2015 Ford Focus rental has transmission problems

[Dave Hess]

I'm out of town and rented a 2015 Ford Focus SE hatchback with only 9000 miles and the transmission shudders very badly from a slow 1 mile per hour roll to around 20 miles per hour. Basically in stop and go city driving.... the transmission is so bad if feels like a new driver learning to a manual trans. Also on the highway from 60 MPH to 90 MPH it has very slooooooow gear changes even at WOT.

I found out these transmissions leak ATF and caused many complaints. Other than a bum transmission this hatchback was very nice and drove great. 35 MPG on the highway and very quiet, interior was decent and seats very comfortable on 3 hour road trip. It's a shame Ford put such a terrible transmission design in an otherwise nice car. I would have no problem driving cross country in this car with a manual transmission.

I notice someone stole the spare tire and jack from trunk. I've rented other cars and notice the same thing.

Luckily I'll get a Chevy Cruze to replace this Ford Focus.

Why put such a complex transmission in an econobox ???
I do understand car manufacturers want maximum gas mileage.

 

[pbm]

I traded in my Cruze for a Focus and have ZERO regrets.

I got tired (and sick) of the constant smell (and loss) of coolant and Chevy's denial that there was a problem.

I really like my 2014 Focus...but I bought the 5 speed manual....

 

[slacktide_bitog]

The transmission has been recalled several times. Maybe it's time for Ford to replace them with regular automatic transmissions or CVT's.

 

[The_Jeff]

Could be the rental company stole the jack, so you use their tow service.

Looking around junkyard cars, they're missing there, too. Wonder if it's to keep people from busting glass in the back 40.

 

[pbm]

The person responsible for 'engineering' this A/T should be fired just like the guy at GM who gave us the leaky Intake Manifold Gaskets (in various engines)....

 

[Branson304]

The automatic transmissions in newer Focus & Fiesta are J-U-N-K

Almost everyone of them I've ever seen has trans. issues. I'm glad my Fiesta is a 5-speed manual. Closing in on 70,000 miles problem free.

 

[wirelessF]

IMO the transmission automated clutch will throw the car into extinction fast. Once the warranty runs out the first owner will probably get rid of it, then the second owner who tries to get it fixed, and then the third owner attempts to fix the automated clutch system and so on until it ends up in the junkyard. Clutch unit is impossible to replace without dealer tools and no used car lot quickie fix in a bottle will keep these cars out on the road for a long time.

UNLESS it's the manual transmission then I can see those cars running to the moon and back many times. Except the majority of the buyers will spring for the automated manual, then they will say how ford cars are junk just like their 90's-2000's taruses.

 

[itguy08]

I don't get why they have not done a regular auto in it yet as it is a sore spot on an otherwise great car. In theory it's a great design - all the efficiency of a manual with the hands off approach of an automatic. But it has not aged well.

Isn't it due for a redesign shortly? Maybe they will go to a normal transmission as it seems that after 3 years they still can't get it right.

 

[sciphi]

That's how it feels. I rented a DCT-equipped Focus a few years back, and it shuddered at low speed. The mechatronics unit on that transmission literally slips the clutch to make the car go slowly.

It's probably not helped by being on rental duty. That transmission is meant to adapt to one driving style, not constantly re-learn.

 

[Dave Hess]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
I don't get why they have not done a regular auto in it yet as it is a sore spot on an otherwise great car. In theory it's a great design - all the efficiency of a manual with the hands off approach of an automatic. But it has not aged well.

Isn't it due for a redesign shortly? Maybe they will go to a normal transmission as it seems that after 3 years they still can't get it right.


Yep. The auto transmission in my 2005 Civic is very low tech and shifts very smoothly. Just simple ATF drain and refills. The 2001-2002 Civic had a ton of problems before bugs were fixed.

 

[Shrubitup]

Test drove a 15 with 5 speed. Really nice car. Wish I bought it but wife didn't like it. Read all about this issue in forums and knew to only consider the five speed manual transmission.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Originally Posted By: itguy08
I don't get why they have not done a regular auto in it yet as it is a sore spot on an otherwise great car. In theory it's a great design - all the efficiency of a manual with the hands off approach of an automatic. But it has not aged well.

Isn't it due for a redesign shortly? Maybe they will go to a normal transmission as it seems that after 3 years they still can't get it right.


Yep. The auto transmission in my 2005 Civic is very low tech and shifts very smoothly. Just simple ATF drain and refills. The 2001-2002 Civic had a ton of problems before bugs were fixed.


Delete... commented in wrong thread

 

[ram_man]

The focus is junk especially the dual clutch when I worked at the ford dealer there was always a long list of focuses out side waiting to be brought in.

 

[philipp10]

Originally Posted By: pbm
The person responsible for 'engineering' this A/T should be fired just like the guy at GM who gave us the leaky Intake Manifold Gaskets (in various engines)....


oh if it was only just one guy. In GM's case, it apparently was corporate policy. How could it not be, having intake and head gasket problems for over a decade. No excuse to run from past problems.

 

[dishdude]

What exactly does a GM im gasket have to do with a Ford transmission?

 

[aquariuscsm]

A Focus has to have a manual transmission only imo. Everyone I know with an auto has had to have the transmission replaced.

 

[tig1]

Makes me glad I'm still driving my 2007 Focus AT.

 

[HangFire]

A few years back I was stuck in the Doctor's office and read some motor rag that had a compact car shoot-out. The Toyota Corolla did everything adequately and ended up on the bottom of the evaluation. Every other car had some kind of flaw but the writers were breathless about the Focus because its transmission had more speeds than the rest. So, they gave it their award, which was not limited to new car models like some awards.

Oh yeah, they mentioned that the Focus automatic transmission with all those speeds they were impressed with, had weird shifting behavior. But, it was a new model, so they were SURE Ford would sort it out before full production. So, it got the award.

I thought to myself, yeah, I've owned Fords, that transmission won't get sorted out, at least, not this model year. And, it wasn't.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: HangFire
A few years back I was stuck in the Doctor's office and read some motor rag that had a compact car shoot-out. The Toyota Corolla did everything adequately and ended up on the bottom of the evaluation. Every other car had some kind of flaw but the writers were breathless about the Focus because its transmission had more speeds than the rest. So, they gave it their award, which was not limited to new car models like some awards.

Oh yeah, they mentioned that the Focus automatic transmission with all those speeds they were impressed with, had weird shifting behavior. But, it was a new model, so they were SURE Ford would sort it out before full production. So, it got the award.

I thought to myself, yeah, I've owned Fords, that transmission won't get sorted out, at least, not this model year. And, it wasn't.

Buying public don't red car magazines, they bought more Corolla than any other compact make/model.

 

[Dave Hess]

Swapped the car today at Hertz and picked up a Cruze. All around the Focus hatchback is a nice car for under $20,000

I saw a video of a Ford technician rebuilding this transmission, he is similar to Eric The Car Guy on YouTube. If you own a Ford I'm sure you can learn a lot for this guy since he works on diesel trucks and gas vehicles.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YVJnNPbjjjs