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Ford Focus Transmission Problems

671 messages,  Last post on May 21, 2013 at 5:58 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Focus SVT, Ford Focus, Coupe, Hatchback, Sedan, Wagon

    
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Messages Page 17 of 68

#155 of 671 2004 Ford Focus Z3 Transmission From HELL by buffee

May 11, 2009 (5:00 pm)

Ok, so I only have 27,000 miles on this car. almost 5 years old, bought it brand new, very gently driven. Automatic! The first of the year..when the car was cold, it got stuck in drive....one time/never happened again. Last thursday got into the car after driving it all day, and when it shifted I noticed it was rather hard--normally I cannot hear or feel it shift. Minutes later the O/D off light flashes---GOOD GOD..I had to pull over, put on my glasses to read the manual.....once I retstrted the car, it was fine(I have since found out if you turn it off, then on again it restarts the "computer"...anyway took my car out for shopping on the weekend...drove it for about 3 hours, then all of a sudden at every single stop light...as I tried to go it got stuck in DRIVE---this happened at least 7 times, finally I got it home. I spoke to FORD(they really SUCK!!!) I was told they "never" have to service Focus transmissions(according to my mechanic friends, the ford focus trannys go at about 30,000) my own mechanic had told me at 23,000 to be prepared by 30,000 because he had done alot of them. FORD just won't stand by their cars....I mean it ONLY has 27,000 miles for God' sake. So I just got the call from the Transmission place(I dropped it off this morning) and he said they were going to replace the A Cylinoid, new filter, fluid etc....but he said there was quite a bit of "metal in the pan" which means it means "something is wearing internally" what BS---after 27,000. God I hate FORD!!!! but he said hopefully what they do will "buy" me another 10,000 miles or so....by next year I am dumping this car....& on top of the transmission I have to deal with this FRICKIN locking steering wheel.....I have an alarm.....why oh why do I have to have a locking steering wheel???????

#156 of 671 Re: 2004 Ford Focus Z3 Transmission From HELL [buffee] by carolr94

May 12, 2009 (5:07 am)

Replying to: buffee (May 11, 2009 5:00 pm)
I have a 2002 Ford Focus with 38 thousand miles I made the mistake of taking it to a Ford Dealer and they replaced the selenoid, over $500.00 it is still doing it they claim they do not know what is wrong now, I have talked to Ford several times and they are not admitting there is an issue with their transmissions.....one service manager in NH told me to sell the car quick, ...of course I cannot do that because it is wrong.............I am going to call the President of Ford person to person every day till I get to talk to him.......this is criminal... Ford knows there is an issue ...Now you know why they did not need bail out money from the American people because they do not stand by their cars.last FOrd I ever buy................

#157 of 671 Re: 2004 Ford Focus Z3 Transmission From HELL [carolr94] by dno36

May 12, 2009 (1:05 pm)

Replying to: carolr94 (May 12, 2009 5:07 am)
I believe most of us feel your pain.....
 
It is not very good business for a Service Mgr to tell a customer to "sell their car quick". Maybe that is one FORD's big problems. Poor customer relations via the service dept..
 
If they took your $$ and did not fix anything, the normal route is for the dealer to tell you something else is wrong as well in addition to what they "fixed". This would give them a rational solution and give them a chance to get more of your $$.
 
You should take your car in to get scanned at a local major parts store. This is a free service and it will usually indicate where to start.
 
What was the car doing before you brought it in??
 
DNO.

#159 of 671 Re:2002 Ford Focus by carolr94

May 13, 2009 (5:12 am)

Replying to: dno36 (May 12, 2009 1:05 pm)
oops mine is a 2002 Ford Focus......it would loose power when trying to accelerate and then jerk forward...................almost like it is in neutral. I have had it scanned at a few places and nothing ever shows as being wrong, but seems when it gets warm it will not shift I already replaced the selenoid...............

#160 of 671 2002 Ford Focus by carolr94

May 13, 2009 (9:15 am)

I had another person look at my car this is continued from #156 & 159 - because the car was still acting up pretty bad and the engine light came on so the mechanic could diagnose things............He found that when the OD is off the car runs fine.............I am hoping it is not the transmission and that the OD can be fixed from inside the car without taking out the transmission.............I am praying that is is the issue............( not even sure where the OD button is) but he put me in contact with a Dealership in Laconia NH where he knows the General Manager so I am hoping this is the repair needed and not the transmission after all........will keep you updated...........................

#161 of 671 add to #156 & 159 by carolr94

May 13, 2009 (10:42 am)

so I was referred to Irwin in Laconia and basically they say it could be the Aervo which they quoted at $460.00 I am really hesitant because if they do that and it still doesn't worl then it would mean a new transmission anyway.........and they quoted $2500 +/-.and it would be 3 years or 100k whichever comes first..........I already found a transmission dealer that will do it for $1500.00 with a lifetime warranty...........I guess I will take it to him and see what he says.........I still think what Ford is doing is criminal they know there is an issue and they just are not standing behind their products...........I will never, ever buy another Ford product again.......................

#162 of 671 2003 Ford Focus Transmission Problems by danica1958

May 19, 2009 (10:58 am)

Bought 2003 Ford Focus in 2004...car had 33K on it.....I also bought an extended warranty. In 2006, I had the transmission fixed under warranty. In 2007, the steering wheel locked and that was also fixed under warranty. All warranties expired about 6 months ago. During the last month I occasionally noticed hesitation and some hiccuping. Last Monday, the car sounded much worse...took it to the dealer's service dept....they tell me it's something to do with the transmission but in order for them to find the exact problem it will cost around $3K to dismantle....car was only worth $3900 in decent condition. They didn't recommend fixing it....I was upset to say the least....it only had 57K on it....only put on 24K in 5 years!!!!! I was then referred to someone in sales to help me find a another car..... This car had a history of transmission problems and now I was the one that had to suffer the consequences of their defective transmission!!!! I voiced my opinion to the dealership and they refused to fix the car, but would give me an additional $750 toward a new Ford Fusion.....no other options given. I picked up the vehicle and traded it in on a brand new 2009 Honda Civic....I believe I'm done with Ford...also owned a Contour that was a piece of dirt as well. We have always bought American-made cars, however, our entire family has changed to foreign in the last year and cannot believe the difference in quality/workmanship. If you are having transmission problems with a car, get rid of it and put your good money into a newer car...it is not worth the aggravation!!! Will never buy a Ford again!!!! They don't even stand behind their own product!!!!

#163 of 671 Re: 2003 Ford Focus Transmission Problems [danica1958] by bird54

May 19, 2009 (12:00 pm)

Replying to: danica1958 (May 19, 2009 10:58 am)
I feel your pain and feel EXACTLY the same way you do. We bought a Honda Odessey. I still have my piece of crap Ford Focus-we would not even offer it for a trade in-it's that worthless. Ford Customer service is a joke, and a sad one at best. Ford does not stand behind there products. They build them to BARELY last as long as the warrenty-then after that it's so long sucker. Well I may be just one sucker on this vast planet-but I am one less sucker that has bought a Ford and we have always bought Ford's. Good luck with your Honda-I love my Odessey!

#164 of 671 Re: 2003 Ford Focus Transmission Problems [bird54] by ffford101

May 21, 2009 (7:22 am)

Replying to: bird54 (May 19, 2009 12:00 pm)
I guess our Ford Focus is an anomaly after reading the posts on this thread. We bought a bare-bones 2001 Ford Focus new and now has 156K miles on it and have not had any problems save for an issue with "aggressive" break pads in the first year. Also, after a few tire rotations the mechanic said Ford Focus' are notorious for "eating" tires. Balance and rotate your tires 'til the cows come home and they will still wear abnormally. We have always bought Fords for two reasons: my father-in-law is retired from Ford, and, more importantly, they are the quintessential American car with great design and afFORDability. heh. Sorry about that... Anyway, my point is that any car company, including Ford, will have some form of mechanical issue from new to a million miles on the odometer on any model. Ford, or any other car company, does not maliciously or intentionally manufacture flawed automobiles; some will fall through the proverbial cracks of quality control, hence the occasional recall. And actually now that I am thinking about it we did have a recall regarding the read door locking mechanisms, prone to rust. I know once a consumer has had a bad experience with a company that they automatically assume the worst for the entire company and that is wrong. I'm not trying to defend Ford or any other car manufacturer I'm just saying we have more than gotten our money's worth from our base model Focus, all 156K+ miles and counting.

Messages Page 17 of 68

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