CarComplaints.com Notes: Ford changed a lot of things for its 3rd generation, just none of them were a good idea.
The transmission tends to hesitate and jerk when accelerating. The new electronically-driven power steering can fail suddenly and without warning. Even Ford's SYNC can be a headache. Actually, scratch that last one — it's always been a headache.
7.7
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,440
Average Mileage:
35,300 miles
Total Complaints:
111 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (54 reports)
replace clutch (19 reports)
software update (9 reports)
waiting for ford to figure out what it takes to repair it (8 reports)
Consumer Class Action Lawsuit Ford Powershift Transmission - Our firm, Capstone Law APC, is litigating a class action lawsuit on behalf of consumers who purchased or leased any 2011 through 2015 Ford Fiesta or 2012 through 2015 Ford Focus vehicle equipped with Ford’s Dual Clutch or “PowerShift†Transmission, manufactured, marketed and distributed by Ford Motor Company (“Fordâ€). The related lawsuits, entitled Vargas v. Ford Motor Company and Klipfel, et al. v. Ford Motor Company, are currently pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Case No. CV12-08388 ABC (FFMx). The lawsuits allege, among other things, that Ford:
I feel that the Ford dealership in Augusta, GA on Wrightsboro Road are a bunch of rude a-holes. Honestly, I found that the whole clutch was on the recall for the transmission, but was not replaced when Ford did the repair. We were also charged a fee for the diagnosis, but the recall specialist informed me we were not supposed to be charged at all. Now we are stuck making payments on a car that has stopped working on us.
With my 2013 Ford focus I basicly got the car to save on gas for me to go back and forth to work its dose not have a warrenty bought as is . ive went to trade the car in at a diffrent car dealer they told me they dont feel comforable taking my car and if the did they would only give me $500 and here I am still making payments every month for a car that the place i got the car at price was a little over 6000 me making payments of 220 a month its great on gas but the shuddering, grinding, expecaily after its been ran or if its like 90 out side it dose it more at take off and plus being front wheel drive should be great in rain or any other weather , but while driving when its wet out feels like im all over the road its not the tires or front end ive put over 1000 in tires and front end stuff I just got a junk Box
Bought a 2013 Ford Focus 1.6l automatic with 61,000 on clock with full service history, and within two weeks of ownership the car would jerk setting off, or changing gears up and down, and when you wanted quick acceleration it just wasn't there...
I took car back under extended warranty with Ford garage I the got the car from and they replaced clutch pack which fixed the jerkiness etc. It's been probably 4 months now and gearbox won't even come out of park... Now the car is waiting to go back into garage but soon as its fixed, I'm getting rid of it as its the worst car I have ever owned. How the powershift gearbox is even still allowed to be sold amazes me! The gearbox should be stripped out every car and never to be used again... and don't get me started on the MPG!
The transmission modular fails to shift properly. The transmission lags and shifts roughly, often jerking and grinding in 1st and 2nd gear. This makes the car extremely dangerous, especially when taking off out into traffic. I have almost been hit multiple times because of the transmission failing to shift properly. Ford has offered no solution. Ford dealership also will not take responsibility. They have turned me away multiple types denying the issue. I have been stuck paying for this lemon every month for the past 5 yrs. Come to find out Ford has a long history ignoring safety issues and ignoring recalls when needed. They should be held reasonable under their strict product liability and reimburse owners. I would NEVER purchase another Ford in my life or recommend their shady company to anyone. Time for transparency Ford!
The transmission modular fails to shift properly. The transmission lags and shifts roughly, often jerking and grinding in 1st and 2nd gear. This makes the car extremely dangerous, especially when taking off out into traffic. I have almost been hit multiple times because of the transmission failing to shift properly. Ford has offered no solution. Ford dealership also will not take responsibility. They have turned me away multiple types denying the issue. I have been stuck paying for this lemon every month for the past 5 yrs. Come to find out Ford has a long history ignoring safety issues and ignoring recalls when needed. They should be held reasonable under their strict product liability and reimburse owners. I would NEVER purchase another Ford in my life or recommend their shady company to anyone. Time for transparency Ford!
- Atlas S.,
Parish, NY, US
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For the first 10 minutes of driving, the car acts completely normal. After that, the car shutters shifting into first or second gear. Once its in motion though, the higher gears work fine. Previous two transmissions in this car died, this is the third. Last Ford I'm ever buying.
Bait and switch. I called the dealer about a 2016 Ford Focus. When I got to the dealer, they only had this 2013 for me to test drive. Low miles, 100000 mile warranty, a really nice little car. Well that was really nice of them to help me get in debt over a piece of work that already had recalls on the transmission. A true Ford F*cking Tough car.
We took our Focus to our local Ford dealer and they said there was a problem with the clutch. When they took the clutch off they could not get it back on and had to wait for a new part. Our car was in the shop for over 30 days waiting on the part. Ford would not give a rental car so the dealer provided us with an older used car to drive. After we had the new clutch replaced it was fine for a short time.
When my clutch went this time for the 3rd time since I bought the car in 2015 it went out with a bang. Meaning that it literally exploded under the hood....
So I have purchased a used 2013 ford focus sedan and loved how quick it was with excellent acceleration and very good handling for a car of its class. Fuel economy was outstanding and that was another reason to enjoy the car. Very soon I noticed grinding and jerking when I would take off and thought maybe that's rare and would go away on its own. I did not get check engine light so I assumed nothing serious is happening but I wanted to check transmission fluid level since I'm a mechanic and it seemed like transmission wasn't working right. I couldn't find a way to check the fluid level but I did come across articles online that dealers update software and these cars are under a recall for transmission problems. I figured it shouldn't be a big issue and took it to the dealer to get an update. They performed an update on computer and told me that it is normal for this car to operate the way it does since its a new type of transmission. for the first couple days after doing an update the car seemed fine and I thought the issue will not come back but IT DID!!! I called them but they said that they can only try to reset and update it one more time and for this time I will have to pay out of pocket so I asked if its guaranteed to be fixed and they told me they don't know if that will help. At this point I figured its pointless to keep taking it to them and decided to just keep driving it. Almost got used to the noise and jerking when accelerating from the start and one time when I was doing an oil change I noticed the bottom of my transmission was wet with fluid!!!!!! I was so angry because now I knew this car will not last very long since its losing transmission fluid. I decided that its pointless to try to deal with ford and I want to save myself a problem of being stuck in the middle of the road and sold it off to mechanic for cheap. Will never buy another ford that has even one complaint about engine or transmission.
This is probably the 5th or 6th time its been back in the shop for the same thing since 2013. I'm really upset because the car is jerking and shaking when I turn to the right. I took it in and the dealership put it on a monitor. They told me they couldn't do anything about it because it didn't register high enough on the
monitor. What the hell? How bad does it have to get? Do I have to have an accident before they will
do something? Who made this asinine rule? If somethings wrong, then SOMETHINGS WRONG.
And, they know exactly what's wrong. Everytime they try to fix it, it lasts about 3 months or so and then
it starts all over again.
I had asked my original salesman back in 2013 that I wanted a replacement car or my money back (paid cash for the car). He said he couldn't do that. I have dealt with this crap for 4 years now and its still not right. Why do I have to wait til my car is in horrible conditions to get it fixed RIGHT.
Now, my 100,000 mile warranty is about to run out and then where will I be? I bought a lemon, they knew it and the condition and situation will not be honored after warranty. Will it? I need some answers and a good
attorney.
Purchased (Cash) 2013 Ford Focus in May 2013 in Trumann, AR. Car started shaking and jerking the following month. I called my salesman and he said just drive it, it will work itself out. He said mine did the same thing. I continued to drive it and it only got worse. I called trying to get car into the shop in Trumann about 3-4 times. They never had time or did not have a mechanic available.
I moved to Blytheville, AR in September 2013 and continued to call the Trumann dealership to get something done. They never could get me in to fix the problem. Mean time, the shaking and jerking and hesitation continued to get worse. I finally took car to the dealership (Cannon) here in Blytheville and they could not have been nicer. However, they attempted to fix at least 3-4 times.
Ended up replacing the clutch I think 2 times. Worked on the transmission at least 2 times. I had both filters in the car go out and they replaced those. That was covered under my extended warranty. It seems like every 3 months or so it starts the hesitation/delay and jerking again. I thought they had gotten the problem resolved since my last visit but it has slowly started the jerking again. I will be calling them this week.
I purchased this vehicle as a Pre-Certified vehicle, suggesting it was in excellent running condition. A month later I returned to the dealership with the complaint of shuttering during start up form a stopped position. The dealership said it fit the criteria for a repair. Now at 12,500 miles later the problem has reoccurred. Haven't taken it back yet. What a disappointment again with a Ford product.
First off, it's a stick, so I thought at it was user error at first. Car is sometimes sluggish and lags in first, bucks around before it gets going. But it does it to everyone that drives it. Not necessarily dangerous, but I avoid U-turns or crossing roads that require good timing.
Of note, when the rear main seal failed the first time, I brought this up and Ford did warranty work that included reinstalling the transmission and replacing fly wheel and clutch. Problem persists.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I feel that the Ford dealership in Augusta, GA on Wrightsboro Road are a bunch of rude a-holes. Honestly, I found that the whole clutch was on the recall for the transmission, but was not replaced when Ford did the repair. We were also charged a fee for the diagnosis, but the recall specialist informed me we were not supposed to be charged at all. Now we are stuck making payments on a car that has stopped working on us.
- Warren C., Augusta, Georgia, United States