Ford Focus Transmission Problems
The Ford Focus has stood out over time as a vehicle that is fun to drive, practical, and extremely stylish. Its European roots come through in its fun-to-drive demeanor, and a selection of models allows buyers to choose from “mild to wild.”
Despite all of these accolades, there remains one unavoidable issue that the latest generation of Ford Focus (2011-2018) suffers from: perpetual transmission problems. On paper, Ford’s PowerShift transmission is an incredibly advanced design for something available in a basic compact car.
Unfortunately, the design on paper didn’t quite work in real-life, and Ford has been dealing with the disastrous situation of mass transmission failure for years now. This article will cover why this transmission has so many issues, what the symptoms are for a failing Focus transmission, and how you can avoid purchasing a Focus with these issues.
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Why The Ford Focus Transmission Is So Unreliable
For the last generation of Focus (2011-2018), the engineers at Ford decided to go with a dual-clutch transmission design: similar in theory to those that companies like Volkswagen and Audi had offered for nearly 20 years.
These transmissions work like a manual transmission that’s being shifted by the vehicle’s computer, except there is no clutch pedal to change gears or launch off from the start. When done correctly, the result is fewer moving parts, better performance, and enhanced fuel economy.
Unfortunately, these transmissions are rife with problems due to a significant design flaw in the PowerShift (Ford’s marketing name) that causes everything from stalls to rough shifts that drivers get massive headaches.
This is not something that can be easily avoided or fixed since the transmission design is inherently flawed. Ford is well aware of these issues and has released half a dozen TSBs to help both consumers and dealers address the problem.
In March of 2020, a massive class action settlement was reached in favor of owners of the Ford Focus with PowerShift transmission. The issue was so bad with this transmission that Ford agreed to the following concessions to settle the lawsuit:
- Repurchase of your vehicle through an arbitration procedure
- Cash payments totaling up to $2,325
- Discount Certificates of up to $4,650 toward a new car purchase
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Symptoms of Ford Focus Transmission Problems
The issues of transmission failure on the Ford Focus come from the dry clutch design that engages abruptly and does not allow the “slip” that produces smooth starts and shifts. This design leads to jerky applications in stop-and-go driving due to variations in throttle input and throttle position, leading to uneven application of the clutches. It also causes clutch wear due to partial engagement while creeping forward, as one would do in traffic.
Owners also reported rough shifting in between gears while underway and that the transmission will spontaneously go into Neutral, therefore stopping all motion for affected vehicles. As you can imagine, this is highly troubling for owners who are not expecting the car to quit altogether.
After some time, the transmission issues continue to multiply until the transmission either overheats or completely destroys its clutches and throws a warning to stop immediately. This is the end of the line, and the transmission must be replaced.
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Cost To Fix A Focus Transmission: $2000+
Since the entire PowerShift transmission will need to be replaced in the event of failure, it will be an expensive repair - anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 if you take it to a mechanic.
There is no way to completely fix a PowerShift transmission since it’s an inherent flaw of the transmission design. While some people have fewer issues, there are almost no owners who’ve managed to avoid problems altogether, and issues only become more pronounced as the vehicle gets older.
If you take it into a Ford dealership, they can try to reprogram the powertrain control module to reduce the severity of transmission problems. Still, most customers report that this was insufficient to fix the problem.
Which Year Models Of Ford Focus Are Safe To Buy Used?
Avoid buying a used Ford Focus made from 2012 to 2016. These have unreliable PowerShift transmissions.
Stick to buying used Ford Focuses from 2017 or newer - Ford has fixed the transmission in more recent (2017 and later) models. Owners of these models report drastically fewer problems with their transmissions. Check out our free CoPilot Compare tool for the easiest way to search newer-model Ford Focus models in your area.
If you want to risk purchasing a used Ford Focus with the PowerShift automatic, an extended warranty to protect yourself would be highly encouraged. Replacing the transmission can cost you well over $2,000.
We highly recommend getting an independent pre-purchase inspection from a local mechanic with any used car purchase. They cost $100-$200 but can save you thousands by catching problems before signing the paperwork.
How Reliable is the Ford Focus Overall?
Ford is a legendary car manufacturer known for its reliability. However, over the years, the iconic American automaker has lost its touch. Many recently released Ford models, such as the Ranger and Escape, have received disappointing reliability scores – they’re becoming no stranger to below-average reliability ratings.
In the case of the Ford Focus, the first generation lineup started great with good feedback from critics and customers in terms of reliability. However, it seems that most of the Focus’ reliability woes began with the 2000 model year. From blown engines to keys getting stuck in the ignition, the Focus had a rough start to the millennium. Plus, it also had some transmission issues.
The RS and ST versions of the Focus did well in terms of reliability and performance. However, it was when Ford introduced the DPS6 dual-clutch transmission is where things went downhill. Any Focus model outfitted with that gearbox has suffered from various transmission issues.
Many drivers complained about shuddering, hesitations, and jerking while driving their Focus. Other Focus generations have fared better in reliability.
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