YearToAvoid

2014 Ford Focus Electric Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#2 most-complained of 6 Focus Electric years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2014 Ford Focus Electric ranks 2nd worst out of 6 model years, with a Complaint Index of 80 and 55 complaints, mostly tied to the Electrical System and 'stop safely now' shutdowns. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for this year, including a powertrain control module software fix.

Complaints
55
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
105
110 city / 99 hwy

Top 2014 Ford Focus Electric problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System30 (55%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain21 (38%)
  3. Engine19 (35%)
  4. Fuel System11 (20%)
  5. Steering6 (11%)
  6. Brakes4 (7%)
  7. Other2 (4%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (4%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Vehicle suddenly loses power to the accelerator while braking and steering remain functional, displaying a 'stop safely now' warning.
  • Some owners report the car becomes fully inoperable after a 'safe mode shutdown' message appears, even after a full charge.
  • One owner reported a charging outlet melted after charging the vehicle, despite verifying the home wiring was not at fault.
  • Loss of power sometimes recurs multiple times in the same drive, forcing owners to pull over and restart the vehicle repeatedly.
  • One owner said the same power-loss issue occurred even though their car was built after the date range covered by an earlier Ford recall.
2014 Ford Focus Electric complaints: complaints filed per month9Sep 2013Aug 2014Apr 2015Sep 2015May 2016Dec 2016Apr 2018Jul 2019
96 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2013 to Jan 2022; peak Dec 2014 (9).

2014 Ford Focus Electric recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V592000Sep 10, 2018Other49,197 vehicles

    Equipment:electrical

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 120V Convenience charge cords that were supplied with and sold for use with 2013-2015 Ford C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi vehicles and 2012-2015 Ford Focus Electric vehicles. Cords with part numbers FM58-10B706-AA, FM58-10B706-AB, FM58-10B706-AC, FM58-10B706-AD, FM58-10B706-AE and FM58-10B706-AF were manufactured without thermistors, and during vehicle charging, increased resistance in the house's outlet or wiring can cause the cord to overheat and melt.

    Risk: An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120V convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S24.

  2. NHTSA 13V523000Oct 30, 2013Transmission & Powertrain2,456 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Focus Electric vehicles manufactured September 15, 2011, through August 23, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a powertrain control module software problem may result in a stall-like condition.

    Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the power control module, free of charge. The recall beganon November 22, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S09. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.

2014 Ford Focus Electric fuel economy and fuel cost

City
110 MPG
Highway
99 MPG
Combined
105 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Electricity
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2014 compared with other Focus Electric years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Caution60333105
2013Avoid100693105
2014Avoid80552105
2015Good40122105
2016Best2051105

All Ford Focus Electric years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Ford Focus Electric reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2014 model ranks 2nd worst among the 6 Focus Electric model years with data, with a Complaint Index of 80 and an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other years.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Ford Focus Electric?
The Electrical System accounts for 55% of complaints (30 complaints), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 38% (21 complaints) and Engine at 35% (19 complaints). The Electrical System category also includes 1 fire and 1 crash.
Does the 2014 Ford Focus Electric have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2014 Focus Electric: one for a powertrain control module software issue affecting 2012-2014 models, and one for a convenience charge cord replacement covering 2012-2015 Focus Electric vehicles.
How does the 2014 Focus Electric compare to other years?
The 2013 model is worse with a Complaint Index of 100 and 69 complaints, while the 2016 and 2017 models score much lower at 20 and 0, earning 'Best' verdicts.
What mileage do 2014 Focus Electric problems typically show up at?
The median mileage at failure across all complaints for this year is 9,500 miles, though Electrical System complaints show a lower median of 4,918 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.