2014 Ford FOCUS
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2014 Ford FOCUS has 3610 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.8x the segment average of 1308. 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. There are 12 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 17 fire reports filed.
3610
Total Complaints
12
Recalls Issued
5/5
Safety Stars
2.8x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
TRANSMISSION
1576 complaints- • 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
“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
When Problems Appear on the 2014 Ford FOCUS
Based on 2,673 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 48K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.
TRANSMISSION
ENGINE
OTHER
SPEED CONTROL
BODY/STRUCTURE
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (12)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
Risk: The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.
Charging Cost Calculator for 2014 Ford FOCUS
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2014 Ford FOCUS
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Ford FOCUS Service Intervals
IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2014 FOCUS, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
EV Incentives for 2014 Ford FOCUS
Updated 2026-07Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30
Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.
State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)
Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.
Videos About the 2014 Ford FOCUS
Videos hosted on YouTube — embedded via official playerVideos are hosted on YouTube and embedded here via YouTube's official player. BestCarRank does not host or produce these videos. Watch counts and channel information are pulled from YouTube's public Data API.
Estimated Repair Costs
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
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 12 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ford FOCUS — Year Comparison
How does 2014 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 3610
- Recalls
- 12
- Fire reports
- 17
- Crash reports
- 98
- Injury reports
- 65
- Segment avg
- 1308
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2014 Ford FOCUS