with no pedestrians or other vehicles in vicinity. The fact that it is a common problem in this make and model (well documented online) and has not yet been validated as a safety recall is unacceptable. This is a dangerous situation that could cause injury or death.
I took car the get it service at Ford dealer In Nov 15 2021 after many months and many car dealers refusing or not having time to look at car and a few stalls. This being the second Ford focus same year and same problems that left us with bills that ford Corp refused to honor. Have names off peole but will leave it out. The advisor whom I was given and appt was made for transmission testing Ford said that iif I had it tested they would cover cost due to no parts to fix it due to shortages and backorders. The advisisor refused to have it tested since she said she tells all customers not to have them inspected I asked her what would be beneficial to that she got upset and limited any questions. I reported issue bt service Manger was gone for the day at 230pm. The latches and valves for tank deformations had not been started yet. Next morning after a messege and assurance issues would be dealt and advisor had said she would not deal with me service Manger tried to bully me into staying quiet. He said he would make sure advisor would help she didnt and very short time to do work which the fuel readings were worse then before. Shop foreman gave me his word that he woukd get transmission to be tested to keep agreement which he didn't follow thru after several messages and calls. And after car began to stall. Zero help from service dept. Ford Corp makes excuses never one solution to get it seen. Said i had to pay to have it seen. Zero help with dealers that refused to do recall and ford Corp work. After over 200 days and after reaching to owner of dealership that promised to make it right but service Manger refused to follow thru and after he told me to move on and go elsewhere. I got another dealer to check it but they only wanted the most expensive non covered work so I would have to say so. Not the top issue car went in. after 4 days and after ford Corp again making promises with worker not involved at all. So far 3500 bill Ford wants time but said
I was driving and my car started to have no power on shift then while driving down the highway my car shifted into neutral. I had to bail off to the side of the very dangerous road. I contacted Ford to have this issue fixed and they said it would be over a year for them to get me a new part. I do not fell safe driving this car and they offered me no help with this.
Tried to reverse the vehicle and reverse gear was inoperable. Had to have help pushing car in reverse. A light came on the dashboard that read "Transmission Fault Service now." Car would not reverse, and it began to stutter. This was the only warning light that came on at that very moment. Had to have car taken to dealership. No update on the resolution just yet.
One day as I was driving and sitting at a red light, that then turned green I was pushing on the gas but the car would not move. I placed my foot back onto the break put the car in park and then put it back in drive. The car then did pull off but very fast and kind of out of control. I felt like my safety was absolutely at risk because it continued to do this my entire way home stopping myself in traffic and jerking as I am driving. We did take the car to a shop which is where they told us it can be an electric problem somewhere in the transmission. At the time we couldn-??t not afford to get any work done on the car. No the car hasn-??t been inspected by the manufacturer or police or insurance. No warning lamps were on prior to these problems. The check engine light came on about 2-3 days later.
hello, I have more than a month to review the RECALL that was done on this car but Ford ignores me, I've sent several emails and got in touch but I'm simply ignored by the manufacturer, I can't rent or sell this one car because of the RECALL that was not finalized, so that's why I'm opening this complaint
The SYNC system is malfunctioning. The SYNC system controls radio/media and phone functions in Ford vehicles. It has an A.I. component to it. It will, without warning, stop working and will then begin to make loud booming, screeching and crackling feedback-like noises without warning while driving, which is a danger. The visual screen that displays the SYNC system stops working, and the buttons and A.I. controlling it stop working. The first time it happened was on the interstate and was very unsafe with all the loud random noises. It has been happening off and on for two weeks and I cannot drive my vehicle safely. I am reporting this because have found many others in online forums complaining about the same thing about their SYNC/Ford vehicles and believe it may be a widespread issue with SYNC. I contacted my local Ford dealer, but they did not seem to have a protocol for dealing with this problem, and estimated 500 to 1000 dollars to address it with a several day wait time for repairs.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel made noises and locked up numerous times. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with rack and pinion failure. The rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
ALMOST KILLED MYSELF IN THIS CAR!!! 2014 FORD FOCUS.power steering went out while driving.i was making a turn and the steering wheel got stiff and hard..car ran up the sidewalk almost hitting a wall.this car should be banned.FORD MOTOR should be ashamed..I contacted a dealerships because I learned of a recall on Ford focus electrical steering..but was told my car doesn't make the list for recall. cars same model and year qualify but mines doesn't. what sense does that make"?!! If u have issues with your power steering in Ford focus why not change them all?"!! Sent it to a shop and the quoted price to fix is insane. I have to pay for a faulty electrical power steering pump.and the curb I hit damaged the wheels..OMG this has to be illegal.. never..EVER BUYING A FORD AGAIN AND I WILL NOT LET MY FAMILY MEMBERS BUY EITHER. SHAME ON FORD
The power steering went out. This most likely is related to the known issue like other Ford vehicles with power steering issues or power steering going out while driving.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Richfield, MN, USA