10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
30 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
15 / 2
Average Mileage:
59,238 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #783

Jul 172017

Focus

  • 118,000 miles
Ford has issued numerous bulletins related to problems with the Ford Focus transmission. Over the past few years Ford has extended the coverage on certain systems. My car transmission failed, preventing the car from being driven faster than approximately 15 mph (first gear). The dealer completed a software reboot which temporarily addressed the problem but stated that I needed a new "clutch pack" (approximately $1,600). Although the software reboot was covered under one of the warranty extensions, the clutch pack was not. Apparently, the software that tells the system what to do is covered, but the hardware is not? I am very disappointed that Ford refuses to fix the problem in spite of numerous issues that have been identified and documented. The issue/problem that I experienced has been well documented, but Ford refuses to address the fact that faulty design has caused this issue.

- Haymarket, VA, USA

problem #782

Oct 242017

Focus

  • 90,000 miles
Sync module failed. Costing $1000 to fix. A smog part failure resulted in Ford wanting 2000 to repair and replace the fuel tank. The clutch fails to engage on low speed turns creating a loss of control. Ford fixed with the recall. Steering fault detected making it near impossible to steer the car. Recall is available on other models but not Focus. Another 1000 to fix it. Ford is unsafe!

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #781

Feb 022017

Focus

  • miles
When I start the car initially I can't turn the wheel of the car. I have to tug on it to get it to turn eventually. I'm afraid that I'll be driving in the power steering will go out. Also have been having troubles with the transmission slipping. They say my car has too many miles to qualify for the clutch recall that Ford has put out. I don't see what this has to do with a malfunction saying I've had troubles with it since I bought this car. Both of these issues are safety issues. I have no money to replace this stuff. So I don't understand why Ford won't work with people on this there needs to be a recall on the steering as I seen many others complaining about it. And they need to suck it up and take the expenditure of replacing all of these crutches that they have a recall on regardless of mileage. Sometimes my seatbelt comes loose after I clicked it. I have to latch it while trying to drive. I'm tired of this car. I'll never buy from Ford again. I've been having problems with this car since I bought it. And have informed the dealership that we bought it from and they clean there is nothing wrong with it period after taking it too but it's going to cost me $3,000.

- Salina, KS, USA

problem #780

Sep 282017

Focus

  • 118,500 miles
While driving on surface streets @ 25 mph, check engine light came on. Transmission shuddering, rough shifting, overheated and needed to stop driving to cool down. After parked overnight, car won't start. Tried three times and then hold key and car resets and starts. Waited next day, car won't start. Tried three times and then hold key and car resets and starts. Drove car to dealership. Need new clutch, battery in transmission, transmission control module and other parts. Car has only 118K miles on it.

- Dublin, OH, USA

problem #779

Oct 012017

Focus

  • 65,000 miles
Transmission failing unsafe to drive

- Wasilla, AK, USA

problem #778

Aug 012016

Focus

  • 105,431 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, there was an abnormal severe vibration in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to fairway Ford (2322 laurens road greenville, SC 29607) where it was diagnosed that the clutch was defective and needed to be replaced. The year before, the vehicle was serviced under an unknown Ford customer satisfaction campaign for the same component. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 105,431.

- Greenville, SC, USA

problem #777

Sep 132017

Focus

  • 85,000 miles
I have 2012 Ford Focus with about 85,000 miles. Since 2014, I've had my tcm reprogrammed several times and then replaced in Dec 2015 under the extended warranty after it completely stopped working. I brought my car to Ford again in July 2017 because my steering locked up while I was attempting to back up in a parking lot. I was told it was the epas system, and it would cost about $1,800 to replace since it's not covered under warranty. At their insistence, I paid for the replacement. I also made a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at that time. Since July, I've have been back to three Ford dealerships - first two times because of a grinding noise (they couldn't diagnose it then but have since said it is my clutch) and a second time this past Tuesday (9/12) after my car basically short circuited in a parking lot on Monday and it started lurching forward while trying to reverse...simultaneously my breaks locked up and my steering locked up again (my sound/radio display/front buttons were also intermittently not working). Jc Ford did some "reprogramming" but said they couldn't duplicate the issues and told me my clutch would need replaced eventually but Ford would not cover it until it got worse. They told me these problems were unrelated despite me insisting they all felt similar while driving the vehicle. Yesterday (weds, 9/13), while attempting to turn onto a highway, my car again "stalled"/short-circuited (not sure what exactly happened - but the same thing as the previous times) and my breaks locked up and I couldn't move the vehicle from the middle of the road. Fortunately, I was able to get it out of the road after turning it off and on several times. I immediately took it to a Ford nearby and am waiting to hear if they find anything else. I am now scared to drive my vehicle despite Ford looking at it and "fixing" it several times.

- Johnson City, TN, USA

problem #776

Sep 122017

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
Shudder when taking off, seems to be from 1st to 2nd....or 2nd to third. I dont really know. Automatic gearbox. As well, my radio will crackle and pop then "freeze" no sound or control other than a very loud and distracting static and popping from the speakers. This has gotten much worse.

- Denton, TX, USA

problem #775

Nov 092015

Focus

  • miles
Takata inflators: This vehicle in the "drive gear" lunges when gas is pressed and quickly takes off at the slightest press of gas making for a dangerous take off from stop lights and traffic signs while on major roadways. This vehicle when placed in the "park gear" jerks when placed in park and feels as if it will roll backwards while in parking lots or home driveway. The vehicle has been reported multiple times to Ford dealer for assessment and/or repair as "shaking" and "shimmies" while driving, to prevent this feeling, the emergency brake is used often. Once, the vehicle actually rolled backwards in the the "drive" gear but was identified as a defect and repaired by a Ford dealer. When placed in "drive" at that time it was showing on the dash as in "park". this too was corrected by Ford dealer by replacing tcm. Although repairs have been made to this vehicle since purchase, it continues to often shake and shimmy appearing to continue to have issues. As owner, I was not notified of the latest recall part prior to my warranty expiring which may have further resolved some of the lingering issues. Tcm has been replaced, the clutch replaced more than once, or tcm reprogrammed during multiple visits to the Ford dealer.

- Waldorf, MD, USA

problem #774

Sep 032017

Focus

  • 108,000 miles
The check engine light will not turn off, the door sensors keep ringing, and the transmission does not shift properly amd rools backwards when I apply the brakes

- Jonesboro, GA, USA

problem #773

Aug 102017

Focus

  • 110,000 miles
Engine started growling and became very sluggish. At stop lights or even in traffic, the engine would shut off causing for a dangerous situation. Had vehicle repaired in April and now the same troubles are starting to appear again.

- Mcfarland, WI, USA

problem #772

Aug 292017

Focus

  • miles
Transmission shutters, and driver door opens up while driving.17 year old son drives this car worried about his safety. Screen shot this document! !!!

- Jefferson Hills, PA, USA

problem #771

Aug 302017

Focus

  • 94,000 miles
Power steering assist fault came on right after starting vehicle. Was unable to move the steering wheel. Kept shutting car down and restarting but to no avail. The previous day while on the freeway in commuter traffic day the ongoing transmission problem that 2 different local Ford service centers worked on 3 separate occasions. The 1st time I was told they replaced the transmission. The following times they replace a competent and re-programed it. As soon as I left the service center I could tell nothing was done. I called the service rep back and he said it was "adaptive" and I needed to allow it time to adapt. I was told I had a cracked motor mount. I told him it had to be caused by the violent jerking of the transmission when accelerating regardless of the circumstances. In stop and go city traffic I have been close several times to being rear ended because of its jerking /hesitation/acceleration. Tow truck driver could not move the wheel. Vehicle finally towed to local dealer. My extended warranty has been covering the transmission repairs but was told the safety problem on the steering was not covered under the warranty. I'm told to fork over 2K + to fix the steering before they would attempt servicing the transmission. Ford knows they have problems with steering and transmission but fail to correct them. The steering has been documented about going out on drivers at high rate of speeds on the freeway. Ford is intentionally risking the lives of Focus owners and passengers. This is a serious safety issue that Ford needs to correct now by immediate recall. It's obvious they gave no idea how to correct the transmission problem.

- Carmichael, CA, USA

problem #770

Aug 152017

Focus

  • 80,166 miles
While driving down the freeway at 60 mph the inspection light came on and a message stating the power assist has faulted and requires maintenance. When I attempted to pull off at the next off ramp the car was extremely difficult to maneuver and I almost went of the side of the ramp. I had to struggle to get the car home.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #769

Aug 032017

Focus

  • 79,798 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked violently when the accelerator pedal was depressed while driving. The failure recurred once. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to keystone Ford located in chambersburg, pa where the transmission was updated and the control switch of the transmission was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 79,798.

- Chambersburg, PA, USA

problem #768

Jul 272017

Focus

  • 37,505 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration, jerking, and hesitation. As a result, the vehicle was involved in a front end collision. The failure occurred and the vehicle was taken to all american Ford where it was diagnosed that the transmission was defective and the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle had numerous software updates and the clutch was replaced previously. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 128-21707. The contact was referred to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 37,505.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #767

Mar 082017

Focus

  • miles
Sometimes it won't go in reverse, it stutters, shudders, stalls (which is not great when trying to pull out in traffic or make a turn) won't go into gear (shift). Brought it in for tcm recall and they fixed and extended original warranty to 100,000 miles but now it's past that, my extended warranty is up. Took it again to dealer because of trans and they wanted $170 just to look at it. I'm on a fixed income and just don't have the extra. I had it "fixed" by a mechanic friend at his shop and he said this is an ongoing problem with this particular transmission! it has now become a safety issue and I don't know what to do! something needs to be done! Ford needs to make good on this!

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #766

Aug 032017

Focus

  • 53,850 miles
When driving on city street to have the "check engine" light checked, the automatic transmission would go out of gear, the engine would rev up, then the transmission would slam back into 1st gear momentarily, then shift to a much lower gear (3rd?), moving at an unsafe speed for the traffic conditions, then slam back into 1st gear again before starting the whole process over again. Moving from a stop, the same thing would happen. Nor would it engage reverse to back up to park; it would only rev up. This car is unsafe to drive anywhere! Ford needs to recall this transmission asap, at no cost & permanently fix the ongoing problems with it, not just bandaid fixes.

- Oviedo, FL, USA

problem #765

Jul 242017

Focus

  • miles
Transmission stalls. Vehicle.jerks & grinds.wont shift into reverse.caused my wife to almost have accident on freeway. Class action in progress.wife has canser & cant get to dr.

- Mccalla, AL, USA

problem #764

Jul 262017

Focus

  • 82,395 miles
Got car on 05/15//17, driving car stopped car gears wouldn't work car wouldn't move, had car in for this reprogrammed module, car did the same thing. Car has a manufacturer defect that can't be fixed. I told my brother if I and my dad end up dead in it he's to sue Ford.

- Columbus, OH, USA

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