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

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT FREEWAY SPEED, IN COMMUTE TRAFFIC, AND THE POWER SHUT DOWN AND AN ALERT SHOWED ON THE DASH "PULL OVER SAFELY". THERE WAS NO POWER LEFT IN MY ELECTRIC VEHICLE, SO I COASTED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE CAR WOULDN'T DRIVE. CAR WAS TOWED TO FORD, WHERE IT HAS TAKEN OVER 2 WEEKS, AND THEY ARE STATING THE WHOLE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE ONLY 17,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. I "GOOGLED" THE "PULL OVER SAFELY" ALERT, AND HAVE FOUND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR FOR MANY PEOPLE, AND THAT FORD HAD RECALLED OVER 2,000 FORD FOCUS EV CARS, MODEL YEARS 2011-2013, FOR THIS EXACT REASON.

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THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN DRIVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP AND GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS SINCE THE 1ST WEEK I OWNED IT. THE PROBLEM GETS MUCH WORSE THE LONGER IT IS DRIVEN. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OF DRIVING IS WHEN THE HESITATION FEELS MORE LIKE THE VEHICLE EITHER CAN'T SHIFT PROPERLY OR THE ENGINE IS ABOUT TO DIE. WHEN THERE ARE 4 ADULTS IN THE VEHICLE THIS ISSUE IS AMPLIFIED. I HAVE TO TAKE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM A STOPPED POSITION DUE TO THE MAJOR HESITATION WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND I AM ALWAYS WORRIED WHEN MAKING LEGAL TURNS CROSSING IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LASTLY MY VEHICLE IS GAS NOT ELECTRIC.

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TRANSMISSION SKIPPING AT SLOW SPEED AND START UP

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WE'VE TAKEN OUR 2014 FORD FOCUS IN MANY TIMES FOR THE CLUTCH/SHUTTERING/SHAKING ISSUE WE'VE HAD. THE FIRST TIME WE TOOK IT IN THEY STATED THAT THEY ADJUSTED THE SENSOR, GAVE ME SOME PRINTED OUT TRANSMISSION INFORMATION AND DID NOT DOCUMENT THE FACT THAT I EVEN TOOK IT IN. THE CAR SEEMED FINE FOR ABOUT TWO DAYS AND IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL. WE TOOK IT IN TO THAT SAME DEALER ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND ONCE AGAIN ADJUSTED THE SENSOR AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS IN MANUFACTURER STANDARDS. I'M PRETTY SURE WHEN I BUY A CAR I BUY IT FOR A SMOOTH RIDE, NOT SOME STUTTERING LOUD ENGINE MAKING CAR. IT'S LOUD ENOUGH PEOPLE STARE AT MY CAR. WE GOT THE RECALL NOTICE AND THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH AND THE SENSOR AND IT'S BEEN FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND NOW THE LOUD NOISE IS BACK SO I'M ASSUMING THAT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE SHAKING/STALLING COMES BACK. WE'VE ALMOST BEEN IN A COUPLE ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE CAR STUTTERS SO BAD THAT WE CAN'T MOVE FROM THE START. OH, AND ONE FUNNY NOTE, WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER NOT TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MORE THAN 30% OF THE WAY DOWN WHEN DRIVING FROM A STOP. SO I GUESS I NEED TO MEASURE HOW FAR I PUT MY FOOT DOWN. THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST AND MOST UNSAFE CAR I'VE EVER HAD. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE "ENGINE FAULT, SERVICE NOW'' MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUTTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS FAULTY. THE PCM AND TCM WERE REPROGRAMMED AND THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

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EVEN AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS BY FORD WHEN TURNING THE STEERING CRACKS AND POPS LOUDLY, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO BREAK. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS HAD 4 CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES INSTALLED AND HAS A CREAKING SOUND IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THAT (ACCORDING TO THE DEALER) IS BECAUSE THERE IS A BAD WELD IN A "SUPPORT" COLUMN LOCATED BEHIND THE FRONT FENDER.

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I HAVE HAD MY CAR NOW FOR 18 MONTHS AND IT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP FOR CLUTCH ISSUES THE CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED NOW TWICE AND THEY UPDATED MY COMPUTER TRYING TO FIX THE CLUTCH AS WELL. MY CAR IS STILL NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. IT HAS A ROUGH IDOL WORSE THAN WHAT IT WAS BEFORE I GOT MY CLUTCH REPLACED YESTERDAY AND IT JERKS WHEN STARTING OUT ( THIS JERKING IS NOT BAD RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I JUST HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED BUT ITS STILL THERE) I HAVE REQUESTED THIS VEHICLE TO BE BOUGHT BACK MULTIPLE TIMES AND I GET A NO AND THEY WONT TELL ME WHY AND DONT RETURN MY EMAILS. I HAVE JUST REQUESTED ANOTHER BUY BACK AND WAITING ON A RESPONSE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME OUT.

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TRANSMISSION "STUTTERS" AND CAR SHAKES WHEN ACCELERATING - ESPECIALLY FROM A STOP. THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE RPMS ACCELERATE WHEN DRIVING; HOWEVER, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL. WHEN ACCELERATING - ESPECIALLY FROM A STOP - THE CAR "HESITATES" AND DOESN'T ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE HAPPENED CONTINUOUSLY SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER, 2015, AND OCCUR AT VARYING SPEEDS.

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DESPITE TAKING MY CAR IN MULTIPLE TIMES FOR REPAIR (INCLUDING SOFTWARE UPDATES AND A NEW CLUTCH AT 19466 MILES), THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SHUTTERING, SHAKING, SLIPPING, AND HAS A HESITANT/ DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION (E.G. MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC). I FEEL EXTREMELY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE A DELAYED RESPONSE TRANSFERRING POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS DESPITE PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR AND WILL CONTINUALLY SHUTTER, SLIP, AND SHAKE WHILE GETTING UP TO SPEED THUS MAKING A SLOW AND UNCERTAIN ACCELERATION. THIS CAN SEVERELY LIMIT MY ABILITY TO MOVE MY CAR OUT OF HARMS WAY.

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FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE CAR SHUDDERING AND JERKING. FORD GARAGE, REPAIR SOME TRANSMISSION SEALS, PROGRAMMING,REPLACED FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP AND ENGINE WIRE HARNESS REPAIR. SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE ABILITY TO MOVE WHEN ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE RPM'S WOULD REV AND VEHICLE HAD LITTLE POWER TO MOVE. FORD GARAGE REPLACED CLUTCH AND DID PROGRAMMING. ON THE WAY HOME FROM THAT REPAIR, OUR CARE SUFFERED THE SAME SYMPTOMS IT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AND WE HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE WILL GET BACK.

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TRANSMISSION STARTED SHUDDERING NOT LONG AFTER PURCHASE. FORD ACTED LIKE THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS EVEN THOUGHT WE NOW FIND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED FOR YEARS. MULTIPLE TRIPS TO 2 DEALERSHIPS HAVE NOT FIXED PROBLEM. THE SHUDDERING TAKES PLACE WHILE IN MOTION, SOMETIMES DRIVING STRAIGHT, OFTEN WHEN TURNING. LONGER TRIPS OR HILLY TERRAIN EXASPERATE PROBLEM. DRIVING IN WINTER CONDITIONS ( SNOW, ICE)MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO TELL IF IT IS THE TIRES OR TRANSMISSION THAT IS SLIPPING. VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT. DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. WONDERING WHY NHTSA IS SO SLOW IN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM.

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VEHICLE SUBJECT TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 15N03 AND 16B02. AFTER TWO REPAIRS FOR RANDOM LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER, WITH TWO REPLACEMENTS OF HIGH-VOLTAGE WIRE HARNESS, CAR CONTINUES TO DISPLAY "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING ON DASH AND LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER. OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY HAZARD AS CAR HAS LOSS POWER IN TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES, FORTUNATELY WITHOUT INJURIES OR DAMGE. I AM RETURNING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR THIRD TIME TODAY FOR SAME ISSUE. FIRST REPAIR WAS IN BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER, 2015 AND SECOND REPAIR WAS DONE AT THE END OF APRIL 2016.

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I PURCHASED MY 2014 FORD FOCUS 1/1/16. WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND ALWAYS IF ACCELERATING AT 10MPH THE CAR JERKS AND SPUTTERS. I TOOK BACK TO THE FORD DEALER AND HAD WHAT THEY SAID WAS AN ADJUSTMENT DUE TO A RECALL. DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING, TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THE ANSWER IS ITS THE DESIGN DUE TO A 5 SPEED WITHIN AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IT HAS TO ADJUST ITSELF. THIS CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN A LIGHT TURNS RED TURNING LEFT AND I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, IT JERKS AND SPUTTERS, SAME PROBLEM AT ANY STOP. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF I CAN'T ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY I'M GOING TO GET HIT, AT A LIGHT, STOP, ON THE FREEWAY. FORD TOLD ME THAT'S THE WAY ALL OF THEM DRIVE. THIS IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE SINCE I PURCHASE THE CAR.

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CLUTCH REPLACED AT 18K MILES DUE TO SHUDDERING, HESITATION AND ROLLING BACKWARDS ON HILL IN DRIVE. AT 38K ISSUES ARE STARTING AGAIN. SEVERAL ALMOST ACCIDENTS WHEN ON HILL AND TURNING IN TRAFFIC. PURCHASED A YEAR AGO AND DEVALUED $10K SINCE.

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THIS IS THE 3RD TIME MY CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING.DRIVING AND THE CAR CUTS COMPLETELY OFF. I HAVE TO GET TOWED BECAUSE IT WILL NOT START. IT ALSO HESITATE AFTER I STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND/OR STOP. MOSTLY IT STALLS OUT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY

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THE TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN STARTING OFF AND SHIFTING GEARS. I'VE HAD IT IN 3 TIMES FOR "SOFTWARE UPDATES" AND EACH TIME THE MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT ALL FORD FOCUS EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING AND THAT IT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY.

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WHEN I ACCELERATE MY CAR HESITATE, JERK LIKE IT IS GETTING WORST. SLOW DOWN WHEN TAKE OFF AND WHILE DRIVING

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I BOUGHT MY 2014 FOCUS IN AUGUST OF 2014, IT WAS A LIGHTLY USED RENTAL FROM LATE 2013 TO AROUND THE SPRING OF 2014 AND ONLY HAD A LITTLE OVER 14,000 MILES ON IT. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT IN (INCLUDING THIS MOST RECENT APPOINTMENT IN A FEW DAYS) 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I AM ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CAR WILL SHUTTER, HESITATE TO SHIFT, OFTEN GRIND UNTIL IT REACHES A HIGHER GEAR. AFTER I TAKE THE CAR IN THE PROBLEM IS GONE FOR ABOUT A MONTH BUT THEN SLOWLY STARTS TO COME BACK THE MORE I DRIVE IT. THE PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE PREVALENT WHEN I AM DRIVING AROUND RESIDENTIAL AREAS WITH A LOT OF HILLS AND STOP SIGN INTERSECTIONS. I AM WORRIED THAT IF THIS ISSUE CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF MY CAR IT WILL EITHER CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, OR AT LEAST PUT ME IN DANGER OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, AND IT WILL ALSO COST ME A FORTUNE TO MAINTAIN IF I HAVE TO CONTINUALLY TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIRS EACH YEAR!

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2014 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HIGH RPM SYMPTOMS AND TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER WANTS DEALERSHIP TO BUY BACK VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN HIS OPINION, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AFTER THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIRS. *JB

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WHILE DRIVING IT FEELS LIKE ENGINE IS FALLING OUT. THE WHOLE CAR VIBRATES. LIKE ITS STALLING OUT WHEN YOU TAKE OFF AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET UP AND GOING. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO LAKELAND FORD FOR A SEAL KIT THAT WAS BACK ORDERED 6-8 WEEKS IN 2015 IN 2016 I HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER SEAL KIT ALSO BACK ORDERED 6-8 WEEKS THEY DID TRANSMISSION MODULE REPLACEMENT AND MUCH MORE I'VE TAKEN THIS CAR BACK FOR THE SAME ISSUE MULTIPLE TIMES ANDHAVEBEEN TOLD IT'S NOT A LEMON L!

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CAR HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING, ESPECIALLY FROM A SLOW OR STOP. CANNOT TELL IF ITS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE OR FUEL RELATED. VERY DANGEROUS, CAUSING CAR TO BUCK & JERK. MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE. SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE THE HIGHER THE MILEAGE.

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THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT USED WITH 22218 MILES ON IT ON 12/29/2015. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. BY THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY 2016, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. BEFORE WE MADE FIRST PAYMENT ON 2/9/2016, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND SHUDDERING GOING INTO SECOND GEAR. HERE IT IS 5/5/2016 AND WE ARE SUPPOSEDLY STILL WAITING ON A PART TO COME IN, WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BOUGHT THEIR PROBLEM AND WE ARE ON OUR OWN, AND THIS COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE IN SAFETY WHEN YOUR CAR WILL NOT GO. FROM DEAD STOP, SHIFTING FROM FIRST, GOING INTO SECOND IT SHUDDERS, HESITATES, IN TRAFFIC, IT'S REALLY BAD. THIS WAS BOUGHT FOR MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER TO GO TO COLLEGE, NOW I'M WORRIED ABOUT HER SAFETY IN IT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000.

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WHEN DRIVING THE CAR SHUDDERS AND DOESN'T WANT TO GO INTO GEAR, HAVE HAD IT INTO SERVICE DEPT SEVERAL TIMES FOR KNOWN TRANSMISSION ISSUE! THE PROBLEM STARTED SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT'S BEEN 2 1/2 MONTHS NOW AND STILL WAITING FOR NEW CLUTCH TO ARRIVE AND NOW MY VEHICLE WILL NOT DRIVE AT ALL!

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SIX TIMES MY CAR'S ENGINE HAS STOPPED WORKING. EITHER I AM DRIVING AND IT GIVES ME A 10 SECOND WARNING BEFORE THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF OR I AM PARKED AND IT WON'T START UP PROPERLY. EVERY TIME IT GETS TOWED OR I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE UPDATED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND IT SHOULD BE FINE. FORD'S CORPORATE OFFICE HAS SAID RESULTS ARE INCONCLUSIVE AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP ME. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE.

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