Is the 2014 Ford Focus a bad year?
2,604 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 1,576, 40× a quiet Focus year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2014 Ford Focus were filed between 15k and 82k miles. You're at 44,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2014 Focus owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 44,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 1,576 (61%) | 15k–82k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 353 (14%) | 40k–96k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 164 (6%) | 8k–69k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locksSTANDS OUT | 47 (2%) | 38k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 446 (17%) | 16k–89k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 245 (9%) | 30k–90k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 221 (8%) | 31k–81k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Body structure | 63 (2%) | 18k–64k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 37 (1%) | 25k–81k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 32 (1%) | 9k–63k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Visibility and wipers | 32 (1%) | 22k–61k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 21 (1%) | 17k–57k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Suspension | 19 (1%) | 10k–76k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Seat belts | 14 (1%) | 25k–71k miles · around this mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 44,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 2,604 complaints: 68 mention a crash · 9 mention a fire · 38 report an injury · 125 say the car was towed.
57 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Extreme stalling problems driving on freeway and going on inclines. Car has heavy jerking at stop and go speeds.
The transmission on this vehicle is very poor. It lags, shudders violently, knocks, etc. It even sometimes jolts forward or hesitates.
My 2014 Ford focus is experiencing shuddering issues when shifting between first and second typically.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 44,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2014 Ford Focus: 12
The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving. An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The affected vehicles did not have the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) updated as intended. Therefore, the Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system. 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.
The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system. 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.
The hatchback of the affected vehicles may be unlatched with a single press of the interior latch release button. 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.
A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor may provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM). The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing. If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack between the filter body and the filter cap, possibly resulting in low fuel pressure. A reduction in fuel pressure may result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles may have steering gears that were incorrectly assembled. The incorrectly manufactured steering gears may cause impaired steering, including the loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor may provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM). The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 138
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2014 Ford Focus. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Certain 2011 through 2015 Model Year Fiesta and 2012 through 2016 Model Year Focus Vehicles Equipped with a DPS6 Automatic Transmission Transmission Control…
Ford is extending the warranty coverage on the DPS6 automatic transmission TCM to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date…
2015-2018 Focus service parts transmissions part # F1FP-7000-VB / F1FZ-7000-P built on 1-Aug-2020 and through 01-Mar-2021 may have an incorrect input speed…
Certain 2011 through 2014 Model Year Fiesta and Focus Vehicles Equipped with a DPS6 Automatic Transmission…
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Loss of Motive Power
Door Latch Failures
Door Latch Failure
Neighbouring years
2013 Focus: 2,111 complaints, consider selling · 2015 Focus: 1,022 complaints, consider selling.
Every Ford Focus year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · All Focus years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2014 Ford Focus a bad year?
2,604 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 1,576, 40× a quiet Focus year. At 44,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2014 Ford Focus were filed between 15k and 82k miles. You're at 44,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Ford Focus?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (1,576), fuel system (353), speed control (164), latches and locks (47), engine (446). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 15k–82k miles.
How many recalls does the 2014 Ford Focus have?
12 recall campaigns list this model year: Fuel system (NHTSA 26V-369), Equipment (NHTSA 26V-011), Latches and locks (NHTSA 20V-331), Fuel system (NHTSA 19V-515) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.