2014 Ford Focus Electrical Problems

245 owners have reported electrical system problems with the 2014 Ford Focus to NHTSA — 9% of all 2,604 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 60,000 miles. That ranks #7 of 20 Focus model years for electrical complaints (a typical year has 82). 2 related recalls have been issued.

245complaints
60ktypical miles
2related recalls
9crashes
1fires
9injuries

Which parts fail

  • Horn
    6
  • Wiring
    2
  • Propulsion system › Fuel cell
    1
  • Ignition › Coil
    1

Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    4224%
  • 25k–50k
    2715%
  • 50k–75k
    4425%
  • 75k–100k
    3118%
  • 100k–150k
    2212%
  • 150k+
    116%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Jan.26th 2018 I purchased a 2014 Ford Focus SE from Pacifico Ford. I was told by salesman No Recalls and No safety Issues. The car was on the lot with new inspection stickers. I was given a clean car fax. I was deceived. The car was returned the next day for driving improperly. It gave too much gas or not enough, was shuddering and sticking, steering issues, drifted to the right, and steering wheel had to be crooked to park to adjust the wheels, and car had a burn smell. Ford found transmission problem, engine leaking oil, clutch problem, cpu issues, failed road test and leaky seals. A week later, I was told all was fixed as new. April 23rd 2018 the car malfunctioned disabling me for life. While I was parking, the car accelerated forward, slammed into a barrier, roared up in the air, slammed down a slope and into a tree. …

Apr 2018 · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking abnormally and then stalled with the "Service Transmission" warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle shut off in the middle of the roadway. The contact was assisted by a Police Officer was nearby in moving the vehicle over to the shoulder. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. The contact stated that occasionally while depressing the accelerator pedal the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that occasionally while driving and exceeding 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the horn and the hazard lights failed to function as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. …

81,000 miles · Sep 2024

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and jerked before losing motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle stalled and failed to immediately restart. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle briefly failed to indicate that the power was available to the vehicle before finally displaying electronic information. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the clutch assembly. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V845000 (Power Train) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 133,318.

133,000 miles · Nov 2023

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled soon after refueling. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where they diagnosed her vehicle with a deformed fuel tank. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V515000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the Vin was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the Vin was not included in the recall. The representative informed her that a supervisor would reach out to her for further assistance however, the contact had yet to hear from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Propulsion system › Fuel cell · 95,000 miles · Dec 2020

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the low battery warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated independently and came to a stop on the side of the road. The contact stated that the battery was drained. The vehicle was not drivable and was left at that location for three days. The contact stated he was able to recharge the battery and drove to his residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

50,000 miles · Sep 2020

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that a wiring harness needed to be repaired. The dealer made the contact aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

62,000 miles · Nov 2024

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that driving at an undisclosed speed, the horn failed to operate as needed. Occasionally, the vehicle would stall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that there was corrosion on the wiring harness which caused the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that a supervisor would reach out to the contact. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

117,000 miles · Jun 2021

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the radio was making an abnormally loud cracking noise whether the vehicle was started or turned off. The contact stated that radio fuse was hot to the touch. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

86,000 miles · Sep 2023

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to turn off as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. While driving, the engine was sputtering. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

120,000 miles · Mar 2021

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the mechanic confirmed a failure with the clutch and ignition coils. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and directed the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

Ignition › Coil · 63,000 miles · Jul 2023

Related recalls

Electrical system › Wiring

NHTSA recall 15V-813 · Dec 2, 2015 · 9,017 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured January 11, 2012, to April 1, 2013, and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles manufactured May 03, 2012, to October 14, 2013.

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.

Electrical system › Wiring

NHTSA recall 14V-495 · Aug 11, 2014 · 133,227 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to April 1, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines and Focus ST vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to October 14, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines.

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.

Electrical complaints in other Focus years

’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’1821.3k49627752218311347855745432535227624564823649
Electrical complaints per model year, Ford Focus.

Frequently asked questions

How common are electrical problems on the 2014 Ford Focus?

NHTSA has 245 complaints about the electrical system of the 2014 Ford Focus, 9% of the model year's 2,604 complaints. The component named most often is horn (6 mentions).

Is there a recall for 2014 Ford Focus electrical problems?

Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-813 (wiring, Dec 2, 2015); NHTSA recall 14V-495 (wiring, Aug 11, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

At what mileage do 2014 Ford Focus electrical problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 9 crashes, 1 fire and 9 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.