When I first got the car, I felt the tranny shudder every shift. The kick was minimal and everything seemed fine. Took it into the dealer Boggus Ford, was told that It was normal. After 9,000 miles the kick was so bad I almost ran over a few people outside a grocery store! I almost hit people as I was at a stopped due to the car lunging every shift. I felt neck pain after awhile and from every stop the car would down shift to 2nd gear and fly as if I was trying to race someone! I told myself it was enough already. Took it in to Spikes Ford, they told me the car was deemed unsafe to drive so they couldn't let me leave with it. Apparently the seal was open to the transmission and the transmission was leaking fluids? I was once told it was a dry clutch transmission. Either way they told me fluids were entering the transmission and some fluids were exiting the transmission, don't know how that is possible. They considered it as an assembly error and told me it could have possibly been the assembly plant's error. Took a day to fix the car, replaced all clutches, seals, and fluids. So far, extremely satisfied with how it's working now! No more kicking, no more lunging, just very minimal shudder noise. So far I have 12,500 miles, no more problems. I know every car has it's problems but I'm very glad the dealership didn't hesitate to fix it. One day it was in, and the next day it was out. So far, now I'm satisfied! $980.00 was the total but thanks to the warranty it was covered. If Ford can continue to address my issues as quick as they did with the Focus transmission, I will continue to stay with them.

Purchased the 2012 Focus in December 2012 with 33,000 miles on it. It always stuttered when going from a stop, but it seems normal when compared to other focuses with the same engine and transmission. Then on August 24th, there was a complete lack of power and couldn't go past 20mph. It couldn't shift gears and felt like it was going to stall. When it was trying to change gears, it started jerking back and forth crazily. I had to pull over to allow 55mph traffic to pass me. It's a good thing there wasn't a car coming when I was taking a left turn across traffic, otherwise I would be dead. I left the car off for a while, then turned it back on and it seems normal.

I took it to the dealership to have checked out and of course they couldn't recreate what I was experiencing. They never can though, can they? There were a couple of transmission codes in there and they reprogrammed the PCM, but I have a feeling this didn't fix anything.

These cars periodically have transmission failure for which there is no fix. The problems are too infrequent and unpredictable so far that there will likely never be a long term fix unless you replace the transmission and the associated computer.

Just bought the car. I could shift better on a standard transmission than it shifts. Really, Ford does not have a solution to this. I cannot believe they would actually sell a car with this kind of problem only to say that it is a standard part made over to automatic and that is just how it is!!!! Come on Ford!!!

Update from Sep 3, 2013: Took it to the Ford Service Dept. and sure enough they said that is just the way it is on the Focus. So...we went to the Chevy Dealership and swapped it for an Impala. Still have our old 2003 Impala, which we gave to our son and still doing great at over 100,000 miles. Warning do not get a Ford Focus unless you drive in town and until it heats up!

When I stop for a red-light and the car idles briefly it will “stutter” and cause a slight jerky start when I accelerate. This seems to be most noticeable on warm days and is worse on some days than others. The first time I brought my Focus in the computer said that the #2 cylinder was miss firing and that was addressed. The second time the computer said that the #3 cylinder was miss firing and that was addressed. The third time the service manager said it was a problem with the transmission and that it was a problem Ford was aware. Service mgr told me today (12/11/12) that Ford now had a fix and he would order the parts. I hope this solves my problem, my fingers are crossed.

I PURCHASED MY 2012 FORD FOCUS ON THE LAST WEEK OF FEBRUARY 2012, THE CAR WAS GREAT, UNTIL I WENT TO NOLA FOR VACATION. THE TRANSMISSION START SHAKING WHEN I TOOK OFF FROM A STOP AND WHEN I WENT UP HILLS THE CAR WOULD GO UP THE HILL IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP NEAR MY WORK(NOT THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM) AND I WAS TOLD WHAT EVERY BODY ELSE WAS TOLD " THATS THE WAY IT IS TO SHIFT OUT, THATS THE NEW TRANS FORD CAME OUT WITH, IT NOTHING JUST KEEP DRIVING AND ENJOY YOUR CAR" SO I DID, IT HAD GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WHEN I TOOK OFF INTO TRAFFIC I FELT LIKE I WOULD BE HIT BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY FOUND THAT THE GEARS,BARRINGS AND SEALS WHERE BAD. THEY REPLACED THEM, AND 2 WEEKS LATER I HEARD A LOAD POP AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHUTTER, I CARRIED IT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH MOTOR NEEDED REPLACING. GOT THE CAR BACK AND "3 DAYS LATER" THE CAR START "AGAIN" SHUTTERING" IT IS IN THE SHOP AS WE SPEAK WITH YET ANOTHER "PART" BEING ORDERED AND REPLACED. I HAVE SPOKE WITH THE GEN MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HE ADV ME TO CALL FORD, I DID AND NOW I HAVE A CASE OPENED UP WITH THEM ON THIS CAR. SO WISH ME LUCK ON THE FUTURE WITH THIS ISSUE!!!!!

39K miles and counting and the car continues shutter as it shifts. Capital Ford of Raleigh has explained to myself and my wife that this is a known issue but not one which Ford believes is a design flaw. More or less a nuisance.

I must tell anyone considering a Ford Focus, don't let the sexy, sleek design suck you in. While it is a beautiful to look at, it shifts like it was designed by the K Car team of AMC. And herein lies my biggest concern. There seems to be no signs of working itself out as the Ford service team will tell you. "It will learn how you drive" is the biggest crock of shite I have heard in awhile.

The shifting problem will become Ford's next Explorer disaster. Hope they take note of these complaints and make good those that desire to keep their cars for years, not months.

After purchasing the auto, i noted after several weeks the automatic transmission allowed the vehicle to roll back on an incline. Spoke to service department and they said that was normal until the car got used to me driving it. Thought strange but kept driving. After about 8 months or so, I had to take in because the front left side of the vehicle emitted a very loud rattling and clanging noise along with slippage of transmission. They had to do some major work and after doing so, the car ran well, and it did not make the noise nor rolll backward. Aftger about 8 months again, this started over again, except for the roll back, that is, the noise level very, very loud and shuttering took place in front wheel transmission and steering wheel, along with slippage of the gears as they shifed. Took in but told could not replicate, and I did this several times, now it is doing it so loud that the man riding with me from the dealership heard it all. But, the technicians who were to work actually on it drove it and could not replicate and they called me and said all was o.k. and that was just the way the car transmission was to operate. I said then they did not drive it in a manner that it would be heard, because it happens in stop and go driving and going onto steep inclines. Also, hotter weather makes it worse. So, today I am going to have to go back and have a "technician" ride with me rather than the other type of employee who reported it to make it happen again so they can hear! They will not take the word of the other technicians I guess. So these people are "like parrots spewing forth the same message given to them from the Ford Motor Company headquarters" and they will NOT admit they have made a mistake and error in putting this stuff off on people and they don't have a fix for it at all apparantly. Don' know the outcome coming up today, but I can say I will not be a happy man from now on. I have 1 more year on this leased auto and I have to listen to terrible LOUD noises in the front left side transmission andalso heavy slippage going on with gear shifting. They NEVER spoke to me when leasing the car that stuff like this would take place or I would never have bought it, nor did it do this when I first drove it in test runs etc.!! To me, if they could fix it so it would last eight or nine months without noises and problems why can't they fix it again? I am turning in this lease in 1 year but not going to buy another Ford product because they have given me the run around on this deal!!!! This is not to speak of a water pump which went out and messed up also.

Again, the transmission does not shift properly. Will ramp up to 5,000rpm before shifting sometimes.

Update from Apr 9, 2013: I now have 25,000 miles on my car and still have the same problems. Ford Regional Customer service manager submitted to legal for a buy back and that was rejected because there were never any repairs done on the transmission even though the module that shifts the transmission was recalibrated several times. I have now filed for the Colorado Lemon Law to go through arbitration with it.

The transmission shifts erratically. I have taken it in 7 times to be fixed and now they say it runs as designed.

Update from Aug 7, 2013: For all those having transmission troubles with the Focus, I filed a complaint with Better Business and my complaint went to an arbitrator who then had an independent mechanic evaluate it. He determined there was an internal transmission problem and the arbitrator ruled in my favor. Ford had to purchase my car back including tags and taxes.

Update from Mar 24, 2015: At 24,000 miles I went through the Colorado BBB and filed a complaint about all the issues I was having with my Focus stalling and not shifting properly. This was handled with an arbitrator that had an independent mechanic evaluation my vehicle and after driving it less than 5 miles determined it had some serious internal transmission issues. Ford was forced to buy back the Focus. I hope this is resolved with other owners and Ford so no one is injured and I was closed to several times.

Took my car in yesterday for service and to see if they can make it safe to drive again after all of the stalling out and lunging over the past months. (Both of which were explained to me as being "Something the new transmissions do because they are manual but computer operated so they are just like an automatic." Basically saying I don't know how to drive a car.) The mechanic ASSURED me the car was fixed. This was after telling my salesman that I did not want the car anymore and what could I get used. My salesmen wanted to sell me an SUV for $5000 OVER NADA to make up for the "extra" they were giving me for my car. All they would give me basically was poor condition trade. My car is in pristine condition. No dings, dents, stains. NOTHING! I have always driven a Ford, but this will be my last one!

Since I bought this car I have had many issues,first with the car surging brought the car in on a few occasions and the mechanic keeps saying that is how the engines are designed to get the fuel economy ,had window vents put on and they kept coming off,to put the icing on the cake with this car my first snow storm tried using my car started from a very close distance it would not start the car so I used the key to start up my car proceeded to clean off the car from all the snow, went to get back in too my car and the doors locked,my spare key was in my purse in the locked car,so I have 24hr road side asst.called them thinking they will send someone to open it, after lots of bull they put me through the girl tells me I'm not covered for that ,so I called the dealer ship back to see if they could help,they said we will send a shuttle down to pick you up and get you a key made but we need you to sign papers first,the gentlemen comes to pick me up and proceeds to tell me it will take two days to have it here ,my car has been running for at least 1 and a half hrs buy this time,so after that i got pretty upset and asked him what am I suppose to do now he said call a tow company,which I did,2 and half hrs finally someone has opened my car ,so I went to the dealer ship right after because i was very upset told the gentlemen in charge what had happen,after all that I have not even received a phone call or nothing in regards too this,very disappointed in there customer service,not impressed at all.

Purchased used with less than 9000 miles. without forewarning had two close calls within two weeks as far as being stopped on an incline and rolling back when taking off. Realized something wasn't right, called the local dealer and was told this was a known issue to bring it in. Took it in and they supposedly fixed it, but within miles of the dealership determined it was obviously not fixed. Returned to dealership and mechanic went along for a ride and acknowledged there was a problem and basically said it was the beginnings of the clutch going out (slipping) and that there was not a 'fix' and that the vehicle just needed to be driven accordingly. extremely uncomfortable with this response, not to mention the lack of a general feeling of safety and confidence on the road. Won't consider letting kids or grand kids borrow the vehicle....disaster waiting to happen.

On 8/27/2012 I drove off the car lot with 7 miles on my new car. I noticed a little bit of rough shifting as the day passed. On 8/28 the car started bucking and jerking during acceleration. There was little power on inclines. The problem progressively got worse through the day. I set up an appointment to drop off for service the next day. Took in for service on 8/29 and was told that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The car had 187 miles on it. On 8/30 I was told the car was fixed and I picked up my car. Within a few miles the problem was back, but worse this time. I had some slight noise coming from the engine when the car was bucking and jerking. It almost stalled on a busy highway in rush hour traffic several times while on my way back to the dealer. It was struggling. The car is back in service with 220 miles on it. Now they want to keep it for at least 3-4 days. 8/31 I was asked to drive the car with the mechanic to see if problem would reoccur. With the exception of a kick while pulling out of the dealership, the car drove ok, although we only drove around a block together. Sales manager says that if the mechanic can't find any further problem, then I have to take the car back into my possession since it's my car. He says that sometimes things happen and I have to deal with it and let the mechanics do their job. I've had the car in my possession under 30 hours since I purchased it on 8/27. The car also has an issue with rolling back on an incline.

As of 7/24/2012 i have had my 2012 Focus in to the dealer 3 times! Once on a recall for poor shifting of the transmission. It stalls out and wont shift correctly and has no ability to merge into traffic at a reasonable speed. It has almost died from a stop at a light when given gas to go. The dealer has told me all 3 times that it is the standard workings on the new 2012 Focus. They also expressed to me that i didnt really buy a true automatic transmission, it is really a manual transmission. My wife is actually terrified to drive this car as she never knows what it is going to do in any driving situation.

I have since called tech support for Ford in Dearborn, Michigan and after their coversations with my dealer all are under agreement that this is the transmission that Ford seems to be quite proud of. I have expressed to both my dealer and the Ford rep from Michigan that they need to remember this situation and these calls because when some one gets hurt from this unsafe vehicle they may look back and say "we should have done something".

However i have not given up and still will try to proceed with the lemon law in my state or contact the highway transportation safety board as well as my attorney general. as of today i have also made anyone i can aware that this transmission, whether in a focus or any other ford is not safe and to refrain from buying a ford product.

Update from Aug 16, 2012: Well guess what? My wife said she felt so unsafe in that car,she would never drive it again.I went and traded it in on a use Camry. Of course it cost me alot of money to get out of the Focus,since we just bought it if Feb..I am 68 yrs young,have been a Ford guy for as long as i can remember. No longer. The money is less important then having peace of mine driving a safe car. What ever is going on with Ford is the same problem with our society in general today.Yes I am a veteran and a proud American. The US is getting like a relative. Keep disappointing,but will always love them.

The car was at the dealership again and the problem is not resolved with the jerking, jumping, rattle, rollback transmission. The tech said we know they have a problem,the owner of the dealership knows they have a problem with the transmission. Everyone is complaining it is up to Ford to come out with a fix. Until then we can't fix it. The Ford rep said you bought it, so you are stuck with the problem. I will never buy another Ford product sorry this car is junk.

Update from Aug 31, 2012: The "automatic" transmission is misleading to the customer because the transmission is a manul/automatic.

If i had wanted a manul transmission i would have bought one the car shifting is just awful. It jumps, shutters,jerks, and rolls back it was brought the car back again 5/16/12 for the reprogam again At Byrnnes and they did it again. which made the car worst then ever, The transmission raddles when it is hot and humid out and in city traffic the Rep for Ford gave me a maintiance package to make me forget the issue with the car it is not forgotten and the car is not fixed.it is brand new and shouldn't have a problem like this sick and tired of the bullshit.

I bought my 2012 Ford Focus SE April 16 2012. I was told it had an "automatic" transmission. At 500 miles I had to take it in for the following: 1) Seat frame cutting into hip. 2) Spasdic transmission shifting. 3) Rough idle 4) Rough accelerating 5) Rolls backward at stop

The next day the dealer called me up and said "everything's fine now" so I went to pick the car up.

They told me the following at the service desk: On #1, they don't care On #'s 2-3-4-5, they did an "update" that fixed it all.

Off I went in my $20,000 car.

At 700 miles I took it in again for the following: 1) AC will not blow below 55 degrees 2) Acceleration and idle is unpredictable and rough.

Next day they called me and said "everything's fine now" so I went to pick up the car.

They told me the following at the service desk: 1) They evacuated the AC system and refilled. Now it blows 50 degrees.... 2) I was told this was NOT an automatic transmission, but a manual transmission that was shifted by a computor that had to "learn and adapt" to my driving habits, so it would eventually work out the "kinks".

I told the head tech "there are three people that drive this car". He told me "that will only confuse the computer then" but it all should work itself out within a few thousand miles anyway.

Off I went in my $20,000 car.

Pulled out into traffic June 5th from my house to a traffic flow of 35 MPH. My $20,000 new car went through 3 gears within 10 feet and then refused to accelerate. I was almost hit by at least three cars, which had to slam on their brakes and swerve to avoid a collision.

That sorta upset me.

I took my $20,000 car back to Ford service in Coeur d'Alene and told them it had just almost got me killed. I gave him the keys and told them to keep the death-trap.

Lake City Ford has had the car sine June 5. Yesterday, the head tech in service there called me and said "I just drove your car and it runs beautifully and we can't duplicate any of your problems."

As if he'd say anything else.

I asked him if he'd ever been in an accident. Yes, he said. I asked him how many seconds did it take to happen. He said a split second.

I told him my, and my family's lives are worth a hell of a lot more than that $20,000 car that had almost got us killed in a split second.

Lake City Ford has been ignoring me since June 5. The salesman that sold me the Focus has quit over many similar complaints from his past customers. The owner of Lake City Ford is trying to pretend I'm just "another complainer" and I'll soon just go away.

This exact transmission problem is well known by Ford and is all over the internet. So far, Ford is doing exactly what Lake City Ford is doing: ignoring it and maybe it'll just go away.

I've offered to trade the car for a manual transmission version, but to no avail. I refuse to pick up the worthless $20,000 car from them, as it is a death trap.

I'm being more than reasonable. I've asked Lake City Ford to handle this in-house and make me happy. Apparently, they don't care.

If this isn't handled to my satisfaction, not only will they be keeping my $20,000 worthless 700 miles-on-it car (which I'll just write of my taxes as "business loss"), but I will file a Lemon Law claim here in Idaho.