Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Took my car to the Ford dealership, for the 5times . To be looked at again for all the problems I am having and they stated they found the problem, like every time, with the shuddering and hesitation I was experiencing. They have reprogrammed, and replaced the clutch and computer and asked that I drive it again for a bit and see if the problem returns. The problems still remains the same, with no help from dealership, they just keep making excuses, refusing to face the problem, they told me after my 5th trip and waist of time to think about a new car, my car is barely even 11 months old. The last time it was service they didn't even put back in the oil plug, for an oil change I didn't even receive, my car is worst everyday, I have bought 4 vehicles mfri! …
June 1, 2017: I took my 2014 Ford Focus st, with ~10,500K miles only 4 months out of warranty, to a dealership for an oil change and warranty recalls. June 2, 2017: the dealership informed me that while reprogramming the BCM, body control module, the computer was wiped and the car would not start. The dealership said they attempted to reprogram it again but did not work but that they had opened a ticket with Ford's technical support. The dealership provided a loaner car to me for the weekend. June 6, 2017: the dealership called to tell me they still had not received a fix from Ford and that Ford knew of the issue and had replied that they would provide an update within 7 business days. I was told to keep the loaner car until the work was complete. I called Ford's service line to attempt to escalate the issue. …
Takata recall amongst the known recalls, is a lot of unsaid issues with this vehicle. It started with the TCM. When I had the dealer fix it, the codes were showing OK but the vehicle continued to display the same issues when trying to accelerate. For some reason when driving, it seems as if I'm driving a manual vehicle instead of a automatic. The clutch is giving me problems. It tend to get stuck in the hill assist mode. A few weeks ago my car just died. It seemed to be the battery. When replaced it was OK for a day or so. I had it checked to see if my alternator was bad. It both places stayed it was fine. Periodically it would stop. It didn't seem like there where any determining factors on when (like cold or hot weather). So I drove it less. One day when driving, going 46 MPH, it just shut down. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle was shaking violently. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact slowed down but was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to capital Ford services dealer (2805 e millbrook rd, raleigh, nc 27604, [phone]), where diagnostic testing determined that the failure was the clutch seal was leaking and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact also stated that while driving, the fuel gauge failed to provide the accurate reading causing the contact to run out of fuel. The contact also stated that when the vehicle was idling it would stall. In addition, the vehicle would accelerate and decelerate independently. …
I have had this 2014 Ford Focus since early 2015. I have had problems out of this car since I have had it, with the dealership not ever finding out what was wrong. It started with power train issues which they had issued a recall for and I had brought to them and the dealership still did not fix. The last two weeks the car has begun having steering issues. While I was driving it just locked up and I had to coast to a stop and restart it. It drove fine after it sat for a minute and I restarted it, then three days later would not turn again after I started the vehicle while parked in my driveway and was getting ready to drop my children off at school and then head to work myself. I once again had to turn the vehicle of and let it sit for a minute and had to restart it. It ran okay for another three days. …
My car has a mind of its own. I have complained to Ford many times regarding the car jumping since the day I bought it. I have been told " oh, its the way it was made." my car completely stopped on me before while I was driving with my kids in it. I took my car back to the dealer right then and they reprogram it and told me it was fine. I took my car back for the battery going to completely dead with a brand new car. Today as I'm picking up my kids my check engine light came on. I took my kids home and called my dad and was advised to get a diagnosis test ran on my car. To my surprise my car is getting a error code p090c? This is an electric problem that it seems that million of drivers have gotten that involves the clutch actuator low circuit. Why did I not receive a recall for this? …
Since since bought this car brand-new in 2014 there has been a grinding stuttering shaking and jerking of the transmission when in motion. This happens whether the car is on the highway or at a low rate of speed but mostly when driving forward from park. Ford attempted to upgrade the software to the transmission several times which has never worked. This is a known issue to Ford and they are claiming that it is a characteristic of the transmission and it is normal activity. The transmission shutters and jerks so much that the car will not shift and will not move forward appropriately and I have come close to getting rear-ended several times because the transmission cannot catch up with the acceleration. I am asking Ford for assistance in trading the car in since the value in the car depreciated so much because of all of the transmission issues and they are refusing to help me.
I took my car in for a recall a few months ago also mentioning that it has been saying it's overheating and they gave my car back saying nothing is wrong and now I've been driving with my newborn daughter and all of the sudden my car wouldn't go past 65 & then after it started working again my battery goes out I thought it was because the gas light had been on and so I called aaa and had someone come down they put in gas and got it started but to my dismay I wasn't even able to make it home seeing as how my car could barely accelerate and again it shut off at first I was driving on the freeway and when I slowed down to stop at a light my battery symbol went on and then the car shut off & after I got it working again it was working and then it slowed and would let me press the brakes anymore and since the. It won't start
Traction control is a hazard, when you need power to the wheels and the traction control engages you have zero power. While going up a slight incline with snow on the surface the wheels spun briefly and engaged the traction control, lost all power to the front wheels and had to back down. Talking with the dealer they said it is normal, not safe, but normal. Now, you can turn the tc off but requires multiple steps with programming switch in the steering wheel, plus, every time you turn vehicle off it resets tc to on. There needs to an easy access switch to turn tc off while driving or at the very least, Ford needs to reprogram the vehicles so when you turn tc off, it stays off until you turn back on. Loosing power in traffic on a hill could be very dangerous and at the best causes you to back down.
I was driving and was slowing down to take a sharp curve when the idle speed sped up the suddenly dropped and then the engine died. I restarted the car but the check engine light came on. It did the same thing as I was driving behind other traffic which was going slow. I drove to my mechanic he test drove the car and said the throttle body was going bad. He stated he had had several of these cars with the same problem. My car only had 48,000 miles on it. I never know when it will just stop if I have to slow down or even stop for a red light or other traffic. I live in a rural area and the roads are narrow with few places to pull off. I know that there have been recalls for this problem on some Ford Focus cars and mine should be included.
Traction Control complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2014 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2014 Ford Focus, 1% of the model year's 2,604 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2014 Ford Focus traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2014 Ford Focus, though it has 12 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2014 Ford Focus traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 48,000 miles, and 38% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to stability & traction control 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.