2014 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2014 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC has 98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: i was traveling about 35 mph when my car flashed a message "stop safely now" and the car had lost power to the wheels and i was now just coasting. i pulled the vehicle off to the side of the road. i was able to turn off the vehicle and get it started again. i was lucky that i was able to safely g. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 2 crash reports 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

29 complaints

30%

• I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN MY CAR FLASHED A MESSAGE "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THE CAR HAD LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS AND I WAS NOW JUST COASTING. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY G
• CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE WITH FULLY CHARGED. I TRIED TO START CAR AND I GOT MESSAGE "SAFE MODE SHUTDOWN" ON THE RIGHT SCREEN AND "STOP SAFELY NOW" ON THE LEFT SCREEN. CAR LIGHTS START BLINKING AND AFTER A WHILE WHOLE CAR SHUTDOWN AND DISABLED. CAR IS NOT RESPONDING REMOTE KEY. BACK DOOR IS LOC
• PURCHASED A 2014 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC IN JULY OF 2014. ABOUT 1 MONTH AND 1400 MILES LATER I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE. VEHICLE WILL IMMEDIATELY LOOSE POWER TO ACCELERATOR WHILE STILL MAINTAINING POWER TO BRAKING AND STEERING. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN MY CAR FLASHED A MESSAGE "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THE CAR HAD LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS AND I WAS NOW JUST COASTING. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY G”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

21 complaints

21%

• I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT IN A TRAFFIC JAM. WORRIED THAT I WOULD RUN OUT ELECTRICITY, I SHUT OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TO PROCEED, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE, AND A WARNING OF "SAFELY STOP NOW" ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. I TRIED "RESTARTING" THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAR WOULD SEEM TO "START," BUT WO
• 3 MILES AFTER LEAVING THE PARKING LOT WITH MY MOM AND 2 KIDS IN THE CAR THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING FLASHED AND THE CAR LOST POWER. I FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINT 10512459. I HAD TO PULL OVER IN THE BIKE LANE, TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT UNTIL POWER WAR RESTORED. SAME THING HAPPENED NEXT DAY RIGHT
• VEHICLE LOST POWER SUDDENLY WITH A WARNING "STOP SAFELY NOW". SINCE THE SPEED WAS LOW AND THERE WASN'T ANYBODY BEHIND ME, I WAS ABLE TO MARGINALLY PULL OVER FROM THE ROAD. TRIED TO POWER CYCLE SEVERAL TIMES AND THE ERROR MESSAGE WENT AWAY. STARTED TO ROLL AND THE MESSAGE POPPED BACK AGAIN AND REGENE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT IN A TRAFFIC JAM. WORRIED THAT I WOULD RUN OUT ELECTRICITY, I SHUT OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TO PROCEED, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE, AND A WARNING OF "SAFELY STOP NOW" ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. I TRIED "RESTARTING" THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAR WOULD SEEM TO "START," BUT WO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

16 complaints

16%

• I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN MY CAR FLASHED A MESSAGE "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THE CAR HAD LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS AND I WAS NOW JUST COASTING. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY G
• WITHOUT EARNING, THIS ELECTRIC VEHICLE'S POWER SYSTEMS DIE, EVEN IF FULLY CHARGED. THE CAR IS LEFT INOPERABLE. A ENGINE LIGHT "STOP SAFELY NOW" APPEARS AND THE CAR CAN'T MOVE. VERY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENS IN MOVING TRAFFIC. *TR
• ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH 48 HOURS THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING APPEARED ON THE DASH ACCOMPANIED WITH A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND/OR THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THESE OCCURRED IN DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS: WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, WHILE BRAKING, AND TWO OCC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

11 complaints

11%

• CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE WITH FULLY CHARGED. I TRIED TO START CAR AND I GOT MESSAGE "SAFE MODE SHUTDOWN" ON THE RIGHT SCREEN AND "STOP SAFELY NOW" ON THE LEFT SCREEN. CAR LIGHTS START BLINKING AND AFTER A WHILE WHOLE CAR SHUTDOWN AND DISABLED. CAR IS NOT RESPONDING REMOTE KEY. BACK DOOR IS LOC
• 3 MILES AFTER LEAVING THE PARKING LOT WITH MY MOM AND 2 KIDS IN THE CAR THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING FLASHED AND THE CAR LOST POWER. I FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINT 10512459. I HAD TO PULL OVER IN THE BIKE LANE, TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT UNTIL POWER WAR RESTORED. SAME THING HAPPENED NEXT DAY RIGHT
• THREE SEPARATE TIMES WHILE BACKING UP FROM PARKING SPACES AND WHILE PULLING FORWARD, THE STOP SAFELY NOW LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE NORMALLY BUT HAVE HEARD OF THIS CONDITION HAPPENING WHILE AT SPEED. CAR IS IN DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT OF HIGH VOLTAGE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE WITH FULLY CHARGED. I TRIED TO START CAR AND I GOT MESSAGE "SAFE MODE SHUTDOWN" ON THE RIGHT SCREEN AND "STOP SAFELY NOW" ON THE LEFT SCREEN. CAR LIGHTS START BLINKING AND AFTER A WHILE WHOLE CAR SHUTDOWN AND DISABLED. CAR IS NOT RESPONDING REMOTE KEY. BACK DOOR IS LOC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

6 complaints

• DURING DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND THE CAR HAD THE "STOP SAFELY" LIGHT COME ON AND IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD MY KIDS WITH ME AND TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN A MATTER OF COUPLE OF HOURS. IT AGAIN HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 3, AS I BRAKED AT A RED LIGHT. *
• THIS MODEL HAS A "STICKY" STEERING WHEEL THAT WILL NOT ALWAYS RETURN TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION WITH OUT DRIVER ASSISTANCE AND NEEDS TO BE CONSTANTLY ADJUSTED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE GOING AROUND A GRADUAL CURVE IN THE ROAD AN
• I DID THE UPDATE TO THE TCM BUT DID NOT FIX NOTHING MY TRANS STILL MESSES UP AND AROUND SAME TIME IT STARTED STEERING IS GETTING STUCK MAY BE STEARING PUMP FORD WILL NOT HELP AT ALL IV ONLY OWNED CAR FOR A YEAR SOON AS I GOT TO 60000 MILES IT STARED HESITATE JERKING I DID UPDATE LIKE IT SAID 2 DO IT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DURING DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND THE CAR HAD THE "STOP SAFELY" LIGHT COME ON AND IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD MY KIDS WITH ME AND TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN A MATTER OF COUPLE OF HOURS. IT AGAIN HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 3, AS I BRAKED AT A RED LIGHT. *”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 98 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN MY CAR FLASHED A MESSAGE "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THE CAR HAD LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS AND I WAS NOW JUST COASTING. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY G
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT IN A TRAFFIC JAM. WORRIED THAT I WOULD RUN OUT ELECTRICITY, I SHUT OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TO PROCEED, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE, AND A WARNING OF "SAFELY STOP NOW" ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. I TRIED "RESTARTING" THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAR WOULD SEEM TO "START," BUT WO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN MY CAR FLASHED A MESSAGE "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THE CAR HAD LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS AND I WAS NOW JUST COASTING. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY G
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE WITH FULLY CHARGED. I TRIED TO START CAR AND I GOT MESSAGE "SAFE MODE SHUTDOWN" ON THE RIGHT SCREEN AND "STOP SAFELY NOW" ON THE LEFT SCREEN. CAR LIGHTS START BLINKING AND AFTER A WHILE WHOLE CAR SHUTDOWN AND DISABLED. CAR IS NOT RESPONDING REMOTE KEY. BACK DOOR IS LOC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)