I recently purchased a 2014 hatchback model in a nice metallic grey. I did have that transmission shifting issue but a new calibration from the dealer seems to smooth it so it no longer revs like crazy like it is in neutral while accelerating. Well, so far anyway.

Do you mean like when you press on the gas, and release it, it continues to go accelerate for like 1 second before shifting?

More like pressing on the gas and the car slows despite the engine reving past 4000 RPM. Not fun trying to merge. Plus I got a transmission failure watning message that said to contact a Ford dealer. The newer Focus has a dual clutch mechanism in the automatic that helps give better gas mileage but still has some bugs in the system. The cal updates I got is holding up so far. But I heard some people have it worse. In fact, the person in front of me (who also have a grey hatchback but a Titanium model instead of the SE I own) brought it in due to trans problem as well and needs a new clutch. I am hoping my wasn't that bad. All under warranty so that is good but there is a waiting list for parts.

Geez, mine doesn't feel wrong yet. At least if anything happens it's 5 year power train.

Most people are lucky. The rental I had was smooth as butter. The update made mine almost as smooth, certainly much better anyways. Only skipped once and a small one too. None of that feeling it was hunting for gears and such. I got that 7 year/100k mile wrap certified warranty thing that covers all mechanical issues so I should be well covered.

When I searched the forums for this problem, it seems the transmission issue is the most common. Everything else have much lower level of occurrences and complaints. Most people love their Focus as far as I can see.

The only other issues I have is the weak stereo system. It can be upgraded but a bit of a pain as it doesn't expand easily. I have the basic system that doesn't have line level outputs so any external amps needs to be tied into the high level speaker outs, which is not as good sound quality wise. I am an electrical engineer and I plan to open up the stock head unit to see if I can tap the proper signals from inside. I done that before by finding the signals I wanted before it reached the internal (low quality) amp. made life a lot easier. The stock speakers are poor too but those are fairly easy to swap, especially with the adapter kits out there.

My Focus has the lowest grade sound system too, but my FiST has the Sony audio which is better if you like bass and clean sounds, but the speakers seem to muffle/crackle like a cheap speaker when listening to hip hop at low volume. It doesn't happen to all music, just some albums, might be the music itself. I do wish the FiST would of came with the cute 'lil Sony woofer like the FoST :(

I plan to update the speakers first since they are the easiest and I have a few good pairs laying around. Just need to get the adapter kits. The electronics will be a little more tricky but I can handle it. I have other stuff I need to attend to before digging into that but probably start when the weather gets better here.

I searched the internet and it seems no one opened the head unit and added the proper line outs but instead just use the high levels, which I am loathed to do but is easier thing to do despite not being the best. Hopefully I can crack the stock system like I did in the past and get the best of both worlds, keeping the stock head unit with all the electronics intact along with much better sound.

Another option is to completely rip it out as there are kits that replaces the center dash with a bigger display. However they are quite pricey though the cost is trending down. Not only I am a tightwad but I don't want to do anything major since I just got the thing a month ago. Plus, it is my daily driver so I am not going too fancy with it like my other cars. That is another story.

Ford is dropping Microsoft (thank god) to QNX in the new models and it'll be awesome if they upgraded the older models to it. I kinda doubt that would happen but who knows. Or even better if someone manage to slap Android on there. Too much work so I have even less doubts about that but one can dream.

I work at a company that builds engine controllers and displays. Since Ford opened up CAN interface specs, I might be able to hack-up some addon do-dads or something. That'll something well into the future though. I might squeeze a LCD display inside the sunglasses storage compartment on the headliner to add more functions. I have so many ideas that I am just oozing with them.

Ugh that Microsoft sync is the WORST garbage I've ever used as a system, I lost it and almost punched the damn thing because it won't let me put my personal background picture, after countless hours and many nights spent on reformatting everything I had to FAT32 and I used every single method to format them, and now all my items and my USB is CLEARLY formatted to FAT32. Sync still says no devices found!!! It can read my music off my phone, but it can't read anything else and won't read my USB, the USB even glows to show power is on but Sync says no device is connected... Gah I almost punched the damn thing...

I haven't any problems playing MP3s off my USB stick... so far. But I heard many others having all sorts of issues especially with the Mytouch version. MS is already in too many places and relying on them to run various vehicle systems is a bit too much. At least Ford opened up the protocols for it so there is some hope of upgrades. Putting Android on there would be the ultimate mod methinks. But I am sure there will be tons of addons in any case.

I can play music off my phone via the USB port but that's it, it won't read USB sticks or anything else and I just can't update my background picture at all, funny because I'm playing music on my phone and it says no devices connected rofl... And yeah, mine's MyTouch.