Clutch slips during attempts to pass vehicles, especially trucks on two lane highways. During acceleration suddenly the car looses speed and the tachometer revved up, making safe pass impossible. Had to slow down and merge again behind the vehicle. Only seemed to happen when the car has been drive more than 100 miles non-stop. No problems in city or freeway driving. Really scary when it happened so far about 9 times.

- North Hollywood, CA, USA

My daughter drives a 2003 Ford Focus svt. On February 28, 2007 she was returning to easton, pa from state college, pa when the transmission destroyed itself resulting in a catastrophic failure of the gearbox, flywheel, bell housing and pressure plate. This took place on I-80. I feel you should be informed due to the amount of damage and severity of the explosion. A fire did result from the failure/explosion. I have contacted Ford (state college Ford) and their esp representative has claimed the do not cover pressure plate failure past 12,000 miles and have declined to admit this is a serious situation.

- Easton, PA, USA

Vehicle, a 2003 Ford Focus w/ 20,000 miles, became disabled due to complete failure of clutch to reengage when I shifted - rolled to stop in evening rush hour traffic on interstate 66 in fairfax, virgiinia. Car had prevous intermittent problem with clutch not engaging and was returned from dealer two days earlier, February 2, saying the clutch was "performing ok at this time npf." I could not maneuver from the travel lane and called 911. A virgina state polcie car was dispatched and pulled up behind me to prevent a rear end collosion until the tow truck arrived. Dealer then pronounced that the entire clutch assembly "wore out" and charged $1,840 for a complete repalcement of the pressure plate, clutch plates and fly wheel. They did not retain parts (as I had requested) and denied any warranty coverage.

- Arlington, VA, USA

Buy the car in livingston Montana 09-28-2002 the VIN [xxx] the car had only like 20 miles we drove it off the lot. We went on vacation that summer we had a blow out on the rear driver side. We called the Ford company in livingston, Montana we were in id so they said that they could not do any thing for us. We had to drive to the next town about 14 miles back. We got back we took it to Ford company. The car was pulling to the left and shaking really bad and the trunk will not lock (it will not lock if we push the button ) we do not use the trunk still, the clutch pops out them told us to double clutch and it ( still pops out went you back up sometimes). We took the car back to they, them on 09-24-2003 they had the car for two weeks almost I have a listed of thing want was wrong an still wrong with the car, we told them we want an new car but they still would not give us one or would not work with us, them said I'm sorry but we could not do that. I know you folks had a lot of trouble with the car but I can not do anything. I was mad an still we bought about four sets of tires for that car. The car was only has 48003 miles, we had many outs, we had a back blow again in Nov- 2004. My wife will not drive it much because she is scared of it. It pulls you all over the road in the bad weather we lived in whitehall, Montana very small town if we want to go shopping you have to drive 20 mins plus away, she waits on the weekends to take my car. She only drives the car to take our child to school which is a mile there and back. Please help us a get different car. That my wife will not be scared of. Updated 07/24/2012

- Whitehall, MT, USA

In July, 2004 took vehicle to the dealership to replace the throw-out bearing and clutch plate at about 1,000 miles the same issue happened again in September.

- Ellwood City, PA, USA

2003 svt Ford Focus: Flywheel, pressure plate, clutch assembly failure. Multiple cases have been submitted to dealers. Vehicle has been in shop for 15 business days with no end in sight. I have also heard of bellhousing cracking however I'm not sure if this was a case with my car, no information about that from dealer.

- Canton, MI, USA