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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:
11 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,425 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2014 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 11 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #6

Jan 222014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 734 miles

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

Purchased a 2014 Ford Focus SE on January 4, 2014 and have had problems since driving it off the dealership parking lot. When driving the vehicle, the steering wheel bounces or sways back and forth. The feel is similar to when it is windy and the car is caught in an air gust. When driving any distance or a speed over 10 mph, the driver must hold onto the steering wheel to keep the car in the lane of traffic. The steering wheel sways one way and once you correct it is necessary to correct the opposite way. The car is driven to and from work approximately 17 miles one day daily. By the time I arrive at work or home my hands hurt from holding the steering wheel so tightly. Prior to the third visit to the service department for the steering issue, a new problem arose. After breaking to stop the car, I lifted my foot off of the break, the vehicle accelerated forward fast enough to squeal the tires. Applied the break again, stopped, removed foot to accelerate and car accelerated on its own again. This is becoming an ongoing issue. As of April 9, 2014 the vehicle has been in at the Ford dealership four times, each time to be told there no problems can be found with the car. It drives the same as every other vehicle of the same make per the dealership. I've barely missed hitting the center barrier on the freeway, taking out the side of a delivery truck, accelerated forward at a dangerous speed in heavy traffic, and the steering is progressively getting worse. This car is unsafe for the public highway. Ford continues to say there is no problem with the car. Afraid to drive the vehicle in fear of hurting another driver or myself.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #5

Feb 242014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 1,200 miles
While driving on snow covered roads the wheel wells for the car became packed with snow and ice. The clearance of the vehicle did not allow for being able to clear the buildup. Steering was very difficult and the snow and ice build up was rubbing on all the tires. Even after placing the vehicle in a garage I was only able to clear the front wheel wells, the rear wheel wells have a felt type lining that sticks in the snow and ice so it cannot be removed and rubs on the tires decreasing the handling of the vehicle. I contacted the dealer and they said they do not have any suggestions.

- Worden, MT, USA

problem #4

Aug 232013

Focus

  • 500 miles
The car was scary to drive on the highway with uncontrollable swaying had to white knuckle the steering wheel with compensation of darty movements! brought to the dealer they align it 3 times got better but still no complete reward. Then Ford said replace the steering gear ! test drove home with mi snow on the roads wow was it scary to drive it home extra darting fish tail experience. Since last repair it seems to getting bad again 11000 mile later while driving on bumpy roads it darts bad and sway steering ! I believe its a comb of programming issue of steering gear and rack and roll control !!! next will need engineer to look at it!

- Gaines , MI, USA

problem #3

Jan 112014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 100 miles

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

Steering sometimes wanders at highway speeds when problem occurs the wheels seem to wander left or right and small corrections are needed to keep the car going straight in the lane proper level of correction is impossible to make. As you correct in one direction you now are wandering in that direction. This causes the problem to happen over and over again. The result is the car "ping-ponging" in the lane problem is intermittent, problem is more pronounced at higher speeds problem seems to occur after driving the car for 40+ minutes problem is not "torque steer", the problem has nothing to do with throttle input wind seems to be unrelated to wandering sensation road surface quality seems to be unrelated to issue when making minor corrections on the highway: If I attempt not to overcompensate then I will veer too far in the direction that the car was wandering in the first place. You can't not overcompensate with the way it behaves. It's like you either don't compensate at all or you overcompensate, nothing in between.

- Duncan, OK, USA

problem #2

Nov 012013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 3,400 miles
I bought this car new 2 mos ago, it has always had weird steering. As you're driving it gets very stiff and '"dartey" and it difficult to maintain a straight line without constant correction and is very sensitive at higher speeds, you change lanes quickly and with little effort. I talked to the service consultant at the dealership and he said they can look at it but haven't had any complaints, but I see alot of complaints on the internet. I feel this car is unsafe and would appreciate your input, thank you.

- Youngsville, NC, USA

problem #1

Oct 202013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 528 miles
Low grinding noise coming from front of car after turns, inclines, accelerating after a stop. Sounds like aluminum cans grinding. Also, loss of power in car acceleration for brief periods when driving, especially when accelerating on the freeway to merge into traffic.

- Lake Forest Park, WA, USA

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