2014 Ford Focus Problems: Transmission / driveline (2,648 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2014 Ford Focus is Transmission / driveline (51% of 2,648 owner reports). There are 14 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 2,648 complaints · 14 recalls
What problems show up on the 2014 Ford Focus?
1,361 of 2,648 filings named Transmission / driveline (51% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Steering (209 reports).
There are 14 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Transmission / driveline, Electrical, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2013 has 2,174 reports on file; this year has 2,648. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Transmission / driveline 1,361 complaints · 51.4% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 69
- Fires 10
- Injuries 47
- Deaths 1
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 1,361 | 51.4% | 16 crashes · 2 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 209 | 7.9% | 9 crashes · 1 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 208 | 7.9% | 7 crashes · 5 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 202 | 7.6% | 3 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 114 | 4.3% | 7 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 107 | 4.0% | 2 crashes · 1 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 35 | 1.3% | 1 crashes · 1 fires |
| Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) | 29 | 1.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Wheels (WHEELS) | 19 | 0.7% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 496 | 18.7% | 10 crashes · 2 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 14V495000 was reported 146 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 14V525000 was reported 144 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 15V005000 was reported 273 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 15V813000 was reported 624 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 16V643000 was reported 976 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 16V698000 was reported 998 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V592000 was reported 1,710 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V735000 was reported 1,655 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 19V515000 was reported 1,911 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V331000 was reported 2,347 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V011000 was reported 4,394 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V369000 was reported 4,442 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2013-Q4 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2014-Q1 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2014-Q2 | Owner reports | 30 | |
| 2014-Q3 | Owner reports | 67 | |
| 2014-Q4 | Owner reports | 52 | |
| 2015-Q1 | Owner reports | 39 | |
| 2015-Q2 | Owner reports | 65 | |
| 2015-Q3 | Owner reports | 80 | |
| 2015-Q4 | Owner reports | 90 | |
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 79 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 71 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 62 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 91 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 59 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 51 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 49 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 43 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 50 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 65 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 70 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 68 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 84 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 98 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 307 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 64 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 65 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 30 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 52 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 35 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 26 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 30 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 31 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 31 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 30 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 53 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 60 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 25 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 49 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 37 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 56 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 41 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 32 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 28 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 27 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 19 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 15 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 16 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 16 | |
| 2026-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 13V523000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V495000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V514000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V525000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V005000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V813000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V643000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V698000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V592000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V735000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V515000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V331000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V011000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V369000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE13031 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE16001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE16001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ19005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ19005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP22005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ23006 |
Safety Recalls (14)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Transmission / driveline, Electrical, and Fuel system.
-
Recall campaign 13V523000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- An unexpected loss of power while driving increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the power control module, free of charge. The recall beganon November 22, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S09. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
-
Recall campaign 14V495000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17.
-
Recall campaign 14V514000
Safety recall 14V514000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- The incorrectly manufactured steering gears may cause impaired steering, including the loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gears, free of charge. The recall began on November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S18.
-
Recall campaign 14V525000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- A reduction in fuel pressure may result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S20.
-
Recall campaign 15V005000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S30.
-
Recall campaign 15V813000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17-S1.
-
Recall campaign 16V643000
Safety recall 16V643000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
-
Recall campaign 16V698000
Safety recall 16V698000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- With only a single press needed, the driver may accidently unlatch the hatchback, increasing the risk of injury to any unsecured passengers in the back.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C13.
-
Recall campaign 18V592000
Safety recall 18V592000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120V convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S24.
-
Recall campaign 18V735000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.
-
Recall campaign 19V515000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- The excessive vacuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began July 29, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S22.
-
Recall campaign 20V331000
Safety recall 20V331000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
-
Recall campaign 26V011000
Safety recall 26V011000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy:
- Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
-
Recall campaign 26V369000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Showing 5 of 2,648 complaints · page 1 of 106
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The vehicle has a recurring fuel-level/distance-to-empty (DTE) malfunction that has caused it to run completely out of fuel and lose motive power while the instrument cluster indicates substantial remaining range. This has occurred four times. On the first three occasions, the vehicle ran out of fuel while displaying approximately 28-30 miles DTE. On two occasions, including the most recent, the engine shut off unexpectedly in the roadway and other motorists had to help push the disabled vehicle out of traffic. During the most recent incident, the vehicle displayed approximately 35 miles DTE when the engine shut off. There was no sputtering, warning message, warning lamp, or other indication that the vehicle was actually out of fuel. I previously brought the vehicle to an independent repair facility specifically for the inaccurate fuel/DTE indication and occasional stall-like behavior. Fuel trims were checked and no obvious cause was identified. I subsequently learned that Ford Safety Recall 18S32 had been performed on this vehicle in 2021, before I owned it. That recall addressed excessive fuel-tank vacuum/possible tank deformation and identified symptoms including inaccurate fuel gauge, inaccurate DTE, and possible stalling. I then brought the vehicle to an authorized Ford dealer and repeatedly identified the inaccurate fuel/DTE condition as my primary concern, including providing it in writing. The dealer performed a PCM update under another campaign, but the fuel-level/DTE malfunction was not diagnosed or repaired. After that dealer visit, the vehicle again ran out of fuel and shut off in the roadway, this time while displaying approximately 35 miles DTE. Roadside assistance was requested. The vehicle is available for inspection. Ford has been notified and an Automotive Safety case opened. The cause remains UNKNOWN. My concern is repeated unexpected loss of motive power while the vehicle indicates usable fuel remains.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
door latch recall
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The Transmission Control Module (TCM), within the PowerShift DPS6 Automatic Transmission, failed completely on a 2014 Ford Focus (72,000 miles). The failed component is no longer physically available for inspection as it was retained by the independent service facility as a core replacement, but full repair invoices and diagnostic documentation are available. The failure caused a sudden and unpredictable loss of forward motive power, severe gear hesitation, and failure to engage drive gears while operating the vehicle. The gears would slip and it made continuous forward acceleration at the speed limit nearly impossible. This created an immediate hazard of being rear-ended and/or stranded in ongoing traffic without acceleration capability. Shortly afterwards it also completely lost the ability to reverse. The problem was formally reproduced, diagnosed, and confirmed by an independent repair facility during service. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. A Check Engine Light illuminated came on at approx 72,000 miles while I was running morning errands. The light came on as I started feeling some sudden rough driving after accelerating from a red light, and within 1-2 miles of driving was when the TCM started failing completely. While Ford acknowledged this systemic DPS6 defect under Customer Satisfaction Program 14M02, strict guidelines required an active diagnostic code (P090C) before approving a warranty replacement, preventing lower-mileage owners from receiving preventive service before the 10-year calendar cap expired. I was forced to pay $1,927.26 out-of-pocket for a replacement with an OEM part.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Car has been cutting off while idleing, or at a stop light. It has also cut off while driving. It has also lost a form of power while going down the highway. The car doesn’t cut off, but pressing the gas does nothing and the rpm’s go crazy, then eventually it catches and the gas peddle works again.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle jerked and shuddered abnormally. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated and the RPM fluctuated. The contact believed that the engine was going to shut off. The contact stated that a technician arrived and the residence to perform an unknown recall repair associated with the purge valve. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the technician inspected the vehicle and took notes. The failure reoccurred. The contact was informed that the failure was possibly associated with the transmission. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by phone. The contact stated that a recall repair was scheduled. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 27,665.
Ford Focus Powershift: What NHTSA Complaints Show
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2014 Ford Focus?
Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 1,361 of 2,648 reports (51%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2014 Ford Focus?
NHTSA lists 14 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Transmission / driveline, Electrical, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2014 Ford Focus?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.