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.
My rear driver side door latch stopped latching. It will no longer lock or shut completely. When it happened I was just loading my bag into my backseat and went to shut the door. Nothing was blocking the door or latch, it just stopped working.
Radio totally died, then time to time speakers gives out loud popping and cracking sounds out of no where even when radio is off. While driving, this startles me and could distract me from the roads and cause serious accidents.
In December 2018 I was on the highway going 70 mph and suddenly my car would no longer accelerate. It would not start either until hours later. Took it back to Ford after telling them what had happened and they said it was because of a fuel pump recall. I got a letter later that month after my car had been to Ford and checked out, saying the part was recalled in October. I was not notified prior and it is very dangerous to stall on highway. Then a few weeks ago I had the same thing happen on the highway again. Whenever my fuel is kind of low the car just stalls and I can't start it. I was able to get gas and jump my car and get it home and has been fine since, but I went into Ford the next day and told them that the same issue happened and they told me that back in December when they 'fixed' my vehicle they actually just looked at it and said it was fine, but told me they replaced/fixed the part. So the part was never fixed or resolved. Not to mention I have only have this car since September 2017 and have had the clutch replaced 3 times and now am feeling the signs of it failing again for the 4th time. This car is unsafe and unpredictable and Ford has lied to me and not informed me of the dangers of the vehicle I'm paying them for.
When in drive does not want to shift from first to second, car acts as if it is in neutral while driving causeing a a serious saftey hazard as this occurs while car is inmotion.
This is the second time I had this issue within. The first time was two-three weeks ago. Another one of my car door's is not closing or remain closed. I learned on the door and opened up while driving on the freeway. I could have died. The last time I made a complaint, it was the backseat right passenger door. Ford indicated that they already preformed the recall for this specific issue and wanted me to pay a deductible so I did. Now a few weeks later the same issue happened with my driver side door. It won't close and does not stay shut especial when driving. I have to use bungee cords to keep it closed. I'm taking it back to the Ford dealership and probably going to have to pay another deductible. I shouldn't have to pay though because the recall indicates they already fixed back in 2017. Well apparently they didn't fix this issue correctly. Even the customer relations manager disclosed to me that the recall only fixed a small part of the door latch and the dealership can fix whole assembley. The recall online indicates however, that the dealership will pay for this free of charge. I also want to point out that I drive for uber with my vehicle and if this issue persists, somebody could get severely injured and turn into a law suit. Ford Motor Company need to address this issue properly before this becomes a lawsuit or someone ends up in the hospital.
Ford Focus sync system.there is an extremely loud popping noise that spontaneously sound through the speaker even if the radio is off. It is deafening and extremely startling to the driver as well as any passengers. My 2 year old cries and covers his ears, so much that he has to wear hearing protection on our 45 minute commute back home. It'll even make the sound after I have shut the car off. Once off, opening the door is the only way that it stops. This is the Ford sync media system. I have been told by Ford that I need top replace the sync system because it is not covered by warranty. Might I aff thaty the are countless others out there that are having the same issue with the sync system as I am. I know this is not the usual "safety" issue however I'd challenge anyone to drive and have this issue jump out at them and still say in noooooo way that it effects the way the drive, especially the first time, nor a distraction.
Door lock latch opening up while driving. As I was driving one evening from the gas station, the right side back seat door opened up. The door swung open as I made a turn about leave the gas station I was at. I quickly pulled over and looked to see if something was in the way and proceeded to close it. However, the door would bounce back and not shut even after several times. I did some research and found that there was a recall of this year make and model back in 2016 regarding the same problem. The recall specifically indicates for Ford focuses of 2012-2015(link: Https://media.Ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2016/09/08/Ford-expands-door-latch-safety-recall-in-North-America.html). As bad is the issue was, I had to drive my car home that night with it swinging open every time I turned corners. Since it was night, I had to use bungee cords and tape to keep the door shut until the next day to take it into the dealership. I also ran the risk of someone being able to easily access my car over night. The recall says that dealership is supposed to take care of this safety issue free of charge by bringing my vehicle to the dealership. However, the dealership indicated that they would not fix this severe safety issue free of charge. They told me that I had to pay the deductible for them to fix it and that there was nothing they can do about that. I for one should not have to pay for this issue considering it was part of a safety recall. I am also upset that they knew about this issue since 2016 and they dealership is not honoring repairing this despite that. I am wanting the dealership to take full responsibility and fix this free of charge or reimburse later for what they are charging me now.
Transmission is sluggish, tugging..taking off, not shifting or shift all at once. Even up hill, in traffic. Car speed will take off on its own. Hard to brake. Went down hugh hill, car in control tugging back so hard, the noise was so loud that we thought car was going to blow. 15yr old in car. Dealership had me drive car off lot with a temporary inspection and come back in month. Its not a temporary sticker. I couldn't take car home night I bought it. So all these things happening after taking car off lot. I went back in a couple days later. Told to buy a warranty, they reset the transmission, as if I owned the car for years. This isn't right. They prolonged helping, etc...even asked for my car back. Then thrown in my face that it was at auction. Nobody was helping. Send letters, did a survey, calling, dropping in, etc...I documented everything. I need help!! this is a dangerous lemon and they took advantage of me. CEO is contacted to. I need help incase I get the run around again. The car has someone else's inspection on it 7-19 come back in 4wks...what?? day I brought it home. All these suprises!
The car randomly stalls and dies while I am driving it. It has died on the interstate and on rural roads and highways. This is very dangerous and there is currently a recall out on a part of the 2014 Ford Focus which causes this problem. It dies when I am driving and coasting, when I accelerate, and when I have my cruise set.
The radio on my car keeps failing. The speakers pop loudly all the time even when the car is not in motion. The radio is off and the speakers start popping loudly. This happened once a month and now my radio does not work
Power steering failure, the power steering locked up one day when I went to the store, I started the car& the power steering was locked and extremly hard to steer, I finally drove it home which was about 15 miles, I had to drive very slow because it was very hard to steer, the car was parked in a store parking lot and when I returned to the car it was very heavy to turn the wheel I was afraid to drive it home but I didnt want to leave it overnight in a store parking lot...
When driving down the highway going 70 mph, the door bell started sounding, the check brake fluid read out came on like the car had a major problem electrical. This happened four times thru this past winter 2018/2019. The temperature on the dash was 10 degrees or below every time it happened. Rude awakening on the highway. Also the front wheels will spin when trying to take off from a stop sign on occasion. Like it can't get going. One more thing is going down the highway I've had no power like the car is in neutral when I've had the cruise on. This has happened twice. I don't have exact dates one date was 12/26/2018
Ever since we had the tcm reset by the dealership I've had a problem with my car starting and shutting off while at a stop but not it not even starting anymore and I've replaced fuses and the ground wire on it which made it work for a day or two than nothing and it's been like this for a few months now please help me to figure out what I need to do to fix it or let me swap for another thank you for looking into this for me so please let me know
I have had absolutely nothing but problems with this car. Haven't been able to drive it for two years because it's problem after problem. First the transmission went out and we spent 3000 to fix it just for it to get home and start knocking in the engine. Now the car won't even turn over or even turn on. I've heard of so many recalls on this car and it's extremely unsafe and I'm too scared to even take it back in to fix it further because I do not feel safe driving this car. I've contacted Ford multiple times with absolutely no help. No one should buy this car at all.
When I take off the transmission will shudder. It also shakes when accelerating. It almost caused me to wreck multiple times. It does it from take off to around 3rd gear.
My wife was driving home when suddenly the backseat driver side door opened. There was a passenger that was able to keep the door shut after the event but luckily nobody was hurt. I took the car in to the dealer and was told that there is no recall with that issue. I also have premium care warranty on the vehicle but I was told that it does not cover a broken door latch. This is a safety issues and Ford should be responsible on fixing
After putting the car in first gear because it's a manual transmission and moving forward. My car isnot locking and I go sometimes upwards of 100 feet or more before it shows that the car is locked. But I am not hearing the car lock like it should. It does the same thing in reverse.
My car alerted traction control/hill assist issue while driving under 35 mph. (note I work 3rd shift) next morning got off work and it was dead but was able to jump it. Next night I removed keys from ignition from parked car and vehicle continued to run. Next morning car would not start and was able to be jumped. Took to local Ford dealership and they diagnosed it as the tcm (transmission control module) module which they replaced and returned my car. Same night car would not start again. Took over an hour to get the car charged just to drive to dealership 3 minutes away and the car would not go over 1500 RPM and wouldn't allow me to go over 15 mph. Got to the dealership and had worker witness a test drive in the passenger seat, then parked withe worker still inside and she was able to witness the car not shutting off after key removal. Notified today from service department manager it is now the BCM (body control module) and will be $2900 plus tax to replace the BCM as well as the wire harness that has melted now due to this issue. Ford has told me that they have no programs or recalls to help cover these costs. After research I have discovered that this is and issue with others that have the same vehicle and Ford issued a recall for the 2015 Ford Focus for this same BCM issue but of course my VIN (2014 Ford Focus SE hatchback) is not included. I have had nothing but issues related to the transmission and computer of my car in the 49 months that I have owned it.
Oem aluminum lug nuts deform over time after routine maintenance. Lug nuts swell and become stuck to the wheel. Provided oem tire wrench cannot remove lug nuts. I was almost hit by a car trying to change a flat tire. This is a serious road hazard. Manufacturer needs to perform recall and provide replace with non-defective lug nuts. Other drivers have reported same issue, but Ford thus far refused to issue a recall. Https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/Ford-lug-nut-defect/pressrelease/Ford-lug-nut-defect-Ford-owners-sue-over-defective-lug-nuts-in-millions-of-vehicles
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Chattanooga, TN, USA