2014 Ford FOCUS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2014 Ford FOCUS has 3610 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 45.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (44% of all complaints), specifically: when the vehicle comes to a complete stop it rolls backwards before you can place your foot onto the accelerator. the vehicle will also pull itself forward or backward from the bottom of a hill and clears the hill without manual acceleration. the transmission slips and causes a jerking movement whil. ⚠️ 17 fire reports filed.

17 fire reports 98 crash reports 65 injuries

3610

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

45.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

1576 complaints

44%

• WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP IT ROLLS BACKWARDS BEFORE YOU CAN PLACE YOUR FOOT ONTO THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO PULL ITSELF FORWARD OR BACKWARD FROM THE BOTTOM OF A HILL AND CLEARS THE HILL WITHOUT MANUAL ACCELERATION. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CAUSES A JERKING MOVEMENT WHIL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FUSION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON AN INCLINE, THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO IMMEDIATELY TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE ALSO SPUTTERED AND SHOOK WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE SPEED AND ALSO SPORADICALLY EMITTED A GRINDING NOISE
• SIMILAR TO OTHERS GRINDING NOISE , CLUTCH IS SLIPPING . VERY BAD IN THE BEGINNING , GRINDING NOISE IS COMING JUST BECAUSE THE CLUTCH IS SLIPPING . IT IS VERY ANNOYING TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN THE CITY OR ON THE HWY , WILL YOU PASS SOMEONE WITH A SLIPPING CLUTCH ? WILL YOU TURN SOMEWHERE QUICK LIKE RIGHT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 23 crashes

“WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP IT ROLLS BACKWARDS BEFORE YOU CAN PLACE YOUR FOOT ONTO THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO PULL ITSELF FORWARD OR BACKWARD FROM THE BOTTOM OF A HILL AND CLEARS THE HILL WITHOUT MANUAL ACCELERATION. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CAUSES A JERKING MOVEMENT WHIL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

446 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE V
• 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. *TR
• WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE, GAS PEDAL WAS NON RESPONSIVE. TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH IN 5TH GEAR. DECELERATION OCCURRED IN 5TH GEAR. WAS ONLY ABLE TO MAINTAIN SPEED IN 4TH GEAR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO GO ANY FASTER THAN 50- 55 MPH WITH GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 8 fire reports💥 18 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE V”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

349 complaints

10%

• WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE, GAS PEDAL WAS NON RESPONSIVE. TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH IN 5TH GEAR. DECELERATION OCCURRED IN 5TH GEAR. WAS ONLY ABLE TO MAINTAIN SPEED IN 4TH GEAR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO GO ANY FASTER THAN 50- 55 MPH WITH GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE
• 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 DIS
• MY CAR HAS SEVERAL ISSUES WHICH ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH AND DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX THEM: 1. VIBRATION ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN I LET THE CAR GO FROM A STOP BEFORE PUSHING THE GAS. 2. TRANSMISSION IS JERKY WHEN I ACCELERATE, IT SEEMS TO STOP, GO BACK AND FORTH, AS IF SOMEBODY'S PULLING ME BACK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 10 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE, GAS PEDAL WAS NON RESPONSIVE. TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH IN 5TH GEAR. DECELERATION OCCURRED IN 5TH GEAR. WAS ONLY ABLE TO MAINTAIN SPEED IN 4TH GEAR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO GO ANY FASTER THAN 50- 55 MPH WITH GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

284 complaints

• FORD FOCUS ST '14 : ON STARTUP THE ENGINE REVS TO 1500 THEN DOWN TO <500RPM AND ALMOST STALLS. IN ADDITION, SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, IF THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED THE ENGINE REVS WILL RAPIDLY DECREASE TO THIS NEAR STALL POINT CAUSING LOTS OF ENGINE SHUTTER. THERE IS A TSB (13-9-7) RELEASED, BUT THE ENG
• TRACTION CONTROL ISSUE.... DURING SNOWSTORM , TRYING TO DRIVE UP A HILL WITH A LEFT HAND TURN , TIRES LOST TRACTION AND CAR ELECTRONICALLY REDUCED RPM SPEED... LOSS OF SPEED ALMOST SENT CAR SIDEWAYS INTO DITCH. HAD TO TURN AROUND AND GET RUN AT HILL 4 MORE TIMES.... EACH TIME WHEN TRACTION WITH
• TRACTION CONTROL ISSUE.... DURING SNOWSTORM , TRYING TO DRIVE UP A HILL WITH A LEFT HAND TURN , TIRES LOST TRACTION AND CAR ELECTRONICALLY REDUCED RPM SPEED... LOSS OF SPEED ALMOST SENT CAR SIDEWAYS INTO DITCH. HAD TO TURN AROUND AND GET RUN AT HILL 4 MORE TIMES.... EACH TIME WHEN TRACTION WITH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“FORD FOCUS ST '14 : ON STARTUP THE ENGINE REVS TO 1500 THEN DOWN TO <500RPM AND ALMOST STALLS. IN ADDITION, SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, IF THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED THE ENGINE REVS WILL RAPIDLY DECREASE TO THIS NEAR STALL POINT CAUSING LOTS OF ENGINE SHUTTER. THERE IS A TSB (13-9-7) RELEASED, BUT THE ENG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

247 complaints

• 2014 FORD FOCUS ST WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN DECELERATING TO A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT (APPROX 20-10 MPH), AND ENGAGING THE CLUTCH TO COAST WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, THE CAR WILL ALMOST STALL (DROPS TO ABOUT ~500 RPM) AND THEN THE ENGINE "CATCHES ITSELF" AND WILL REV TO 1000-1200 RPM BEFORE SE
• MY FORD FOCUS (2014) SHUTS OFF AT IDLE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO GET FIXED TWICE. NOW THE DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR FOR A WEEK AND THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ALSO I HAVE FOUND ON THE ST FORMS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF FORD ST OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
• TROUBLE WITH THE DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM THE FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP. THE CAR NOW HAS 6K MILES AND THE PROBLEMS PERSIST. THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS ARE EVEN WORSE DURING COLD WEATHER: THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS POORLY, ROUGHLY, MISSES SHIFTS, CHOOSES THE WRONG GEAR FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED, D

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 9 crashes

“2014 FORD FOCUS ST WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN DECELERATING TO A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT (APPROX 20-10 MPH), AND ENGAGING THE CLUTCH TO COAST WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, THE CAR WILL ALMOST STALL (DROPS TO ABOUT ~500 RPM) AND THEN THE ENGINE "CATCHES ITSELF" AND WILL REV TO 1000-1200 RPM BEFORE SE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 3610 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP IT ROLLS BACKWARDS BEFORE YOU CAN PLACE YOUR FOOT ONTO THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO PULL ITSELF FORWARD OR BACKWARD FROM THE BOTTOM OF A HILL AND CLEARS THE HILL WITHOUT MANUAL ACCELERATION. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CAUSES A JERKING MOVEMENT WHIL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE V
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE, GAS PEDAL WAS NON RESPONSIVE. TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH IN 5TH GEAR. DECELERATION OCCURRED IN 5TH GEAR. WAS ONLY ABLE TO MAINTAIN SPEED IN 4TH GEAR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO GO ANY FASTER THAN 50- 55 MPH WITH GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: FORD FOCUS ST '14 : ON STARTUP THE ENGINE REVS TO 1500 THEN DOWN TO <500RPM AND ALMOST STALLS. IN ADDITION, SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, IF THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED THE ENGINE REVS WILL RAPIDLY DECREASE TO THIS NEAR STALL POINT CAUSING LOTS OF ENGINE SHUTTER. THERE IS A TSB (13-9-7) RELEASED, BUT THE ENG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)