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.
9.0
really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
39,200 miles
Total Complaints:
4 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (3 reports)
install a defrost strip similar to rear window (1 reports)
I had the battery replaced and after driving a 1/4 mile away the wipers came on wildly and wouldn't turn off. They finally shut off after the car was turned off for 15min. Next day they won't come on at all.
So basically with the purchase of this Focus I have had two major issues. The transmission which I have documented here and the FROZEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS.
I bought the car in March so did not notice the frozen wipers until winter several months later.
I was late to work many times because even thought I let the car run for 20 plus minutes before I leave the windshield is still frozen and covered in ice.
The WIPERS sit TOO LOW to benefit from the DEFROST STRIP.
I NEED SUGGESTIONS because I am not going to be able to afford to be late with another winter approaching. This is very very bad design and there needs to be a remedy.
The front windshield wipers sit so low toward the cowl that they get no benefit from the defrost function. Yesterday it was 20 degrees with blowing snow, I was travelling down the highway and went to turn on the wipers and they were frozen solid in the off position making visibility zero! The rear wiper worked fine, but I wasn't going backward! If Ford would put a defrost strip on the lower part of the windshield similar to the rear window the problem would be corrected, with the size and angle of the windshield and the position of the wiper arms, the wipers get no heat from the defrost on the heating/AC system.
- Trevor H.,
Newberg, OR, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I consider this dangerous. I have to turn them off & on again - and if I am driving in a heavy downpour, it could cause me to have an accident.
- Barbara M., Washburn, US