Ford Focus SE 2012 [xxx] purchased 08/25/2011. Since new, the vehicle shudder and shake because transmission problems. It was again on the dealer in May 2016 for 2 weeks, after having to wait 20 days for the parts to arrive, at pines Ford in pembroke pines, fl. During this repair also, one of the engine mounts was found broke and the dealer and Ford Motor Company refused to pay for the replacement and the labor, $ 250 dollars total. Really" for an engine mount? the dealership service advisor referred to the engine mount as a "tear and wear" part. Really? this is the first time in my life I have to replace an engine mount on a vehicle 65K miles old. What about all the shuddering and shaking to the engine and transmission component" since new, the car has been at the dealer in more than 8 occasions. In two of this occasions, it took at least 2 weeks to get the car back. The tcm has been replaced and reprogrammed several times, the clutch and or transmission in more than 2 occasions. The dealer service advisor has always tried to convince us that the shuddering and shaking is "normal" as he called. In two occasions the vehicle stall and refuse to come back to life until 30 minutes passed. During last month repair also a case was open with Ford Motor Company on 4/28/2016 [xxx] was closed by [xxx] without our consent. Case is still open and valid. Car is a lemon, plain and simple. 'information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

We had to have the front suspension repaired 3 times in the first 5,000 miles. There was a major knocking sound and you could feel movement in the steering wheel when the car was transistioning over a speed bump or into a driveway. Right after this was fixed, after the third replacement of the same parts, the transmission had to be repaired 4 times, 3 times the clutch pack failed which happened regularly every 10,000-12,500 miles. The car would jerk violently during start of moving and then the clutch would slip while driving at speed. The clutch pack was replaced 3 times. The last time the transmission just failed to shift into any gear, forward or reverse, this happened while the car was moving in a parking lot. We are afraid this will happen driving on the street, through an intersection, getting on or driving on a freeway. The dealer looked at it, they said the onboard computer showed a failure code, they reset the code and then stated there was no porblem. When asked why the part that the failure code said was bad was not replaced the dealer stated that there was no problem and just drive the car. If it fails again have the car towed in and they will check again.

- San Jacinto, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 60 mph, the transmission slipped out of drive into neutral without warning. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and it returned to normal. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- Concord, AR, USA

In 2012 I purchased the vehicle from future Ford in sacramento California. Over the past four years, the car has problems with the transmission, PCM module, transmission control module, clutch, starter, steering wheel, electrical system. I took the car to two Ford dealerships for repairs. The service technicians cannot repair the car. I contacted Ford Motor Company many times and they refuse to refund my money and recall the vehicle the car is very dangerous to drive and a risk to my life and safety. Updated 07/19/16

- Sacramento, CA, USA

The car has 70,000 miles on it. It has had 3 oil leaks (1 oil pan & 2 head gasket); I have also had to have the clutch replaced twice. The first time was due to shuddering and the second time was due to a transmission malfunction code. The two clutches were replaced 10,000 miles apart.

- Bloomfield, MI, USA

New 2012 Ford Focus B/C I didn't want used car repairs. At 57.2K miles the transmission started to makes noises, automatically shift on its own sometimes to a crawl, roll backwards & lurch forward when stopped at lights/stop signs, no power up hills. The automatic transmission cost $1,000-$1,500 dollars but it drives like a clutch. My mechanic told me Ford extended the transmission warranty to 7 yrs or 100K miles B/C of this. He gave me a copy from hotline archive 1) first perform the transmission adaptive relearns using the factory or equivalent scan tool 2) if these codes are P2831 and/or P2832 return immediately, it is likely there is an internal clutch issue. Note, there is a common concern of internal seals leaking fluid onto the clutch Ford has increased the warranty on the internal seals to 7yrs or 100kmiles. Potential causes: Internal automatic transmission 2) transmission control module adaptive relearn - confirmed fix summary: 3) replace automatic transmission. Prior to contacting my mechanic I called the dealership they were vague about the transmission problem. My researched identified other complaints for the same thing. The dealership told me that the parts are backordered 3 months nationwide but it's ok to drive the car including on the freeway & it won't hurt the transmission anymore than what it is. Later I thought what happens if it damages other non-transmission parts not covered under the transmission warranty - will that cost me out of pocket expenses - actuators/synchros/engine mounts, etc. Ford should have told us about this new european dual clutch/auto transmission technology before they sold the car. I think they knew about the problem at the manufacturing stage & still sold the cars. The 2012 Ford Focus should fall under the lemon act. This is wrong from a consumer & safety stand point - driver, passengers, other vehicles.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

Ford Focus recall. Car lost all acceleration while driving about 10mph in traffic but electrical stayed on. Luckily it was traffic and I was able to coast to the roadside. Happened first in November 2015, dealer said it was battery dying. Happened again April 27 2016. Now they're saying it's transmission electrical issues.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

Since we purchased the car new in 2012 it has not operated properly. I understand it is a hybrid transmission and feels different from other automatic transmissions. That is not the problem. The problem is that the car shudders and jerks forward when you step on the accelerator. We have taken the car in for this problem and have been told there is no problem. Yet there have been about three recall or transmission updates. The last recall was serviced in January 2016. Several times I have had to pull off the road and recently the car's engine light came on had to have the vehicle towed to valley isle Ford because the car would not drive. There response after resetting the check engine light was that the car drove fine. I went to pick the car up and I barely made it home. The car again needs to towed back to the dealer. This model needs to be recalled and have the transmission replaced as it will never be able to be fixed.

- Wailuku, HI, USA

Powertrain is slipping, car lunges forward when presses on brake, rolls when gear, and the powertrain light turns on. This is the second/third time that this has happened.

- Onset, MA, USA

I have taken my car into two separate Ford dealerships (elder Ford and bill currie Ford, both located in tampa, fl) for service due to the transmission audibly grinding and the car literally shaking on take off. It sounds like the car is going to die at any moment. Each time I have taken it in, I was told it just needed to be "re-programmed". they would do that then send me on my way only for me to return a month or two later with the same issue. This past time, they replaced the transmission control module again only for the transmission to fail once more. While driving home, my car inexplicably stopped running in the middle of traffic on a busy street. The dashboard showed a transmission malfunction and to get it serviced immediately. I have called Ford's corporate office and they keep telling me to speak with a customer service manager who just refers me back to the dealership for repairs. What if the car had stopped the way it did while I was on the expressway? this is not a safe vehicle and Ford doesn't seem to care. I have copies of the documentation from each time the car was serviced for this issue. I am writing because I am at my wits end and I have given Ford multiple opportunities to get this corrected and they keep trying to put a band-aid on it. I have done my own research and this problem is a very common one among this particular model of vehicle. I want to make sure that awareness is brought to this so that hopefully something can be done before something tragic happens.

- Tampa, FL, USA

Clutch in trans. Skipping. This has and still happening two months after purchase, .been in Ford dealer ( park Ford ) wesley chapel fl. Several times, still reacting the same.very aggravating.sooner or later it's going to jam, causing an accident. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Zephyrhills, FL, USA

Sometimes upon cranking the car and trying to put the car in gear it comes up "transmission not ready" and will not engage. Upon takeoff, it jerks and shudders every time. Going up any kind of incline, it grinds and shakes or shudders. It never takes off smoothly and I am afraid that I am going to get stranded any time due to this. However, technicians tell me all this is normal - it is not!!!!! I am told this is due to a new type of engine - however it does appear to be very faulty. This happens on a daily basis - whether I am on the highway, a two lane road or in a parking lot. This has happened lots of times and I have records where I have taken this to the Ford dealership around six times since I purchased it.

- Cullowhee, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 30 mph, the vehicle started to vibrate. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, there was a hesitation before the vehicle responded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the repair failed to remedy the issue. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage and VIN were unavailable.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

Car hesitates when at low speed; terrible grinding noise when going uphill especially when stop start on a hill. Gears slip while driving; I have owned and driven manual transmissions as well as automatic transmissions that can switch to manual but never experienced anything like this. Today my car would not start: All the interior lights came on just fine- definitely not the battery. Error message on the dash said "parking assist malfunction" - this ended up to be..... the transmission control module. There is definitely something wrong with the way these transmissions were made.

- Nanticoke, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving at various speeds, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to be restarted. Approximately 30 seconds later, the engine stalled and did not restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the control module and the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired five times, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was inoperable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Venice, FL, USA

The transmission jerks and will not shift to gears

- Spring, TX, USA

I bought the car used in July of 2014 with about 23,000 miles. Shortly after buying the vehicle, I experienced the transmission making grinding sounds and shuddering during acceleration. Generally after the vehicle is warmed up and been on a drive. A reprogram was done and I went back to the dealership for the same problem a few weeks later. At this point, with about 30,000 miles, a new clutch and plates were installed. The vehicle performed fine for about 5,000 more miles. The shuddering and grinding noises have returned. The transmission has been reprogrammed twice since the new clutch. I currently have about 45,000 miles. Ford will only reprogram or repair the vehicle if the shudder is outside of a certain range and attempts how to explain this is normal. I am still under factory power train warranty but it is like an act of congress to get the issue resolved. This is a recurring problem and I have been to the various dealerships at least 5 times for help. The transmission will sometimes jerk and struggle to accelerate. Really concerned about my safety and others. I have had this issue from about September 2014 to the present day.

- Nashville, TN, USA

Since the introduction of dual clutch technology, beginning with 2012 Ford Focus models, there have been numerous documented cases of transmission problems. At least two recalls were to address the sluggish shifting. In my case the transmission has never functioned adequately, however I never experienced total failure. On March 15th, in heavy interstate traffic, the transmission experienced a failure. The engine warning light illuminated and the car would not propel forward, even in drive. I turned the vehicles ignition to off then on. That reset the system and I drove home. Now just yesterday, March 23rd, the same thing occurred, however this time I had to tow the car to a Ford service shop. In these events the warning light illuminates and the dashboard indicators flash. The car then idles and shakes failing to propel forward. This is a major safety hazard and I am reading this is a common occurrence with this model year. Serious injuries can occur with this type of failure while driving in traffic congested areas. Ford has not adequately addressed the issue and no resolution exists at this point. A class action lawsuit is in process against Ford due to this issue. This is a very serious matter which should be addressed aggressively and promptly. The vehicle was in motion on an interstate expressway. Note the recalls for their automatic transmission.

- Dallas, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle hesitated and "pull over for six minutes" was displayed across the message board. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic on multiple occasions who diagnosed that the transmission and multiple other parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Louiseville, KY, USA

The transmission on this car is horrendous! I frequently experience severe grinding and shuddering when accelerating and have experienced complete stall outs when turning/merging onto roads and lanes. It is absolutely unsafe and have brought this up to the regional manager of Ford during my current complaint with them. Their response? that it's my fault for how I am driving the car. I am waiting my 3rd clutch replacement due to a 3-5 week backorder due to the frequency of this issue but it's somehow my specific driving causing the problem. Worst of all is that their own service rep admits to this being a patch, not a solution. I will experience good performance for 2-3 months and then the problems will begin again.

- Orlando, FL, USA