2014 Ford Focus ST — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $11,000–$17,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
A genuinely brilliant hot hatch — the 252-hp 2.0L EcoBoost, a great chassis, and a manual-only gearbox make the Focus ST hugely fun for the money. It avoids the Fiesta/Focus PowerShift automatic entirely (manual only). Watch for tuning, the coolant/oil-in-intercooler quirk, and clutch wear. A stock, maintained ST is a lot of grin per dollar.
Known Issues for the 2014 Ford Focus ST
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
A young enthusiast car — many are tuned and driven hard. Inspect for aftermarket tunes, clutch wear, and accident history.
Repair cost range: Varies
The intercooler can collect oil/condensation causing hesitation or limp mode; a known quirk with fixes available.
Repair cost range: $100-$400
Hard driving wears the clutch and stresses the turbo system; test-drive for slip.
Repair cost range: $800-$1,800
Worn mounts increase torque steer and vibration; a common upgrade.
Repair cost range: $150-$400
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Aftermarket tune / piggyback
- ✗Clutch slip
- ✗Limp-mode or hesitation history
- ✗Accident/track use
Good Signs
- ✓Stock, adult-owned car
- ✓Documented service
- ✓Healthy clutch, clean history
Found a specific Ford Focus ST?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2014 Ford Focus ST in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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