8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,300
Average Mileage:
53,950 miles
Total Complaints:
11 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. new clutch system (4 reports)
  2. not sure (4 reports)
  3. replace clutch (2 reports)
  4. requires replacement. on "backorder" and may take weeks (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.

problem #11

Dec 272019

Focus SEL 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 121,000 miles

In August 2019 the TCM failed on the transmission that was covered under my warranty. In December 2019 the car started jerking and taking forever to pull off in traffic or at a stop sign. Of welch ford in hardeeville sc had my car for 3 weeks because the warranty did not cover the clutch and the manufactured warranty expired. I had to pay 2,300 out of pocket. I was out of a car and unable to get a rental. My service was horrible as I already submitted a bbb report on the company.

- Juanita A., Hilton Head , SC, US

problem #10

Nov 272018

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,000 miles

First the TCM (trans control module went out) which Ford reluctantly repaired after being reminded of the warranty due to so many complaints, class action suits, & recalls on it. so they did replace that. A few months later having more transmission issues with engine light coming on stating "transmission hot pull over", shuddering, no power...had to get vehicle towed to Ford dealership Cookeville, TN & they said we will have to pay $500 for them to tear it down to see what's wrong with it.

After agreeing to that (thinking the rest will be covered under the extended warranty/ recall on Focus transmissions) but after the dealership took it apart they stated that the warranty won't cover the clutches cause its the throwout bearing causing the clutches to go bad. And continued to tell us it will cost $2300.00 for them to fix it. I don't understand how this is possible considering the extended warranty/ recall that Ford is not honoring. I intend to join the class action / arbitration...meanwhile the car still remains at the dealership with them telling me we need to get it moved. help!

- amyrad74, Carthage, US

problem #9

Aug 022018

Focus SE 2.0L Eng Vin 2

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,799 miles

Waiting to turn left at an intersection, my turn comes. I accelerate for about half a second before the car just revved. Thank god oncoming traffic was far enough away to stop or my 2 children and wife probably wouldn't be here today. Put the car into park because nothing was happening in drive. Tried to go back into drive and the stick was completely locked up. Couldn't get it out of park. Shut the car off and back on again to maybe"reset" something. Kind of in a panic because I don't know what's wrong and I'm blocking traffic across 3 lanes. After the 3rd startup I was able to put it into drive long enough to drive it off the road where it just cut out again and just revved.

- Mitch P., Scarburough, ON, Canada

problem #8

Dec 102012

Focus LX 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,542 miles

Bought a 2012 Ford Focus in 2012 - new from the Ford dealer. After several months noticed issues with the transmission. Did not realize it was a clutch issue until recently (09/2017). Since buying the car the clutch sometimes revved high without engaging, shutters at low speeds when accelerating on flat roads, around sharp corners and on inclines. You can hear the clutch plate engaging and disengaging as the car shutters at low speeds especially in stop and go traffic. The transmission/clutch has been serviced for the past 5 years. Adjustments and new programming from the factory. Issues always return after a month or two. Ford repair in Jerusalem never came clean that they knew there was a clutch issue. In September 2017 I was in heavy stop and go traffic for 45 minutes. Jerusalem is hilly. Normal stop and go driving. Foot on brake, foot off brake, crawl speed. Some uphill. While on a hill at a light, I was able to accelerate on a green light and received a warning on the info panel to pull over and shut the engine off for 5 to 10 minutes. Clutch was overheating and the car was going to shut down.

I had no clue what was going on. I pulled halfway on the sidewalk in rush hour traffic and hundreds of pedestrians - all wondering if I had lost my mind. I called Ford and got the head mechanic on the phone. He told me it’s a known issue. Not to worry. Give it a few minutes, start the car and keep driving. He said if it happens again to bring the car in.

Did lots of research on YouTube realized that Ford knew they built a defective clutch but decided it would be cheaper to replace than to fix. They created a work around when they accepted the design of the clutch to boost gas efficiency. The warning on the info panelis a fake/non-existent temperature sensor that is really a mathematical algorithm that predicts your driving habits and shuts the car down if it thinks the clutch is overheating. What a scam by Ford.

My first stab at buying a US car and no less a Ford. Never again. I’m going back to Honda.

Update from Nov 13, 2017: Latest from Ford Jerusalem is they are replacing the clutch. New adventure begins.

- David S., Jerusalem, Israel

problem #7

May 222015

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

May 2015 put my Ford Focus in shop @ dealership for clutch/transmission problems. Who would have thought nearly nine months later my car was totally destroyed the clutch/transmission was worse than when I put it in the shop. They used the recall money and exhausted all my warranty's and extra warranty's I had purchased when I bought the car. I did not want to buy a new car because I was 1 year away from being car payment free.

The dealership said they was done there was nothing else they could do and there was no more money left to fix my car needless to say I was not happy and had a few choice words to say but I left in my Ford Focus praying and crying the whole way home wondering if I was going to make it home and what was I going to do next. Don't get me wrong during the 9 months the dealership gave me new cars to drive but that was an hassle always worried I was going to mess them up and learning the all the buttons and different features and having to trade them every time you get to an certain mileage.

I did trade my Focus in on an new car which I did not want to have to do but I am on the highway everyday for work and I want to be able make it safe and sound. This was my 3rd Ford purchase and my last in the previous years I had bought Mercury Mountaineer and Ford Escape that back end oil seal leaks that I fixed several times and could never get them fixed right.

- Treva K., Stevenson, US

problem #6

Apr 012015

Focus Tinamium 2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

Too bad I love the Ford Focus, because it is a crap car.

- Jane P., Evanston, IL, US

problem #5

Jul 012014

Focus 1600

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,981 miles

I have a car Ford Focus model of 2012 year, I have a problem which mechanical engineer addressed it as clutch dysfunction ,also he claimed that it is from company of origin, this problem exists since one year, the most interesting thing that my colleagues have same car of Same model have same problem. Please don't hesitate to contact me back about the possible solutions..thanks.

- Abdelrahman S., Ramallah, Israel

problem #4

Jun 082015

Focus SE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

2nd time in 10 months clutch has gone on 2012 Ford Focus!

- Anthony P., Waterford, ME, US

problem #3

Oct 162013

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles

How does a clutch go bad in an AUTOMATIC vehicle? Kudos to Ford for achieving for the near impossible!

- Holly A., Hope Mills, NC, US

problem #2

Nov 032014

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Car had warning light come on for engine temp, advised to turn car off. We did this and found to be 1/2 gallon low on coolant, this car is serviced every 3000-5000 miles at a Ford dealership, so apparently the job wasn't being done. That was on a Thursday, then Monday as my kid is on way to school the vehicle starts shaking and jerking violently to the point the car cannot be driven. So we have it towed to the Ford place.....where later I get a call that there has been a seal leaking and the clutch has to be replaced.

My first problem is: if this is serviced regularly would they not notice or check a leaking seal? Wouldn't there be a puddle?? 2nd; why are there no check engine lights for a low fluid level in a DCT? Seems like if it's run by the computer it should know when a fluid is low, and now I'm without a car, but still have the payment for a vehicle that I cannot drive. The dealership says there are many bulletins out on this matter but that Ford is not likely to pay for this......

I'M LIVID!!!! Not to mention the car running out of gas with the gauge still showing 30miles till empty.

- Tiffanie D., Camden, AR, US

problem #1

Oct 012013

Focus SE 2.0L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,000 miles

-At 5,500 miles, “body control module” failed. I lost headlights, instruments, turn-signals, etc. The car needed 3 days of repairs.

-At 9,000 miles, the “audio control module” needed replacing. This repair required 2 days.

-Despite these repairs, I still hear “buzzing, shorting” sounds from the instrument cluster, and my hazards flash, randomly.

-Finally, at 26,000 miles, a bearing required replacing (2 days of repairs). And most recently (27,000 miles) a clutch needs replacing (the shuddering has become intense and the grinding sounds are unbearable). This will require weeks to fix, since the clutch must be "back-ordered."

So, in summary, in 27,000 miles and 16 months of ownership (purchased 6/9/12), 4 major repairs and new issues every few months.

This vehicle should be avoided. Period.

- mfandetti, Wrentham, MA, US