CarComplaints.com Notes: For the third year in a row, the 3rd generation Focus is experiencing massive transmission problems.
Most notably owners keep complaining about how there's bad hesitation and jerking when starting from a stop. This isn't the result of an old, worn out part. In fact, the average mileage it's reported to us is just over 15k miles.
When I parked my car it was in perfect working condition. The car sat for a few days and when I went to go drive it again the steering wheel was locked up while the car was on then it unlocked after a few seconds. When I turned the wheel both ways there was a weird noise (like tire on the pavement but worse) and a grinding/vibration in the steering wheel. I drove the car anyways think maybe it just needing to be driven after just sitting. While only a 100 yards down the road the steering wheel locked up for a second they unlocked. Had my dad look at my car and drive it to make sure I wasn't crazy and he couldn't find anything visually but said it wasn't right. Took to dealership the next morning. The dealership had no idea what was wrong with my car. All the technician and even the manager was stumped. Not a good sign. They had to contact the help desk for assistant. They finally got an answer 4 days later that the steering racking pin was bad and needed to be replaced. It was out of warranty of course so the cost of part is going to be about $1900 plus labor so I looking at around $2100.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
When I parked my car it was in perfect working condition. The car sat for a few days and when I went to go drive it again the steering wheel was locked up while the car was on then it unlocked after a few seconds. When I turned the wheel both ways there was a weird noise (like tire on the pavement but worse) and a grinding/vibration in the steering wheel. I drove the car anyways think maybe it just needing to be driven after just sitting. While only a 100 yards down the road the steering wheel locked up for a second they unlocked. Had my dad look at my car and drive it to make sure I wasn't crazy and he couldn't find anything visually but said it wasn't right. Took to dealership the next morning. The dealership had no idea what was wrong with my car. All the technician and even the manager was stumped. Not a good sign. They had to contact the help desk for assistant. They finally got an answer 4 days later that the steering racking pin was bad and needed to be replaced. It was out of warranty of course so the cost of part is going to be about $1900 plus labor so I looking at around $2100.
- jmitch, Huntsville, AL, US