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

I am writing to address a significant issue regarding my Ford Focus 2014 (VIN [XXX] ). On [XXX], the check engine light illuminated, indicating error code P07A3 - Transmission Friction Element "A". I promptly took my car to AutoNational Ford Bellevue for inspection (customer #[XXX]). Despite assurances of a Transmission Control Module replacement under warranty, the issue persisted after alleged replacement. Upon independent examination on [XXX], it was found that the Transmission Control Module remained unchanged, contrary to the dealership's assertions. 1. AutoNational Ford Bellevue representative initiates a warranty claim (which is valid until 2025) for my Ford Focus's Transmission Control Module. 2. The Transmission Control Module is not installed in my car; instead, someone from AutoNational Ford Bellevue effectively appropriates it (its value is over $500). 3. I am misled into believing that the Transmission Control Module has been installed; in reality, they are deceiving me. They hope that because the car is old, I will need to replace the dual clutch transmission, and thus, I won't pursue this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11585286

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while the transmission was shifted into reverse(R), the vehicle failed to move. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the clutch had failed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11583824

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the vehicle made an abnormal rattling sound and failed to respond. No further information was provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA ODI 11583584

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently; however, the failure previously occurred while in traffic. The contact also stated that the failure occurred while the contact and the contact's son were driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact stated that previously the failure had been repaired under warranty however, the repair only lasted for approximately nine months. The contact was informed that the repair would no longer be covered under the extended warranty under the Customer Satisfaction Program: 14M02. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11581775

My son had the car and it had to sit waiting on a part for 2 years. It almost caused him to wreck on several occasions. In the meantime transmission shop check and didn't agree with the dealer. Finally the dealer replaced the TCM transmission control module. I ending buying the car to help my son. Less than 10,000 miles car began doing same thing. In the meantime I received a letter from the Factory extending the warranty. I had take to shop and same thing was the Transmission Control Module. It was causing the clutch and actuators. The shops said it a dealer issue and explained the letter and customer agreement to me. They said the dealer has to fix for free. I called the dealer and they diagnosed it over the phone and refused to fix without 4,700 hundred dollars. I still waited until appointment time over a month had it towed there was driven on to rollback. Was not told of a diagnostic fee. They later called me saying the drove and put on the computer and wasnt the TCM. Also told me it was gonna be 6,500 dollars. This car has anost caused 4 collisions one of which scared me so bad am having a brain injury I arrived it home a few minutes away and had a severe brain issues. The dealer on drove the car one tenth of a mile from the shop to a storage lot. They have repeatedly refused to give me the diagnostic print out but instead just an estimate. This is a well know issue with these transmissions to the point ford extended the warranty. I had to pay a fee and car was taken to a local garage where it remains. Car was driven on the rollback for travel tested at shop. Once again is TCM which is covered as many times a needed up to 150,000 miles. Once over 150,000 miles one more complementary TCM replacement. Dealer still refuses to fix according to Ford customer agreement also refused to just give me the TCM to have replaced. Factory complaint went no where. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11580175

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving, the transmission was bucking and shuddering while accelerating from a stop. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the clutch pack was improperly tensioned, and a clutch fork bearing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 26,000.

NHTSA ODI 11577608

The vehicle has all of the mentioned issues from the recall for the stuck CPV. Check engine light illuminated directly after refueling. Codes present at P1450 and P0420. Noticeable change in drivability. My specific VIN is not showing affected by this recall however it meets every requirement to be considered eligible. If my local dealership will not cover this I will have to file a consumer affairs report and take my case to small claims court as this should be something FORD has to remedy due to they’ve already admitted negligence in the manufacture of this vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11576173

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and shuddered, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The driver was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the dual clutch. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission control module. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 14M02. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 128,000.

NHTSA ODI 11576305

After about 25-45 minutes of driving the car every time you accelerates the Transmission starts slipping the car starts to rattle very badly and it makes a crunching sound. It makes the car almost impossible to drive and sounds and feels like it’s about to break down.

NHTSA ODI 11572803

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle started to shake, after which the vehicle lost motive power and was unable to accelerate above 5 MPH. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission control module. The TCM was replaced, but the dealer was unable to program the TCM. The dealer diagnosed an additional failure with the dual clutch. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11572313

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the gear had to be shifted from park to neutral and back to park to start the vehicle. The vehicle started and the contact depressed the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond but the engine revved up. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked, and the transmission slipped and delayed while downshifting. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly without warning. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the “Transmission Hot - Pull Over Safely - Wait 5 Minutes" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The dealer stated that the actuator had seized and burned the clutch. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.

NHTSA ODI 11572099

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving 70–72 MPH, the vehicle decelerated. The contact pulled to the side of the road. The check engine and cruise control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the PCM and transmission control module, snap ring, transmission fluid, two clutch ports, transmission case, and input bearing needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

NHTSA ODI 11571682

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the contact attempted to accelerate however, the transmission shifted hard into the next gear with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to the dealer, and it was diagnosed with a faulty transmission clutch. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 85,100.

NHTSA ODI 11568514

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a message displayed reading "Transmission Overheating", after which the vehicle entered LIMP Mode and was unable to accelerate above 5 MPH. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway and turn off the vehicle. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular failure. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the dual clutch transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 19N08, but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 143,000.

NHTSA ODI 11568099

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle transmission was not shifting properly. The contact stated that the vehicle was smoking and the contact pulled over into a parking lot. The vehicle was able to restart, however, the engine was revving high and the vehicle was turned back off. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that when starting from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle had trouble coming to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced due to a faulty seal. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the clutch had previously been replaced for the same issue. The failure mileage was approximately 145,432.

NHTSA ODI 11565798

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle shuddered and hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission clutch shudder. The dealer determined that the transmission clutch needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under Ford Campaign Number: 19N08, because the campaign had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11564272

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the transmission was shifted from 1st to 2nd gear, and the vehicle jolted forward, then failed to accelerate immediately. Additionally, the transmission was slipping. The failure persisted while driving at 20 MPH when the transmission was shifted from 2nd to 3rd gear with the RPM fluctuating and the engine revving. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the dealer had previously replaced the transmission and reprogrammed the TCM; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA ODI 11562079

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission hesitated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed transmission clutch. The contact was informed that the transmission clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

NHTSA ODI 11562170

While driving on the freeway to go drop my daughter at school, the car started jerking and loosing speed, it wasn't responding or picking up speed when pressing on the gas pedal, it started slowing down and almost got hit from behind. Then a warning came on the dash showing check engine and "transmission overheating," at that moment I pulled over to the side of the freeway and parked the car. I was able to make it to my daughter's school, but after getting to my daughters school, the car would not go into drive or reverse, so I turned it off to cool it down. I tried to turn it back on and it failed to come back on, and so I had to get it towed from my daughter's school to my residence. The transmission was compromised and is now faulty because it failed to go into drive or reverse. I'm not sure why it's not starting. My safety and that of others was put at risk when the car jerked and started slowing down suddenly on the freeway and almost caused an accident. Not inspected and no diagnostic carried out yet. I'm in the process of having it towed to a ford dealership because there's a customer notice from Ford for extended warranty for the transmission control module.

NHTSA ODI 11561954

Car was in idle and decellerated. The check engine light came on. The dual clutch assembly and fork have already been replaced once due to same issues. Now they are saying it is the same thing and they want to charge us!

NHTSA ODI 11561658

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle lunged into gear and shuddered before moving forward. The contact stated that the failure occurred whenever the accelerator pedal was depressed while driving forward. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be rebuilt. The independent mechanic advised the contact that the transmission failure was covered under Customer Satisfaction Program Number: 19N08 - Automatic Transmission Clutch Shudder (Power Train). The contact called the dealer and was advised that the vehicle was out of warranty for Customer Satisfaction Program: 19N08. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 11561520

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the transmission fault warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle began jerking and lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted; however, the vehicle would only operate in reverse. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 11561552

The contact's mother-in-law owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while shifting into 1st gear and 2nd gear, the vehicle shuddered. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the actuator fork and clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

NHTSA ODI 11560902

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle decelerated to 15-20 MPH. The contact merged to the right lane and continued driving at a slow speed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start while in a parking lot. The contact waited 30 minutes and was able to restart the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact then shifted into reverse(R), but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that she turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. The contact received notification of Ford Service Campaign Number: 14M02, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with transmission clutch shudder. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000. The contact stated that the transmission got worse over time with no assistance from the manufacturer for repairs.

NHTSA ODI 11560703

There is a recall on this car for TCM transmission module. This part is available through non-dealer car repair shops, however, Ford has been unable or unwilling to provide this part for recall for over 1 year, saying that it is back ordered with no date of arrival estimated. I received my recall letter in August of 2023. I was in dealer and had this part tested on September 18th, confirming the recall applied to it. The dealer had my car for one month before returning it to me still broken. Today they still have no estimate on when they will fix this. This issue causes my car to lose power and shudder and the engine light comes on when starting off from being stopped, or sometimes just suddenly act like it has gone into neutral on the freeway. Ford apparently only has to replace this on vehicles with less than 150,000 miles that are under 10 years of age. My car is a 2014, so in one month it will be 10 years old, and only a few months after that it will reach 150,000 miles. It seems like Ford is trying to wait out this recall so they do not have to pay for the repair. It is unreasonable that there are obviously suppliers for this part but Ford is not willing to contract with them and make the repair, meanwhile those of us who spent tens of thousands of dollars on Ford vehicles have to take our lives in our hands every day just to drive the garbage they wont fix. Please make Ford do more to help those affected by this recall and please don't allow corporations to time out their responsibility to fix the low quality garbage they produce. I have received no indication that Ford will ever fix my car. Ford Motor Company said they have a loner program that goes through the dealer, but the dealer says they know nothing about any such program. It's a lot of games being played and very few cars being fixed. Thank you.

NHTSA ODI 11558269