While Ford may have retired the popular Focus model after the 2018 model year, plenty of these cars are still on the road. This compact car, which was offered in both classic sedan and sporty hatchback styles, was known for its excellent fuel economy and practical features. Part of the Focus third generation, the 2014 Ford Focus seats up to five passengers and comes with such standard features as keyless entry and power accessories.
If you drive a 2014 Ford Focus (whether you bought it new or used), you also enjoy standard safety features that include antilock brakes, stability control, and front/side-curtain airbags. Even though the 2014 Focus has received a crash-test rating of four out of five stars, this model still has some open recalls. From recalls affecting door latches to problems with fuel pumps and engine wiring, it’s a good idea to check your car’s specific vehicle identification number (VIN) and see if there are any recalls you need to address.
2014 Ford Focus Recalls
A number of recalls have been issued for the 2014 Focus throughout the years. Please note that some of these recalls are specific to certain trims, body styles, or engine configurations.
Door Latch
One recall issued on June 8, 2020, is estimated to affect more than two million Ford models, including the 2014 Focus. This recall, which also affects such models as the Fusion and Mustang, found that a repair on a previous door latch recall may not have been executed properly. As a result, a component found inside the car’s door latches could break and then make the door difficult to latch. In some cases, drivers may mistakenly believe that the door is latched when it is not, increasing the risk of accident or injury if the door opens while the vehicle is in motion.
Ford’s proposed remedy for this issue is to have dealers inspect the latch codes on each potentially affected vehicle to determine whether the initial repair was done properly. If not, the side door latches will be replaced completely. Owners who don’t want to take their Focus into the repair shop also have the option to inspect their own door latches and enter a code onto a website, which then determines whether the latches are correct or need to be replaced.
Canister Purge Valve
On July 5, 2019, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a safety recall on more than 57,000 Focus models, including the 2014 Focus ST trim equipped with the optional 2.0L GTDI engine.
With this recall, it was found that affected vehicles did not receive an update on the powertrain control module as was intended; as a result, the engine’s Canister Purge Valve can malfunction and cause excessive vacuum inside the vehicle’s fuel vapor management system. This could lead to an engine stall while driving and prevent the vehicle from being restarted, which increases the risk of a crash.
To address this issue, the powertrain control module on affected models needs to be reprogramed by a dealership technician. Upon replacement, technicians will also check for fault codes and replace the vehicle’s Canister Purge Valve if needed. Upon replacing this valve, the fuel tank, carbon canister, and fuel delivery module will also be replaced to ensure a proper repair.
Overheating Charge Cord
This recall, issued on September 10, 2018, affects nearly 50,000 Ford vehicles (including the 2014 Focus Electric). With this recall, it was discovered that some vehicles were equipped with convenience charging cords that were made without thermistors.
While charging, this lack of thermistor can result in excessive heat and can even cause the cord to melt — particularly in instances where the charging cord is plugged into a wall outlet without a dedicated circuit or if the cord is damaged. An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.
On affected vehicles, Ford is addressing this recall by replacing all existing convenience charging cords with new 120V cords that are equipped with the necessary thermistor. These new cords will also automatically stop charging if the plug or outlet itself gets too hot.
Accidental Hatchback Unlatching
Issued on September 28, 2016, this recall may affect more than 64,000 Ford Focus hatchback models, including the 2014 Focus hatchback. With this recall, it was discovered that the rear hatch on affected models can be unlocked and unlatched by pressing the interior latch release when the car is traveling less than four miles per hour. This contradicts current federal vehicle safety standards, which require that two separate actions be taken to unlock and open an internal hatch. Vehicles affected by this recall may pose a safety risk, as a driver may accidentally unlatch the hatchback while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to unsecured rear passengers.
Ford’s proposed fix for this issue is to reprogram the body control modules for all affected vehicles, which prevents the hatch from being opened with the push of a button.
Engine Wiring Splice
A recall on the 2014 Ford Focus electrical system was issued on December 2, 2015, and may affect more than 9,000 vehicles. This recall found that on some Focus ST trims, improper compression inside the engine wiring harness splices could result in incorrect pressure information being sent to the powertrain control module. These improper signals could result in an engine stall, which increases the risk of a crash.
Vehicles affected by this recall will have their current engine wiring splices replaced with new splices to resolve the issue.
Fuel Pump Plating
In another recall, which was launched in January 2015 and may affect more than 54,000 vehicles, it was discovered that incorrect nickel plating within the car’s fuel pump may result in total fuel pump failure. If the fuel pump fails while the vehicle is in motion, this can result in a stall that increases the risk of a crash.
All affected vehicles may be remedied with a free fuel pump replacement at a Ford service center.
Fuel Delivery Module
On September 2, 2014, NHTSA issued a safety recall on 301 Ford Focus, Ford Escape, and Lincoln MKC models that may have been manufactured with a defective fuel delivery module. On affected models, it was found that the fuel delivery model could crack between the filter body and filter cap, causing low fuel pressure that may result in a vehicle stall and increase the risk of a crash.
On all recalled vehicles, owners can have their fuel delivery modules replaced to resolve the issue.
Missing Ball Bearings
Issued on August 22, 2014, this recall affects up to 508 2014 Ford Focus and C-Max vehicles. With this recall, it was discovered that affected models have steering gears that were assembled with missing ball bearings. This can impair steering ability, resulting in a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a serious crash.
Ford’s solution for this recall is to replace all affected vehicles’ steering gears to ensure that all required ball bearings are in the proper place.
Loss of Power
On this recall, which was issued in October 2013, it was discovered that more than 2,400 Ford Focus Electric vehicles may have issues with their powertrain control module software. On affected vehicles, this could lead to an unexpected loss of power while driving (similar to a stall), which can increase the risk of a crash.
This problem is accompanied by a “Stop Safely Now” warning that illuminates on the dashboard instrument cluster. Loss of power does not inhibit the vehicle’s ability to brake, so drivers should be able to pull to the side of the road if this occurs — but it’s still a potentially serious safety issue that could cause a crash.
All affected vehicles in this recall are eligible for a total reprogramming of the vehicle’s powertrain control module.
Is Your 2014 Focus Affected by a Recall?
By law, vehicle manufacturers are required to mail out formal notices to registered vehicle owners within 60 days of an NHTSA-issued safety recall. This means that if you own a 2014 Focus that has been potentially affected by a recall, you should receive a first-class notice in the mail shortly after the recall is issued.
Unfortunately, this isn’t always how things play out. If you bought your Focus used and it has unaddressed recalls — or if your mailing address is not up to date with your local bureau of motor vehicles, you may not receive a paper notice at all.
This is why it’s always a good idea for vehicle owners to check for safety recalls manually. If you own a 2014 Focus and would like to check for recalls, you can do this directly through the Ford website. This website covers all recalls issued on January 1, 1999, and later. To use Ford’s recall-finder tool, simply enter your car’s 17-digit VIN and see your results instantly. If there are any open safety recalls that may affect your vehicle, you’ll see each recall and a short description of the problem.
Another way to check your 2014 Focus for recalls is to use the NHTSA website’s recall checker. This site covers all vehicle recalls issued within the past 15 years. To use this tool, simply enter your car’s VIN and you’ll instantly receive a list of any recalls associated with your vehicle. NHTSA also allows you to sign up for vehicle safety recall notifications on its website using your email address, model year, make, and model. From there, you’ll receive immediate email notifications anytime a safety recall is issued for your vehicle. This tool allows you to enter up to four vehicles, making it easy to get real-time notifications on every car you own.
What to Do if Your Focus Has a Recall
If your 2014 Focus has an open recall, it’s important to have the issue corrected by a licensed and reputable Ford service technician as soon as possible. If you located your recall directly through the Ford website, it’s easy to arrange a service appointment at a dealership near you. You can either call your preferred dealership service department directly or schedule online.
Be sure to provide the recall information at the time you schedule your service appointment so the dealership can make sure they order any necessary parts for your repair ahead of time. Since many of the 2014 Focus recalls were issued several years ago, dealership service departments may not have all the necessary parts on hand right away.
When you have a safety recall repaired, you should never have to pay any money out of your own pocket. The manufacturer covers all costs associated with making the necessary repair or replacing a bad part. In the event that your vehicle is unable to be repaired, the manufacturer is required by law to reimburse you for the cost of the vehicle (minus any depreciation that has occurred since you bought it).
It’s also worth noting that if you already paid for repairs on your 2014 Focus before you knew about a related safety recall, you may be eligible for reimbursement through Ford. To receive reimbursement for a previous repair, submit your original receipts to the service manager at your local Ford dealership service center.
If your 2014 Focus will need to be in the shop for more than a day, you may also wish to take advantage of Ford’s Customer Satisfaction Program — which provides a free shuttle service to and from the dealership when your vehicle is ready to be picked up. Some recall notices through Ford also provide coverage for rental vehicles, so this is something to look into if you’ll need a rental car while your Focus is in the shop. Even if your recall doesn’t include rental coverage, your auto insurance policy might.
After you’ve had your car’s recall(s) addressed by a Ford service technician, you’ll be ready to get back on the road.
