Transmission surges at low speeds

- Dayton, OH, USA

Powershift dual clutch automatic transmission.. I purchased my 2015 Focus a year ago with 17K miles on it. At 21K miles I had to replace the power shift dual clutch, and I am now at 33K miles and I am on my second clutch replacement due to slipping, bucking, kicking, and jerking from the transmission. Ford is refusing to list this as a recall;. my car is actually getting the new clutch installed this week. I just received in the mail a class action settlement is being pursued against Ford for this on going issue with these Focus's. I just want to make other motorist aware if they are feeling these same things from their Focus or fiesta years 2011-2016 please see about getting it checked out. It's not normal for these cars to be doing this.

- Houma, LA, USA

When accelerating or driving up a hill, the vehicle stalls. The clutch was replaced once and the issue was temporarily fixed, but has started again. Also has issues where the radio will make a popping noise and stops working.

- Pasco, WA, USA

Vehicle hesitated/lost power upon entering 55mph highway. Took to dealer, waiting on clutch. Sales person had told me this vehicle had redesigned transmission. At first it performed much smoother than my 2012 Ford fiesta. Not now. Service dept. Claims new clutch is much better. There is a class action suit against Ford now for "power shift" transmission.

- Pound, VA, USA

Transmission slips/shutters/jerks. The automatic transmission has had problems since new. They have repaired it several times and the problem just comes back. It causes hesitation when accelerating from a stop and is dangerous to drive when it happens. Ford will not repair it until the slippage is outside their threshold, but by that time it is a hazard. These cars need to be replaced.

- Boylston, MA, USA

On a number of occasions, I have lost power in different conditions. I have notified the dealers and they have tried to repair my problem each time. They said this is an ongoing problem with this type of transmission and have decided to increase the power-train warranty. I think it is now up to 10 years and 150,000 miles. Unfortunately, they just want to keep fixing those transmissions and control modules but the situation is very dangerous. The loss of power has happened to me in some different conditions; from going up a hill in a residential area at a low rate of speed, to just driving down the highway. On a few occasions, while traveling on highways, my car was unable to shift into passing gear and even seemed to lose power at speeds of 55-65 mph when trying to pass other vehicles. On two specific occasions, my car was unable to go into passing gear as I tried to pass another car. However, last week and about two months ago I lost power while I went to pass a vehicle on a two lane road and had to drop back because the transmission did not respond and actually lost power at a moment that could have resulted in a head-on collision if the car I was passing would have slowed down at the same time I lost power and the on coming car did not slow down. This has been scary and surprises me because it seems to be an intermittent problem. They said it is happening to many other similar vehicles as well. I would have reported this sooner if I had known this NHTSA site was available. I do not believe the manufacturer should be allowed to just keep putting out unsafe vehicles and continue repairing them when such a dangerous condition risks the lives of anyone who passes another vehicle on a two-lane highway. I hope it doesn't take a school bus with kids getting into an accident as a result of this defect to get corrective action taken to remedy this unsafe condition.

- Sedalia, MO, USA

I purchased my first Ford Focus in 2012 and was forced to trade it after needing 3 clutch replacements in only 20K miles of driving. After reassurance from Ford Motor Company of a new redesigned transmission and clutch in the 2015 models with no known issues after considerable testing, I traded my first Focus for my second. To my outrage, not only was I sold a car with a known faulty clutch but I just received my second clutch replacement.. this time in only 13K miles of driving. In a request to Ford to buy my car back, I was told my terrible experience with my first Focus would not be included in the current request for buyback. Next, I was told by a regional manager reviewing my case, that the clutches continued to fail because I did not "drive my car aggressively enough" despite Ford acknowledging thousands being affected by their faulty clutches and current class action lawsuit against Ford. Finally, in solidarity for denying my request for buyback, I was offered 6-free oil changes (valued ~$180), a slap in face for the nearly $50,000 I have paid Ford over the last 5 years for two Ford focuses. In total, I have had 5 clutch replacements in 5 years in two cars; unacceptable.

- Iowa City, IA, USA

Transmission shutters when taking off and when shifting gears. A poor excuse for a transmission when the rest of the car is great. Im sorry Ford but this is not normal! the NHTSA needs to quit stalling and do something about this.

- Pomona Park, FL, USA

The brake pedal depressed all the way to the floor but deceleration was significantly delayed. The steering shuddered and the car jerked from side to side. Front end shuddered repeatedly.

- Huntington Station, NY, USA

I just bought a used 2015 Ford Focus, right from the beginning there was jumping and sputtering as I start driving. I see this as a safety problem in the future not just for me but others with this problem. As you can see if your reading this I'm not the only one with this problem, over 50 people with it, just called different names. I read all over the internet about it, lawsuits in two states, ...just how many people have to complain before this gets recalled !!!!!!

- Spotsylvania, VA, USA

Transmission skips, surges, stalls at low speed or accelerating from a stop. I am seeing lots of complaints online from owners and no remedies from Ford!!! a recall must be started!!! very dangerious.

- Redding, CA, USA

Takata recall. When driving computer or transmission does not change gears on time. Sometimes stays in first gear past 20mph. Problem when driving on freeway and need to speed up. Takata recall. Also seatbelts will not release sometimes when I need to get out of car. It will partially unlock but seatbelt will still be locked in place. I must push seatbelt back in place to totally lock it again the press red button to release. Very dangerous

- Forest Park, GA, USA

We bought the car new in 2015. Last year the transmission would skip or jump, jerk at low speed and also when you excellerated. Took it to the shop and they fixed, we thought. The car is in the shop now for the same issue. It's only been 6 months, and the car has only 21,000 miles on it. City street and highway driving.

- Alton, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While making a right turn out of a parking lot the vehicle shook violently and failed to shift into first gear. In addition, the vehicle stalled without warning. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked and failed to shift into second gear. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed, but the technician could not find a failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000. Updated 05/10/17 updated 05/18/2017

- Brunswick, GA, USA

My Focus has issues shifting (jerks and revs high rpms when taking off) and rolling back at intersections on an incline. I have had the car into the local Ford dealer three times, once they "reprogrammed" the automatic transmission controller and one of the other times they replaced the clutch pack. The third time they told me this was normal operation. Before the clutch pack was replaced the vehicle made severe grinding noses like metal on metal. This was while driving at slow speeds in a parking lot.

- Elkmont, AL, USA

The transmission is horrible. I shakes it sputters and it makes a grinding sound. At times it seems to take off when all I do is press so lightly on the gas. I have had the automatic clutch replaced. I took them 3 times to fix it, finally when the noise got so bad the dealership decided to fix it. I feel unsafe in this car. I am sure it will only get worse as the car ages. It had a problem since day 1. the dealership kept telling me it was normal.

- Wynnewood, PA, USA

Car kept bumping and moving unevenly when starting from a standing stop or while driving at speeds below 10 or 15 mph. The dealer replaced the clutch, actuators, & seals and up dated the PCM/tcm under warranty. The work order date was 9/28/2016 the car had 14757 miles on it.

- Skikie, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds and accelerating from a stop, the vehicle hesitated and jerked into gear. Also, the engine revved and the vehicle lunged forward. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact also mentioned that the rubber on the inside of the wheels was missing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 25,000.

- Tupelo, MS, USA

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While driving low speeds, the vehicle shook and rattled when switching from first to second gear. The dealer indicated that the vehicle was operating normally and no failure was present. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 5,000. Updated 02/07/2017 consumer stated the transmission is progressively worse. It is now slipping as it shifts into 2nd gear. Updated 7/12/18

- Gordonville, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. While attempting to accelerate, the vehicle would not exceed 50 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that wires in the vehicle were chewed by rodents, which caused the failure. The contact was informed that the clutch and wires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Taylor, TX, USA