Home · 2014 Ford Focus RS · Complaints

What 2,644 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Focus RS

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 (2,644)Crash / fire / injury (89)Transmission & drivetrain (1,589)Engine (455)Fuel system (360)Electrical system (274)Steering (225)Speed control (169)Body & structure (62)Latches & locks (47)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (39)Brakes (34)

1,589 of 2,644 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 27 of 64

Aug 2, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TAKATA RECALL AND CLUTCH REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE BY SEYMOUR FORD IN JACKSON, MI. ON 3/4/19 MY CAR DIED AT A TWO-WAY STOP SIGN AND I WAS LUCKY TO PUSH IT OUT OF HARM'S WAY. IT WAS TOWED TO SEYMOUR AND THEY SOLDERED A PART BACK TOGETHER.

NHTSA ODI 11241246

Aug 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL FROM 1-45 MPH THE CAR HESITATES TO GO AND THEN JERKS FORWARD. I TOOK IT INTO THE FORD DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS A BAD CLUTCH AND THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH. A MONTH LATER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SAY THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING WHICH RUINED THE CLUTCH AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. WITHIN 2 MONTHS I HAD TO BUY 2 CLUTCHES AND PAY TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11241189

Jul 31, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE A 2014 FORD FOCUS WITH LESS THAT 40,000 MILES THAT HAS THE TRANSMISSION THAT BUCKS AND JUMPS WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP AND ESPECIALLY WHEN BEING USED IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT SURE MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE THAT IT WILL NOT KEEP GOING. I HAD HOPED THAT THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT THAT WAS FILED WOULD HELP TO GET THIS BAD TRANSMISSION FIXED BUT THE RESULT OF THE LAW SUIT WAS LACKING ANY CLEAR RESOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM. BEING ON SOCIAL SECURITY I CAN'T AFFORD TO JUST GO GET A NEW CAR AND HEARING STORIES AT THE AUTO DEANSHIP CONVINCED ME THAT FORD DID NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. ONE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD THAT SINCE HE HAD HIS REPAIRED ONCE, THAT FORD WOULDN'T FIX IT AGAIN AND THE COST TO HAVE THE DEALER WORK ON IT WAS $2,000.

NHTSA ODI 11240863

Jul 31, 2019Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

WE PURCHASED THIS CAR AND IT CUT OFF ON MY DAUGHTER DUE TO THE GAS TANK NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND WE PAID FOR IT. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION STOPPED SHIFTING PROPERLY, LOSE POWER, JERK, AND SHAKE WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS BECOME SO UNPREDICTABLE THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. WE HAVE BEEN TO FORD FOR THEIR SECRET REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION AND CONSISTENTLY BEEN TOLD BY THOSE THAT ARE TO DO THE REPAIR THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI 11240892

Jul 31, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I PURCHASED A USED FORD FOCUS IN JULY OF 2016 FROM JOE MACHENS CAPITAL FORD IN JEFFERSON CITY, MO. IT WAS SOLD WITH A 100000 MILE WARRANTY AND HAD 20,725 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WITHIN 24 HOURS OF DRIVING IT HOME TO ROLLA, MO I STARTED NOTICING A SHUDDER AND SHAKE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I WAS UNSURE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL DUE TO THE TYPE OF CLUTCH INSTALLED IN THE FORD FOCUS AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING. THIS WENT ON FOR SOME TIME AND GREW PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE SHUDDERING PROBLEM WHICH I LEARNED WAS ACTUALLY A CLUTCH ISSUE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IN ROLLA TO HAVE THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED FOR THE FIRST TIME ON 9/21/16. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED ON 2/8/15 AND REPLACED AGAIN ON 8/3/15 AT THE JEFFERSON CITY, MO DEALERSHIP. AFTER HAVING THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED IN ROLLA IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF WEEKS BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS BACK - SHUDDERING, JERKING, SOUNDS LIKE A CHAIN BEING DRAGGED UNDERNEATH THE MOTOR OR GRAVEL CRUNCHING, AND SOMETIMES, EVEN HAD THE CAR HESITATE OR COMPLETELY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION EACH TIME I EXPERIENCED THE ABOVE SITUATIONS. IT DOES IT UPON TAKE OFF, WHILE DRIVING, UP HILLS, PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, ETC. IT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS DAY AFTER DAY EXCEPT FOR MAYBE HOURS AFTER HAVING IT IN THE SHOP. I DRIVE MY CAR FOR WORK EVERY DAY AND WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE IT BACK IN THE SHOP UNTIL JANUARY OF 2018 TO HAVE THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED AGAIN ALONG WITH SOME OTHER RECALL WORK THAT WAS DONE AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE A SECOND TIME I WAS GIVEN A PRINTOUT OF OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POWERSHIFT 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION. WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP THAT WAS.

NHTSA ODI 11240918

Jul 31, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

MY VEHICLE HAS AT MULTIPLE TIMES LOST ACCELERATION POWER AT HIGH WAY SPEEDS AND HAD A TRANSMISSION WARNING FLASH ON, CAUSING MYSELF TO HAVE TO STOP ON THE INTERSTATE AND ATTEMPT TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER AMID HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLES. I HAVE ALSO LOST ACCELERATION POWER GOING UPHILL, AND MY VEHICLE SHUDDERS AT ACCELERATION WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO MERGE ON AND OFF THE HIGHWAY OR TO TURN AT INTERSECTIONS, AS I CAN'T GET GUARANTEE MY CAR WON'T HESITATE AND CAUSE A COLLISION, MY CAR ALSO SOMETIMES ACCELERATED FORWARD IN STOPPED TRAFFIC, SO I ALWAYS AM SUPER WARY IN STOP GO TRAFFIC. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS TYPICALLY OCCUR WHEN I AM ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE. MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION REPAIRS WITH SAME ISSUE. STILL HAPPENING TO DATE.

NHTSA ODI 11240938

Jul 30, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHUDDERING DURING TAKE-OFF AND WHILE DRIVING. BASICALLY, THE CLUTCHES ARE SLIPPING CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUDDER, OR IN SOME CASES NOT MOVE AT ALL, EVEN THOUGH IN GEAR. AFTER RESEARCHING, LEARNED ABOUT A MASSIVE ISSUE THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF, BUT SOMEONE MY VEHICLE FALLS JUST OUTSIDE OF EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED BY FORD, EVEN THOUGH EVERY TRANSMISSION OF THIS MODEL IS DEFECTIVE WITH A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. PAID $1400 FOR CLUTCH PACK REPAIR. HAD SAME REPAIR DONE, UNDER SERVICE WARRANTY 10,000 MILES AND EXACTLY 1 YEAR LATER. HAD SAME REPAIR DONE ANOTHER YEAR LATER, EXCEPT NO LONGER UNDER REPAIR WARRANTY, SO HAD TO PAY ANOTHER $1400. ACCORDING TO FORD SERVICE TECHNICIANS, THIS ISSUE REALLY IS NOT FIXABLE. THEY CAN ONLY REPLACE PARTS, WHICH IS A BAND-AID UNTIL THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPENS AGAIN, WHICH IS FLUID LEAKINGG PAST SEALS AND RUINING THE CLUTCHES. UNFIXABLE, ONLY TEMP PATCH. SO, EVEN THOUGH FORD KNEW THIS TRANSMISSION HAD AN ISSUE BEFORE THE PUT IT INTO PRODUCTION, I NOW HAVE TO PAY $1400 EVERY TWO YEARS FOREVER, TO CONTINUE REPAIRING THEIR FLAW, HAVE A VEHICLE WITH DECREASED TRADE VALUE THAT I CAN'T GET RID OF. THESE CARS ARE ENTRY LEVEL. THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES CAN'T AFFORD TO FUND FORD'S CORPORATE GREED. HOW DARE THEM LOOK THE OTHER WAY AND NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DESIGN FLAWS THAT THEIR OWN ENGINEERS WARNED THEM ABOUT. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY APPLIED TO A SMALL SUBSET OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. THE PREVIOUS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS A JOKE THAT ONLY PROVIDES RELIEF AFTER MANY THOUSANDS ARE SPENT ON REPAIRS. BASICALLY THE LAW FIRM GOT RICH AND THE AFFECTED CONSUMER GOT A JELLY-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB CERTIFICATE.

NHTSA ODI 11240536

Jul 30, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 1-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO METRO FORD (LOCATED AT 9000 NW 7TH AVE, MIAMI, FL 33150, (305) 751-9711) ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE EVERY YEAR SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO VERIFY WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V523000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500. *BF CONSUMER STATED CURRENT MILEAGE ON VEHICLE 15. ALSO, WHEN ACCERLERATING BETWEEN 0-45MPH THE CAR JUMPS AND BACKS WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. CONSISTENTLY HAPPENS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR AND SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. ALSO, BUCKS AND JUMPS CONSISTENTLY WHILE DECELERATING FROM 3RD~2ND GEAR AND 2ND ~1ST GEAR.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11240554

Jul 30, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE DUAL CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE OUR PURCHASE OF THE CAR. WE BOUGHT IT USED FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP AND LOOKING AT MAINTENANCE RECORDS THIS HAD ALREADY BEEN AN ISSUE BEFORE IT WAS SOLD TO US. THIS INFORMATION WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO US PRIOR TO PURCHASE. THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY JOLTS FORWARD CAUSING AN ISSUE WITH ACCELERATION. THE DUAL CLUTCH HAS HAD TO CONTINUALLY BE REPLACED EVERY FEW MONTHS INCURRING HIGH MAINTENANCE COSTS. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR AND THE HIGH MAINTENANCE COSTS INCURRED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOT YET BEEN RECALLED. IF THIS IS KNOWN TO BE THE ISSUE, THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR TEMPORARY FIXES, WHEN THE PROBLEM COULD BE RESOLVED BY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11240724

Jul 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

ONCE THE TRANSMISSION HAS WARMED UP (GENERALLY ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING) THE CAR BEGINS TO JERK, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS, FAILS TO SHIFT DURING ACCELERATION AND MAKES THE ENTIRE CAR SHUDDER. WHEN STOPPING ON HILLS THIS CAN RESULT OF THE CAR SUDDENLY ROLLING BACKWARDS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. IT CAN ALSO MAKE GOING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS A HAIRY PROPOSITION. THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY AND MY WIFE AND I HAVE TAKEN TO CARPOOLING WHENEVER POSSIBLE. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. WE NOTICED THE ISSUE SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT IT CERTIFIED PREOWNED FROM FORD IN NOVEMBER OF 2017. FORD TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT THERE WAS A LEARNING COMPONENT TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT HAD TO LEARN HOW I DRIVE BEFORE IT "SETTLED IN" AND TO GIVE IT TIME. AFTER A LEARNING MODULE RESET, MULTIPLE CALLS AND TRIPS TO FORD IN DECEMBER 2018 THEY FINALLY AGREED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR DATE ONCE THE PARTS CAME IN. THEY ALSO SAID AT THE TIME THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE IN THE MEANTIME DESPITE MY MISGIVINGS. THIS WAS OVER 8 MONTHS AGO. EACH TIME I CALL THEY SAID I AM STILL ON THE WAITING LIST AND THAT I HAVE TO WAIT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO UNTIL THEY HAVE THE PARTS. IT IS NOW 7/29/19, OVER 8 MONTHS LATER, AND THEY HAVE YET TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MULTIPLE FORD DEALERSHIPS THAT THERE ARE NO PARTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE NATIONALLY. IN MY AREA I WAS TOLD BY ONE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT IT IS COMMON TO WAIT OVER A YEAR. I CAN'T SELL THE CAR TO SOMEONE ELSE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE KNOWING THE PROBLEM. I CAN'T USE THE CAR SAFELY BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I'M STILL MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON THE CAR DESPITE THE PROBLEM SO I CAN'T BUY A NEW CAR. I'M TRAPPED ALONG WITH APPARENTLY THOUSANDS OF OTHERS AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11240301

Jul 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AT LOW SPEEDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BEN DAVIS FORD (LOCATED AT 400 S GRANDSTAFF DR, AUBURN, IN 46706, (260) 333-1716) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 11240381

Jul 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING. MY CAR REVS AT A VERY HIGH RPM 2K OR HIGHER. AND THE CAR ALSO REVS HIGH WHEN SHIFTING. I CANNOT DRIVE GREATER THAN 70 MPH IN FEAR THAT I WILL REV TOO HIGH AND RUIN MY TRANSMISSION. MY CAR ALSO SHUTTERS TERRIBLY.

NHTSA ODI 11240366

Jul 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH ISSUES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE

NHTSA ODI 11240390

Jul 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

POWERSHIFT TRANSMISSION IS CAUSING PROBLEMS. MY 2014 FORD FOCUS HAD A HISTORY OF SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING, BUT I DID NOT TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC UNTIL MY REGULAR MECHANIC NOTICED IT AND RED FLAGGED IT AS A CONCERN WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND PAID $160 TO RUN A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC OF THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. THE RESULT OF THAT DIAGNOSTIC WAS THE INTERNAL CLUTCH WAS BAD, AND I WOULD NEED TO DO A COMPLETE REBUILD OF BOTH THE CLUTCH AND THE TRANSMISSION, BECAUSE THE CLUTCH IS LOCATED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION, AT A COST OF $3,081.77. AFTER RECOVERING FROM STICKER SHOCK, I WAS TOLD IT WAS OK TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE CLUTCH STOPPED WORKING AS THEY ANTICIPATED FAILURE IN THE LOWER GEARS. AFTER THIS INFORMATION, I REACHED OUT TO TWO TRANSMISSION REPAIR CENTERS FOR A SECOND OPINION, BOTH WHICH TOLD ME THAT FORD HAS BEEN REPAIRING ALL THE TRANSMISSIONS THEY HAVE SEEN WITH THIS PROBLEM AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. IN ADDITION, THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PURCHASE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS LISTED IN THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS BECAUSE FORD IS NOT SELLING THEM TO OUTSIDE REPAIR HOUSES BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF REPAIRS FORD IS MAKING ON THIS TRANSMISSION. TODAY THE CLUTCH FAILED AND I COULD ONLY USE THE LOWER TWO GEARS TO LIMP MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, AGAIN BEING QUOTED THE ORIGINAL REPAIR PRICE. THE DEALER SERVICE REP IS TELLING ME FORD IS EITHER REPAIRING FOR FREE OR SOMETIMES CREDIT UP TO 50% OF THE REPAIRS, MILEAGE DEPENDANT. WHEN I CALLED THE NUMBER THE DEALER PROVIDED, I WAS ASSIGNED CASE # CAS22256019 AND TOLD 0% WOULD BE CREDITED BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF A PROBLEM. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM OF THE DRIVE TRAIN, ALSO THAT FORD IS NOT BEING UP FRONT ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE NHTSA NEEDS TO STEP IN AND WORK WITH FORD TO DEVELOP A CONSISTENT SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11240412

Jul 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND LOST POWER, HAD TO COAST OFF AT EXIT AND LIMP TO FORD DEALER WHERE IT COST A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION INCLUDING WAS TOLD CLUTCH, AND PACKS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I WASN'T IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE. I HAVE HAD SHUDDER AND POWER ISSUES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW, BUT WAS TOLD BY MANUFACTURE AND DEALERS THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DUE TO MANUFACTURE AND DEALER CLAIMS, THE TRANSMISSION WAS NEVER SERVICED PRIOR TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI 11240510

Jul 28, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

CAR PURCHASED USED IN FEB 2018. 60,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AFTER A FEW DAYS I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD SHUDDER WHENEVER I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER (BATTLEFIELD FORD, MANASSAS VA) WHO TEST DROVE IT AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT, IN FACT, "IT WAS THE BEST DRIVING 2014 FOCUS HE (THE SERVICE MANAGER) HAD EVER TEST DRIVEN." THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. A YEAR AND A HALF LATER THE PROBLEM REMAINS. NOW I SEE THERE'S AN INVESTIGATION AND THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS SHUDDERING PROBLEM SINCE EVEN BEFORE PUTTING THE MODEL OUT FOR SALE.

NHTSA ODI 11240202

Jul 28, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

EVERY TIME I DRIVE THIS CAR THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND SLIPS DANGEROUSLY. THEIR ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. FORD DEALER SAYS IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE THAT WAY. I HAVE A FRIEND AT FORD WHO TELLS ME IT IS DUE TO TRANS. FLUID LEAKING ONTO CLUTCH CAUSING IT TO SLIP. NO ONE IS SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS. NHTSA REALLY NEEDS TO MAKE FORD DO A RECALL AND FIX THIS. IT IS DANGEROUS DUE TO THE VEHICLE WILL JUST STOP PULLING AND IS VERY JERKY.

NHTSA ODI 11240216

Jul 27, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

MY 2014 FOCUS DPS6 TRANSMISSION UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION REFUSES TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR UNTIL IT HITS HIGH RPMS (AROUND 5000RPM), PAUSES, THEN LURCHES FORWARD SHIFTING UP INTO A GEAR WITH A LOW RPM IN THE 1000S CAUSING FURTHER ISSUE AND DELAY ACCELERATING. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING ON A CITY STREET, ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. WHILE IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, IT IS CLEARLY VERY DANGEROUS AS THE PAUSE AND SUBSEQUENT LACK OF RPMS HAS PLACED ME IN BAD SITUATIONS WHERE MY ABILITY TO REACT IS DELAYED AND I AM UNABLE TO RELY ON MY VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE CONSISTENTLY OR AS EXPECTED. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE MORE TYPICAL SHUDDERING AND DELAY DURING ACCELERATION NUISANCE WHICH IS COMMON AMONG THIS DPS6 TRANSMISSION. THE SUBSEQUENT SERVICE INVOICE IS ATTACHED, CAN ALSO PROVIDE VIDEO OF THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11235243

Jul 27, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THREE DAYS AGO, WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY DRIVING A 2014 FORD FOCUS, MY CAR TRANSMISSION SWITCHED TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE CALLED "UNINTENDED NEUTRAL," WHERE I WAS IN DRIVE BUT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND INSTEAD REVVED LIKE I WAS FEEDING THE ENGINE GAS IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AND EVENTUALLY SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT TO SAFELY MOVE OVER TO THE SHOULDER. ACCORDING TO SUITS AND COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN GETTING MORE ATTENTION IN THE LAST MONTH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE DPS6 TRANSMISSION IN THE FORD FOCUS AND FIESTA - WITH INCREASED CALLS IN RECENT WEEKS FROM CONGRESS TO HAVE THE NHTSA LOOK IN TO THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUE THAT HAPPENS WHEN THESE VEHICLES COME OUT OF STOPS - WHICH HAS ALSO HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE, ALL IN ADDITION TO THE INTENSE SHUDDERING THAT COMES FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR NEARLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE. THOUGH IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, IT CONSISTENTLY DRIVES LIKE SOMEONE IS POORLY DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WE WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR IF IT DROVE LIKE THIS AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND UPON RETURNING IT TO A DEALERSHIP OVER A YEAR AGO TO ASK FOR AN EXPLANATION ABOUT THE SHUDDERING, THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS ENTIRELY "NORMAL" AND HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. I URGE THE NHTSA TO LOOK IN TO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE WHAT I SHOULD DO - AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS BEEN PUT OUT FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS BUT I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING THIS "FIXED" AT DEALERSHIPS THREE OR MORE TIMES AND AM UNSURE WHETHER I SHOULD JUST GET A DIFFERENT CAR OR IF THERE WILL BE A LONG TERM SOLUTION FROM FORD ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11235278

Jul 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE JERKED IN REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRENENGEN FORD (615 S BLACK RIVER ST, SPARTA, WI 54656, 608-269-3673) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND THE COMPUTER RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI 11235012

Jul 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR TCM & CLUTCH ISSUES MORE THAN 7 TIMES AND CONTINUE TO DO SO. I HAVE A RECORDED CONVERSATION WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER TELLING ME "THE DUAL CLUTCH IS A BAD DESIGN AND WILL NEVER REALLY BE FIXED". WHEN I LEASED THE VEHICLE IN 2014 I KNEW I WAS PLANNING TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE AT THE END OF THE LEASE, SO I CHOSE THE LEASE OPTION WITH THE LOWEST MILES ALLOWED. JUST BEFORE THE LEASE END DATE, THE RECALL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE'S TCM AND DUAL CLUTCH CAME INTO PLAY. ALTHOUGH I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO TURN THE LEASE VEHICLE IN, I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY A GREAT DEAL IN MILEAGE OVERAGE FEES, SO I FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE (FALL OF 2017). I FELT I REALLY HAD NO CHOICE AT THAT POINT. I NOW OWN A VEHICLE (STILL MAKING PAYMENTS WITH $8K REMAINING) WITH 96K MILES ON IT THAT CONTINUES TO HAVE NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I JUST WANT TO BE RID OF THE CAR AND MOVE ON.

NHTSA ODI 11235049

Jul 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

BEGINNING IN 2017, AS I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT ON A CITY STREET, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. AFTER THE RPM METER WAS PASSED "2" THE CAR JERKED BACK AND SLOWED DOWN FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN WENT BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SPEED. THIS CONTINUOUSLY HAPPENED EVERY TIME I WOULD PRESS THE GAS PETAL TO SPEED UP FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I TOOK THE CAR IN A MECHANIC SHOP AND MY CAR WAS NO LONGER JERKING BACK AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG; HOWEVER, I HAVE THE DOCUMENTS FROM THIS MECHANIC STATING WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THIS TIME. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WAS WELL UNDER 100,000 MILES. AGAIN IN 2018 I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND THE SAME THING BEGAN AGAIN. THE CAR SEEMED TO LOSE POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS EVERY TIME I WOULD SPEED UP THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO YET ANOTHER MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG AGAIN. SOON AFTER MY CAR BEGAN ACTING NORMAL AGAIN. FINALLY, IN MAY 2019 THE SAME ISSUE BEGAN AGAIN. I WOULD PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND MY CAR WOULD START TO GO, THEN IT WOULD JERK BACK FOR A FEW SECONDS AS IF LOSING POWER, THEN GAIN POWER BACK AND SPEED UP. ALSO, SEVERAL TIMES IN 2019 I WOULD TURN ON THE CAR, PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE. IT SEEMED TO HAVE NO POWER. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A THIRD MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED OF A TRANSMISSION RECALL FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL CAR. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS RECALL UP UNTIL THIS POINT AND I DO NOT KNOW THE RECALL NUMBER. I WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT AND MY MAIL WAS SENT TO MY HOME ADDRESS RATHER THAN MY COLLEGE ADDRESS. THIS MECHANIC THEN REBUILT THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FOR $3,000. THE MECHANIC THEN SENT MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FOR NO COST.

NHTSA ODI 11235119

Jul 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

SHUTTERING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. CAR WAS AT ABOUT 6000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WHEN IT STARTED.

NHTSA ODI 11235179

Jul 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS ON ACCELERATION AND SEEMS TO SLIP WHEN GAS /POWER APPLIED. FORD NEVER COMPLETELY FIXED THIS PROBLEM WHEN CAR UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW WILL NOT TOUCH IT SAYING 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK 22 MAY 2019. PREVIOUSLY REPORTED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A 2014 FOCUS. FORD DEALER STATED 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT PREVIOUSLY REPORTED. ?????

NHTSA ODI 11235198

Jul 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THERE CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR IN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. WHEN YOU START TO DRIVE, THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT DOES NOT WANT TO MOVE AND THEN WILL SUDDENLY SPRINT FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. OTHER TIMES, THE CAR WILL START TO MOVE AS EXPECTED BUT IT WILL BE VERY JITTERY AND JERKY BOUNCING YOU AROUND WHILE IT GETS UP TO SPEED LEADING TO UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITIONS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING AND DAILY PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. FORD HAS SAID THESE ARE "NORMAL" IN CONVERSATIONS WITH MY DEALERS AND HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE ISSUE IN DETAIL

NHTSA ODI 11234694

← NewerOlder →

Working with the data? Download all 2,644 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 22, 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 RS verdict →