Just bought a 2014 Focus SE—anything I need to know?

I recently picked up a 2014 Focus SE and am curious about any tips or things to watch out for. It seems to drive well so far, but I’ve heard mixed things about these cars. What should I be aware of?

Make sure the first two shifts happen at or above 3,000 RPMs. I’ve had my 2014 for 7 years, and with this habit, I’ve avoided transmission issues. Put 47,000 miles on it, and it’s been smooth sailing so far.

@Willow
I was told the same thing with my 2019 Fiesta DCT. It’s more throttle-based, so don’t be afraid to push it a bit.

@Willow
This advice works because the engine is way more reliable than the transmission. Driving harder on the engine might help the trans last longer.

@Willow
It helps with feel, but the transmission issues on this car go beyond just driving habits.

Drive it like a manual car. Avoid creeping in traffic or holding the car on hills with the gas pedal.

Mack said:
Drive it like a manual car. Avoid creeping in traffic or holding the car on hills with the gas pedal.

Totally agree. It does roll back on inclines, but the fuel economy is amazing. I’m still on the same half tank after two weeks, though I only drive 2-3 miles every few days.

@West
I’m doing a lot of highway driving, so I’m excited to see the jump from 16 MPG in my old car to 36 MPG in this one.

Hart said:
@West
I’m doing a lot of highway driving, so I’m excited to see the jump from 16 MPG in my old car to 36 MPG in this one.

55-60 MPH gives me the best fuel economy—over 44 MPG. Going faster will lower it, though.

Watch this video. It’s super helpful: https://youtu.be/eh8PIL5E_6M

I’m at 150k miles without needing a clutch change. (Though now that I’ve said it, I’ll probably jinx myself!) Follow the good advice here, and you’ll get years of enjoyment out of your car.

Leith said:
I’m at 150k miles without needing a clutch change. (Though now that I’ve said it, I’ll probably jinx myself!) Follow the good advice here, and you’ll get years of enjoyment out of your car.

That’s what I’m hoping for. I want this car to last a long time.

@Hart
I’ve had my 2014 Focus since 2016, and I still love it. It had only 13,000 miles when I bought it, and even now, it still has a bit of that new car smell. No transmission issues for me so far!

I’ve gone from 70k to 130k miles on my 2014 SE with no major issues. The gear shifts feel a little awkward at times, but it’s nothing problematic.

The Bluetooth, however, is super annoying. If you have trouble with it, let me know. I finally figured out how to navigate the terrible menu system.

@Davi
I feel the weird gear shifts too, especially between 1st and 2nd. I like the handling, though, and I’m getting 44 MPG on my work commute. Bluetooth is a headache—sometimes it connects automatically, but other times I have to fiddle with it.

@Hart
Yeah, the shifting feels awkward at low speeds, but I’ve put 60k miles on mine like that with no issues. For Bluetooth, here’s a quick guide:

  1. Go to the Phone menu and connect your phone while parked.
  2. Exit the Phone menu and return to Media.
  3. Press Media, then Menu, then scroll down to ‘Select Source.’
  4. Choose Bluetooth Audio.

Hope that helps!

@Davi
That’s super helpful, thanks! I’ll try it out. The transmission still worries me a little since it lurches in low gears, but it sounds like that’s just how these cars are.

Hart said:
@Davi
That’s super helpful, thanks! I’ll try it out. The transmission still worries me a little since it lurches in low gears, but it sounds like that’s just how these cars are.

Yeah, the lurching is pretty normal. Just keep an eye on it for the next few weeks. Mine’s been like that for years, and it’s still going strong.

Check your TCM for errors, motor mounts, and valve cover for cracks. These are common issues with this model.

I’ve had my transmission go out twice on my 2015 Focus SE. Luckily, insurance covered the repairs both times. After the second fix, they said a chip that calibrates the clutch was causing the issues. Now I’m the only driver, and it’s been running better. I also stopped using cruise control because I used to travel a lot and had issues on long trips.