2012 Ford Focus

320

Asked by GuruDHKX9 Sep 01, 2017 at 03:22 PM about the 2012 Ford Focus SEL

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My son has a 2012 Ford Focus which is included in the Ford's Dual Clutch or
"PowerShift" Transmission class action lawsuit. Recently he was driving and
experienced an issued with the powershift transmission which made the car
unable to drive. We had the car towed to the dealer for repair.

My question is has anyone experienced this issue and either during the
repair or after the repair did you experience ADDITIONAL issues which you
were told were not a result of the problem with the powershift?

23 Answers

16,315

Apparently there is a fix for these transmissions . Check out with the Ford Dealer. They replace thee clutches and there is a software update. I spoke to a few Ford Service Managers on this.

15 people found this helpful.
320

Thanks. I was aware of that, I really was trying to find out if anyone had other issues after the fix.

4 people found this helpful.
290

I had my Transmission 'fixed' but the dealership would not tell me what they had done citing it as a private matter between themselves and Ford. Whatever they actually did - the shuddering and loss of power was back within 6 months - which apparently is consistent with resetting the computer but not actually doing anything of a physical nature. I took the car to another dealership and whereas their technicians can tell there is a problem - they cannot get it to misbehave enough to meet Ford's 'failure' criteria.

9 people found this helpful.
290

As an update... a 2nd dealership identified the same old problem with the DCT, they swapped out the transmission but I still got dinged CAD$240 for some linkages which are not covered under the warranty - seems pretty stupid that an issue caused by Ford's error - would still cost the consumer money!!!

7 people found this helpful.
60

U had TCM and clutch go out at same time also. Needs to go back again. Also having electric power shortages, battery dies but alternator is fine...Browning work n it's not a fuse. First car as a newly single parent and I choose Ford focus,2012, and it's a joke never had so many problems before!!! Anyone know of lawsuit i can jump aboard for the clutch, rolling in gear problem and trani issues? Please let me kbow, th Featherwoodkat@gmail.com

6 people found this helpful.
320

Just a follow-up, when my son saw the expenses continuing for issues that Ford would not acknowledge had anything to do with the transmission, he took the car to CarMax, they made him an offer and he cut his losses and sold it to them. I know that sounds easier said then done, but it potentially could have been a money pit had he kept it. I know after our experience with Ford and their lack of customer service all the way to the corporate office, I would never purchase any Ford again.

14 people found this helpful.
20

Had the TCM replaced twice. Paid the tow myself the first time and then insisted the dealership pick up the tow the second time. I believe there was a reprogramming done with the second TCM replacement. This all occurred with less than 52,000 miles on the car. I now have 68,000 and have not had an issue so far. The dealership and Ford are extending the warranty on the TCM to 150K.

2 people found this helpful.
320

GuruX4RZ6, Ford extended the warranties to 150,000 miles for all Focus' (I believe 2012 -- 2016) with this issue. The problem my son had was there were other issues that arose as a result but Ford would not include them or cover them. Good luck!

4 people found this helpful.
80

I just bought, a 2012 Ford focus, with 65,000 miles on it. Drove it about three months, and started noticing the clutch problem, took it to the dealer, they said $1300 would fix it. CalledFord they are not going to give me any help. I don’t think it’s right, for them to make a Bad design, and Not fix the problem. I would like to get in on a lawsuit, if anybody knows one.

8 people found this helpful.
320

You're not alone with your purchase. Unfortunately, whoever you purchased it from probably knew of the issues. Your vehicle might be included in the class action already. Here is a link to the website's FAQs. http://fordtransmissionsettlement.com/frequently-asked-questions.aspx#a6 Good luck!

5 people found this helpful.
40

The 2012 Ford Focus with 62,000 miles stopped and making noise in the engine. They said I need a the engine.

320

My son's car had the transmission issue and after it was fixed or replaced, he drove it home (Friday), he went to go to church on Sunday and the check engine light went on. Since it was Sunday and Ford wasn't open, he went to Auto Zone so they could run a diagnostic. Their diagnostic showed it has something to do with the emissions. We took it back to Ford on Monday. The next day they called to tell me the catalytic converter and the vapor management valve needed to be replaced ($1420 which included their diagnostic fee of $130). Unfortunately his car now has 81,000 on it and the emission warranty portion is 8 years/80,000. Hope this helps.

2 people found this helpful.
80

I have had my piece of s### Focus since 2014. While under warranty, it was in 8 times for the transmission; replaced clutch 3 times and did software change the others. My daughters drove it back and forth to college and put on a lot of miles so It has been out of warranty for 3 years now. The engine and everything else has been great. But with all the slipping and shuttering and not going into gear sometimes, it nowhere came close to meeting the avg MPG. Also some close calls getting stuck in intersections. These should have been replaced as a recall and Ford apparently chose the cheaper way out. I sent my information and receipts and thought I was part of a class action lawsuit but I can’t get anyone there to answer me so I’m not sure what happened with that. Nonetheless, I’ve been out shopping for cars today and ..... didn’t go anywhere near the Ford dealer. They won’t ever get our business again.

8 people found this helpful.
60

My 2012 Ford Focus SE began to have transmission problems today. Ended with me being stuck on the side of the road. I realized that there was a recall on the transmission and the TCM. My car wasn't ever serviced for this. AND I bought it from Stevenson Chevrolet in Golden CO, was great for the first three months and now doesn't even want to go into first gear. Its an automatic transmission soooooo. WTF. I am 18 and not a mechanic or a seasoned driver, however, this car should not have this many transmission issues to be considered a 4/5 star safety rating. I rolled back like 5 feet on two hills that normally my car would have made fine.All i'm saying, from the research that ive done, this car should be discontinued and wheres this lawsuit that was started in 2014. Im in. This is completely ridiculous and if cannot get fixed, ill sell the car and go find different. This car is completely unsafe and shouldn't be sold.

4 people found this helpful.
60

AND ANOTHER THING? this car is a six speed Manual transmission that is controlled electronically, which in turn makes the shifts rough and gives the car extra tourque, However, when downshifting it goes into nurture not downshifting. It also causes extremely high idling. When Ford manufactured this model, [20112-2014] they knew of these issues and told dealers to tell customers that it was normal, instead of fixing a mistake and choosing a wet clutch over the Powershift six speed dual clutch. BECAUSE, the SEL and SE are sport edition cars with extra power running through the engine and transmission. BTW most extended warranty only cover the block of the engine not necessarily the transmission in itself. Therefore thats why ford did an extended warranty instead of a recall all together. You're welcome. GOOD LUCK.

2 people found this helpful.
320

I feel for you. I think my son was 18 or 19 when he proudly purchased his on his own. After the first breakdown (within the 1st year) and with subsequent issues, he decided to cut his losses. I just checked the website and it looks like you can still file a claim. Good luck!! http://fordtransmissionsettlement.com/

3 people found this helpful.
30

So I bought this car used because it had 42k miles on it and I was excited because someone had rear ended me and totaled the best car I’d ever had. Drove fine for a bit but the shuddering was bad so I take it to be fixed and they did the TCY or whatever but said it had to be really bad to do anything else, so bad it put me in danger. So far it slips out of gear, it shudders horribly, I roll back some on hills and had it lunge forward once which they told me they never heard of that. I’ve had to replace the battery, the car makes really weird engine noises, The defrost makes clicking noises and my check engine light is on and I was told it was the catalytic converter. Also they keep coming up with recalls and then new ones because they didn’t fix the old ones right (ie door latches). I was advised by the dealership to “drive the heck out of it and sell it at 100k miles”. Single parent so just buying a different car whenever isn’t feasible. They should be ashamed of themselves. I have 104 miles on it and it needs trashed because I’m scared to let my teen daughter drive it. My Toyota Yaris has 150k miles and the mechanic said it was in such good shape it would’ve lasted another 150k.

3 people found this helpful.
20

Just to offer some hope and input...We purchased our 2012 Focus in 2015 and all was great, gas mileage and comfort. Then around 80, 000 miles, we had all the transmission issues. It started AFTER I drove the car in sports mode each time. The shuddering actually didnt bother me, I felt it was part of the new dual clutch feel. But the stalling, this was a problem. We had the transmission module replaced under warranty and all was ok for a time but I never used sports mode again. We experienced some stalling here and there nothing major and it always resolved on its own. Fast forward to 6 weeks ago 5 years after purchase, I accidentally put it in sports mode, engine running but not moving, and quickly moved it back to drive. It started driving VERY bad from that day studdering, loss of power, stalling...i was concerned but I was certain it would resolve itself within a week or so....not so, for another month it did this, some days good some not....what would we do? Sell it to the dealer ? Trade it? I was so sad....I love my car so I waited and kept driving it. I can say for three weeks now, its resolved and drives fine. We now have almost 185,000 miles on it and plan to keep it and use it for collateral on a new car later, as I would not sell this car to anyone as it is unsafe at times. I hope it continues to drive Okay as it us a fun and sporty car and roomy too. My husband will turn it into his work car, he hopes soon. And I am going back to a Jeep.

2 people found this helpful.

2013 hurricane Sandy had to buy a car Ford focus bottom line I love this car but but I’ve had numerous recalls the motor in the window wouldn’t close on Christmas Eve when it was snowing I put a garbage bag over it they replaced the motor this was right after I bought it in NovemberThe material in the back by the defrost disintegrated they replaced that OK the door locks who cares I’m seatbelted in shutter clutch Getty up horsey!!! Hurricane Sandy so much was going on I didn’t know if this is the what is the way a Ford was supposed to drive I had to back out of my driveway I felt the shuttering but I didn’t know if this was normal I felt it wasn’t normal 2014 they dropped the transmission And put in a new shutter clutch well now it’s 2020 I just had a computer control module put in thank God it was under warranty but now I need another shutter clutch not under warranty I think this is a great car bottom of the line did anyone ever hear of one 800 lemon law??? At this point the car is worth more to me than anyone else it won’t sell to a dealer because they know it’s got a faulty transmission this is all what I have learned FORD has been very good to me the door latches were fixed I think funny my recall got recalled Door latches they just took a picture of them to see if they were done right I don’t know I’ll be seatbelted in The shutter clutch would not shift and I could feel it I was doing 30 I turned around and went home I wasn’t far so after putting in the computer control module I felt it still wasn’t right Ford transmission expert took it for a ride so now I’m going to get a shutter clutch looking for someone to do it other than FORD at this point I just want to save some money wish me luck due to Covid some people are charging a $30 Covid sanitation fee and a hazardous waste five dollar charge along with a $10 plastic for your seat And steering wheel $45 extra well this person lost out I have nothing good to say about them that was to fix my door that got hit anybody selling a door I need a white one oh then he wanted to get me a black one and charge me all the fees to paint it I know they Are on eBay!!! I still love my Ford focus I have about 68,000 on it I was even on 95 south when it started acting funny but I made it to North Carolina the last couple hours were stressful considering it’s desolate anyone out there justDon’t buy a Ford focus my sister had no problem with her edge she’s on the second one she didn’t want to put out. A lot of money but she had over 100,000 The dealer just doesn’t give enough for a trade-in try selling it on your own I was told mine is only worth 2500 but to me it’s worth 5000 and no car payment

Well have a 2012 Focus SE, we have had 4 clutches installed by Ford, each last maybe 10 to 20 thousand miles, the car has 110,000 on it now and the shudder is severe yet again. The last one was at 100,000 miles right before the new extended warranty ran out. There is a leak in the transmission front seal that they swore they fixed but it has again leaked all over the clutch and causes the clutches to slip and shudder. My wife loves her little car except for the transmission issue. Ford let us all done on this one and i dont think there is a real fix anywhere.

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