NHTSA (USA)Critical
This page covers 13 recalls, 2631 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2014 Ford Focus.
105 MPGe combined
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 5 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2014 Ford Focus draws complaints that center overwhelmingly on the powertrain, specifically the dual-clutch automatic transmission. Owners across a large number of reports describe the transmission shuddering, hesitating before gear changes, and jolting or lurching when upshifting, symptoms that show up at a range of speeds and tend to be intermittent but recurring. Many owners also report the vehicle failing to accelerate normally when pressing the gas, sometimes accompanied by high RPM revving without a corresponding increase in speed. Transmission fault warning messages appearing on the instrument cluster come up repeatedly as well. Stalling while driving and the transmission getting stuck in lower gears are also described across multiple reports. Steering complaints rank second by volume, though at a notably lower count than the powertrain issues. The vibration owners describe while stopped at traffic lights tracks closely with the clutch behavior reported during low-speed and stop-and-go driving.
2,631
Total Complaints
69
Crash-Related
10
Fire-Related
39
With Injuries
By System
The 2014 Ford Focus has 13 recalls, the most serious involving multiple issues that can cause the engine to stall without warning while driving, leaving the vehicle unable to restart and raising the risk of a crash.
Several of these stall-related recalls are connected: a canister purge valve can create excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor system and cut engine power, a cracked fuel delivery module can cause low fuel pressure leading to stalling or a no-start condition, and on Focus Electric models, a software problem in the powertrain control module can produce a sudden loss of drive power. Some of these recalls also exist because earlier repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue. On Focus ST models and certain other trims, faulty wiring harness splices to the manifold pressure sensor can send incorrect signals to the engine computer, causing hesitation or stalling.
On the fire side, the engine block heater cord can crack and leak coolant onto its own electrical connections, creating a short circuit risk when plugged in. Focus Electric vehicles also have a recall covering the 120V home charging cord, which can overheat and pose a fire risk.
Door latches account for two more recalls: an internal latch component can break and allow a door to open while moving, and a prior repair attempt on this same defect may not have been completed correctly on some vehicles. On hatchback models with a manual transmission, the rear liftgate can unlatch with a single accidental button press, which raises the risk of injury to rear passengers.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
At a glance
What can fail
The canister purge valve may malfunction in certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles that received an incorrect repair under recall 18V735, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software at no cost to address the valve malfunction.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine block heater may crack and leak coolant, creating an electrical short circuit when plugged in.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the block heater or install a threaded plug and remove the electrical cord.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A door latch component may break, making doors hard to close or allowing doors to appear closed when they're actually unsecured.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect door latches and replace them if needed at no cost. Owners can also check latch date codes online to verify if repair was done correctly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine control module wasn't updated as planned. This can cause the canister purge valve to fail, creating too much vacuum in the fuel vapor system.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the engine control module software, check for fault codes, and replace the canister purge valve if needed. Related components will be inspected and replaced as necessary.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The canister purge valve may stop working properly, creating too much vacuum in the fuel vapor management system.
What the fix does
Dealer will reprogram the engine control module and check for fault codes. Canister purge valve, carbon canister, fuel tank, or fuel delivery module will be replaced if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 120V charging cord lacks a thermistor. If your home's outlet or wiring has high resistance, the cord can overheat and melt during charging.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace your cord with a new 120V convenience cord that includes a thermistor, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The hatchback can open with a single press of the interior release button, failing to stay latched properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module with updated software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A component inside the door latches can break, causing doors to fail to latch or appear closed when they are actually unsecured.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Engine wiring connections to the MAP sensor may not compress properly, causing incorrect signals to the engine control module.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the crimped wire splices with new ones at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel pump may fail due to improper nickel plating on internal components.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel pump at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Cracks can form between the fuel delivery module filter housing and cap, reducing fuel pressure. This may cause engine stalling, power loss, hard starting, or failure to start.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel delivery module with a new one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Engine wiring harness connections to the MAP sensor may not compress properly, causing the sensor to send incorrect signals to the engine control module.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the defective wiring splices with new ones at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software issue in the powertrain control module may cause the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module at no cost to restore normal operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
