2011 Ford Focus Sport, Transmission Shudders :(

[kelvinyhm]

Thank you to forum member who sent me PM about the recent experience re the firmware update. Unfortunately I don't have enough post to reply you in PM to thank you privately.

[JG33]

Hi Guys, I bought a Focus Trend in Oct 2012 for the missus and it's soon due for a 30k service.
This also has a shuddering problem from the start. I was told by the service rep. at its 3000km service, it will all quieten down after a few more thousand kays.
Well its almost 30,000 and the shuddering is 10 times worse.

If they don't sort it out this time I'm going to trade it in next year, possibly for a Mazda 3.

[kevino]

as previously mentioned we have a 2012 Fiesta with the powershift transmission.
It has now had 3 software updates. Its on 17500kms.
It currently has bad intermittent shudder and grinding noise.
It will be going back to dealer in 2 weeks....

[kevino]

Originally Posted by kevino

as previously mentioned we have a 2012 Fiesta with the powershift transmission.
It has now had 3 software updates. Its on 17500kms.
It currently has bad intermittent shudder and grinding noise.
It will be going back to dealer in 2 weeks....

Our fiesta went into the dealer yesterday at 19000kms.
It is faulty and software updates are all done.
It is going back (when parts arrive) for a new clutch!
All under warranty.

[rooford]

This transmission shudder is a strange one, I have a 2012 sport auto, and have had some problems with a rattling / grinding noise from the transmission when it changed from 3rd to 4th, this was diagnosed by my dealer as a fault with the transmission and they fitted a new clutch assembly, and the problem has gone, and the transmission is smooth, and has no shudder , or hesitation, or noise.
The thing is at no time did mine have a shuddering or hesitation issue, only the now gone noise, but a mate of mine who has a 2013 Trend, has the hesitation problem, he had a drive of mine recently and said the difference in mine and his was chalk and cheese, so what is it that only some cars have this problem, you would think that if it was an inherent problem with the transmissions all Focus cars would have it, but no.

[KosCo]

I have a Focus Titanium ie. 6 speed powershift petrol engine - now 12 months old.

Had the car for about 6-9 months and shudder appeared. Took the car back and they did a software upgrade. This improved the situation - reverse gear was much smoother, hill stop assist now worked, shudder was still present but not quite as bad.

A few weeks after the software upgrade, engine stopped for no reason and took about 3 minutes to re-start. Took car back and they "pulled the gearbox apart and cleaned the clutch" - well, according to what they said.

A few weeks after this, got a call from the service dept to bring the car back as they had parts to be replaced (they hadn't told me about this when I picked up the car last time).

New parts were installed and FINALLY the shudder has disappeared - very nice now and like brand new and hope this is the last of the gearbox problems.

This was all fixed under warranty but also noted that the dealer will avoid giving details of exactly what they have done to the car - would not provide any paperwork and depending on who you talk to and what day of the week it is, you will get a different and vague answer every time.

[KosCo]

If you want more information on the Ford Powershift problems, look at --

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Fo...problems.shtml

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by KosCo

If you want more information on the Ford Powershift problems, look at --

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Fo...problems.shtml

#20 "Boggus Ford lol.

[LeadFoot81]

Sorry to read of everyone's problems with these transmissions.

Mrs LeadFoot's Focus Titanium has developed a light grinding sound (we can hear it on gentle acceleration from a full stop) whether it isn't there on firm/hard acceleration (or we just can't hear it) I don't know.

The transmission can be quite jerky and indecisive when reversing, there's some slight slippage on initial acceleration, but once you're going it's fine - nice smooth, decisive shifts and no issues with power delivery.

We'll be taking the car in for its 15,000km service and check of the transmission in the next couple of weeks. I'll post back once we hear what's going on.

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

there's some slight slippage on initial acceleration, but once you're going it's fine - nice smooth, decisive shifts and no issues with power delivery.

Describes our issues perfectly, its there clutch system the biggest cause of there trans problems.

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by SpoolMan

Describes our issues perfectly, its there clutch system the biggest cause of there trans problems.

Hey Spoolman have you had yours looked at by the dealership?

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

Hey Spoolman have you had yours looked at by the dealership?

The plan is to leave it there while we are on holidays next month.

[monk3y]

Hey LeadFoot81,

Your description sounds exactly the same as the problem we had in my wife's 2011 LW Titanium (only has 22000km on it at the moment) at the beginning of Dec.

I took the car into my local dealer who had the car for half a day and did a "re-calibration of the transmission" and a software update.

Haven't had a problem with it since, it's been as good as new.

[kyoshipete]

I wish you luck with the recal..and that after it does its relearning that the differ does not return. Would be nice to know how you went in say 5000 K m time.. !

Sent from my GT-I9210T using Tapatalk

[Franco Cozzo]

I'm standing by my opinion that DSG is a heap of **** and that it should be reserved for the exotics, and stay there until its developed properly.

Until then, CVT/Slushbox for autos because both of those actually work properly most of the time.

[LeadFoot81]

Fair enough.

[LeadFoot81]

Ford have sold a fair few PowerShift equipped Focus and Fiestas worldwide, I wonder what the problem/failure rate is on these transmissions?

There's *a lot* of complaints online, but the problem is (IMO) people only speak up when there is an issue, and not when things are going well.

I'd love to test drive a high km example that hasn't had any issues to see what it sounds/feels like (I know many world argue such a car couldn't exist)

[C0ncrete]

Mine is going in today, clutch assembly to be replaced, also asked him to look at the gear rail selector.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by C0ncrete

Mine is going in today, clutch assembly to be replaced, also asked him to look at the gear rail selector.

I assume it's under warranty? Ask em what the job would have set you back. I assume they will also be changing the transmission oil. Tell them to note it in the service book so you are not changing the oil again before its due.

[C0ncrete]

I personally know the head mechanic there who has taken it on thankfully.

He told me some truths that the normal customers would not want to hear. Lets just say he told me he will fix it and that maybe I should consider selling it once its fixed :(

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by C0ncrete

I personally know the head mechanic there who has taken it on thankfully.

He told me some truths that the normal customers would not want to hear. Lets just say he told me he will fix it and that maybe I should consider selling it once its fixed :(

Hey C0ncrete, would you be willing to share on the forums? Or via PM?

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by C0ncrete

I personally know the head mechanic there who has taken it on thankfully.

He told me some truths that the normal customers would not want to hear. Lets just say he told me he will fix it and that maybe I should consider selling it once its fixed :(

Hey C0ncrete, would you be willing to share what you were told on the forums? Or via PM?

[kevino]

Thats interesting concrete.

Real shame. Great cars, crap transmission.

[marg99]

these new gearboxes are too risky if you keep a car past warranty It may drive me to cars with the old fluid autos which at least seem more reliable

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by marg99

these new gearboxes are too risky if you keep a car past warranty It may drive me to cars with the old fluid autos which at least seem more reliable

Document all your paper work and trips and complaints and if you have issues after warranty we have good consumer laws in this Country, if a known problem persists and hasn't lasted a reasonable amount of time there is coverage.

======================
I was informed that as of December 2013 the cars being built are having the clutch system built with a change of parts, these are the same parts being used in the rebuilds of the problem cars.
I doubt we would sell ours, we love the car and hopefully the fix will see many MORE years of pleasurable driving.

The word is the Corolla is plagued with trans problems also.

[C0ncrete]

Just got back from the dealership where I had a revised clutch installed/replaced in my MII 2012 Focus Sport.

My contact/mechanic advised that the clutches going in now are revised, more specifically there has been work done to the seals. He mentioned that they are leaking fluids which is causing some type of slipping etc.

He did mention that mine did not appear to be leaking.

At any rate, the car is completely different to drive now. I rrrrrreaally have to concentrate hard to get/feel the shuddering. It's drives almost perfect. Within a few weeks I can see myself not even thinking about it or looking for it.

You can still hear the transmission make the awful sounds it does when going around roundabouts etc, but it I doubt that will ever change considering the ways its designed.

So everything reset, new revised clutch. I will continue to monitor.

I had almost learnt to live with the shudder, but the final straw for me was the four separate incidents where the car simply did not go into the next gear when accelerating. Extremely dangerous and nearly caused me to be rear ended. Very scary. Had to limp it home in gears 1/3/5

I did some research and some people mention this was the gear selector rails. I did asked for this to be looked at however the mechanic stated the new clutch should fix that issue also.

We will see, but for the time being I am......"satisfied"

[rooford]

As I reported in earlier posts, I had the dreaded grinding noise coming from the transmission, in my 2012 sport auto which was rectified when a new clutch assembly was installed under warranty, that was 2,000 klm ago, since the new clutch was fitted the gear changes are smooth and silent.
Maybe the new clutch assembly the dealer fitted was one of the new 2013 versions, if this is the case then if any of you are suffering from this problem and the car is still under warranty get it back to the dealer and insist on having them fix it, as it is obviously possible, and you should not be fobbed of with " its normal"
I'm glad I did as I now have a car that is a pleasure to drive, and I am hopeful that should the new clutch have any inherent issues they would have shown up during the 2,000 odd klm traveled since it was installed.

[alokin123]

I've got an auto Focus Sport 2012 Thailand built purchased in Aug 2012.
Is this problem just happening in manual or auto as well? Because my car has been doing this since I got it. I told them when I got it service last year and they said they reset the computer and the car needs to learn how I drive. It was ok for a bit but has just gotten worse over the last the 6 months. I have done 14000KMs.

Is this the problem:

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2038685&p=5

[rooford]

My Focus is the same as yours, same year, auto, built in Thailand.
The shuddering problem which a lot of owners have experienced is different to the grinding noise which happens when you accelerate after a gear change and the gearbox makes a grinding / clanking noise, its like the gears are not engaging properly and the cogs are slipping ( best description I can give) mine never suffered from the shuddering or hesitation problem, but they are two separate issues.

[alokin123]

Originally Posted by rooford

My Focus is the same as yours, same year, auto, built in Thailand.
The shuddering problem which a lot of owners have experienced is different to the grinding noise which happens when you accelerate after a gear change and the gearbox makes a grinding / clanking noise, its like the gears are not engaging properly and the cogs are slipping ( best description I can give) mine never suffered from the shuddering or hesitation problem, but they are two separate issues.

So should I be concerned about my problem? Was yours anything like in this video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9TB-13GUik&noredirect=1

Mine is similar but it doesn't have the rattling sound this guys car had.