Print this page

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:
46,593 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

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2014 Ford Focus:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2014 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 8 of 14)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #123

Jan 072019

Focus

  • 63,790 miles

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

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.

- Westminster, MD, USA

problem #122

Feb 202019

Focus

  • 76,000 miles
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.

- Willard, OH, USA

problem #121

Feb 032019

Focus

  • 72,000 miles
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

- Pasadena, CA, USA

problem #120

Apr 152018

Focus

  • 34,000 miles

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

This vehicle has been a problem ever since ownership. On two separate occasions this vehicle has almost got my daughter seriously injured or even killed. While driving on the interstate or road the vehicle just shuts off and loses all functions. This has happened twice. Drivers behind her have almost hit her from behind because they have no where else to go. Besides this the vehicle has been recalled several times. This vehicle is in the service department more than it is driven. This is a seriously dangerous vehicle to be driven.

- Spring Hill, TN, USA

problem #119

May 132018

Focus

  • 86,354 miles
My car actually stopped on me on Sunday May 13, 2018 off I-35 on freeway. I was driving with my son and daughter in law in the car and I begin to feel the car just slow down. It was frightening because I was on the freeway and with no warning, the car slowed down to "turtles pace" and I tried to excelerate but nothing happened. Had to immediately get in lane to get car off the freeway. It stalled out. We had to wait for hours in the dark until my son came to pick us up. I had to leave the car until the next day. I had the car towed to car repair and he told me he could not fix it because of recall. I had to pay the car repair for the part he ordered that he was not able to use. I then had the car towed to auto nation Ford in arlington, tx and they charged me to fix the car and did not recognize the recall. I felt like auto nation Ford did not even try to see anything as a recall they just wanted there money. My car still hesitates and I am really afraid to drive it but have no chose

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #118

Jan 212019

Focus

  • miles
Gas tank neck will not allow gas to enter tank. Tried several different pumps and still could not fill tank. Gas keeps backing out.

- Newnan, GA, USA

problem #117

Aug 082016

Focus

  • 20,000 miles

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

We are afraid to drive this vehicle as we have taken it in many times for shaking and vibrating that occur at about 1.75 RPM. The vehicle feels as if it is shaking so hard that you let off the gas and attempt to gain speed again but slower. This does not resolve the problem. The motor mounts were replaced, the transmission was taken apart and checked and the vehicle still does this to the extent that I use a second vehicle purchased and have only put 30,000 miles on this vehicle in 5 years.

- Cedar Hill, TX, USA

problem #116

Nov 112018

Focus

  • 89,000 miles
At beginning of acceleration from a stop the cars transmission staggers.

- Wilson, NY, USA

problem #115

Jan 012019

Focus

  • 48,000 miles
Vehicle stalled while driving through a busy intersection - this situation is consistent with recall notice 18S32 / NHTSA recall 18V-735. Prior to incident had visitied Ford dealer to address recall notice and was turned away as N/a for my vehicle. Please note, recall notice included my VIN and stalling incident is consistent with recall notice.

- North Easton, MA, USA

problem #114

Nov 072018

Focus

  • 54,594 miles
I took my car in for the issue regaring the recall for "the engine may stall due to a stuck canister purge valve (cpv) within the fuel vapor system" and my second transmission fix within 10,000 miles of the last transmission replacement. The first transmission module fix, my car was in the shop for 19 days. When I recieved my car back, my transmission was shuttering so bad and wouldnt accelerate and was stuck in a gear and would not break or speed up for a couple of seconds. When I tried to take the car back in, they told me that "they fixed the recalled issue so I would have to pay for the diagnostic." In November, I found out that from may to Nov. I had been driving on a broken transmission clutch. In November, they finally put in a new transmission clutch, however dont have record of them checking for the recall on the fuel system. When I took my car in for work, they told me that it was going to take a couple of hours, then it turned into one to two days and put me in a rental, however didnt communicate with me about the status of my car. I called multiple times a day, however didnt recieve any details from my mechanic. On Saturday, I called again and talked to the front desk agent. I told him that my car was supposed to be done the day prior and I hadnt recieved any update on my car. Later that day, I finally recieved a voicemail stating that they had finished the transmission clutch, however found a oil leak and they "had been doing what best for me" and had been fixing it without communicating to me about it. My car stayed in the shop for an additonal 4 days to fix the oil leak. I ended up being charged for the rental car after I was told that everything was under warrenty and recall so I didnt have to pay for anything. I didnt even know that they were doing this work on my car until days prior. After more than a month, I am still dealing with this problem.

- Savage, MN, USA

problem #113

Dec 112018

Focus

  • 98,867 miles

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

Transmision started slipping and check engine light came on. Code reader gave code P07A3(element "a" stuck). Lost all power to move on freeway. Also warning appeared on sceen "transmission overheating". car unwilling to start in parking gear.

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #112

Dec 072018

Focus

  • miles
While driving on a highway my vehicle 2014 Ford Focus SE began to sputter. Continues to do so until I got in the street on my home and began going under 10 mph. Once I entered my home to put some items down before returning back out, I attempted to start my car. I noticed upon entry of my vehicle that my radio was on without my keys being in the ignition, also my driver door was still open. I attempted to start my vehicle but nothing happened, it didn't tick nor turn. What did happen though was my entire computer system began to cut on as if the vehicle had started and turned. Radio on, dashboard lights present and then cut off, alert for my low tire, trip timer began running. Then an error code regarding something in the lines of fuel. Wasn't quick enough to take a picture of the error message. When I removed my key and called my sister to inform her that I may need a ride for myself and my 6 year old daughter, the dashboard needles jumped vigorously. While sitting. In the vehicle again, the computer system opened up and my trip timer began running and the radio. Again without the keys in the ignition, they were in my lap. The entire night while my vehicle was stationary periodically my car would cut in and off, and engage without the keys in the ignition nor present near he car. Consequently, the constant running of the vehicle by it self ran the battery dead as well. Attempted to contact the Ford dealership, where I purchased the vehicle, and check service and the technician was very rude and continuously interrupted me. When questioning regarding and open recall, 18S32, and mentioning that not only did I call the nthsa number but I also read the recall regarding my vehicle serviceman became even more rude and even disconnected the call.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #111

Dec 082018

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
Back seat driver door latch stopped working without cause. Opened while driving and will no longer stay closed.

- Burkburnett, TX, USA

problem #110

Dec 042018

Focus

  • 84,000 miles
I have had issues with my transmission for awhile. I noticed it first when going up steeper hills if I have to come to a stop and continue up the hill the transmission would jump as if it couldnt get into gear. Then when traveling on the freeway through the mountains we were driving on cruse control when out of no where the rmp's jumped up to 5000+ I had to get the car off of cruse control and try and help it to stick back into gear. I now have taken my car into the penske Ford dealership and they are saying that there was a recall on the transmission, but when doing the diagnostic on in they found the transmission control modual was covered under the warrenty but the clutch also needed to be replaced but that wasnt under the warrenty. But there is a recall on my transmission! and I should not have to pay 2K+ to get my clutch fixed, when my clutch is a part of my transmission. I have seen that there is many lawsuits about this, and I hope I dont have to do that.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #109

Dec 022018

Focus

  • 86,000 miles
1.) while in driving motion my car acts like it stalls or gets stuck in a gear or has a problem shifting. 2.) while in reverse motion my car sometimes wants to act like it can't go in reverse, like I can't back up or drive. I restart the car sometimes & then it's fine.

- Washington, NC, USA

problem #108

May 092018

Focus

  • 63,000 miles
Bought the car in March 2018, by May 2018, car had trouble with staying started after I started it. It would shut off before reaching the end of my driveway. But once it was jumped it would start back up and drive again for a bit. By August, it was happening at least once a week. Then it stopped working all together. Couldn't jump it, replaced the battery, it didn't help, took it up to the dealer, they weren't able to identify the issue, took it to our local car shop, it was there from August til the end of September where they were unable to identify the issue, still hasn't been resolved but it is currently driving although it is having issues as well. Dash will go black, when idling it shutters, no screen until it's actually started. Rear view camera had quit then started to work again.

- Bancroft, NE, USA

problem #107

Oct 252018

Focus

  • 67,306 miles
On 10/25/18. Car at dale in neutral. Heat on setting speed 2. second setting floor dash combo. The vents on dash were hot enough to cause burns to hands if touched. Gauge for engine temp showed mid range. Check of antifreeze showed adiquite level. When car was in motion the temp was cooler but still warmer than it should be.

- Pittston, ME, USA

problem #106

Oct 202018

Focus

  • 1,099 miles
While driving from store and having my 4 year old granddaughter. My rear left door open. At first I thought I close it but yet I didn't since the car seat is on the other side. I have the door tide with cable until it gets repair.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #105

Sep 012018

Focus

  • miles
Takata recall there no sound for the radio the dash board for the radio is blank before it went blank it was making a lot of noisy

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #104

Oct 182018

Focus

  • 50,913 miles
I payed $372.24 for a fuel system problem I was having problems were engine was stalling, vapor managementvalve was replaced.now there is a recall that is not complete.why am I being chatged for this recall?I would come to a stop sign or a red light and my car would turn off.this is not first time I take my car to Ford I also had to take it in for transmission recall.

- El Paso, TX, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?