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Ford Focus Transmission Problems

672 messages,  Last post on May 22, 2013 at 12:25 AM

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

    
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Messages Page 18 of 68

#163 of 672 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 672 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.

#165 of 672 Ford Focus SE4 EX by Timdrivesaford

May 21, 2009 (10:59 pm)

I purchased this 2005 Focus used in 2007. Was great for the first year-plus and I put about 55K miles on the car. Then I started having auto-electric issues (which are chronicled in another thread on this site: battery died mysteriously, anti-theft fuse blew and shut the car down, alternator went up).
 
A couple weeks ago, the transmission acted up. Shifted rough, and didn't feel like it was getting out of second. The O/D OFF light started flashing. Took it to a reputable garage who said tranny was shot.. I gulped and put down 3K for a new Jarvis transmission.
 
It ran great for about three days. Then it started shifting rough again. Check Engine light came on and the O/D light flashed again. Went back to the garage and they ran the diagnostic codes. Two things came up. One was a possible bad ground in a tail light that will cause the tranny to malfunction. The other was a heat sensor in the transmission that would do the same thing if bad. The garage narrowed it down to the sensor and replaced it (it was under the Jarvis warranty).
 
I picked the car up this morning and drove it today with no problem. Tonight? Same thing again. Rough shifts, O/D light is flashing. So, I'm taking it back in the AM. I wonder if the electric problems - which were never really explained - aren't related to the same source as this problem. If there is a bad ground in the tail light, could it have caused all these issues? Anyone have an experience/opinion???

#166 of 672 Re: 2004 Ford Focus Z3 Transmission From HELL [carolr94] by mweber

Jun 04, 2009 (8:02 pm)

Replying to: carolr94 (May 12, 2009 5:07 am)
I have a Ford Focus with nearly 150k miles - I have had absolutely no problems with it. I bought it new and would buy one again. I serviced the transmission like the owners manual said and everything is great - did you have all maintenance done? Consumer reports rates Focus as one of the most reliable cars out there.

#167 of 672 Re: 2004 Ford Focus Z3 Transmission From HELL [mweber] by bird54

Jun 05, 2009 (7:03 am)

Replying to: mweber (Jun 04, 2009 8:02 pm)
I am glad that you have had such great "luck" with your car. I had the Focus serviced as recommended by the owners manual. That car was babied! I have since sold the 2003 Focus and purchased a Toytota Camry. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD!!

#168 of 672 Re: add to #156 & 159 [carolr94] by ih8ford

Jun 11, 2009 (11:16 pm)

Replying to: carolr94 (May 13, 2009 10:42 am)
Hi Carol the transmission on my Ford just went out tonight completely out of the blue. I am also from Laconia. Can you please tell me the dealer that will replace it for $1500? Thanks.

#169 of 672 Ranting about my Focus experience... by radioempty

Jun 17, 2009 (11:44 am)

I bought a 2005 Ford Focus hatchback in May 2008 to replace my gas guzzler of an SUV. I loved the car, it had power, pep and looked great. However, I ended up disliking the lack of power options (no AC in the summer was a bummer). So I went to Bay Ford in Port Orchard, Washington and traded it in for a 2007 Ford Focus SE sedan.
 
Almost right out the door, my trunk refused to latch shut, so I had to give it up for a few days so they could replace the latch. After that, it was smooth sailing until winter, when my power steering pump burned out. I've driven without steering before, so I learned to live without it so I wouldn't have to pay for a new pump.
 
Then my transmission started messing up. Thankfully it was still under warranty so I took it in and they replaced some stuff dealing with the overdrive (which was the main problem), at no cost to me. This was at about 53,000 miles.
 
Less than a month later, my overdrive light on my cluster came on and my overdrive shut off. I went back to the dealership and had them take a look at it (this time I was at 56,000 miles). They told me nothing was wrong, and sent me on my way.
 
Two months later and with an expired warranty, my transmission started slipping. Within a week, my car was struggling to get uphill. I made an appointment with the manager at the dealership to discuss my problem.
 
I told the manager that this issue was so severe that my transmission was most likely failing when they first looked at it, and how they missed it was beyond me when they had my transmission lying in pieces in their shop. He told me essentially there was nothing he could do since I *poorly* maintained my car (mind you, it was beyond my control). Words were exchanged and now my car is sitting in the shop, and thousands of dollars are about to go out the door.
 
Has anyone had this kind of experience with their transmission failing?

#170 of 672 2003 ford focus transmission by carvaz4611

Jun 30, 2009 (2:13 pm)

92 k+, when car is cold tranni shifts fine. after 20mi. or so it starts jerking from 1st to 2nd gear and overdrive will not engage, trans. overheat light comes on, but if you re-start car light stays off, as a result of no o/d engine light comes on, had it checked it it shows P0761 shift solenoid "c" performance or stuck off, have you had this problem? ford does not know which of the solenoids is PO761, please help i'm on a tight budget, if you know the answer please contact me direct carvaz4611, i know i'm not supposed to but i'm at the y. thanks

#171 of 672 Re: 2004 Ford Focus Z3 Transmission From HELL [buffee] by buffee

Jul 02, 2009 (5:32 pm)

Replying to: buffee (May 11, 2009 5:00 pm)
Just an update on my transmission from HELL. Well I just wrote a check for 2800$ for the new tranny.....& to add insult to injury. The service manager at Homer Heller Ford...just called to tell me laughing" oh BTW you did have an extended warranty that expired last month" after I had called them 20 times since May & have a contract that clearly shows I did NOT purchase an extended warranty....and on top of it, 2 of Ford's people called me last month..wanting to SELL me another warranty for 1,000...even though evidently I had one. I am furious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#172 of 672 over reving between 1st and 2nd gear by brian104

Jul 04, 2009 (3:14 pm)

i been having this problem since i bought the car. i had it tranny rebuilt and it was working for one day. because at first it didn't have first gear at all and that was fixed. i was hoping some can help me this problem.

Messages Page 18 of 68

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