What 2,641 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Focus

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH IN FIFTH GEAR AND SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE BLEW. I STARTED BLOWING OIL AND SMOKE OUT THE REAR, "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" CAME ON, AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I LOST ALL POWER AND POWER STEERING, SO I MADE MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER. I PULLED THE HOOD LATCH AND STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE I WITNESSED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD IN THE ENGINE BAY. I BACKED UP AND WATCHED THE FRONT OF THE CAR FULLY ENGULF INTO FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 10715769

IN JULY I PURCHASED A NEW 2014 FORD FOCUS FOR MY SON. IMMEDIATELY HE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT BEING SLUGGISH AND IT SHIFTED WHEN IT SHOULDN'T AND DIDN'T SHIFT WHEN IT SHOULD. IN AUGUST HE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN HE BACKED INTO A PARKED CAR. THE EVENT COST ME $525. HE SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR BUT HIS CAR KEPT ROLLING BACK UNTIL IT STRUCK A CAR. LAST WEEK WAS THE FIRST TIME MY WIFE OR I DROVE HIS CAR. WHEN SHE RETURNED SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD NEVER DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. SHE REPORTED THE SAME TRANSMISSION AND SHIFTING PROBLEMS MY SON HAD MENTIONED. WHEN I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER I WAS IN THE STREET AND TOTALLY STOPPED I PUT THE CAR IN FORWARD AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. NOTHING HAPPENED. I CHECKED THE GEAR INDICATOR AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN. NOTHING HAPPENED. AFTER SITTING IIN THE THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET FOR SEVERAL SECONDS THE CAR FINALLY MOVED. IT WAS VERY SLUGGISH AND WITHIN THE FIRST 100FT. IT SHIFTED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. PERFORMANCE LIKE THIS CONTINUED EVERY TIME I STARTED FROM A DEAD STOP. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE REP ABOUT WHAT I HAD JUST EXPERIENCED. HE SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DOING EXACTLY WHAT FORD SAYS IT WAS DESIGNED IT TO DO. HE SAID HE HAD PERSONALLY SCHEDULED OVER 20 2014 FOCUS CARS INTO THE SHOP TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. HE SAID FORD HAS A SET OF TESTS AND IF THE CAR PASSED THOSE TESTS THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. HE SAID EVERY 2014 FOCUS HE AND THE OTHER 7-8 REPS HAD SCHEDULED FOR THE TESTS HAD, BY FORD'S INSTRUCTIONS, PASSED THE TESTS. I SINCERELY REQUEST THAT YOU FORCE FORD TO DO A RECALL ON THESE CARS. NOTING THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THE CARS OBVIOUSLY HAVE VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES, ESPECIALLY THEIR FAILURE TO SHIFT WHEN THE DRIVER TAKES THE ACTION TO MAKE THEM SHIFT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10638707

I WAS ENTERING AN EIGHT-CAR PARKING AREA AND DECIDED TO PARK A FEW FEET AHEAD BY A HIGH CHAIN-LINK FENCE. THE CAR WAS ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP AND I WAS ABOUT TO SHIFT INTO PARK WHEN I HEARD A "REVVING" NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR BOLTED. BRAKING HARD ,I SLAMMED INTO THE FENCE AND SMALL TREE. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.I SAT STUNNED. NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN ALL MY YEARS AS A DRIVER. I BELIEVE THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED AND THERE WAS A "SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION".FIX THIS PROBLEM OR TAKE THE CAR OFF THE MARKET! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10621950