10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
18 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 1
Average Mileage:
42,241 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #89

Dec 032015

Focus

  • 12,000 miles
At around 12000 miles, noticed unsettling shuddering of transmission going uphill. Had Ford dealer inspect at 14000 miles at which time they reprogrammed the transmission control module and I was told to drive it for 1000 miles to see if that fixed it. It started shuddering again in first gear at 15000 miles. I was told that it needed a clutch, but there was a backorder list for these clutches of 4-6 weeks. I am driving in fear of worse transmission problems on the way that might cause serious damage to property and people. I was never notified of a recall, but on the repair invoice, it was noted "recall #15B22 reprogram transmission control module cause: Fsa reprogram PCM/tcm and perform clutch adaptive learning procedure 997310 w auth code 005479"

- Boulder City, NV, USA

problem #88

Oct 142015

Focus

  • 12,000 miles
Bad hesitation/jerking when starting from a stop position I have had my vehicle to the dealership and they have ordered a part back in October 2015 which still has yet to come in, and I was informed today it will be another 6 weeks before it arrives. In the meantime the hesitation and jerking are getting worse than they were initially. It concerns me what else could this unresolved issue be impacting. And what happens if this causes my transmission to go out while I'm driving.

- Middletown, DE, USA

problem #87

Nov 222015

Focus

  • 13,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While the vehicle was parked, an abnormal sound was heard from the engine and the driver side fog light illuminated independently. In addition, while driving at various speeds, the radio turned on and off independently. The failures recurred constantly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed, but the cause of the failures was not found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000.

- Lubbock, TX, USA

problem #86

Jan 202015

Focus

  • miles
Takata recall. My complaint is the severe hesitation with my car when taking off. I bought my vehicle 09/20/2013. It is a 2014 Ford Focus. When we first got the vehicle the hesitation was not noticeable at first, but after a few months of driving it, it started doing it. We took it back to Ford and they suppose to have did something to rectify the issue. It was okay for awhile, but now it is doing the hesitation more worst now than it was the first time. It is to the point trying to go up a hilly road takes a minute because the car is not taking off right away. Basically it takes it a few minutes to get in gear. I did not know it was a recall until I visit a Ford dealership; looking at another car. The salesman informed me and then I looked it up on the nhsta website. I never received anything from Ford alerting me of a recall. This issue with the hesitation is really annoying, especially now that it has gotten worse.

- Jonesboro, GA, USA

problem #85

Feb 012014

Focus

  • miles
I have had problems with my car ever since I bought it brand new. I have taken it back to the dealership so many times but nothing has been done about it. I feel unsafe driving this car.

- Lovington, NM, USA

problem #84

Jan 252016

Focus

  • 34,425 miles
Car hesitates and shutters when driven. This is worse at lower speeds or when turning. This happens both on the highway and on city streets. It's been serviced 4 times for this issue, each time the module requires reprogramming, but the problem persists. Recently the check engine soon light had been on. We've been to the dealer and they repaired it, but the engine light has turned on again only 5 days after the last repair. I've checked and the Focus has 5 different active recalls, 2 of them with regards to power train, but this car seems to be excluded from them at this time.

- Boyertown, PA, USA

problem #83

Oct 222015

Focus

  • 32,000 miles
I have escaped being hit multiple times with my car doing this. I have a fear I am going to be rear ended or killed because of my car. The car stalls on the road there is something wrong with the transmission our car has been at the dealership for over a month, second time on the transmission jerking and stalling on the road when you would be stoped at a red light then in motion it jerked when you increased your speed, very unsafe to drive and no one is doing nothing about it. Ford can not fix the problem. Should be a national recall.. not japordizing my family life for a car that stalls on the road.

- Vinton, VA, USA

problem #82

Dec 282015

Focus 4-cyl

  • 12,400 miles
The car shudders upon acceleration from a stop; changing gears more like a manual transmission than the automatic transmission that it is. Also, the car began shaking and shuddering during right hand turns. So far, this is an intermittent problem. The acceleration from slow speeds and from a stop is dangerously slow and nearly unresponsive at times.

- Monroe, WA, USA

problem #81

Mar 052015

Focus

  • 16,500 miles
Shudder in first to second gear losing power with engine or transmission; loss of speed and shaking and no accerlation from stop to start; loss of power and auto jumps up and down without going anywhere.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #80

Dec 012015

Focus

  • miles
Letter from congressman neugebauer on behalf of constituents of the 19th district of Texas re Ford safety issues. The consumer owns a 2014 Ford Focus SE with the optional dps6 power shift transmission. The transmission exhibited a severe, erratic movement, along with shuddering/jerking, with the most severe being while the vehicle was in reverse, park or drive on four different occasions. On two of those occasions, it happened when the consumer was accelerating from a complete stop and the vehicle lurched backwards; once hitting a pedestrian and leaving scratches on the back of the vehicle with a dented license plate. On several occasions, the vehicle accelerated on its own and applying the brake did not slow the vehicle down. Last year, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and the consumer had to hit a curb, in order to avoid an accident with another vehicle. The consumer stated the vehicle had numerous transmission and engine leaks where seals had to be replaced. Five days after the vehicle was inspected, the vehicle went into park while in the midst of driving 65 mph/ the vehicle shook, and revved and the rp's were extremely high, then the vehicle started to slow down without any assistance from the consumer. The vehicle came to a complete stop, an error message appeared that said transmission not in park.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #79

Aug 012015

Focus

  • miles
Transmission control module is defective. My car judders severely. Failed to get up to speed correct. RPM is 4,500. I have contacted Ford corporate, they have failed to execute. There is a recall on the part but there is 6-8 week back order. I do not feel safe driving my vehicle

- Olathe, KS, USA

problem #78

Jul 292015

Focus

  • miles
I purchased this vehicle from a reputable dealership in town as a used vehicle but with only 20K miles on it. The dealership refused to let me test drive it on the highway citing dealership rules. Everything seemed to work fine. One week after getting car home it began shuddering and failing to accelerate only to rapidly shift gears once it figured out what it wanted to do. When trying to enter highway the car would run through 4 gears before hitting mph causing horrible and sluggish performance. When finally get up to 55 mph or more, the car shutters so bad it is making other parts fall apart and come loose...like the steering and A/C not working properly...I have to go 80 just to get it to reduce slightly. I called up dealer and demanded they repair. Dealer reset transmission to factory defaults which fixed nothing. Took car in 3 more times when finally they admitted it was a clutch issue and put me on a back order list. I waiting 3 months while having to drive an unsafe vehicle but it finally was replaced. To no ones surprise the car performs worse now then it did. Took back to dealer 2 more times, to which I was told the clutch has a 1000 mile break in period. I asked then why didn't anyone say that when I picked it up. Spoke with service manager who keeps trying to tell me they can duplicate the problem...I asked why is it I have the problem 100% of the time I drive it but it never seems to happen when you have it.... I even tried demonstrating but they literally just ignored me and said they didn't hear anything or feel anything...I have reached out to class action lawyers for details on how to sue and get car paid for taken back so I can get a safe car....otherwise I have to drive a known safety hazard.

- Grapevine, TX, USA

problem #77

Jun 202014

Focus

  • 80 miles
This problem start since I got the car they told me it was normal but this is the 3 time I almost have an accident on the highway and intersections the car engine stall when that happen the car wont respond this happen all the time if I am driving fast our slow. I already take it to the dealer 6 times to get it fix and the car is getting worse I only have one repair invoice they wont give me anything because they say nothing is wrong with the car they also replace the clutch and restart the transmission a few times.

- Del Rio, TX, USA

problem #76

May 142014

Focus

  • 3,000 miles
I purchased the car brand new. It started bogging out dying in slow traffic and in the middle of turns. I have had it in the shop 5 times for same issue nothing was resolved. I have almost gotten in a couple accidents when turning the car dies in the middle of street and I have almost been T boned. I sounds like the engine is going to fall out at times. Sometimes when it starts to die it excelerates and send the car forward at a fast speed. I have only had car 18 month. I am terrified to drive this car!

- New Lenox, IL, USA

problem #75

Sep 302015

Focus

  • 19,000 miles
The vehicle has went into reverse on 3 occasions while the gear stick selector is in the drive position. One incident it went into reverse, striking a pedestrian causing injury. On another it went into reverse while on a freeway, then came to a crawl and stopped. Ford sent out their field service technician and said that an engine crankshaft seal was leaking (in addition to the clutch seals that had been replaced for leakage earlier). The dealer says that these leaks are common and cause the transmission to exhibit erratic behavior, including going into reverse. According to the Ford dispute resolution department, they could find no abnormal codes in the computer of the car - which could be a whole other defect in itself. Ford refuses to provide me paperwork on the technician's report/review of the vehicle and cannot guarantee that it will not happen again, nor will they verify that the fixes are safe. Ford was "unable to duplicate" the transmission going in reverse during their 7 mile test drive. A person at the dealership's service department told me that they try not to drive the cars very far and with a cold transmission so that the issues are not prevalent and cannot be duplicated and they will not have to diagnose anything. They also verified that they have a lot of issues with these vehicles, and with Ford in general trying to authorize repairs. I feel that something as serious as this should not have to be "duplicated" in order to have a fix looked into. I wish we were able to form a petition with the NHTSA to file a formal investigation into the safety practices of Ford and the safety of these particular dps6 transmissions. Search Ford fiesta 2011-2014 and Ford Focus 2012-2014 on the NHTSA - they are all made with the same transmission technology. I have filed a lemon law complaint with my state, who seemed very frustrated with Ford.

- Lubbock, TX, USA

problem #74

Oct 262015

Focus

  • 16,500 miles
Car intermittently stalls when the clutch pedal is depressed. This can occur at a stoplight or at freeway speed.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #73

Aug 272014

Focus

  • miles
Car jerks and shakes. Especially when taking off or on turning vehicle jerks badly. I understand that is when automatic transmission is trying to shift gears. I have had the clutch replaced once already. This causes a huge danger to me because if I would like to try to make a left turn in front of traffic I never know if my car will go or resist. Sons days are so bad that I just give up driving because it feels as if my car will stall. This is not what you expect a car that you've bought new and paid thousands of dollars on to run like daily. Dealership, today, says it's fine. Initial issues date back to August 2014.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #72

Oct 192015

Focus

  • 42,000 miles
The engine overheats for no reason and as a result the car shuts off. Took the car to Ford and was told due to it being a dual clutch transmission there is nothing under the hood to cool the engine down and to just put the hood up for 20 minutes and it is fine. This has happened 3 times now in stop and go traffic.

- Martinsburg, WV, USA

problem #71

Jan 262015

Focus

  • miles
Vehicle has had a red fluid leak for quite some time. The car has been back to the dealership for this issue many times and currently filing lemon law arbitration. The car has been out of commission for 55 days altogether since it's purchase in January this year due to the fluid leak which seems to be more of coolant than anything else. It is burning oil and or losing it somewhere that isn't visible. It also has had electrical problems with starting as well as the radio clock and presets all resetting after sitting for more than 24 hours. I have had to have the sunroof resales after it had leaked for over two months and the dealership wasn't able to find the leak. The front end makes horrible noises when decelerating. It grinds and whines as if something is about to blow up. I've taken it into the dealer for all of these concerns and only one of them has been resolved fully. I'm very disappointed in my purchase.

- Waynesville, NC, USA

problem #70

Sep 302015

Focus

  • 19,355 miles
Previously, due to the transmission shifting into reverse while the gear selector is in "D" drive, I backed into a female pedestrian hitting her and almost running her over. There are still scratches from her rings on my back bumper. Ford has performed numerous tsb's and recalls to "fix" the issue. Upon the most recent tsb and recall update, I was promised it would take care of any issues, including an issue where the vehicle would shudder and search for a gear before engaging and spinning out from a complete stop. After driving it for 30 miles, I noticed the engine running rough, shaking, and slowing down while in idle. I stopped for a refuel. I got back in the vehicle and calculated my mpg's as I always do - only 19mpg, which Ford says is "within spec" as long as it is not more than 8mpg off. (the on board mpg calculator shows 22.7mpg - always incorrect). It should be 26city, 36hwy. I placed the gear selector in "D" drive (as was also referenced in the on board screen). Once pressing the accelerator, the vehicle's in dash screen flashed that I was in "R" reverse and the vehicle lurched backwards. I braked, then the engine revved and went automatically back into "D." I drove 2 blocks, at a speed of 40 mph in "D, " it again switched to "R" revving the engine, then slowed to a stop. I pulled over, turned the engine off and waited before turning it back on. The drive home, it would jump between gears "searching." I let it sit overnight, and today it has not exhibited these actions. I'm uploading a photo showing the car doing 35 in the "R" position with the RPM jumped up to 3500. I was actually going forward. In "R, " car should not go over 20mph. This is evidence that it switched mid "D" drive. Also, the tires are starting to form pits and has a circumference of separation/splitting which dealership said is "fine." This is causing a vibration and whirring noise.

- Lubbock, TX, USA

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