2014 Ford Focus Problems, Recalls & Reliability

3,626 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2014 Ford Focus, alongside 12 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 59/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 46,250 miles.

Avoid this year if you can. The 2014 Ford Focus sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2004–2011, 2017–2018.

3,626Complaints
59/100Trouble index
12Recalls
51,000Typical trouble mileage

Avoid

Where 2014 sits among all Focus years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Transmission & drivetrain 1,585 complaints (44%) · typically ~46,250 miles
“Loss power and does not drive e. Transmission will now go. Acts lick it is out of gear”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Focus
Engine 449 complaints (12%) · typically ~58,858 miles
“The vehicle a 2014 ford focus s model was moving at a high rate of speed going down the highway when it stalled out due to the wiring splices going bad causing the vehicle to stall out and stop without warning”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Focus
Fuel system 350 complaints (10%) · typically ~69,700 miles
“Car stalls, shakes,won’t accelerate properly, won’t go passed 35mph, engine fault light comes on, and car goes into limp home mode.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Focus
Other 322 complaints (9%) · typically ~50,000 miles
“Have a 2014 ford focus has many recall now transmission went out and it's in shop.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Focus
Electrical 257 complaints (7%) · typically ~61,578 miles
“Problems with dual clutch automatic transmission Ford Focus Class action lawsuit of 2013.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Focus
Steering 220 complaints (6%) · typically ~52,818 miles
“Power assist failure when maneuvering in parking lot. Had to turn off and restart. This is reoccurring.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Focus

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 2,527 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 51,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 19,355 and 85,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (12)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 26V369000 2026

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.

Fix: 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.…

EQUIPMENT 26V011000 2026

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is…

Fix: 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…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 20V331000 2020

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and…

Fix: 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…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 19V515000 2019

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 and 2017 Focus vehicles equipped with 2.0L GDI gasoline engines and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles equipped with 2.0L GTDI engines, previously recalled under 18V-735. The affected vehicles did not have the…

Fix: 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…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 18V735000 2018

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.

Fix: 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…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 16V698000 2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Ford Focus hatchback vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 26, 2016 and equipped with a manual transmission. The hatchback of the affected vehicles may be unlatched with a…

Fix: 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…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 16V643000 2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing…

Fix: 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…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15V813000 2015

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. Insufficient compression in the engine wiring…

Fix: 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…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 15V005000 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on January 8, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 15, 2014, to May 8, 2014, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured April 21, 2014, to May 15, 2014. On…

Fix: 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…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 14V525000 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured May 1, 2014, to May 24, 2014, 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured on June 6, 2014, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured June 4, 2014, to July 7, 2014. In…

Fix: 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…

STEERING 14V514000 2014 Do not drive

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Focus and C-Max vehicles manufactured August 8, 2014, to August 15, 2014. The affected vehicles may have steering gears that were incorrectly assembled.

Fix: 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…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14V495000 2014

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…

Fix: 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…

Federal defect investigations

Loss of Motive Power RQ23006 opened 2023, closed 2024
Door Latch Failures RQ19005 opened 2019, closed 2022

Led to recall campaign 20V177000.

Door Latch Failure PE16001 opened 2016, closed 2016

Led to recall campaign 16V643000.

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2013peak 782 in 20192026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2014 Ford Focus reliable?

The 2014 Ford Focus drew 3,626 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 59/100, scored against the model's worst year (2000).

What are the most common 2014 Ford Focus problems?

The top reported problems for the 2014 Ford Focus are transmission & drivetrain (1,585 complaints), engine (449), and fuel system (350).

At what mileage do 2014 Ford Focus problems show up?

Owners most often report 2014 Ford Focus problems around 51,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 19,355 and 85,000 miles.

Does the 2014 Ford Focus have recalls?

12 recall campaigns apply to the 2014 Ford Focus. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.

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Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.