I have a 2014 Ford Focus SE that shakes and stutters sometimes while driving. It’s been getting worse each day, and I’m worried something might be wrong, but haven’t seen any transmission issue warnings.
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I think you’re referring to a situation called stuttering . That’s is if you do hear clattering, it likely means there’s no fluid or additive that will fix it. A more aggressive driving style, especially on the highway, can help prevent issues. The car struggles with stop-and-go traffic and city driving. I’ve had 217,000 miles on my car with this approach, and replaced actuators and clutches at 189,000 miles.
Eventually, you’ll need a repair if it’s getting worse. At stoplights, avoid feathering the throttle. Instead, give it a moderate push don’t floor it, but don’t be too gentle either. If you notice tire spin or screeching, back off a bit. You’ll get used to the driving style needed to make it last
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I guess I do need to drive a bit more assertively. Since I’m a new driver, I’m usually very careful though.
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I also own a 2014 Ford Focus SE. I’ve been having transmission problems since I got it in 2015, and it’s still running with 130,000 miles. The CVT transmission in these cars is pretty bad, and there has been a recall. You might need a new Transmission Control Module (TCM), and Ford offers one free replacement up to 150,000 miles. I recently got a new TCM, which helped a little, but because of the old faulty TCM, my clutch got damaged and now needs replacing, which Ford won’t cover.
Accelerating quickly can help reduce the stuttering, but it doesn’t fix the overall transmission problems. You could just live with it, though it’s not ideal. Ford said I needed a new transmission at 75,000 miles, but I ignored them and just had my TCM replaced at 120,000 miles. If you can, have Ford check it out to see if it’s covered, but if not, avoid letting them fix your transmission they tend to overcharge and take a long time.
Hope this helps, Good luck
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tbh, the transmission in these cars is a DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission), not a CVT.
My Ford dealer fixed my car in less than a week, replacing the TCM, two actuators, and the clutches. Although they did charge me $3,300. Considering other prices and repair times, it was worth it 
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Yeah, it’s really inconsistent. Sometimes it runs fine, but other times it’s constantly stuttering.
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My 2014 has had this issue since 2020. It seems worse when it’s hot outside. I remember being told I needed a new gearbox, flywheel, and more, and they quoted me around $9,500, which is more than what I paid for the car.
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Occasionally, vibrations are caused by a bad engine mount. I have the same issue, and at least one of my three mounts is faulty. Replacing them is much cheaper that you can actually just do it yourself.
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This does actually explain it all