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 73 of 106

Jun 12, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

IF I AM STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN ON AN INCLINE, AND I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK, THE CAR WILL ROLL BACK UNTIL I AM ON LEVEL GROUND; ALL WHILE THE CAR IS IN DRIVE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND EACH TIME THEY SAY THAT IT IS JUST THE WAY THIS MODEL IS AND THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS BECAUSE I MAY TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK AND BEFORE I CAN APPLY GAS I MAY ROLL INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME.

NHTSA ODI 10994566

Jun 10, 2017Visibility & wipers1 injury

MY REAR WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WHEN I TURNED MY CAR ON. FRONTIER FORD SANTA CLARA DEALERSHIP NOW REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY DESPITE SOME CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ERROR AND NOT THE RESULT OF BLUNT IMPACT (UNIFORM SHARDING, INCLUDING AT THE EDGES, NO SPIDERWEB PATTERN).

NHTSA ODI 10994311

Jun 6, 2017Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP AND I ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE, MY FORD JERKS RAPIDLY. IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE I HAVE TO PRESS ON THE GAS FORCIBLY IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE TO A NORMAL SPEED LIMIT. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO COMPLAIN TO THE ORGINAL DEALERSHIP METRO FORD ON NOLAND ROAD OF THE ISSUE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A SHUDDER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE FORD DEALERSHIP WILL NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE AND ALTHOUGH THEY STATED THEY RESET THE ISSUE THEY TRY TO CONVINCE ME THAT IT IS NORMAL WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT. THIS VEHICLE IS AN EXTREME HAZARD AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN. I AM AFRAID IT WILL STALL AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA ODI 10993493

May 26, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

MY FOCUS HESITATES WHEN HITTING GAS AFTER I'VE BEEN STOPPED. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO HESITATE. IT'S ALSO DIFFICULT TO DRIVE ON HILLY ROADS. THERE'S NO POWER AND IT FEELS LIKE I'M GOING TO STALL. FORD TELLS ME THERE IS NO RECALL BUT I SEE PLENTY OF WEBSITES WHERE PEOPLE ARE VOICING THEIR COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T GO IN REVERSE WHEN I'M PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 10991817

May 26, 2017Steering

ELECTRIC FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A "SHORT" THAT CAUSED THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM TO FAIL. LESS THAN 3 YEARS AND 48K MILES. SUDDEN FAILURE WITH TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI 10991838

May 25, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND RESUMED DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE ENGINE BECAME HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE JOHNSON CITY FORD DEALER IN TENNESSEE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FRICTION ELEMENT B STUCK ON, AND THE CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT BEARING AND CLUTCH LEVERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ODI 10991658

May 23, 2017Engine

COOLANT LEAKING FROM BOTTLE RESERVOIR; ONTO ENGINE CAUSING SMOKE

NHTSA ODI 10991205

May 23, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED, JERKED, AND LUNGED WHEN APPROACHING A STOP. THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FOUR TIMES, WHICH FAILED TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION TO THE DEALER AND THERE WAS NO VOLUNTARY MANUFACTURER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE PART REPEATEDLY. THE CONTACT FELT THAT REPLACING THE SAME OEM PART WAS NOT PROVIDING A REMEDY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 0. UPDATED 07/18/17*LJ *AS

NHTSA ODI 10991241

May 23, 2017EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT COOLANT HAD LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE FROM THE COOLANT RESERVE BOTTLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (DUPHY FORD LOCATED IN PHILADELPHIA, PA), BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ODI 10991244

May 19, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND DID NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PART WITH DISCOUNTS. THE CONTACT REQUESTED A BUY-BACK, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000.

NHTSA ODI 10990596

May 14, 2017Visibility & wipers

WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS THE TRUNK DECK LID FLEW OPEN. AS I WAS SLOWING UP TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY THE TRUNK LID BLOCKED MY CENTER REVIEW MIRROR AND MADE IT UNSAFE TO GET TO THE SIDE IF THE ROAD. AT CITY SPEEDS 20-30 MPH I HAVE HAD THE DECK LID OPEN AND IT IMMEDIATELY BLOCKS THE VIEW OF THE MIRROR. TRUNK HAD NOTHING IN IT THAT WAS BLOCKING OR HITTING THE TRUNK RELEASE CABLES OR THE WORING HARNESS. INSPECTION OF THE WIRING HARNESS SHOWS NO VISABLE DAMAGE. POSSIBLE WIRING SHORT IN A NON-ACCESSIBLE LOCATION.

NHTSA ODI 10985634

May 13, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE JERKS ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY. NHTSA HAS ALREADY RECEIVED SEVERAL COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A FORCED RECALL? IT'S A PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS SEVERAL CUSTOMER'S DRIVING THE SAME MODEL.

NHTSA ODI 10985511

May 12, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR SHUDDERS AND SHAKES WHILE DRIVING! THE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC OR AT YEILD SIGNS ON ANY TYPE OF ROAD.WHEN STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS AND TRYING TO START OFF CAR SHUDDERS AND SHAKES SO BAD IT MAY TAKE A FEW MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO ACTUALLY GO AGAIN. THE WORST ASPECT IS WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC OF EXPRESSWAYS OR LOCAL ROADS AND THE CAR STALLS!

NHTSA ODI 10985445

May 11, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES BEFORE FOR SLIPPING, AND DELAY WHEN THE GAS IS DEPRESSED. SINCE THE REPAIR I'VE NOTICED THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION WHILE PUT IN REVERSE WILL FEEL LIKE IT SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL. IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS BACKING INTO MY PARKING SPOT IN MY APARTMENT COMPLEX. THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO VERY JERKY WHEN ACCELERATING ON AN INCLINE AND WILL START TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THIS WAS ALSO A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE INITIAL REPAIR SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SIGNIFYING THE RETURN OF THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL ARE ALSO NON-RESPONSIVE OR WILL CONTROL SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR (EX: VOLUME + AND - CHANGE THE RADIO STATION OR END A CALL). IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE SYNC SYSTEM WILL EITHER NOT CONNECT TO THE PHONE VIA BLUETOOTH OCCASIONALLY OR IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE DEVICE. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE PHONE CONNECTING IS A GALAXY S7, SO I KNOW IT IS COMPATIBLE. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ON GOING AND WERE ADDRESSED IN THE INITIAL TRANSMISSION REPAIRS BUT THEY WERE NOT RESOLVED. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN ON THE ANNOTATED DATE.

NHTSA ODI 10984998

May 11, 2017Body & structure

THE RUBBER GASKET THAT LINES THE DOORS EXPANDS AND MAKES OPENING OR CLOSING THE DOOR DIFFICULT.

NHTSA ODI 10985004

May 10, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN ACCELERATING OR GOING UP HILL, THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY AND CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUTTER. MY CAR IS AT 71,000 MILES RIGHT NOW, AND THIS PART WAS ALREADY REPLACED IN JANUARY, 2015 AND AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER, 2016 AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 10984757

May 9, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCH FIVE TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHUTTER, AND LURCH FORWARD AND BACKWARD. THE FAILURE MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DOWNSHIFT AND APPLY THE BRAKES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND MADE NO MENTION THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD A SERVICE CAMPAIGN CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE EXTENDED COVERAGE (14M02). THE CONTACT WAS TO CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10984466

May 8, 2017EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE "HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE STOP SAFELY" ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND CALLED THE DEALER. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS12243967. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 07/19/17*LJ ..UPDATED 07/21/17 *BF *CN *AS

NHTSA ODI 10984270

May 3, 2017EngineFuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AGAIN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE FAILURE CAUSED A LEAN CONDITION IN THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE OXYGEN SENSOR TO FAIL. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE AT THE DEALER. HOWEVER, DURING THIS INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE IDLED AT VERY HIGH RPMS AND AN OVERHEATING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WARNED THE CONTACT TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ONCE AGAIN AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A CHAFED WIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THE CONTACT'S INFORMATION AND FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ODI 10983254

May 1, 2017SteeringTransmission & drivetrainAirbags

2014 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *LD UPDATED 05/1/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 10969143

Apr 29, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION SEALS ARE LEAKING. FORD PUT OUT A MASSIVE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM TSB THAT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FOCUSES BUILT BEFORE JUNE 2013. MY CAR WAS BUILT WITHIN 6 MONTHS AFTER THAT DATE BUT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THEY PUT OUT ANOTHER TSB WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE TRANSMISSION WHICH DOES COVER MY CAR BUT IT DOES NOT COVER THE TRANSMISSION SEALS. FORD KNOWS IT HAS A MASSIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHICH WAS NOT PROPERLY FIXED WHEN MY CAR WAS PRODUCED. YET I AM ON THE HOOK FOR PAYING FOR THE FIX.

NHTSA ODI 10981375

Apr 25, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

I BOUGHT MY CAR JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, 4/2017 ALMOST IMMEDIATELY IT STARTED THIS "SPUTTERING" ANYTIME I WOULD MOVE FORWARD FROM A COMPLETE STOP. SOME PEOPLE CALLING THIS A SHUTTER. THE HESITATION IS AT EVERY STOP ON EVERY TAKE OFF. I TOOK IT IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP NEAR MY HOME, & I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM AT FORD & IT INVOLVED A CLUTCH ISSUE OR FAULTY TCM WITH THIS AUTOMATIC MANUAL TRANSMISSION. FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, YET CONTINUED TO SELL THESE CARS. THE FORD SERVICE TECH MANAGER AFTER HEARING MY ISSUES, LOOKED UP MY CARS ZIN & TOLD ME THAT FORD STOPPED THE RECALL ON MY MODEL FOCUS ON CARS MADE AFTER JUNE 2013. MY CAR WAS BUILT 8/13 TWO MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL DEADLINE. SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT EVERY CAR MADE IN THIS FOCUS STYLE FROM 2012 -2014 EXCEPT MY CAR AND A FEW OTHERS BILL AFTER 6/13 ARE COVERED UNDER A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING. I WAS TOLD THIS IS BECAUSE THEY PUT NEW TYPE SEALS IN THE TRANSMISSION AFTER 6/13. THEY DID A TCM FLASH TO THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS COVERED UNDER A RECALL SO FORD KNOWS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE EVEN FOR CARS MADE AFTER 6/13 OR THEY WOULD NOT NEED TO HAVE A RECALL ISSUED FOR IT. THE MANGER TOOK IN MY COMPLAINTS IN STRIDE AND SAID MANY FOCUS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. SO I GUESS I JUST BOUGHT THE MOST DANGEROUS VEHICLE THAT I HAVE EVER DRIVEN (30 YEARS AND 10 CARS LATER) IN MY LIFE. I'M GUESS I'M WONDERING WHY FORD WOULD STOP THE RECALL MIDYEAR WHEN CLEARLY THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS OBVIOUSLY IN CARS AFTER BEING BUILT ON OR AFTER 6/13. IT SHUDDERS AT TAKE OFF, HAS TROUBLE GOING FROM FIRST TO SECOND. THE CAR DOES THIS WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP MOSTLY BUT IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR SLOWS DOWN TO A LIGHT, THE LIGHTS CHANGES AND THE CAR SOMETIMES HESITATES OR LURCHES AS ITS TRY'S TO FIND THE RIGHT GEAR WHILE STARTING TO GOING FASTER AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 10980346

Apr 25, 2017Steering

AFTER BEING STALLED IN TRAFFIC FOR OVER AN HOUR I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND STARTED MY VEHICLE TO LEAVE. IMMEDIATELY I COULD FEEL SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY STEERING AND MY ALERT POPPED ON AND SAID PEER STEERING ASSIST WARNING. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT'S A COMMON FOR THE ELECTRIC COMPONENT TO FAIL AFTER IDLING. THEY SAID THAT'S THIS HAS HAPPENED TO PEOPLE AS THEY ARE DRIVING. STEERING JUST FAILS. THEY SAID IT WAS A FUSE THAT OVERHEATS AFTER IDLING FOR SO LONG WITHOUT WARNING. IF THIS IS A COMPONENT THAT FAILS THAT AFFECTS STEERING IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND CHANGED.

NHTSA ODI 10980773

Apr 24, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

2015 NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD HAD CLUTCH REPLACED DUE TO CAR SHUDDERING AND FAILED CLUTCH SHUDDER TEST. NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER, DOING IT AGAIN AND FORD IS TELLING ME THERE IS NO WARRANTY, IT IS OUT OF THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY THAT CAME WITH THE CAR. THEY WANT ME TO PAY $1100 OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE A NEW CLUTCH DUE TO SHEDDER TEST FAILING AGAIN. THIS IS RIDICULOUS WHEN THEY KNOW A PROBLEM EXISTS

NHTSA ODI 10980279

Apr 24, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

BREAK LIGHT ON DASH SAID BREAK LIGHT FAILS ALL BREAK LIHTS ON WHEN PUSHING BREAK PEDEL MY WIFE CHECKED IT LIGHT CAME ON AND WARRING TRANSMISHIN RUNNING HOT TAP BREAKS BACK TRUNK LACH ON THE BACK EVERYTIME I HIT A BUMB THE LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH AND TODAY WHEN I WAS BACKING UP ALL THJE INDERCATER LIGHT WENT OUT ON DASH .IT WAS IN THE SHOP ON 3/28/2017

NHTSA ODI 10980334

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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 →