Car shudders on acceleration from a stop and jerks and lunges upon acceleration from a slowdown. Transmission slips gears and also hits a dead spot causing a lack of acceleration around gear 2-3. RPM's rev up with no acceleration and then drops quickly with a hesitation before a reduction of speed. Car can lunge when pressing accelerator when you don't want it to go that hard and the opposite…
2014 Ford Focus engine problems
severe 145 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
145
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
2crashes
4fires
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 145 engine complaints filed for the 2014 Ford Focus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 145 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The car shudders upon acceleration from a stop; changing gears more like a manual transmission than the automatic transmission that it is. Also, the car began shaking and shuddering during right hand turns. So far, this is an intermittent problem. The acceleration from slow speeds and from a stop is dangerously slow and nearly unresponsive at times. *js
On my way home, the car began to make a clickety clackety noise. It sounded like a belt was out of alignment. I pulled into the driveway and popped the hood. I watched the bottom gear wheel break off the engine. The engine immediately stopped. Had I been on the road, it could have been tragic. In the attached photo, you can see the metal ripped clean off at all three locations.
Had engine trouble with your 2014 Ford Focus?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2014 Ford Focus?
It's a meaningful issue. 145 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 100 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 14,000 and 84,000 miles, with the median around 60,777. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,000; a quarter make it past 84,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Ford/Focus.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.