2014 Ford Focus Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
88/100
#2 most-complained of 9 Focus years
The 2014 Ford Focus ranks 2nd worst of 9 model years with a Complaint Index of 88, 2,601 complaints, and 12 recalls. Transmission & Powertrain problems dominate at 61% of complaints, with median failure around 41,000 miles, making this year an Avoid pick relative to other Focus years.
- Complaints
- 2,601
- Recalls
- 12
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 68 / 9
- Injuries / deaths
- 46 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 30
- 26 city / 36 hwy
Top 2014 Ford Focus problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain1,576 (61%)
- Engine560 (22%)
- Fuel System353 (14%)
- Other282 (11%)
- Electrical System252 (10%)
- Steering221 (8%)
- Structure & Body104 (4%)
- Brakes70 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires47 (2%)
- Airbags32 (1%)
What owners report
- Vehicles unexpectedly stall or lurch forward without warning, sometimes while braking or slowing to a stop, leading to collisions.
- Engine revs or surges on its own during parking maneuvers, causing the car to bolt forward into fences or other objects.
- Transmission shudders and grinds when shifting between gears, especially into reverse, and jumps when accelerating.
- Airbags fail to deploy in low-to-moderate speed crashes, including rear-end and head-on collisions.
- Power steering suddenly cuts out during normal driving, including while backing out of a driveway or navigating a curve.
- Brakes fail to stop the vehicle when the gear selector engages drive unexpectedly, resulting in low-speed impacts.
2014 Ford Focus recalls
12 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V369000Jun 9, 2026Fuel System257,868 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:evaporative emissions:canister
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.
Risk: 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 were mailed July 29, 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.
- NHTSA 26V011000Jan 15, 2026Other116,672 vehicles
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 20V331000Jun 8, 2020Structure & Body2,147,323 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
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.
Risk: 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.
2014 Ford Focus fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 36 MPG
- Combined
- 30 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,150
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- 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 years
Frequently asked questions
- Should I avoid the 2014 Ford Focus?
- Compared to other Focus model years, the 2014 ranks 2nd worst out of 9 years with a Complaint Index of 88 and carries an Avoid verdict. It has 2,601 NHTSA complaints and 12 recalls, more than most other Focus years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2014 Ford Focus?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 61% of complaints (1,576 of 2,601), with a median failure mileage around 41,000 miles.
- Does the 2014 Ford Focus have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2014 Focus, including fuel system canister purge valve issues, door latch problems, and a body control module reprogram, though none are marked do-not-drive for this year's fuel system recalls listed here.
- How does the 2014 Focus compare to other years?
- The 2014 Focus (Complaint Index 88) is worse than 2015 (50), 2016 (63), 2017 (25), and 2018 (38), but slightly better than 2012 (100). The 2010 and 2011 model years are the best, with Complaint Indexes of 13 and 0.