Upon acceleration, car hesitates, stutters, shakes and makes a grinding noise. When entering the highway, it really hesitated and took longer than usual to get to the speed limit. Hence, someone was coming up quickly behind me and was very irate with me. This could have caused an accident or something other... like road rage by the other driver.

- Sewell, NJ, USA

On 7/31/14, my Ford Focus hatchback accelerated while parking and crashed into a high chain-link fence. Significant front end damage to the vehicle was repaired. The airbags never deployed when I hit the fence and small tree and I was lucky that no one was near the car when it malfunctioned.subsequently, the car has been parked! I have tried to communicate with Ford Motor Co. By fax, letter and phone over the last 2 months.the dealership wants nothing to do with this car. We are reluctant to sell and want this car off the market. We have no voice. I continue to read all complaints on your site. When are you going to do anything about it! I can't put my grandkids in this car and I don't want anyone's child in this car.please call me. We need to get this car off the market before someone is injured or worse!

- Plainville, CT, USA

The transmission sputters when taking off from a dead stop. At a constant speed the car shifts into a higher or lower gear. Noises are made grinding noises when changing from 1-2-3 gears.

- Harrison, TN, USA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 10 mph and engaging the brakes, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. The failure occurred four times. The dealer was unable to locate the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15. Updated 11/21/14 the consumer also experienced a transmission shifting problem. Updated 01/08/15

- Burkley, MI, USA

My car has been shuttering and not shifting smoothly for a few weeks as well as loss of power when taking off from a stop or very slow speed. This incident: Car shifted into neutral for a few (5?) seconds before engaging in higher gear while I was on freeway.

- Chatsworth, CA, USA

2014 Ford Focus SE. The car has always shuddered and jerked when starting off from stop. I am afraid to pull out into traffic unless it is totally clear. My daughter has a 2012 Ford Focus and it does the same thing. I run premium gas and the top grade oil.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While accelerating from a stop at 5 mph, the vehicle surged forward and the speed increased to 15 mph without warning. The vehicle jerked and the speed accelerated beyond 20 mph. The failure occurred ten times. The dealer stated that the clutch and seals needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 3,500.

- Trenton, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate intermittently. The contact mentioned that the vehicle would make a grinding noise while depressing the accelerator pedal and the vehicle would stall. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired since the parts were not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 400.

- Riverside, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. When the contact depressed the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would either independently accelerate or hesitate to accelerate. The contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the front driver side of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100.

- Taylor , MI, USA

Hesitation and bucking while accelerating, grinding noise, and rough idle.

- Boynton Beach , FL, USA

Vehicle shudders upon starting forward movement or when slowing or stopping and then restarting forward movement. Downshifting into lower gear and then accelerating produces a shudder, severe loss of power, must accelerate heavily or vehicle continues to shake and shimmy while not accelerating. Feels as if the engine/transmission is going to shake out of the automobile.

- Summerdale, AL, USA

Every time I put the car in drive and start to go between 5-10 mph the car begins to stutter. Its getting progressively worse everytime I drive the vehicle. I've taken it to the shop 2-3 times already and they have only put a "bandaid" on the situation. They have only reset the transmission computer back to its default settings. I am wanting something to be repaired - actually replaced under my warranty.

- Severn, MD, USA

While cruising at a steady 65mph in rush hour traffic on the interstate my vehicle unexpectedly went into what the Ford dealer later called "limp mode." The car lost almost all its power and at first seemed to be stalled. I was unable to accelerate and the speed gradually dropped. There were tractor-trailers merging onto and off the interstate, and I had a fearful sensation of going up under one. There was too much traffic to "back off" and go behind them, and I had no acceleration to get around. It felt like I was going to be "run over, " and I'm not so sure the tractor-trailer drivers could even see me. At the next exit I immediately left the interstate and pulled into a gas station, turning off the engine. Taking off and accelerating from the interstate exit to this station was actually very difficult. It felt like I was going to cause an accident because the car did not have enough acceleration to properly maneuver. I was not sure what happened and immediately called the service department at the nearest Ford dealer. I spoke with a lady who seemed very knowledgeable about the problem, (which actually worries me because that makes it seem like a common issue), but offered no solution. She almost seemed slightly "irritated, " as if it was something she had "explained many times before." She said "turn the car off for about 10-15 minutes and let the computer reset. If there is a major problem it will still be in 'limp mode, ' but more likely it was a fluke and will turn off." I asked, "why did this happen? it's only six months old and I was just cruising down the highway." Her response was 'yeah, it just happens.'" I personally feel like this is something that could be widespread and needs investigation. It felt like a highly dangerous situation, and is apt to repeat itself. The dealer offered no immediate solution other than, "let's just see what happens."

- Chester Gap, VA, USA

I bought this car new on Dec 31, 2013. Here's my list of problems... 1) trunk was way off alignment, dealership fixed best they could... 2) wipers are hitting the side of frame when they wipe. It makes a very loud noise when wipers are on and is very annoying. Dealership is installing new wiper motors as I write this... 3) molding on both rear doors at top of window keep falling down, also being repaired now. 4) car drops rims when at a stop and almost kills the engine..... 5) car hesitates when accelerator is pressed, then jerks forward. I drive this car very conservatively, like an old man, I take great care of all my cars. I am very disappointed in this purchase! I've owned Ford for 25 years and the quality is greatly going down. Looks like I'll have to file another lemon law suite against Ford....I did win my first suite in 2010 on a new Ford Ranger!

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

Purchased a 2014 Ford Focus SE on January 4, 2014 and have had problems since driving it off the dealership parking lot. When driving the vehicle, the steering wheel bounces or sways back and forth. The feel is similar to when it is windy and the car is caught in an air gust. When driving any distance or a speed over 10 mph, the driver must hold onto the steering wheel to keep the car in the lane of traffic. The steering wheel sways one way and once you correct it is necessary to correct the opposite way. The car is driven to and from work approximately 17 miles one day daily. By the time I arrive at work or home my hands hurt from holding the steering wheel so tightly. Prior to the third visit to the service department for the steering issue, a new problem arose. After breaking to stop the car, I lifted my foot off of the break, the vehicle accelerated forward fast enough to squeal the tires. Applied the break again, stopped, removed foot to accelerate and car accelerated on its own again. This is becoming an ongoing issue. As of April 9, 2014 the vehicle has been in at the Ford dealership four times, each time to be told there no problems can be found with the car. It drives the same as every other vehicle of the same make per the dealership. I've barely missed hitting the center barrier on the freeway, taking out the side of a delivery truck, accelerated forward at a dangerous speed in heavy traffic, and the steering is progressively getting worse. This car is unsafe for the public highway. Ford continues to say there is no problem with the car. Afraid to drive the vehicle in fear of hurting another driver or myself.

- Houston, TX, USA

I bought this car brand new on March 10, 2014. About a week after having it I noticed when I accelerate it gets very jerky and the rpms shoot up higher than I've ever seen in another car. There is also a grinding sound when I am accelerating and sometimes even when I am just driving. I am very concerned, and I am taking it back to the dealership this afternoon.

- Jacksonville, AL, USA

The car was scary to drive on the highway with uncontrollable swaying had to white knuckle the steering wheel with compensation of darty movements! brought to the dealer they align it 3 times got better but still no complete reward. Then Ford said replace the steering gear ! test drove home with mi snow on the roads wow was it scary to drive it home extra darting fish tail experience. Since last repair it seems to getting bad again 11000 mile later while driving on bumpy roads it darts bad and sway steering ! I believe its a comb of programming issue of steering gear and rack and roll control !!! next will need engineer to look at it!

- Gaines , MI, USA

While driving on the freeway the car began to decelerate, gas pedal was non responsive. Traveling approximately 60-65 mph in 5th gear. Deceleration occurred in 5th gear. Was only able to maintain speed in 4th gear, but was unable to go any faster than 50- 55 mph with gas pedal to the floor. Vehicle displayed some shuddering and slight sputter effect. If vehicle was placed back into 5th gear deceleration would continue. Tachometer showed 3000 RPM regardless of gear placement. No warning lights, or check engine lights. Two days later vehicle had the same symptom but only momentarily.

- St Clair Shores, MI, USA

Low grinding noise coming from front of car after turns, inclines, accelerating after a stop. Sounds like aluminum cans grinding. Also, loss of power in car acceleration for brief periods when driving, especially when accelerating on the freeway to merge into traffic.

- Lake Forest Park, WA, USA