2014 Ford Focus · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 565owner reports
- 61,000median miles
- $1,200median quote
- 17involved a crash
Newest report Sep 8, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
2005 of the 2,452 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 565 of those describe stalling. Only transmission shudder is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 565 reports
Stalling on other Focus years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (23 reports), the fuel pump (21 reports), the throttle body (5 reports) and the ignition coil or plugs (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
8 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2014 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
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.
The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
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).
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.
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.
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).
All 12 recalls on the 2014 Ford Focus, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Focus
Timing belt failure. Open.
Timing belt failure. Closed jul 31, 2026.
Oil pump failure. Closed feb 14, 2024, led to recall 23V-905.
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 20, 2024.
Pedestrian alert sounds. Closed aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V-063.
Engine stalling. Closed jan 16, 2004, led to recall 03V-482.
Engine compartment fires. Closed nov 13, 2002, led to recall 02V-288.
Engine stalling. Closed sep 9, 2002.
Engine compartment fires. Closed jul 31, 2002, led to recall 02V-288.
What owners paid
55 of the 565 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $298 to $2,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 27,665 and 90,000 miles, from the 433 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 9 service bulletins or notices for the 2014 Ford Focus that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2012-2014 Focus vehicles equipped with a 2.0L gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine may exhibit concerns of engine runs rough, crank no-start, loss of power, loss of engine RPM, and/or illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0122, P0222, ...
Some 2011-2016 Fiesta and 2012-2016 Focus vehicles equipped with a DPS6 transmission may exhibit intermittent concerns of loss of transmission engagement while driving, intermittent no start or a loss of power.
DPS6 - no satart and/or transmission engagement or loss of power with DTCS u0100, U00101, U1013, U3003 AND/OR P0606
DPS6 - NO START AND/OR TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT OR LOSS OF POWER WITH DTCS U0100, U0101, U1013, U3003 AND/OR P0606 ISSUE Some 2011-2016 Fiesta and 2012-2016 Focus vehicles equipped with a DPS6 transmission may exhibit intermittent concerns of loss of transmission engagement while driving, intermittent no start or a loss of power.
5 more on the 2014 Ford Focus page.
What owners wrote
“I just bought my focus from CarMax and it shudders when I pull out. It makes me feel like the car will stall.”
Filed Oct 14, 2025
“Car stalls, shakes,wonât accelerate properly, wonât go passed 35mph, engine fault light comes on, and car goes into limp home mode.”
Filed Apr 13, 2023 · 120,711 miles
“Improper shifting and loss of power while accelerating. Shuddering at take offs. Feels unsafe.”
Filed Apr 6, 2022
“2010-2016 Ford focus Se transmission Don't matter what transmission is installed they all have same issue 000000 miles to 150k transmission never shift correct or stops shifting or the gear get stuck.”
Filed Mar 2, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 17 of 565 reports involved a crash and 13 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 847 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 156 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 134 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 104 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 86 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 85 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 66 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 65 reports
- Fuel pump failure 41 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 37 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 36 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 34 reports
- Fuel smells, leaks, or the gauge reads wrong 30 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 28 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 28 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 28 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 27 reports