Home · 2014 Ford Focus Bev · Complaints

What 2,584 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Focus Bev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (2,584)Crash / fire / injury (89)Transmission & drivetrain (1,550)Engine (437)Fuel system (354)Electrical system (259)Steering (221)Speed control (165)Body & structure (61)Latches & locks (47)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (39)Brakes (33)

1,550 of 2,584 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 58 of 62

Apr 23, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, BUCKING, KICKING, JERKING, ROUGH ENGAGEMENT, SUDDEN ACCELERATION, DELAY IN DOWNSHIFTS, SHUDDERING AND DELAYED ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10712496

Apr 23, 2015Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

VEHICLE SHAKES, HESITATES, SHUDDERS FROM STOP AND AT SLOW SPEEDS. VERY JERKY AND INCONSISTENT SHIFTING THROUGH THE FIRST 2 TO 3 GEARS. NOT AS APPARENT AT SPEEDS OVER 25MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10712534

Apr 22, 2015Transmission & drivetrainEngine

WITHIN THE FIRST FEW HUNDRED MILES I DROVE THE CAR I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT COULDN'T GET IN GEAR AND GO. THE ACCELERATION WAS DELAYED DRAMATICALLY. THAT HAS CONTINUED EVER SINCE. MORE RECENTLY FROM A DEAD STOP WHEN I ACCELERATE THE CAR SHUDDERS, MAKES LOUD, ODD NOISES AND ACCELERATES WITH DIFFICULTY. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO ME AND TO OTHERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10712298

Apr 22, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING UPON ACCELERATION. FEELS LIKE DRIVING IN HIGH GEAR, LOTS OF JUMPING & JERKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10712306

Apr 17, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

THE FORD FOCUS HAS HAD SHIFTING ISSUES SINCE FIRST PURCHASED. FORD PERFORMED A REPROGRAMMING OF THE COMPUTER MODULE, DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. FORD REPAIRED THE CLUTCH AND IT SEEMED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MONTHS. THE SLUGGISH SHIFTING REAPPEARED A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR CONDUCTED ON BATTLEFIELD FORD (VA). TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TED BRITT, FORD CHANTILLY VA, ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. "FORD STATES THAT SOME SHIFTING LAG IS ACCEPTABLE" OF CONCERN IS THAT I'VE OWNED A FORD, RANGER/FUSION/EXPLORER/ FORD FUSION HYBRID, NONE OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE THIS ISSUES WITH SHIFTING. ITS FORD GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10706240

Apr 14, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS UPON ACCELERATION. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS ALMOST STALLED OUT ALMOST CAUSING US TO BE REAR ENDED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. 2ND TIME THEY HAD TO REPROGRAM THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED. CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AWAITING OUTCOME THIS TIME. VERY UPSETTING CONSIDERING THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A REPUTABLE COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MANY YEARS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND I HOPE THEY DO RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10705676

Apr 12, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS HAS SLIPPED/STALLED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. SOMETIMES IT IS FROM A DEAD STOP AND SOMETIMES IT IS AT SPEED. CAR WILL SHUDDER, HIGH REV AND NOT SHIFT, START TO GO AND STALL. I FEEL UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND FORD HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10705219

Apr 5, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION HAS ACTED UP ALMOST SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS MY VERY FIRST BRAND NEW CAR AND WAS UNAWARE OF THE CAR SOUNDS AND HOW IT FEELS WHEN DRIVING IT. HOWEVER, A PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED GETTING MORE NOTICEABLE AS TIME PASSED BY, SUDDENLY IT WOULD SLIP AND HESITATE AT LOW SPEEDS. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS. I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND ALL THEY DID WAS REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER AND GATHER INFORMATION FOR THE FORD MANUFACTURER. NOW THE CAR IS EVEN WORSE THAN BEFORE AND DOING THINGS IT DID NOT DO BEFORE I TOOK IT IN. I WANT THE FORD MANUFACTURER TO BUY BACK THIS VEHICLE; I DON'T FEEL SECURE IN IT ANYMORE AND I DON'T CONSIDER IT A RELIABLE WAY OF TRANSPORTATION ANYMORE. I'M STRONGLY CONSIDERING NOT TO GO FOR ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE EVER AGAIN, I'D RATHER GO WITH OTHER MAKES AND MODELS. MY EXPERIENCE WITH FORD HAD BEEN BAD, I HAD THIS CAR FOR ONLY A YEAR AND ONLY 11,000 MILES AND I'M ALREADY DEALING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10703751

Apr 2, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC). FROM A STOP THE TRANSMISSION REVS BUT CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FOR MY DAUGHTER SO SHE WOULD HAVE A SAFE RELIABLE VEHICLE TO DRIVE TO SCHOOL. A TRANSMISSION CAUSING A LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHILE IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IS NOT SAFE OR RELIABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10703433

Mar 30, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN PULLING FORWARD OUT OF A GAS STATION, I HIT THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR STARTED SHUTTERING AND JUMPING, THEN REED UP TO 3,000 RPM AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, I WAS ONLY TRYING TO GO FORWARD ABOUT 20 FEET. IT THEN KEPT GOING WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM ME AS THE DRIVER. I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO STOP IT AND PREVENT THE CAR FROM GOING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CAR THEN SHIFTED REALLY HARD AND ALMOST LURKED MY PASSENGER INTO THE DASHBOARD. THIS TRANSMISSION IS NOT SAFE AND THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10702600

Mar 27, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING NOISES, SHUTTERING AND HESITATING WHEN TAKING OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND FINALLY ON THE THIRD TIME (AFTER GETTING THE REGIONAL FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INVOLVED) THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC CLUTCH. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND WHEN I GOT IT BACK I HAVE TO ADMIT IT DROVE BETTER. HOWEVER NOW 9 MONTHS AND 15K MILES LATER THE TRANSMISSION IS MAKING THE SAME NOISES AGAIN AND IT IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT IT DID WHEN IT ONLY HAD 400 MILES ON IT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10702286

Mar 24, 2015Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

WHILE TAKING TURNS AT 10 - 15 MPH SPEED AND/OR WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE GIVES OUT A SERIES OF RATTLING NOISES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THIS SEEMS TO OCCURS AT NO / PARTIAL THROTTLE BEING APPLIED. AT TIMES, WHILE ACCELERATING FROM STOP, THE VEHICLE SHATTERS QUITE STRONGLY. THE SHUDDER IS PRETTY STRONG WHEN IT OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP ON AN INCLINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10701482

Mar 23, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

WE WERE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT ON A SLIGHT INCLINE (NO MORE THAN A DRIVEWAY). WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARD. I APPLIED NORMAL GAS PEDAL AND IT STILL ROLLED BACK. I GAVE IT MORE THROTTLE FOR A SECOND AND THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY CAUGHT. FORTUNATELY, WE AVOIDED ROLLING INTO THE CAR BEHIND US. THE CAR PROBABLY ROLLED BACK THREE OR FOUR FEET BEFORE ENGAGING. SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW, IT SHUDDERS WHEN LEAVING A STOP, AND HAS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEN GOING UPHILL AND TURNING TO THE LEFT. IN OTHER WORDS, IT HAS THE SAME ISSUES AS ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS PEOPLE HAVE POSTED ONLINE. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR, WE WERE TOLD THAT AFTER A 1,000 OR SO MILES OF DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD "LEARN" OUR DRIVING HABITS AND BE SMOOTH..........RIGHT. WHEN I TALKED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT., I WAS TOLD THESE ARE JUST CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS. IF THESE ARE PROPERTIES OF A NORMAL FORD DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION, THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10701102

Mar 16, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE AND SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP AND FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10694511

Mar 11, 2015Transmission & drivetrainEngine

HELLO I PURCHASED MY 2014 FORD FOCUS SEPT 1, 2014 DECIDED TO GET A FORD BEING THAT I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT TOYOTA COROLLAS IN THE PAST AND A PLYMOUTH NEON THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME BUT PREFER COROLLAS ANYWAYS SOON AFTER I WAS DRIVING IT I NOTICED A JERKING, REVVING ON TAKE OFF AT FIRST I THOUGHT OK IT'S JUST ME BUT WHEN MY SISTERS NOTICED IT AND MY BROTHER WHILE HE TOOK IT TO THE STORE THAT'S WHEN I KNEW IT WASN'T JUST ME. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT HAS NO POWER UPON TAKE OFF WHICH MAKES ME REALLY UNCERTAIN AND AFRAID I DON'T FEEL INSURE LETTING ANYONE RIDE WITH ME. I DRIVE UP ORTEGA HWY A LOT SINCE MY SON LIVES IN MISSION VIEJO IT'S A VERY UP HILL RIDE THE CAR JERKS A LOT AND AGAIN HAS NO POWER I LITERALLY HAVE TO GIVE IT GAS FOR IT TO MOVE. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TWICE NOW TO GET CHECKED AND BOTH TIMES THEY PERFORMED A UPDATE ON THE ENGINE WAS WHAT I WAS TOLD AND THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH MY CAR I FEEL THAT I GOT RIPPED OF THEY SHOULD DISCONTINUE THIS CARS INSTEAD OF SELLING THEM THEY ARE VERY HAZARDS AND SHOULD NOT BE OUT ON THE ROADS. I AM CONTINUING MAKING MY PAYMENTS SINCE I DON'T WANT IT TO AFFECT MY CREDIT BUY I AM NOT TO HAPPY SINCE THE CAR I THOUGHT WAS IN GOOD STANDARDS IS NOT I WISH I WOULD OF KNOWN THIS WHEN I WAS BUYING THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE KIND OF TRANSMISSION I KNOW THAT I DID TELL THEM I WANT A AUTOMATIC NOT A DUAL AUTOMATIC AND STANDARD TRANSMISSION NOT A HAPPY PERSON RIGHT NOW. VERY DISAPPOINTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10693650

Mar 10, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

MY FORD FOCUS EV SHUT DOWN WITH NO REASON WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IT HAPPENED TWICE IN A WEEK. EVEN AFTER I UPDATED THE SOFTWARE. WHILE REBOOTING TOOK MOVE THAN ONE MINUTE, AFTER I TRIED TO TURN OFF EVERYTHING, THE POWER WAS STILL ON FOR A WHILE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10693412

Mar 5, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE AND SHUDDERING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS VERY POOR ACCELERATION AT TIMES AS THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP. NOW AT 10,000 FORD IS GOING TO REPLACE THE CLUTCHES. HOWEVER, I AM STILL DRIVING THE CAR AS THE PARTS ARE BACK ORDERED SO I ASSUME THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10692308

Mar 4, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE CAR WILL BE ACCELERATING AND WITH OUT WARNING, THE POWER TRAIN WILL PAUSE/SEEM TO SLIP/SLIGHT SHUDDER FOR A SECOND OR TWO AND THEN THE VEHICLE RESUMES OPERATING NORMALLY. GENERALLY, THIS HAPPENS IN THE MORNING AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT A MILE. HAPPENS IN DIFFERENT SEASONS OF THE YEAR. DOES NOT SEEM TO HAPPEN RIGHT AS I SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR UP. I AM GENUINELY CONCERNED THAT I WILL BE DRIVING AT SOME POINT AND LOSE MY POWER TRAIN IN A SITUATION THAT WILL PUT ME AT RISK (MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, TURNING ACROSS TRAFFIC, CROSSING A RAILROAD CROSSING, OR OTHER SITUATION IN WHICH I HAVE TO MOVE OR FEAR RISK OF BEING HIT). THERE HAS NOT BEEN A REPEATABLE EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD MAKE TAKING THE CARE IN FOR SERVICE EFFECTIVE. I AM PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD OF 36,000 MILES (I DRIVE ABOUT 100 MILES PER DAY IN MY COMMUTE) AND I FEAR THAT I WILL BE STUCK WITH EXPENSIVE BILLS TO FIX WHAT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT ISSUE. OR WORSE YET, GET HURT/INJURED OR POSSIBLY KILLED BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF MY POWER TRAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10691982

Mar 2, 2015Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND ACCELERATED IN EXCESS INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10691525

Mar 1, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP VEHICLE SHUTTERS, GRINDS AND JOLTS FORWARD. WHEN TURNING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMES FROM THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT FIXED. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN FOR TWO MONTHS. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY AND DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10691349

Feb 10, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

CAR MISS SHIFTS THROUGH THE FIRST 2 OR 3 GEARS. IT SOMETIMES LURCHES FROM STOP SIGNS AND SOMETIMES JUST WILL NOT GO. IT HAS ONE OF THE BAD TRANSMISSIONS EVERYONE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT AND FORD SERVICE SAYS IT FALLS WITHIN TOLERANCE. THEY TOOK IF FOR A DRIVE IN THE PARKING LOT ONLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10682678

Feb 7, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

SINCE I HAVE HAD MY 2014 FORD FOCUS IT HAS HAD MAJOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUES. WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL OVER REV THE ENGINE, AND THIS SOMETIMES MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE WHEN BRAKING. THE CAR WILL ROLL BACK ON HILLS, AND IT OFTEN MAKES A STRANGE RATTLING NOISE FROM UNDER THE CAR WHILE THE CAR IS TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS, THE SHIFT POINTS ARE NOT WHERE YOU SUSPECT THEM TO BE, AND WILL ALSO BEHAVE ODDLY. I HAVE HAD A PART IN THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND ON AN ADDITIONAL VISIT, HAVE ALSO HAD THE TRANSMISSION RESET TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. THIS ISSUE IS ONGOING. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE AN INTERNAL PART WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS ISSUE IS STARTING TO BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN, AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! *JS

NHTSA ODI 10681932

Feb 6, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN MOVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR ROLLING SLOWLY THE CAR SHAKES, MAKES GRINDING NOISES; VEHICLE HESITATES AND VIBRATES ALSO THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. I AM WORRIED WHEN I TRY TO MERGE ONTO A HIGHWAY FROM A SIDE ROAD, WHAT IS THIS CAR GOING TO DO. IS IT GOING TO THROW ITS FIT AND HESITATE AND SHAKE OR IS IT GOING TO MOVE SOMEWHAT SMOOTHLY. I NEVER KNOW HOW THE CAR WILL ACT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS VERY SAFE THAT THIS CAR HESITATES. MOVING FROM A STOP SIGN OR STOPLIGHT OKAY (IRRITATING) BUT TRYING TO MERGE OUT INTO TRAFFIC NOT SO WELL (DEADLY EVEN). FORD SAYS IT?S WITHIN SPECS AND OKAY BOTH AT THEIR DEALERSHIP AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS IT?S NORMAL TO HAVE SOME HESITATION AND SHAKING TO ME DOESN'T?T SEEM RIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT AN ONGOING PROBLEM FORD WON'T DEAL WITH. I CAN'T EVEN GET RID OF MY CAR AS I TRY TO TRADE IT IN AND I GET LAUGHED AT BY OTHER DEALERS. WHAT CAN BE DONE? *JS

NHTSA ODI 10681777

Jan 21, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN STARTING OFF FROM A STOP, WHEELS HAVE A JERKY AND SHUTTERY FEELING LIKE I TOOK OFF TOO FAST EVEN THOUGH I DON'T. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING THE RPM'S GO UP WAY TOO FAST AND COME DOWN SLOWLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10678168

Jan 19, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE SHOWED A "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING AND THEN LOST ALL POWER. HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF LOSS OF POWER. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ALSO STOPPED FUNCTIONING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10676448

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Working with the data? Download all 2,584 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 23, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 Ford Focus Bev verdict →