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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)

Newest first · 2,644 complaints · page 38 of 106

Nov 8, 20191 injury

RECENTLY MY CAR RADIO HAS BEEN CRACKLING AND THEN COMPLETELY STOPPING ALL MUSIC. THE RADIO SYSTEM WILL BE COMPLETELY OFF AND MAKE AN EXTREMELY LOUD STATIC NOISE AND SCARE ME WHILE I AM DRIVING! THIS IS NOT SAFE AND COULD CAUSE A MASSIVE ACCIDENT OR AN OLDER PERSON TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK. I HAVE A PANIC DISORDER AND IT GAVE ME A PANIC ATTACK WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TAKE MY EMERGENCY PANIC MEDICATION. VOLUME IS COMPLETELY OFF WHEN IT IS HAPPENING AND THE RADIO IS COMPLETELY POWERED OFF. EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WE WALK AWAY FROM IT THE NOISE WILL CONTINUE AND WAKE THE NEIGHBORS UP. WE HAVE COMPLETELY PULLED THE FUSE FROM OUR CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11278884

Nov 7, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR STARTED EXCESSIVELY JERKING WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. THE CAR SELECTED THE WRONG GEAR AND COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE CAR HAD NEW CLUTCHES THAT ARE 7 MONTHS OLD. THE CAR DROVE HOME BUT WOULD NOT CRANK OR START AT ALL THE NEXT DAY. THERE WAS A RED ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DASH. THE TCM AND THE CLUTCH PACK HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT THE CAR IS NOT FIXED. IT STILL RIVE THE SAME WAY.

NHTSA ODI 11278747

Nov 4, 2019Electrical system

RADIO HAS INTERIOR SHORT THAT CAUSED LOUD CRACKING NOISE WITH KEY IN OR OUT. RADIO ENDED UP NOT WORKING AT ALL, CRACKING EVEN HAPPENED WITH RADIO NOT WORKING. CALLED CAR AUDIO SHOP, OWNER LAUGHED AND SAID HE FIXES 6 TO 12 OF THESE A YEAR. NOISE COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT BY SURPRISING THE DRIVER.

NHTSA ODI 11278042

Nov 4, 2019Steering

DRIVING THE CAR AND LOST ALL CONTROL OF STEERING WITHOUT ANY NOTICE WHILE TURING TO CROSS BUSY STREET. CODE SAYS POWER STEERING FAULT

NHTSA ODI 11278174

Nov 3, 2019Fuel systemTransmission & drivetrainSpeed control

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON AUGUST 11, 2019 FROM OURISMAN CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM OF BOWIE. A FEW DAYS AFTER, I STARTED NOTICING ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, AND FUEL GAUGE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT FIXING THE FUEL TANK RECALL AND TRANSMISSION WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE VEHICLE WILL FIX THE ISSUES. I TOOK OFF A DAY FROM WORK AND TOOK TO OURISMAN FORD & LINCOLN IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF WAITING, I WAS TOLD THAT I WILL HAVE TO DROP IT OFF ANOTHER DAY BECAUSE SOME PART(S) WILL BE ORDERED. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER, I DROPPED IT OFF AND IT STAYED FOR OVER 3 DAYS. I WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. PERHAPS, JUST ABOUT 1000 MILES OF DRIVING IN ABOUT 6 WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR, I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE ALMOST SUDDEN STOP ON THE HIGHWAY ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 60MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ALMOST STOPPED WITH THE ALERT 'TRANSMISSION FAULT SERVICE NOW'. I MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, TURNED OF THE ENGINE AND TURNED IT ON AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND THE ALERT CAME UP AGAIN. I DROVE AT NO MORE 20MPH WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON TO MY HOME. I SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT WITH DARCARS FORD IN LANHAM MD TO DROP IT OFF ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2019. I AM COMPLAINING BECAUSE I HAVE OWNED THIS FOR LESS THAN 90 DAYS BUT I HAVE GONE THROUGH A WHOLE LOT. NOW IT'S BECOMING CLEAR THAT THE DEALERSHIP KNEW, CONCEALED AND SOLD A SEVERELY USELESS VEHICLE THAT ALMOST TOOK MY LIFE. I AM FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THE ABSENCE OF A VEHICLE WILL OBSTRUCT MY WORK, MY SON'S SCHOOL AND ALL OUR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE WEEK. I SINCERELY NEED HELP... *TR

NHTSA ODI 11277759

Oct 29, 2019SteeringTransmission & drivetrainEngine

MY TRANSMISSION STOPPED ENGAGING AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT HOME AFTER A 150-MILE TRIP.I WAS IN MOTION. THE ENGINE RACED. I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, THINKING IT MIGHT BE A SOFTWARE GLITCH. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR INTO THE SPACE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL.

NHTSA ODI 11271744

Oct 29, 2019Steering

TODAY I WAS DROPPING MY DAUGHTER OFF SCHOOL AFTER I DROPPED HER OFF AS I'M BACKING OUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN LEFT, THE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT SAID STEERING ASSIST FAULT.. REPAIR REQUIRED, I HAD TO HAVE MY HUSBAND PICK ME UP BECAUSE I CAN'T DRIVE IT HOME.. IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT FORD CARS ARE NOT VERY RELIABLE, I JUST HAD IN ISSUE WITH IT LAST MONTH. AND A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THAT IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

NHTSA ODI 11271787

Oct 28, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

WHEN DRIVING MY 2014 FORD FOCUS, WHEN STOP AT A LIGHT AND BEGAN TO START GOING THE CAR STALLS OR OR IT STARTS TO SHAKE LIKE IF I WAS DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, WHY HASN'T THE RECALL THEY SAID THEY DID FIXED THE PROBLEM!!! THIS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11271570

Oct 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND "TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK" APPEARED ON THE MESSAGE CENTER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ODI 11270863

Oct 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSeat beltsFuel system

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YESTERDAY OUT OF NOWHERE. CAR STARTED JERKING BAD AS I TOOK OFF. SLOWLY BUT GETTING WORSE TIL I HAD TO STOP. THEN DIDN'T WANNA CRANK BACK UP. STRANGE. SO WE HEAR A LOUD TICKING NOISE .. THIS IS WITH KEYS OUT OF THE CAR IGNITION.... I PUT KEYS IN , STILL NOTHING. EVENTUALLY IT CRANK BUT NO REVERSE. GOD HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11270504

Oct 23, 2019Speed control

I STARTED MY CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I PUT IT IN GEAR AND IT HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. IT ALSO WHEN I HAD IT IN PARK AND WENT TO PUT IT IN DRIVE, IT STARTED GOING IN REVERSE. HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE AND IT CAME BACK: P0902 CLUTCH ACTUATOR CIRCUIT LOW. I ONLY DRIVE THE CITY STREETS.

NHTSA ODI 11270540

Oct 18, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THERE HAD BEEN OVER 30 OCCURRENCES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY SHIFT INTO THE RIGHT GEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED 5 TIMES BUT IT HAS NOT FIXED THE SHIFTING. I'VE RAN INTO ISSUES AT STOP SIGNS AND STOP LIGHTS OF ALMOST GETTING INTO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE MY CAR WON'T PROPERLY GO INTO THE GEAR OR SHIFT CORRECTLY. MORE RECENTLY, 3 MONTHS AGO; MY CAR TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT RUN BACK ON. WHEN TAKING IT INTO FORD THEY STATED THEY HAD NO REASON WHY THIS OCCURRED AND HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR ME.

NHTSA ODI 11269298

Oct 18, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN 2014 I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. CLUTCH REPLACEMENTS. SENSORS. EVERYTIME GIVEN A DIFFERENT EXCUSE FOR THE SAME SHUTTER AND ISSUES WITH THE CAR STALLING. THIS LAST TIME THE CAR COMPLETELY HAULTED FROM GOING 45MPH ON A 4 LANE ROAD, TRASMISSION LIGHT FLEW ON, RPMS WOULD REV UP, BUT CAR WOULD BARELY CREEP. I WAS ALMOST SLAMMED INTO FROM BEHIND BEFORE I COULD SAFETY MOVE TO THE SLOW LANE AND TRAVEL TO A SAFE STOPPING POINT. YES THE CAR WAS STILL ABKE TO NAVIGATE, BUT THAT DID NOT MATTER WHEN VEHICLES WERE COMING UP ON ME DRIVING 45+MPH TO MY VEHICLE THAT STALLED OUT. I CALLED FORD. IT TOOK DAYS TO GET THE CAR BACK AND IT HAS BEEN RUNNING WORSE THAN EVER! TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY SLIPPING. A NEW CONSTANT SHUTTER HAS NOW DEVELOPED. THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES BEGIN TO MOVE FROM A STOP LIGHT, BUT DECIDE TO SUDDENLY DROP TO A CRAWL AND THE RPMS GO HIGH THEN AS IT CORRECTS THE RPMS NO LONGER ADJUST AND THE CAR NO LONGER FEELS IT IS AUTO SHIFTING CORRECTLY. ISSUES OCCUR DURING DRIVING, ON HIGHWAYS, AT STOP LIGHTS/SIGNS. WHEN GOING A STEADY SPEED WHEATHER IS IT 25 OR 65 THE CAR CONSTANTLY SHUTTERS ALL THE TIME NOW. THE TRANSMISSION OR CLUTCH SLIP ANYTIME ANY GIVEN DAY. IT IS UNPREDICTABLE. WORSE MORE DANGEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND NO HELP FROM FORD.

NHTSA ODI 11269358

Oct 15, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

PURCHASED USED IN JUNE 2018. HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WON'T SHIFT INTO REVERSE AT ALL. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THEIR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. WAS TOLD IT WAS A CLUTCH ISSUE AND WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THAT FORD FAILED TO FIX.

NHTSA ODI 11268610

Oct 15, 2019Visibility & wipers

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE WIPER DELAY STOPS WORKING OR STARTS UP AFTER A DELAY INTO ANOTHER SETTING. FROM DELAY TO FULL WIPERS. SET THE WIPER ARM INTO ANOTHER COMMAND AND IT WORKS FINE AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11268713

Oct 13, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

SHUDDERS AND SOMETIMES STALLS WHEN TRYING TO UPSHIFT,HAS DONE THIS SINCE NEW AND BEEN TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP3 TIMES FOR REPAIR,PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS AFTER 61,000 MILES.FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND SOLD CARS ANYWAY.VERY UNHAPPY WITH FMC.

NHTSA ODI 11268131

Oct 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A STOP THE CAR SHUDDERS AND SHAKES. THERE IS ZERO POWER BEHIND IT WHEN PULLING OUT NO MATTER A FLAT ROAD OR HILL. WHEN GOING UP HILL THE CAR STRUGGLES GREATLY. WHEN YOU ADD PASSENGERS TO THE EQUATION IT GETS INCREDIBLY WORSE. WHEN THERE ARE PASSENGERS IN THE CAR WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP THE CAR SHAKES BAD AND HAS NO POWER. IT TAKES A LONG PERIOD TO GET TO EVEN 20 MPH WHICH MEANS GETTING ONTO A HIGHWAY IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I AM TERRIFIED TO HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11267923

Oct 10, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

MY CAR'S TRANSMISSION HAS NOT WORKED CORRECTLY SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN 2014. THE SALESMAN TOLD ME THAT THE JERKING WHILE ACCELERATING WAS THE COMPUTER GETTING USED TO MY DRIVING STYLE AND WOULD STOP AFTER A FEW WEEKS. THAT NEVER HAPPENED. IT JERKS, STUTTERS, STALLS, SURGES WITHOUT WARNING. IT'S DANGEROUS. I'VE HAD NEAR MISSES AND HE. I PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND IT STALLS OUT. DRIVING AT LOW RPM IS THE WORST. THIS CAR IS A HAZARD AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. BETTER YET FORD SHOULD NEVER BEEN ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO SELL CARS WITH THE DPS6 TRANSMISSION AFTER THEY KNEW IT WAS DEFECTIVE. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ONGOING

NHTSA ODI 11267678

Oct 10, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

HELLO I HAVE A 2014 FORD FOCUS AUTOMATIC GEAR WITH ONLY 80K MILES ON IT, I START FEELING A PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO 2ND GEAR ONE MONTH AGO AND NOW I JUST HAD A A ALERT SAYING. " TRANSMISSION FAULT SERVICE NOW " I REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE IT TO MUCH PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR I HOPE THERE CAN BE A RECALL TO FIX IT BECAUSE THIS IS JUST A SCAM FROM FORD THERE TAKING OUR MONEY AND GIVING US CARS THAT ARE NOT RELIABLE AT LEAST LOWER THE PRICE OF THE CARS IF YOUR SELLING THEM WITH PROBLEMS THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO MAKE CARS WITH ISSUE THAT WILL COST US MORE MONEY TO FIX IT THAN IT'S ORIGINAL PRICE WHAT TYPE OF SCAM IS THIS WHERE THE CUSTOMERS RIGHT REGARDING GETTING SCAMMED LIKE THIS

NHTSA ODI 11267730

Oct 9, 2019Fuel system

VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR NHTSA #18V735 CANISTER PURGE VALVE/FUEL TANK DEFORMATION. WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHEEHY FORD OF GAITHERSBURG DEALERSHIP (MARYLAND) FOR CLUTCH REPLACEMENT IN JULY, 2019, DEALERSHIP ALSO CHECKED RECALLED CPV AND DEEMED IT WAS FINE AT THAT TIME. IN EARLY OCTOBER, 2019, APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER, CPV STARTS FAILING, REMAINING "STUCK" OPEN, AND VEHICLE DOESN'T START AFTER FUELING. WHEN IT FINALLY STARTS, VEHICLE'S ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REVVED IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM STALLING. FORD AND DEALERSHIP SAY THEY WILL NO LONGER PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF RECALLED CPV BECAUSE "IT WAS FINE WHEN THEY CHECKED IT" TWO MONTHS PRIOR. OWNERS WITH RECALLED VEHICLES HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2019 FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF PRIOR CPV FIX OR COVERED REPLACEMENT OF FAILED, RECALLED PART, HOWEVER. WHILE THIS HAS NOT YET CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD, IT IS A RECALLED PART ON OUR VEHICLE, AND FORD SHOULD STILL COVER REPLACEMENT OF RECALLED PARTS, ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE WITHIN THE GIVEN TIME FRAME OF COVERED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, IF WE HAD NOT HAD TO BRING VEHICLE IN FOR CLUTCH REPLACEMENT JUST TWO MONTHS EARLIER, THE RECALL WOULD STILL BE OPEN ON OUR VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11267242

Oct 8, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AFTER REVERSING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, IT WOULD SHIFT INTO DRIVE BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T GO

NHTSA ODI 11266997

Oct 7, 2019EngineFuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAULT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. HAROLD ZEIGLER FORD (11979 FULTON ST E, LOWELL, MI 49331, (800) 646-4660) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE NEXT AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WAS OCTOBER 28, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11266805

Oct 7, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE COASTING THE VEHICLE CAN'T DECIDE TO DOWNSHIFT OR GO INTO NEUTRAL. CAR HESITATES FROM A DEAD STOP WHEN THERE IS PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ODI 11266902

Oct 4, 2019Fuel system

THE EXCESSIVE VACUUM MAY RESULT IN AN ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO RESTART. THE CANISTER PURGE VALVE FAILS AS IN RECALL 18V735000, BUT IT DOES COVER THIS VIN.

NHTSA ODI 11266142

Oct 1, 2019

WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE "CLUTCH" ON THE FORD FOCUS WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE LIFE TIME OF OUR CAR DUE TO A SHUTTERING SENSATION WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A COMPLETE STOP. WE ARE NOW ON OUR 3RD REPLACEMENT SINCE 2015. THE LATEST REPAIR WAS ON 9-27-19

NHTSA ODI 11265385

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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 →