FaultScore

2014 Ford Focus Electric transmission problems

21 of the 98 complaints about the 2014 Ford Focus Electric are about the transmission — 21% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 11,000 miles.

C

21

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Train 21 100.0%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Ford Focus Electric year

2012 14 19.4%
2013 37 51.4%
2014 21 29.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 40,000 miles Gainesville, FL

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO AFTER SITTING AT RED LIGHT A LIGHT CAME ON SAYING TRANSMISSION DEFAULT

NHTSA complaint #11232695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Valencia, CA

POWER TRAIN

THE VEHICLE KICKS FORWARD DURING BRAKING. IT FEELS LIKE THIS HAPPENS AFTER A FULL CHARGE THE FIRST TIME THAT THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING MECHANISM TURNS ON. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED A STRONG KICK WHEN BRAKING AND GOING OVER A BUMPS, SUCH AS THE BUMPS THAT ARE ON LANE DIVIDERS.

NHTSA complaint #11090914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,000 miles Morgan Hill, CA

POWER TRAIN

ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE ON 9/22/2017, THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION HAS ABRUPTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY LOST ALL POWER AND ROLLED TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN THIS HAPPENS A WARNING INDICATOR ON THE DASH READS "STOP SAFELY NOW"! ONCE STOPPED, THE CAR IS UNRESPONSIVE AND CANNOT BE TURNED OFF OR RESTARTED. ONLY AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF WAITING (5+ MINS), THE CAR RESPONDS AGAIN, ALLOWING A RESTART. THANKFULLY, IN ALL FOUR INSTANCES, I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING ON CITY STREETS AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY, BUT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS THE CAR LOSES ALL POWER AND ONCE STOPPED IT WILL NOT RESPOND.

NHTSA complaint #11032927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,744 miles Lamont, IL

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND SHOOK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WILLOW BOOK FORD (7301 KINGERY HIGHWAY, WILLOWBROOK, IL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,744.

NHTSA complaint #11016540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,279 miles Redwood City, CA

POWER TRAIN

OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS, THE VEHICLE DISPLAYS "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER OR SOON AFTER THE MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED AND THE CAR HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS OCCURS AT LOW CITY SPEEDS (20-30 MPH) AS WELL AS HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60-70 MPH) LEAVING THE DRIVER AND IT'S OCCUPANTS SITTING VULNERABLE TO BEING HIT BY MOVING TRAFFIC. THIS USUALLY OCCURS WHILE BRAKING TO SLOW OR STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED 15-20 TIMES OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. WE HAVE BROUGHT IN THE CAR FOR SERVICE FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM 3-4 TIMES EACH TIME BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS DUE TO VARIOUS REASONS (HARNESS, LOOSE CONNECTIONS, FAULTY CIRCUITS, ETC.). NO FIXES TO DATE HAVE PERMANENTLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. USUALLY, THE PROBLEM IS TEMPORARILY RESOLVED WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES TO STOP, IT'S PLACED IN "PARK" AND THE CAR TURNED OFF. AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO, IT CAN BE RESTARTED AS NORMAL. HOWEVER, SEEING AS THOUGH THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY AT ANY SPEED, TAKING THE WORKAROUND STEPS DESCRIBED IS UNACCEPTABLE ON THE HIGHWAY OR AT INTERSECTIONS WHERE CAR OCCUPANTS CAN BE STRUCK AT ANY MOMENT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC GIVEN THE FREQUENCY OF THE ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10949932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,500 miles Tempe, AZ

POWER TRAIN

WHILE BRAKING, THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE APPEARS AND ONCE STOPPED, THE CAR LOSES ALL MOTIVE POWER. OCCURRED FIRST IN NOV 2015 AND DEALER REPLACED WIRING HARNESS. PROBLEM RECURRED IN OCT. 2016 AND DEALER PERFORMED RECALL TSB. PROBLEM RECURRED A 3RD TIME IN NOV 2016 AND DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE FAILURE WHILE IN FOR SERVICE. "REPAIR" IMPLEMENTED DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AS THE CAR HAD 4TH INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING OFF THE DEALER LOT. DEALER CURRENTLY HAS THE CAR AND IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH FORD.

NHTSA complaint #10934479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Taylof, MI

POWER TRAIN

I DID THE UPDATE TO THE TCM BUT DID NOT FIX NOTHING MY TRANS STILL MESSES UP AND AROUND SAME TIME IT STARTED STEERING IS GETTING STUCK MAY BE STEARING PUMP FORD WILL NOT HELP AT ALL IV ONLY OWNED CAR FOR A YEAR SOON AS I GOT TO 60000 MILES IT STARED HESITATE JERKING I DID UPDATE LIKE IT SAID 2 DO IT WORKED FOR LIKE A HOUR THEN SAME PROBLEMS BUT IT GOT WORSE IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND FORD WANTS ALOT OF MONEY JUST TO CHECK IT OUT AGAIN THEN I CAN BARRELY CONTROLE MY CAR WITH THE STEARING WHEEL GETTING STUCK AND NO 1 CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG

NHTSA complaint #10894268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,000 miles SAN Francisco, CA

POWER TRAIN

I HAD YET ANOTHER "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING IN WHICH THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER TO THE DRIVETRAIN WHILE IN MOTION. I HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN IN THE CAR FOR THE RECALL IN JANUARY AND WAS TOLD THAT WOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS POPPED UP AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN TO HAVE A CAR SUDDENLY LOSE ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. FORD HAS CLEARLY NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM YET.

NHTSA complaint #10888834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,189 miles SAN Francisco, CA

POWER TRAIN

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN REVERSE WHEN I RECEIVED A "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING FROM THE CAR. THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN POWER TO THE DRIVETRAIN AND I WAS STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND UNABLE TO MOVE. LUCKILY THIS WAS ON A QUIET STREET BUT IF THIS HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.

NHTSA complaint #10819108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,500 miles SAN Jose, CA

POWER TRAIN

19K MILES AND 2 YEARS INTO HAVING THIS CAR -- "STOP SAFELY NOW" SHOWS UP WITH A RED TRIANGLE ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENED TO ME ON FREEWAY WITH KIDS ON BOARD AND WAS VERY SCARY. FORD WOULD NOT HELP. MY CAR IS NOT ON RECALL LIST THOUGH THIS IS EXACT SAME ISSUE REPORTED ON NHTSA WEBSITE ABOUT THIS CAR. DEALER IS SUPER BUSY AND I DON'T EXPECT MY CAR TO BE LOOKED AT FOR DAYS. ITS REALLY FRUSTRATING TO BE HELD HOSTAGE ON THIS, BEING STUCK WITH NO CAR TO COMMUTE TO MY WORK WITHOUT ABSOLUTELY ANY FAULT OF MINE.

NHTSA complaint #10781765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Long Beach, CA

POWER TRAIN

STOP SAFELY NOW ERROR MESSAGE APPEARS WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR, OFTEN. THE ERROR DISABLES THE CAR. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL WORK IMMEDIATELY AFTER RESTARTING AND SOMETIMES I JUST HAVE TO TRY AGAIN LATER IN THE DAY AFTER FINDING ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE TIME BEING. MOST OFTEN OCCURS WHEN CONDITIONS OR DAMP LIKE EARLY MORNING OR FOLLOWING RAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10746231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,000 miles Livermore, CA

POWER TRAIN

"STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING AND MOTOR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON CITY ROADS. THE CAR WAS PUSHED TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR NEARLY 2 MONTHS DUE TO A BACKORDER OF A HIGH VOLTAGE POWER CABLE. FORD HAS BEEN UNHELPFUL AND IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PART BACKORDER. THEY ARE CLAIMING THE BACKORDER IS THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THEIR OWN.

NHTSA complaint #10733156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pleasanton, CA

POWER TRAIN

THE CAR STALLED WITH THE BIG TRIANGLE "STOP TO SAFETY" FLASHING. . IT STARTED STALLING AT EVERY STOP SIGNS AND SIGNALS. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THE KIDS WERE IN THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO PULL TO SAFETY. THIS RESULTED IN SEVERAL TRAFFIC BACK UPS. THE INCIDENT REPEATED EVERY DAY AND FINALLY THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON JUNE 16. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE SAME INCIDENT IS TAKING PLACE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS IN DEC, 2014. AS OF THIS DATE OF COMPLAINT, THE DEALER HAS NOT RETURNED THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10732797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,800 miles SAN Jose, CA

POWER TRAIN

THE VEHICLE HAS REPORTED "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND DOESN'T START. LUCKILY THE CAR IS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME OF HAPPENING WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC DETAILS OR WARNING. LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AND SHUT THE POWER TO THE WHEELS COMPLETELY.

NHTSA complaint #10731281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,250 miles Seattle, WA

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR LOCAL ROAD, THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST DRIVING POWER (ACCESSORIES STILL WORKED) AND A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON SAYING "STOP SAFELY NOW!". MY WIFE WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL OVER AND WE WERE UNABLE TO GET THE CAR MOVING AGAIN, EVENTUALLY TOWING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN WE PICKED THE CAR UP THEY STATED THAT A CONNECTION TO THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY CAME LOOSE AND THEY'VE FIXED IT. YESTERDAY, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR, THE SAME WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WE ONCE AGAIN HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER CALLED ME THIS MORNING SAYING THE CAR "WORKS FINE" WHICH MAKES ME MORE CONCERNED SINCE CLEARLY THIS ISSUE IS NOW TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10713386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,000 miles Portland, OR

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE SHOWED A "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING AND THEN LOST ALL POWER. HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF LOSS OF POWER. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ALSO STOPPED FUNCTIONING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #10676448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,083 miles Fremont, CA

POWER TRAIN

I LEASED 2014 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC IN EARLY OCTOBER 2014, NOW IT HAS 1082 MILES ON ODOMETER. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER ABOUT MONTH AFTER OWNING THE CAR, MY DAUGHTER REVERSED THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE WAY INTO THE ROAD. I WAS WITH HER ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. ON CHANGING THE GEAR TO "D" IT LOST POWER. I ALSO VERIFIED TO MAKE SURE CAR WAS IN DRIVE MODE (GREEN ARROW WAS ON). NO RESPONSE ON PRESSING ACCELERATOR. NO OTHER MESSAGES ON THE DASH BOARD. TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON AGAIN AFTER A FEW SECONDS, CAR WORKED FINE.

NHTSA complaint #10658760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,918 miles Fresno, CA

POWER TRAIN

FORD'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13S09 ONLY ADDRESSED CERTAIN MODELS PRODUCED THRU LATE 2013, HOWEVER MY CAR WAS PRODUCED IN 3/2014 AND DISPLAYED THE SAME ISSUE. I'VE EXPERIENCED TWO OCCASIONS WHERE THE CAR LOST POWER AND DISPLAYED THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING MESSAGE ON CLUSTER. THE FIRST HAPPENED ON 11/7/14 WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER WHO CLEARED CODE AND STATED IT'S IS FINE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON 11/13/14 WHILE DRIVING UP ON MY DRIVEWAY. BOTH TIMES, THE CAR WORKED AGAIN AFTER TURNING IT OFF AND WAITING ABOUT 5 MINS.

NHTSA complaint #10654897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,600 miles SAN Jose, CA

POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE LOST POWER SUDDENLY WITH A WARNING "STOP SAFELY NOW". SINCE THE SPEED WAS LOW AND THERE WASN'T ANYBODY BEHIND ME, I WAS ABLE TO MARGINALLY PULL OVER FROM THE ROAD. TRIED TO POWER CYCLE SEVERAL TIMES AND THE ERROR MESSAGE WENT AWAY. STARTED TO ROLL AND THE MESSAGE POPPED BACK AGAIN AND REGENERATIVE BRAKING STOPPED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY. TRIED 3 TIMES AND EVERY TIME I STARTED TO MOVE THE ERROR MESSAGE WILL KICK IN AND STALL. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALER AND THEY ARE TAKING A LOOK AT IT. MY WIFE WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE BECAUSE SHE FEARS IF THIS HAPPENS ON A FREEWAY CARPOOL LANE TRAVELING AT 65MPH THERE IS GOING TO BE A PILEUP.

NHTSA complaint #10643392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,600 miles SAN Diego, CA

POWER TRAIN

3 MILES AFTER LEAVING THE PARKING LOT WITH MY MOM AND 2 KIDS IN THE CAR THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING FLASHED AND THE CAR LOST POWER. I FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINT 10512459. I HAD TO PULL OVER IN THE BIKE LANE, TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT UNTIL POWER WAR RESTORED. SAME THING HAPPENED NEXT DAY RIGHT AFTER LEAVING HOME. NOW I AM AFRAID TO GO OUT ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON NARROW COUNTRY ROADS WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10610951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46 miles Atlanta, GA

POWER TRAIN

I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT IN A TRAFFIC JAM. WORRIED THAT I WOULD RUN OUT ELECTRICITY, I SHUT OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TO PROCEED, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE, AND A WARNING OF "SAFELY STOP NOW" ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. I TRIED "RESTARTING" THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAR WOULD SEEM TO "START," BUT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD -- AS IF THE GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, AND WITH A POLICEMAN LEANING INTO THE WINDOW BARKING SUGGESTIONS, THE CAR STARTED AND PROCEEDED. PERHAPS, WHEN I STOPPED TRYING TO START THE CAR, THE CAR WHOLLY POWERED-OFF. ESSENTIALLY "POWER CYCLING" THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10566093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2014 Ford Focus Electric problems

← Full 2014 Ford Focus Electric report