VehicleVerdict

2014 Ford Focus problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 3,614 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 3.2 times the median Focus year — the 2014 model ranks #3 of 20 Focus years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include 2 deaths and 91 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

The trouble concentrates in one system: transmission issues account for 44% of all reports (1,578 of 3,614), far ahead of engine at 446. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

3,614

NHTSA complaints

12

Recalls

3

Investigations

140

Crash-involved

17

Fires reported

91

Injuries

2

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2014 compare to other Focus years?

See all Focus years to avoid →

What are the most common 2014 Ford Focus problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission1,57844%
Engine44612%
Fuel System35010%
Electrical System2868%
Other2828%
Steering2196%
Speed Control1645%
Body & Structure622%
Latches & Locks481%
Airbags321%
Brakes321%
Visibility & Wipers321%
Tires & Wheels281%
Suspension191%
Seat Belts140%
Lighting100%
Driver Assistance100%
Seats20%

Does the 2014 Ford Focus have recalls?

12 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V369000Fuel SystemJune 9, 2026 · 255,404 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.

26V011000Electrical SystemJanuary 15, 2026 · 116,672 units

Defect

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 plugged in.

Consequence

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

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 block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.

20V331000Latches & LocksJune 8, 2020 · 2,147,323 units

Defect

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 repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

Consequence

A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

Remedy

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 have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.

19V515000Fuel SystemJuly 5, 2019 · 57,488 units

Defect

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 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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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 inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began July 29, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S22.

18V735000Fuel SystemOctober 22, 2018 · 1,282,596 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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 inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.

16V698000Latches & LocksSeptember 28, 2016 · 64,038 units

Defect

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 single press of the interior latch release button. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C13.

16V643000Latches & LocksSeptember 6, 2016 · 2,046,297 units

Defect

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 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.

Consequence

A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

Remedy

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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.

15V813000Electrical SystemDecember 2, 2015 · 9,017 units

Defect

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 harness splices to the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor may provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM).

Consequence

The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

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. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17-S1.

15V005000Fuel SystemJanuary 9, 2015 · 54,543 units

Defect

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 April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 45,505 vehicles, including certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured November 11, 2013, to August 29, 2014, 2014-2015 Ford Fiesta vehicles manufactured April 10, 2014, to June 17, 2014 and 2014 Ford Edge vehicles manufactured April 30, 2014, to May 21, 2014. Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.

Consequence

If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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 for this recall is 14S30.

14V525000Fuel SystemSeptember 2, 2014 · 301 units

Defect

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 the affected vehicles, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack between the filter body and the filter cap, possibly resulting in low fuel pressure.

Consequence

A reduction in fuel pressure may result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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 recall is 14S20.

14V514000SteeringAugust 22, 2014 · 508 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

The incorrectly manufactured steering gears may cause impaired steering, including the loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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 number for this recall is 14S18.

14V495000Electrical SystemAugust 11, 2014 · 133,227 units

Defect

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. 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).

Consequence

The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

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. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

VACUUM SEAL ON GAS TANK IS FAULTY AND GETS AIR BUBBLES AND THE CAR CUTS OFF AT RANDOM. IT CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION YESTERDAY AND I ALMOST GOT HIT. I'VE REPORTED THIS ISSUE MULTIPLE TIMES. SEVERAL OTHER ONES WERE RECALLED BUT NOT MY VIN NUMBER BUT IT'S THE EXACT SAME ISSUE.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · May 15, 2018 · crash

2014 FORD FOCUS SE. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. HEARD A LOUD SOUND. CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE OIL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. WITHIN SECONDS SMOKE AND FLAMES CAME FROM ENGINE. FRONT END WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN MINUTES. CAR HAD BEEN TO THREE SHOPS PRIOR AND NOTHING WAS EVER SAID ABOUT THERE BEING A…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · May 6, 2019 · fire

VACUUM SEAL ON GAS TANK IS FAULTY AND GETS AIR BUBBLES AND THE CAR CUTS OFF AT RANDOM. IT CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION YESTERDAY AND I ALMOST GOT HIT. I'VE REPORTED THIS ISSUE MULTIPLE TIMES. SEVERAL OTHER ONES WERE RECALLED BUT NOT MY VIN NUMBER BUT IT'S THE EXACT SAME ISSUE.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · May 15, 2018 · crash

MY VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, GOING INTO REVERSE WHILE DRIVING, SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, ETC. RECENTLY, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT AND REVERTED TO MANUAL STEERING. TODAY, WHILE DRIVING IT FOR A WHILE, I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND PULLED OVER. UNDER THE HOOD, THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · April 5, 2016 · fire

AUGUST 28, 2015. WHILE HEADING WESTBOUND ON A TRAVELED HIGHWAY; A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE WESTBOUND CAR AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEREIN, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY OR THE SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK. VEHICLE WAS DOING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · August 28, 2015 · crash

2014 Ford Focus — common questions

Is the 2014 Ford Focus reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 3,614 complaints put the 2014 model at #3 of 20 Focus years. It is one of the Focus years to avoid.

What are the most common 2014 Focus problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (1,578 complaints), engine (446 complaints), fuel system (350 complaints).

Does the 2014 Ford Focus have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns affecting the 2014 Ford Focus. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2014 Ford Focus under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 3 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Ford Focus years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Focus years to avoid are 2000, 2012, 2014, 2013, 2001, 2016, 2015, 2017, 2018. The cleanest record among Focus years belongs to 1999.

How safe is the 2014 Ford Focus?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2014 Ford Focus earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.