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.
While negotiating my friends steep driveway, I slowed down in drive. While the transmission was holding me stationary on the grade, it suddenly let go and the car rolled backwards. Before I could brake it smashed his low retaining wall and crushed the front passenger door. $500.00 deductible and down time!!
I was parked in my driveway which was a slight incline and had put the car in park when all of a sudden the car started rolling backwards. I don't park on inclines anymore and when I have to because I don't have any other option, I always use the parking brake.
Traded in a 2013 Ford Focus that was paid off because were told extreme long wait to get trans recall repair and couldn't afford a rental for 6 weeks. Was told issue wouldn't be on 2014 but it is and worse!!!!! Last new Ford I will ever buy. Ford must take responsibility and fix or I suggest a class action lawsuit.
July 2014: Had accident, I was on a very small hill and my car rolled backwards, while I was in DRIVE and I hit a vehicle. At the time I thought some idiot had to have rear ended me, but I was wrong, my Focus actually did roll backwards and hit the vehicle behind me. I immediately blamed him, because there is NO way in the world my Focus with the Automatic transmission could have rolled backwards...after reading other reported incidences, I am here to admit it did.
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Mar 2014 traded in Shelby GT500 (yep a Shelby) for brand New Focus Titanium from James Ford, Half Moon Bay. They got my money, so guess what, they feel they don’t have to do anything else with me and the LEMON focus they sold me, and refuse to help me in any way whatsoever, except call me a liar and kept saying they did US a favor! The Salesman Lacy, didn’t even test drive the car, ie: lazy.
I am on Incident # 3, and I have full belief # 4, 5 & 6 are forthcoming.
First one, immediately off the dealer lot, 400 miles (GM Jim Brent says its my fault, called me a liar) (Have not received any return calls from my messages from the owner Bob Jamison at all.
Second: 17,669 miles
Third: 19,500 miles
Focus repairs take 7 – 10 days to fix , and rent-a-car is NOT covered, so I must pay out of pocket. Ford is choosing NOT to cover it, and even worse, blaming the owners. This is Not what I signed up for. The nice parts lady at Napa Ford, Stephanie, has this same car, same issues and is extremely worried even she won’t be able to get this car fix properly. She hates it too.
When I press the gas pedal, I don’t think I should have to hear the transmission aluminum grinding first!!!
My wife and I stay up nights trying to figure out how to get out of it, it’s that bad. We have no faith in this car. Over the weekend went to Santa Cruz 400 mile round trip and my wife now never wants to step foot in the car as a driver or a passenger. We are afraid of what the car is going to act like and if the gas pedal is going to get confused with the transmission, hesitate, stumble and HOPE the car will kick in, not know exactly if it will or in order to get the car moving properly, just how much extra gas we might have to step on the pedal to get clear, and out of it own way. No Faith at all. I can duplicate the problem every time, just press on the gas pedal and wait. Seriously. Do you hear the gas first? Or the transmission first?
I did a poll: Budget rent-a-car say the same problems are happening in Focus & Fiesta. Ford is also sending out bulletins to Dealers to teach us, that this is a normal thing for these transmissions, and we must adjust. I enjoy driving, want to feel safe in my cars, but we can’t here. My enjoyment is gone.
Bottom line: This transmission is NOT normal, please STOP saying that. If you drive this Ford, you will HATE Fords forever. Please recognize this grinding noise as a PROBLEM! And stop saying I personally have to adjust my driving habits and turn UP the volume on my radio so I won’t think about it.
I rent Focus all the time, this aluminum grinding problem is NOT happening to their Focus’s, just mine.
Show of HANDS: How many people heard these noises FIRST, and continued to accept and Buy this car? Saying that NEW noise is normal? 0 (zero)
Lastly, the Engineers who built this car with this transmission must have stock in Chevy, cause after you own this car, you’ll never buy Ford again. Please stop giving me attitude, I honestly never signed a piece of paper saying I would be ok with this. Never!
- Ron L.,
Napa, CA, US
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I took this vehicle back to the dealership after only 1 business day and was told that I was stuck with the vehicle. Great Customer service there. This vehicle hesitates upon acceleration, jerks into gear as if someone is changing gears on a manual and doesn't know how to do so, misses gears and revs up in rpms, and rolls backwards as if it was in reverse when inclined. This is the biggest piece of crap car I have ever bought!!
This is very dangerous, especially when Ford doesn't tell you about this problem. If I wanted a manual transmission I would have bought one. I cannot even teach my child how to drive in this car because of all the transmission problems.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
While negotiating my friends steep driveway, I slowed down in drive. While the transmission was holding me stationary on the grade, it suddenly let go and the car rolled backwards. Before I could brake it smashed his low retaining wall and crushed the front passenger door. $500.00 deductible and down time!!
- bajajimmymc, Sonora, CA, US