This vehicle has been in the shop for all of the above symptoms twice, clutch replacement, reprogramming, and still this problem continues. This transmission problem cannot be considered suitable or a safe operating function. Ford changed their shift strategy with this transmission and among other issues the turbine and output sensors are faulty . Shunting and irregular shifting are putting other stresses on this car (Drive line- as the example).

We have had this vehicle out-of-service for more than 30 days and we feel that now, the third time, this is having the same problems. The lemon Law is going to come into effect and we will have a fourth problem. We bought the extra warranty for 5 years. Not very happy with customer satisfaction (Designed for living-Engineered to last)

I bought the car Christmas Eve 2012 as a gift to myself, turns out this might have been the worst gift EVER! I didn't notice it at first, it was noticed by a passenger that asked "why does it shift so rough"? I didn't think nothing of it but over time it got worse. I took it for a test drive a few times and they said they couldn't find anything wrong, then finally in July 2013 they kept it a few days and told me they had to replace the clutch. OK, cool, it was under warranty no problem. I asked if this had happened before and he said maybe a couple times before but nothing to worry about. They have never had to replace it twice on any car.

It was fine for a while still riding not so smooth but every time I complained they said that's just how those cars shift. Fast forward March 2014. I started smelling oil. I took it in, it's leaking, they replaced something. Now the latest, 05/29/14, I'm sitting at a red light and try to pull off and the car goes NOWHERE. I keep pushing the gas, finally it takes off putters a little and the check engine light comes on. I got a call today 06/01/14 they had to replace the clutch and module AGAIN! So much for them never having to do it twice.

I get that problems will occur and thank God for warranty. I just don't understand with all the complaints about this same issue why is there not a recall on this? I can't wait to trade this car in. This is the first time I have purchased a vehicle and I must say it has not been a good experience. Thank you Ford for screwing that up for me!

Automated manual transmission clutches are slipping causing moderate to severe (intermittent) hesitation. Dealer says that the way its supposed to be when I took it in. Went to independent mechanic and fluid is leaking in rear main seal, dealer didn't even check. Replaced clutch assembly at 12000 miles, hesitation from start, 8000 more miles, dealer says nothing wrong, take to independent mechanic and again leaking from rear main seal. Currently waiting for loaner to get fixed again. Contacted attorney to lemon law the car in Georgia and they have sent notification to Ford

Same as everyone else, I've also posted on lemon law blogs, hundreds and hundreds of complaints.

Bought my car brand new off a major dealership in Columbia, SC. Test drove it and had no issues: 49 miles on it when I drove it off the lot. At 150 miles my husband and I started to notice a grinding metal noise coming from the driver side of the engine between 2nd and 3rd gear. The following few weeks the issue got worse to include skipping gear while driving and hopping/lunging forward. Took it back to the dealership at 1200 miles, who said there was no problem when they drove it and said they reset the transmission code and that should take care of the issue. That we just needed to drive it more, and even said this problem was "normal" for their new Fords 2012+. Code reset lasted about a 3wks-1 month and same engine problem started again. Took it back to dealership yesterday at 2800 miles: they diganosed it with a broke clutch, which they are currently replacing. My husband had called another dealship to ask about our issue and was told that there was a recall on a part of the transmission and that they would be receiving the parts in January to fix their vehicles and that we would be notified when the parts came in. Never heard back from them, so we called in March to ask and they told him there was no recall and that my husband was never told that. Trying to go after the SC lemon law but the dealership keeps saying there is nothing wrong with the transmission. If that is true how does a brand new clutch in an automatic just break???

I will never buy a Ford again and will tell others to stay away from them as well. My whole family has been avid Ford owners but no more. Why buy from a company who doesn't make quality cars or stand behind their warrenty and fix their issues!

Will be trading in my Focus LEMON once I hit the 6 month loan marker. Better to take a hit on the loan and not have a car that is in the service shop more than in my garage!

I've had plenty of other gripes regarding this car but this is one that I felt was the least worry to me. While I felt it may be the sign of later problems, the transmission had awkward noises (what I would describe as clutch chatter) It didn't pose any real problems for me all the way to 44,000 miles. I traded the car in due to other issues I had with it and fear that the transmission and clutch may be an issue later (100,000+). I was informed by the dealer following a transmission recall that the car is equipped with a six speed manual gearbox but it is controlled by a computer and "shifted" by electronic servos and such. That is how they achieved such good MPG on the car because I guess there's a lot less gearing in a manual gearbox. I must say the MPG was good if you were nice to the car. On a hilly two lane highway at 55 mph I was getting 42 MPG for the 25 miles I was stuck behind slower traffic. The only problem is that I have a lead foot and typically don't drive under 80 mph.

I digress...the transmission shifted roughly at times and just seemed like a new driver learning to drive standard. This problem was random and infrequent but appeared to be most often when the car was cold.

I have 2013 Focus Hatchback with the 6 speed “auto”. Quite simply the transmission is a awful! I’m an engineer by education (Bachelors & Master’s) and by trade and there is not another car that I’m aware of that has ever operated by design to shudder, lurch, hesitate and clank like this transmission does. Its on its 3rd trip to the dealer service to see what they’ll do, but I’m skeptical they are wiling or able to fix it. When the regional CSM tells me that shuddering after gear shifts, the occasional clanking metal sound and the hesitation are normal… uh.. Houston we have a problem.. a big big big problem!

I’ve been driving for 36 years and this is the worst car to drive I have ever had. I test drove it.. and it seemed fine. It actually drove OK for the first 5,000 miles.. but ever since the shudders, hesitation are much worse and the clanking has started. The TSB application did nothing on trip 1.. trip 2 they drove it exactly 1 mile and pronounced it fine and operating as desired.. and now trip 3 is with another service center. We’ll see.. but its just unfathomable that FORD, where Quality is supposed job #1, would keep putting these transmissions in these cars. The shuddering after it shifts into 2nd gear shakes the entire car and then it usually hesitates before going on. This is an unsafe characteristic when pulling into moving traffic and expecting the car to go.

I've now been to 2 separate Ford authorized service centers a total of 3 times. I think its pretty clear they cannot fix the problem, which is that the transmission shudders ridiculously after it shifts into 2nd gear, especially after it heats up (like in stop and go traffic). I've told the service guys that it does this intermittently, but especially after the car has been driven for a while (it heats up). The last two service centers drove it a grand total of 0.6 miles trying to replicate the problem (they tried real hard didn't they.. NOT!) but both times they actually reprogrammed the clutch according to the service receipt. Its clear they know of a design flaw.. and that there is nothing they are willing or able to do to fix it.

I'm done with FORD forever!

Update from Apr 15, 2018: ok.. so on the 5th trip and on their last attempt to repair before Georgia lemon law kicked in... they sent a Ford Engineer. He hooked up his computer to the car and had me drive on what was supposed to be 10 minute drive. I didnt even make it out of the parking lot before he said: "Whoa.. thats not supposed to do that! How long has it been doing that?" Exactly... anyway.. they replaced the seal between the transmission and the engine because apparently engine oil was seeping through that seal in the transmission. That was one at about 7,000 miles. Now. flash forward until now.. April 2018.. and only 27,700 miles on the car and its doing the same thing all over again. Its taken 2 more trips to the Ford dealer who is less than supportive and shows no real interest in fixing the thing. They are replacing the transmisison control module, but I'm doubtful it will be a long term fix. we'll see... Run away from these cars... and run away from FORD service centers and their supposed warranty as fast as you can!

Well, I bought this car from ford dealer, Fresh out of dealer only had 20miles on it. After 2 months later we were in rush hour traffic. I started noticing whenever the car in front of us pull forward, then started jerking and doesn't want to move smoothly at all. It was stop and go traffic. I tried to use the link gear, it's even worse. The car feels like transmission almost fall out the car. It's not connecting with the engine and transmission at all. Other problem is whenever u want to cut off people transmission would Lag like there is big delay. I don't know why they didn't stick with regular transmission instead of dual clutch? This is not even a race car. I took it back to dealer and they said they will replace clutch assembly free of charge since it's under warranty. Great now I wonder how long would that last?

I am widowed and bought my 2013 ford focus hatchback so that I would have reliable transportation when I travel to see my children. First I had to have the transmission module replaced because my car completely stranded me beside the road. The newest problem is the transmission clutch. My car is completely gutless and when shifting into 2nd gear it stalls out. I am very frustrated and disappointed in this vehicle. When I called to ask how long it would be to fix my car they asked me if I wanted to drive it until the parts came in. Well NO!! Why would I want to risk getting stranded. I am so fed up with this car I will NEVER purchase a ford again.

SO I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 8/3/13 AFTER TRADING IN MY 2005 KIA RIO. THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY JERKY AND IS LAGGING. IT MAKES A GRINDING NOISE FROM 2ND TO 3RD. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT MY CLUTCH PACK WAS BAD AND CHANGED IT OUT. GOT THE CAR BACK AND IT IS STILL DOING IT AND NOW THE CAR SHAKES WHEN I'M IN GEAR, PARK AND NEUTRAL. ONCE AGAIN I BROUGHT IT BACK AND THIS TIME I GET A PIECE OF PAPER EXPLAINING THAT THE FOCUS HAS A DUAL CLUTCH. THE MECHANIC TOOK A RIDE WITH ME AND WAS TRYING TO TELL ME THAT THE SHAKING IS NORMAL AND THAT WITH THE NEW CLUTCH IT HAS TO RE- LEARN HOW I DRIVE. NOWHERE IN THE PAMPHLET DOES IT SAY THAT THE CAR WILL SHAKE AFTER A NEW CLUTCH. I WAS SENT HOME AND TOLD THEY WOULD ORDER A NEW MOUNT. I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER THE DAY AFTER AND HE SAID THE CAR SHOULDN'T BE SHAKING. I NOW HAVE A LOANER SINCE 9/14/13 AND STILL NO WORD ON WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY NEW CAR THAT I HAVEN'T EVEN MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT ON. FOR NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SH*T CARS THEY ARE SELLING. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO HAVE SOMETHING RELIABLE NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TO KEEP MY RADIO AND AIR OFF TO LISTEN FOR MORE PROBLEMS. I'M SO MAD THAT I EVEN BOUGHT THIS CAR.

my car was 2 days old and my car was jerking really bad. to i brought it into the dealership and they had my read a paper on the new transmission.i told him that wasn't what was going on so i made him go on a test drive with me. he said yes there is a bad problem but they would have to do test on it. it would take a day to do it. well this is my only car and they wouldn't give me another to drive. so i went to a different dealership. they reprogrammed the tranny and it didnt work. they had to order the parts and it took ove 6 weeks before they could fix it. so the shaking stopped but it now shifts hard. they said its fine and didnt notice anything. how do i get this fixed? please help..

I started noticing the noise shortly after the purchase of the car (4/22/13) but at first I wasn't sure if it WAS the car making the noise. We (my wife and I) use the AC a lot because of her allergies. Running the AC on recirculate helps her. So with the sound of the AC, I hadn't heard the noise even though it is still there. Today, 6/23/13, it is about 90 out where we live. I started the car and hadn't turned on the AC yet and that's when I, again, noticed the grinding noise when the transmission shifts from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. So I went on a smooth road that has very little traffic. I repeatedly started from a full stop being very easy on the accelerator and there were the grinding noises ever time. This is also accompanied by the car shifting rough, kind of hesitating or jerking. The acceleration is jus plain not smooth. The jumpy acceleration I noticed the first time I drove the car then not much time after that I noticed the grinding noises. This is the first brand new car we have purchased since 1979. So I just don't expect these problems in a brand new car. I have had many used cars, some with 80K on them to start and they didn't run like this. I'm going to the dealership tomorrow. I have read on the forums many instances of people with the same problem on the 2012. We traded in a 2009 Focus and had none of these problems. I wish I had the 09 back unless they fix these issues. Also the forums have lead me to think that Ford is not owning up to this transmission problem. Oy!

Update from Jul 8, 2013: I took the car to the Ford dealer from where I purchased this car. They performed the TSB 13-4-18. I had given them a copy of it that I printed from a Ford site online. I thought it was curious that they said they weren't aware of this TSB because no one had been in before me with the click click click whir whir click click problem when you just open the driver's door or the transmission noise when it shifts from 1st to 2nd and from 2nd to 3rd. All I can say is that both issues are fixed. On the sheet they gave me when I picked up the car it said "2661 needs PCM and TCM reprogrammed. Check and verify. Found concern related to TSB. Performed TSB 13-4-18. Reprogram PCM and TCM". The only things I noticed after that was that I had to reset the clock and delete and reconnect our cell phones via Bluetooth. The car runs smooth, no more noises. Still, with all the Focus's running around that were built before March 2013, one would think that I wouldn't have been the first one to bring up this problem.

But then again, I'm not sure if we really landed on the moon, that 9/11 could have been an inside job, or that Oswald alone shot JFK.:-/ Too many mysteries in this life.

Update from Apr 4, 2015: I got a notice from Ford in 2014 about the transmission problem and it said to take it to the dealer. I have the August 18, 2014 invoice to prove it. It states that they found the "clutch shudder out of expected limits" They took the whole transmission out to replace a clutch assembly and a seal assembly. They told me that fluid had leaked onto the dry clutch(s). They reprogrammed the PCM. The car's transmission has performed flawlessly since. The invoice said it cost $1100 parts and labor to be fixed. We paid $0. I'm 65 years young and have driven a lot of cars in my life that had torque converters. The car now runs just as smooth as any automatic car I have owned. My wife bought a new 2014 Focus Sedan early in March 2015. It has had no transmission problems at all. And, yes, we test drove it before we got it. So I'm guessing Ford had to have fixed the trouble in the 2014-15 Focus models. So that's what happened to us. A happy ending. I don't know why the class action lawsuit exists when Ford has already owned up to it and will fix the 12 and 13 Focus models for free.

And a side note. Our son bought a 2008 Focus in January 2015 from the used car department of the same dealer. The salesman mentioned his own 2013 Focus having transmission problems and when I told him about ours and how it had been fixed, he knew nothing about the recall. ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Update from Apr 5, 2015: I'm adding a copy of the repair invoice for the 2013 Ford Focus recall transmission repair I had done August 2014

I worked for 2 weeks on getting the best price I could for this car and finally after working 2 dealerships against each other, I bought a brand new 2013 Ford Focus SE Hatchback for $17,081.90 CASH, and after the first week the transmission starting making a grinding or clicking sound. took it in and was told Ford knows about it, but Do Not have a fix for it yet, just keep driving it, it will be ok. @ weeks after that on my way home from on the expressway the transmission completely went out car would not move!!! Pissed off so once I finally got it towed back to dealership ( 2 hours later) They had the car for a week they did give me a loaner but as soon as I got it back I drive next door to Bob Rohrman Nissan and traded it in for a 2013 Nissan Sentra. I was not willing to play the game of always having my car in the shop for the trans and once the warranty ran out having to buy a new trans god knows how often. I recommend anybody else who bought this car Get Rid Of It ASAP you will regret it later!!!!!!!!