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)

Newest first · 2,644 complaints · page 50 of 106

Jul 12, 2019Fuel system

2014 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE GAS TANKS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE PART TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS ON BACK ORDER.*JS

NHTSA ODI 11231319

Jul 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

IMMEDIATELY UPON PURCHASING THE CAR IT STARTED HESITATING AS IF IT WOULD STALL FROM A STOP ON CITY STREETS, WHILE TURNING, AND ALMOST EVERY TIME IT ACCELERATES FROM A STOP, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE IN PARK OR NEUTRAL IN ORDER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. IT OCCURS ALSO WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE. FORD REPLACED THE CLUTCH 3 TIMES, AT 6779, 13844, AND 20156 MILES. IT IS NOW BEHAVING IN THE SAME WAY, THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND CHUGS ALONG. FORD STATED THIS JUNE AT 39030 MILES THAT THE CAR IS BEHAVING WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS, HOWEVER IT IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT IT DID BEFORE WHEN THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH.I AM HESITANT TO BELIEVE THIS IS THE TRUTH.

NHTSA ODI 11231247

Jul 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

MY 2014 FOCUS HAS BEEN SENT TO FORD 3 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN 2014 FOR FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THREE TIMES, I HAVE LOST ALL POWER IN THE VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD TO COAST TO A STOP. TWO OF THOSE TIMES I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE DRIVING, THE OTHER TIME THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A REPAIR. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE WAS FIXED OR THEY COULDN'T REPEAT THE ISSUE. MY CAR IS THE LARGEST PURCHASE THAT I HAVE EVER MADE, AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE IT SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD. THE GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR ITS CITIZENS. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SELLING A FAULTY VEHICLE AND NOT PROVIDING A SOLUTION? WHILE NOT A SEVERE AS THE CAR SHUTTING OFF, I ALSO REGULARLY EXPERIENCE UNEVEN ACCELERATION WHERE THE CAR SPEEDS UP AND SLOWS DOWN VIOLENTLY WHEN IN FIRST GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11231284

Jul 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrainFuel systemVisibility & wipers

PURCHASED 2014 FOCUS ON 6/7/14, CLUTCH ASY REPLACED 11/30/15,CLUTCH ASY REPLACED 9/12/16, INSTALL NEW ETB 9/14/16 (THROTTLE BODY), REPLACE BATTERY 12/20/16, GIVEN EXTENDED WARRANTY W/$100 DEDUCTABLE 11/11/16 - WARRANTY EXPIRED 6/7/19, REPLACED CLUTCH ASY 6/9/19 - 7/3/19. THREE CLUTCH ASSEMBY'S IN 5 YEARS - VERY UNSAFE. ALSO 6/9/19-7/3/19 REPLACED SIDE DOOR LATCH (SAFETY RECALL) AND FUEL TANK DEFORMATION - REPLACED TUBE ASY - FUE. WITH THIS MANY CLUTCH REPAIRS FORD NEW THEY HAD AN ISSUE. EVEN THOUGH FORD GAVE ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IN 2016 DUE TO THE ISSUES WITH MY CAR, THEY BACKDATED THE WARRANTY TO THE DATE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THIS ALSO SEEMS DECEPTIVE. NUMEROUS TIMES I WAS TRAVELING ON INSTERTATE ROADS, WHEN I PULLED OUT TO PASS A SEMI, THE CAR WOULD CUT OUT. WHEN ACCELLERATING IN THE CITY OR ON INSTERTATES, THERE WOULD BE NO ACCELERATION WHEN PUSHING THE ACCELATOR. JUST THE OPPOSITE WOULD HAPPEN. THE CAR WOULD CAUGH AND CHOKE BEFORE FINALLY CATCHING TO ACCELORATE. I BELIEVE BOTH FORD AND THE DEALER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE WITH ALL THE SAFETY ISSUES THIS CAR HAS HAD, AND CONTINUES TO HAVE.

NHTSA ODI 11231330

Jul 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOOK WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STALLED, WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE PROPER GEARS, AND THERE WERE DELAYS WITH THE RPMS INCREASING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CAVALIER FORD AT CHESAPEAKE SQUARE (4021 PORTSMOUTH BLVD, CHESAPEAKE, VA 23321, (757) 488-8311) ON EIGHT SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS NO PERMANENT REMEDY AND THAT THE DEALER WAS JUST PERFORMING A PATCH JOB EACH TIME IT WAS SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,086. *AS *TR

NHTSA ODI 11231334

Jul 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

MADE COMPLAINTS TO FORD REGARDING MY TRANSMISSION FAILURES WHILE DRIVE ON ROADS, I.E. STALLING, DECREASING SPEED, JERKING ETC. AS A RESULT I HAD TO TAKE A LOSS ON THE TRADE IN AT MOUNTAIN VIEW FORD IN CHATTANOOGA, TN (LOSS = $8500.00)

NHTSA ODI 11231337

Jul 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 20-30 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES FLUCTUATED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HILL ASSIST AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURES PRIOR TO BEING REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V523000 (POWER TRAIN). CASTLE FORD (LOCATED AT 3930 FRANKLIN ST, MICHIGAN CITY, IN 46360, (219) 879-5381) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE INFORMED OF THE FAILURES VIA TELEPHONE. THE FAILURES WERE INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,154.

NHTSA ODI 11231380

Jul 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

CAR SHUDDERS SOMETIMES MAKING IT HARD TO GET INTO TRAFFIC (NO POWER) AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE CAR SOMETIMES LUNGES FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY ALMOST PUTTING IT INTO CROSS TRAFFIC OR REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU

NHTSA ODI 11231476

Jul 11, 2019Body & structure

FIRST, DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH SHUT. FOUND WHILE STATIONARY. THIS WAS REPAIRED. 8 WEEKS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE PANEL LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID DOOR WAS OPEN. WHEN TURNING TO PARK TO CHECK, THE DOOR SWUNG WIDE OPEN. IT WOULD NOT LATCH SHUT.

NHTSA ODI 11230916

Jul 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

UPON LAUNCH OF VEHICLE, THE DPS6 TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY LEAVING ME AND MY OCCUPANTS PRONE TO DANGER. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE FOR THE 1ST 3 SECONDS YOU APPLY THE GAS. THIS ISSUE, EVEN AFTER THEIR INITIAL "FIX" HAS DONE THIS FROM MILE #01. 90,000 MILES, 5 YEARS, SAFETY OF EVERYONE DRIVING THESE VEHICLES IS COMPROMISED DAILY.

NHTSA ODI 11230950

Jul 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR CONSTANTLY HAS SEVERE SHUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING. ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH, ON A N AUTOMATIC CAR AT 70K MILES, AND IT IMMEDIATELY HAD THE SAME ISSUES THE DEALERSHIP SAID COULDNT BE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11230965

Jul 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

THIS CAR HESITATES AND JERKS FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THERE IS A RATTLE AS THE CAR STARTS MOVING. ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE MERGING UPHILL INTO TRAFFIC, THE CAR STALLED. ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS, IT CAME CLOSE TO STALLING. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. WHEN I GET THE CAR BACK FROM BEING REPAIRED, THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT COMES BACK ON AFTER A WEEK OR TWO. I CAN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BELOW ABOUT WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11230978

Jul 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

MY MODULE CONTROL TO THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, I PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACE. NOW MY CAR IS AT FORD BECAUSE THE MOTOR CLUTCH TO THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACE, THIS HAPPENED WITHIN A WEEK OF GETTING OUT OF THE SHOP FOR THE FIRST TIME. I CAN'T UPLOAD ANYTHING, CAR HAS BEEN AT FORD SINCE JUNE 20

NHTSA ODI 11230983

Jul 11, 2019Speed control

I HAVE A 2014 FORD FOCUS TITANIUM. MY VEHICLE HAS JUST PASSED THE 70,000 MILE MARK AND CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE WITH THE TRANSMISSION TO INCLUDE BUCKING, KICKING, JERKING, AND DELAYED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR MULTIPLE SOFTWARE UPDATES AND A NEW CLUTCH. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THE COMPANY HAS A SOLID FIX FOR THIS. THE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION ARE FOR MULTIPLE YEARS WITHIN THE FOCUS AND FIESTA VEHICLES. JUST TODAY, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AS I WAS GOING AROUND A TURN. SIMPLY PUT, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY FORD FOCUS AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE TO RESOLVE THIS SO DRIVERS ARE SAFE AND SECURE.

NHTSA ODI 11231092

Jul 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

MY TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS WHEN STARTING TO MOVE WHEN TRANSMISSION IN WARM. I HAVE HAD THIS REPAIRED ONCE AND THEY REPLACED SOME KIND OF RUBBER SEALS. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE BRAIN BOX FOR THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11231151

Jul 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. CLUTCH WOULD CHATTER, SHUDDER AND SLIP. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED ON: 6/15/2015, AND 2/01/2016. AFTER THAT ACTION THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED ON 2/16/2018. WHILE TURNING INTO TRAFFIC THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SOMETIMES SLIP AND NOT GET THE CAR UP TO SPEED. WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF THE CLUTCH SHUDDERS OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11231155

Jul 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THE CAR DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS CLEANLY. INSTEAD IT MAY HESITATE BEFORE CHANGING GEARS, ACT LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL WITH HIGH REVOLUTIONS AND NO CHANGE IN ACCELERATION. WE HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE PEDAL CONSTANTLY TO TRY TO MAKE IT ACT NORMAL IN CHANGING GEARS EVEN THOUGHT THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11231157

Jul 11, 2019Fuel system

I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD (12/2018) ABOUT A RECALL 18V-735. THIS INVOLVES A "STUCK PURGE VALVE"(CPV) WITH IN THE FUEL VAPOR SYSTEM. THE LETTER SAID I WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE PART WOULD BE READY FOR THE REPAIR. IT SAID THE PARTS WERE TO ANTICIPATED TO BE AVAILABLE BY 1ST QUARTER, 2019. WE ARE NOW INTO THE 3RD QUARTER OF THE YEAR AND I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE NOTICE OF THE PART BEING READY TO MAKE THE REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI 11231191

Jul 10, 2019Transmission & drivetrainBody & structureElectronic Stability Control (esc)

APRIL 25 2019 TO THIS DAY JULY 10TH 2019 IS WHEN EVERYTHING STARTED BREAKING DOWN OUT OF NOWHERE, I'M GOING TO WORK AT 6AM I NOTICE MY CAR STARTING UP ODD AND SO ON MY WAY TO WORK I WAS GETTING ON THE HIGH WAY AS I WAS ACCELERATING SOMETHING HAPPENED IN MY CAR THAT MADE A LOUD NOISE AND MY CAR BUCKED AS IF IT WAS HAVING TROUBLE TRYING TO REV SO I TURNED MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND MANAGED TO GET TO WORK BY DRIVING SLOWLY AND MAN WAS IT A SCARE. I ENDED UP LEAVING MY CAR OVERNIGHT AT WORK AND GOT IT TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SAYING MY RADIATOR WAS BUSTED ($260 OUT MY POCKET), LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE ABOUT ANY RECALLS AND SAW I HAD A COUPLE TO BE FIXED AND THAT'S WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO A LOCAL DEALER FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED MY CAR BUT WHEN I GOT IT BACK IT WAS JUST AS BAD AND I EVEN STARTED GETTING MESSAGES ON MY DASHBOARD ABOUT MY LID COMPARTMENT BEING OPEN MAKING ME GET OFF ON RED LIGHTS TO GET OUT AND CLOSE THE TRUNK. THEN MY SECOND TIME BEING STRANDED ON MY WAY TO WORK, SAME THING STARTING OFF MY CAR FELT ODD BUT THIS TIME I MADE IT TO WORK BUT AS SOON AS I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT MY CAR HAD FELT LIKE IT DIED AND STALLED RIGHT AS I WAS PARKING AND WHEN I GOT OFF AND LOCKED MY CAR IT STARTED MAKING WEIRD MECHANICAL NOISES, THAT'S WHEN I HAD TO GET IT TOWED THE NEXT DAY AGAIN BUT THIS TIME THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION MODULE, SO I GO ONLINE AGAIN AND SEE THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR MY EXACT PROBLEM. SO I TAKE IT IN TO THE DEALER SO THEY CAN FIX IT BUT THEY TURN OUT TELLING ME I HAVE A HOLE IN MY TRANSMISSION AND THAT THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT'S DUE TO THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING IT TO BREAK NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS ASKING 2,000-5,000 TO REPLACE. I'M SICK AND TIRED TO BE HONEST I'M ABOUT TO LOSE MY JOB FOR GOING IN LATE, I'VE PAID A MONTH ALREADY WITHOUT EVEN USING THE CAR I NEED HELP.

NHTSA ODI 11230628

Jul 10, 2019Fuel system

NHTSA CONTACTED FORD BACK IN MAY 2018 ABOUT THE PURGE VALVE THAT SITS ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. FORD ISSUED RECALL 18S32 BACK IN DECEMBER 2018. MY CAR WAS SUPPOSED BE FIXED, ACCORDING TO THE LETTER I RECEIVED FROM FORD, IN JANUARY 2019. FORD HAS PROVIDED NO UPDATES FOR THIS FIX. WHEN I CONTACT FORD, I AM TOLD THERE IS NO TIME TABLE FOR A FIX. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I AM TOLD BY FORD TO NOT DRIVE UNDER HALF A TANK OF GAS AND NOT TRUST THE GAS GAUGE. THIS NEEDS TO GET FIXED ASAP.

NHTSA ODI 11230682

Jul 10, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION KEEPS GOING INTO FAULT MODE, RANDOMLY DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE IN A GEAR AT ALL. DOES THIS AT INTERSECTIONS, DRIVEWAYS, AND WHILE REGULAR DRIVING, OUT OF NOWHERE. DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE THIS HOWEVER IT IS A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE LIKE THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11230879

Jul 10, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

HAD THE TRANS CLUTCHES REPAIRED, AND STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES: CAR SHUDDERS AND SHAKES WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A LIGHT AND ACTS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING IN BETWEEN GEARS . MAKES STOPPING AND STARTING OR ENTERING A HIGHWAY VERY DANGEROUS . SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR MODEL FORD . THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR THE TRANS SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR FORDS KNOW DAUL CLUTCH PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11230908

Jul 9, 2019Fuel system

I HAD THE RECALL FIXED ON 5/17/2019 AND MY CAR CONTINUES TO STALL. I KEEP MY TANK ABOVE HALF OR FULL AND IT CONTINUES TO STALL WITH EVEN A FULL TANK. MY CAR WAS STALLED ON I 294 IN ILLINOIS ONE OF THE BUSIEST TOLLWAY NEAR THE CHICAGO AIRPORT.

NHTSA ODI 11230584

Jul 8, 2019Body & structure

THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LATCH DISENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN I WAS TURNING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, SWINGING THE DOOR OPEN WHILE MOVING. THE LATCH WILL NOT ENGAGE ANYMORE, AND THE DOOR IS STUCK OPEN. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE LATCH, BUT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT UNDER THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11230051

Jul 8, 2019Fuel system

FORD FOCUS GAS RECALL. PART WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN FOR REPAIR DECEMBER 2018

NHTSA ODI 11230091

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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 →