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7.6

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,370
Average Mileage:
78,650 miles
Total Complaints:
15 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (12 reports)
  2. replace master, slave cylinders & internal transmission part (3 reports)
2005 Ford Focus transmission problems

transmission problem

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2005 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #15

Jan 012018

Focus ZXW SES 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 198,839 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Having a very tough time using PRNDL, one day, did not even work, and the ABS light was on. ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT WENT WRONG.

- Nicholas R., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

problem #14

Jun 172012

Focus 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

I have a 2005 Ford Focus and I have been trying to get it repaired I had the shift solenoid replaced and sensors replaced in the transmission and it did not fix the problem. The diagnostics showed that all sensors were firing and it was suggested to me to have the transmission rebuilt. I was out of a thousand dollars having the solenoid and sensors replaced and was exhausted with the whole situation. My transmission should have never been not working at 80,000 miles. Diagnostic says my shift solenoid D is stuck this should have been repaired when the solenoid was replaced. Something is wrong I cant seem to get the problem diagnosed properly and fixed. Ford says since it is out of warranty they cannot do anything to help me get the car fixed. Now the car wont reverse. I get stuck in awkward positions like in parking areas and often have to get some big strong men to push my car back so I can get out of the parking space. Ford should pay and fix this mess. It is an obvious problem.

- bradfordca, Los Angeles, CA, US

problem #13

Nov 132015

Focus ZX5 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 152,000 miles

OH NO. Not my ladybug..

So.. she has been a terrific (and I kid you all not..) car thus far. I have had her a year and noticed that she has always had a little bit of an issue shifting from 0-10 mph. At the same time, it was intermittent, her tranny fluid was fine, no cel's, no leakage. I even had her checked out at the dealership I bought her from last year and a reputable tranny shop earlier this year or late last year- fine. Yea, until now.

Past few months she has been more iffy, getting stuck a bit more trying to shift. Nothing else is wrong with my baby, but damn- this?! I knew it was a transmission issue, was thinking honestly it would just be a solenoid. Oh, no.. Dealership says car has slippage for sure, and that I will eventually need a new transmission. Warranty company may or may not cover it, I am awaiting that result. Dealership says they want to put a new one in her or a good used one.

I have two years of car payments left, already tried to get into another car and can't. So.. Yea.. I am not a happy camper right now.

Be weary of the 05's.. As far as their transmissions go at any rate.

- mariposamoreno, taneytown, MD, US

problem #12

Dec 162013

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 180,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I've seen a lot of reports regarding the Focus and its issues with the transmission. Mine is no exception, my car will not move in any gear!

- shirleymb1, Wheelersburg, OH, US

problem #11

Mar 152010

Focus ZX4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

I bought a 2005 Ford focus for my son, who is a college student in 2008 with 43,000 miles on it. 17 months later, after adding only 12,000 miles, the transmission went bad. It would slip really badly in third gear. It was 7 weeks out of warranty and ford would not do anything. I harassed the dealer so bad that he agreed to fix it and work with me on the cost. They replaced the transmission with a used one. I hope the new one doesn't do the same thing. I paid 970.00 for the repair. As far as I was concerned it should have been free!

- Kathy H., Reading, PA, US

problem #10

Apr 242010

Focus 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,484 miles

TRANSMISSION WENT 1 MONTH AFTER THE WARRANTY!! GO FIGURE!! MONTH BEFORE IT WENT HAD IT SERVICED AND NO ONE SAID ANYTHING!!! AFTER IT WENT I CALLED 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND EACH ONE SAID THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE THAT EARLY!! I ONLY HAD 78,484 MILES ON THE CAR!!! SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT!!!!

- stephanienj, Clementon, NJ, US

problem #9

Jan 022010

Focus 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,633 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Really don't want to complain unless this turns out to be a major fix. Focus has performed admirally up until now. The only complaint I have is the dealer gouging me on routine maintenance. Took my Focus to a local (trusted) transmission specialist about a month ago and of course it performed flawlessly for his brief road test. He advised me to bring it back to him when I could leave it for a day so he could drive it cold. I plan to do that very soon (before the weather warms up). Mid February right now... can"t wait to get out riding my new Moto Guzzi V7 Classic.

- tomwright, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada

problem #8

Aug 222009

Focus ST 2.3L 4 cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 42,000 miles

Incident

2005 ford focus st, with only 42,000 miles, suffered catastrophic transmission failure during a trip from Minnesota to NYC. The clutch hydraulics failed, and Ford claims that the clutch master and slave cylinders are not covered under the 100,000 mile Powertrain Care Extended Service Plan (costing $1600 to repair). When that repair proved inadequate, the Ford dealer next repaired the transmission (costing another $2,350). The Ford dealer advised that the transmission repair would be covered under the warranty, so it was approved, but afterwards Ford denied coverage, saying that the transmission failure resulted from the non-covered clutch hydraulics failure. It took more than a month for the dealer to finish the car repairs, with poor communications and much misinformation over that time period.

Damage Resulting

Our son, who was the driver of the car and authorized its repairs, had to fly from NYC to Minneapolis to return to his University, and then purchased 2 one-way tickets to try to pick up the car when it falsely was promised to be ready. We cannot afford the repairs, so a New York mechanics/' lien will be imposed. We owe $6,000 to Ford Credit for the loan on the car, but its FMV is only about $6,000. This was our first /"American/" car purchase in 35 years, and it will be our last!

- Ray F., Guadalupe, CA, US

problem #7

Mar 112009

Focus ZX3 2.3L

  • Manual transmission
  • 50,000 miles

I own a 2005 ford focus 2.3 manual. I have difficulty getting it into first and reverse when the vehicle is cold . Ford says its the clutch and will fix it for about $1,200.

I thought it was just my car but it seems that other owners are having the same issue.

- Dean B., San Jacinto, CA, US

problem #6

Apr 032008

Focus ZX3 2.0L

  • Manual transmission
  • 75,000 miles

Since buying this car new I have had the following problems: Ford dealership rebuilt the manual transmission 3 times and going back for the 4th time. Replaced the same half shaft twice.

- Carey C., Saint Marys, OH, US

problem #5

Aug 072006

(reported on)

Focus ZX5 SES

  • 30,100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While my fiance and I were on vacation the transmission slipped out of gear 3 times. When it would go back into gear it would slam. It felt as if someone were rear ending us. This happened 3 times in 1 week. We took it to the ford dealer where they stated that the transmission needed to be flushed. So, for $110, they flushed it. THEY DIDN'T EVEN CHANGE THE FILTER!!!!! After getting the car back, it still continues to slip and slam. All they can tell me is that until they can duplicate the problem, that there is nothing that they can do. This is BULLS***!!!!! I have a 2001 Camry with almost 200,000 miles that has no issues.... DAMN FORDS

- Adam S., Caribou, ME, US

problem #4

Oct 012007

Focus ZX5 2.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,750 miles

I called Ford Company was told the transmission had to be repaired 4 times before they would replace with new transmission if it is still under warranty.

- John L M., Farmersville, CA, US

problem #3

Feb 012008

Focus ZX3 SE 2.0L

  • Manual transmission
  • 23,000 miles

The transmission has been difficult to get into 1st or reverse not until the engine warms up, but until the entire transaxle warms up.

Sometimes it's so stiff that I think I have it in gear, but when I release the clutch, it grinds, because it didn't go in all the way.

The car has been in dealer twice over the same issue and each time, they could find no problem with it. It was hard to shift in 2005 with 10,000 miles on it. In 2008, with 23,000 miles on it, it's even harder to shift. On a cold day, the if the car is started in neutral, there's no way you can get it in reverse without putting it in 5th first, then into reverse.

I live in the city and getting into 1st is also a struggle and I have no choice but to leave it in gear and stay on my clutch unless I want to force it into gear, which I believe will cause a linkage/cable damage in the long run.

The problem is particularly bad when the temperature goes below 32F

- 05_focus, Portland, OR, US

problem #2

Oct 232007

(reported on)

Focus ZX5

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,500 miles

I had a 91 Ford Taurus whose transmission took a sh*t at 82000 miles. The car was bought brand new and driven like granma drives. I thought that I would give ford another shot and bought my 2005 focus in march 2007 It had 50000 miles on it and ran good. Now i have just made my 6th car payment on it and the trans is taking a sh*t. It wont shift when its supposed to and tries to shift when its Not supposed to. POS!! I WANT FORD TO FIX IT, AND FIX IT FOR FREE DAMNIT! Im not putting 3 transmissions in this car. It will go off a cliff first!

- nikip, Nottingham, PA, US

problem #1

Oct 152007

(reported on)

Focus ZX3 SE 2.0L

  • Manual transmission
  • 10,000 miles

I have a manual transmission in my focus. Until the entire transaxle is warmed up, I find it difficult to get the car into first or reverse. I'd have to nudge it into 2nd, then throw it back into 1st, or else it won't go in to first unless I FORCE it. Same with reverse. Nudge into 2nd or 5th, then back into reverse.

Took it to the dealer, they found a TSB, checked and said fine. Nothing fixed.

- 05_focus, Portland, OR, US

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