Ford knew Focus, Fiesta models had flawed transmission, sold them anyway
- Thread starter DoubleWasp
- Start date
- Status
Originally Posted by PimTac
Here we go again.
Seriously, can we get back on track and make this a Ford bashing thread again. O and for what it is worth, I am paid on a commission based on parts sales so I have actually made money on this thing thanks to selling so many clutches and control modules. Same with the 6.0 diesel.
Here we go again.
Seriously, can we get back on track and make this a Ford bashing thread again. O and for what it is worth, I am paid on a commission based on parts sales so I have actually made money on this thing thanks to selling so many clutches and control modules. Same with the 6.0 diesel.
Last edited:
Having owned one of these perhaps I can clarify the issue.
The very worst aberrant behavior (freeway stalls, uncommanded lurching into intersections, etc.) are sensational but rare. The common issue is very bad clutch chatter at launch, which is a direct and incurable result of a dry-clutch DCT in a reasonably heavy vehicle. This is compounded by oil leaking onto the clutches and driving conditions like heavy traffic that elevates clutch temps.
Clutch replacements out of warranty are around $1,300. I had two under warranty in the first 20k along with countless software updates and then gave up. And I had a great dealer service department. Now have an Acura with a wet clutch DCT and it's about perfect.
When the Ford DCT was working well it was actually quite pleasant. But still an epic fail.
The very worst aberrant behavior (freeway stalls, uncommanded lurching into intersections, etc.) are sensational but rare. The common issue is very bad clutch chatter at launch, which is a direct and incurable result of a dry-clutch DCT in a reasonably heavy vehicle. This is compounded by oil leaking onto the clutches and driving conditions like heavy traffic that elevates clutch temps.
Clutch replacements out of warranty are around $1,300. I had two under warranty in the first 20k along with countless software updates and then gave up. And I had a great dealer service department. Now have an Acura with a wet clutch DCT and it's about perfect.
When the Ford DCT was working well it was actually quite pleasant. But still an epic fail.
Not only was it shameful for Ford to do this for as long as they have with this particular dry clutch DCT, but to kill off the kill off the Focus this way? Unreal.
The ~2004-2011 Focus was a good, durable small car. Still seeing even ones older than 2004 cruising the roads where I live says a lot about that. They command a decent amount (for what they are) in the used car market in my area for this reason as well.
The ~2004-2011 Focus was a good, durable small car. Still seeing even ones older than 2004 cruising the roads where I live says a lot about that. They command a decent amount (for what they are) in the used car market in my area for this reason as well.
Originally Posted by JTK
Not only was it shameful for Ford to do this for as long as they have with this particular dry clutch DCT, but to kill off the kill off the Focus this way? Unreal.
The ~2004-2011 Focus was a good, durable small car. Still seeing even ones older than 2004 cruising the roads where I live says a lot about that. They command a decent amount (for what they are) in the used car market in my area for this reason as well.
Ford Focus with diesel engines in Europe is quite familiar among Taxi drivers with hundreds of thousands of km's.
Not only was it shameful for Ford to do this for as long as they have with this particular dry clutch DCT, but to kill off the kill off the Focus this way? Unreal.
The ~2004-2011 Focus was a good, durable small car. Still seeing even ones older than 2004 cruising the roads where I live says a lot about that. They command a decent amount (for what they are) in the used car market in my area for this reason as well.
Ford Focus with diesel engines in Europe is quite familiar among Taxi drivers with hundreds of thousands of km's.
Originally Posted by bdcardinal
. Same with the 6.0 diesel.
A friend of mine doesn't call them the Sick.0 for nothing. Navistar had the recipe down for the 7.3L, but dropped the ball on the later engines.
. Same with the 6.0 diesel.
A friend of mine doesn't call them the Sick.0 for nothing. Navistar had the recipe down for the 7.3L, but dropped the ball on the later engines.
Originally Posted by nthach
Originally Posted by bdcardinal
. Same with the 6.0 diesel.
A friend of mine doesn't call them the Sick.0 for nothing. Navistar had the recipe down for the 7.3L, but dropped the ball on the later engines.
To be honest, I would love a 6.0. They have been out long enough to where the faults are all known and there are fixes for all of them. Plus people hate them so much that they are cheaper than the 7.3 trucks. The only ones worse are the 6.4s.
Originally Posted by bdcardinal
. Same with the 6.0 diesel.
A friend of mine doesn't call them the Sick.0 for nothing. Navistar had the recipe down for the 7.3L, but dropped the ball on the later engines.
To be honest, I would love a 6.0. They have been out long enough to where the faults are all known and there are fixes for all of them. Plus people hate them so much that they are cheaper than the 7.3 trucks. The only ones worse are the 6.4s.
Originally Posted by nthach
Originally Posted by bdcardinal
. Same with the 6.0 diesel.
A friend of mine doesn't call them the Sick.0 for nothing. Navistar had the recipe down for the 7.3L, but dropped the ball on the later engines.
They don't even make their own engines anymore. Their heavy duty truck diesel engine is sourced by MAN and medium duty trucks uses Cummins engines. You can only do so much to "clean" up a 30 year old engine.
Maxxforce aka DT466.
Originally Posted by bdcardinal
. Same with the 6.0 diesel.
A friend of mine doesn't call them the Sick.0 for nothing. Navistar had the recipe down for the 7.3L, but dropped the ball on the later engines.
They don't even make their own engines anymore. Their heavy duty truck diesel engine is sourced by MAN and medium duty trucks uses Cummins engines. You can only do so much to "clean" up a 30 year old engine.
Maxxforce aka DT466.
Originally Posted by bdcardinal
Originally Posted by PimTac
Here we go again.
Seriously, can we get back on track and make this a Ford bashing thread again. O and for what it is worth, I am paid on a commission based on parts sales so I have actually made money on this thing thanks to selling so many clutches and control modules. Same with the 6.0 diesel.
Best thing that happened to my son was that he got T-boned in the Focus juuust hard enough to get it totaled with no injuries to him.
I feel terrible for having recommended Ford to him, but my own track record with the Marque was good.
He is much happier with his Mazda 3.
I wonder how many clients Ford has lost for life over this?
UD
Originally Posted by PimTac
Here we go again.
Seriously, can we get back on track and make this a Ford bashing thread again. O and for what it is worth, I am paid on a commission based on parts sales so I have actually made money on this thing thanks to selling so many clutches and control modules. Same with the 6.0 diesel.
Best thing that happened to my son was that he got T-boned in the Focus juuust hard enough to get it totaled with no injuries to him.
I feel terrible for having recommended Ford to him, but my own track record with the Marque was good.
He is much happier with his Mazda 3.
I wonder how many clients Ford has lost for life over this?
UD
Last edited:
Originally Posted by MNgopher
[
You can complain about it, but the facts are Ford is complying with the terms of the loan, and has until 2022 to pay it back in full, and to date it is on schedule. Portions of this money went to development of Ecoboost engines, the aluminum body on the F150, etc... which to be fair have all resulted in fuel economy gains.
Any talk of ROI shouldn't leave out that "gem" of a mill the 1.0 ecoboost.
This is the next class-action lawsuit waiting to happen.
UD
[
You can complain about it, but the facts are Ford is complying with the terms of the loan, and has until 2022 to pay it back in full, and to date it is on schedule. Portions of this money went to development of Ecoboost engines, the aluminum body on the F150, etc... which to be fair have all resulted in fuel economy gains.
Any talk of ROI shouldn't leave out that "gem" of a mill the 1.0 ecoboost.
This is the next class-action lawsuit waiting to happen.
UD
Originally Posted by Kibitoshin
Originally Posted by nthach
Originally Posted by bdcardinal
. Same with the 6.0 diesel.
A friend of mine doesn't call them the Sick.0 for nothing. Navistar had the recipe down for the 7.3L, but dropped the ball on the later engines.
They don't even make their own engines anymore. Their heavy duty truck diesel engine is sourced by MAN and medium duty trucks uses Cummins engines. You can only do so much to "clean" up a 30 year old engine.
Maxxforce aka DT466.
The 6.7 is all Ford.
Originally Posted by nthach
Originally Posted by bdcardinal
. Same with the 6.0 diesel.
A friend of mine doesn't call them the Sick.0 for nothing. Navistar had the recipe down for the 7.3L, but dropped the ball on the later engines.
They don't even make their own engines anymore. Their heavy duty truck diesel engine is sourced by MAN and medium duty trucks uses Cummins engines. You can only do so much to "clean" up a 30 year old engine.
Maxxforce aka DT466.
The 6.7 is all Ford.
Originally Posted by wag123
These problems definitely affected Ford's inability to sell it's cars which IMO directly led them to discontinue most of their car production. It wasn't just a consumer shift to trucks and SUVs like they claim, and it wasn't just the problems themselves, it was also the way that those problems were handled. Once Ford lost all of those customers they were never going to get them back. Count me as one of them. Ford is now in a position of not having any inexpensive entry level cars for new owners/drivers to get them into the Ford family. This is going to come back to bite them in a BIG way.
Been this way for 40 or more years: You didn't buy a $50,000 F 150 or a road hugging weight carrying LTD or Excursion..... so just fun gu. GTFO with your cheap little s*** box problems.
The manufacturers have hated small car buyers for decades.
My Father went to the Ford and Chevy dealers to see about a commuter Fairmont or Chevette. Couldn't be bothered, either one to take him over to see what was in stock just a jerked thumb and an "Over there" comment while the salesmen continued to talk amongst themselves.
He wound up going across the river to Moline and buying a 78 Subaru which served him well for 10 years.
Fun -gu back at cha Ford.
These problems definitely affected Ford's inability to sell it's cars which IMO directly led them to discontinue most of their car production. It wasn't just a consumer shift to trucks and SUVs like they claim, and it wasn't just the problems themselves, it was also the way that those problems were handled. Once Ford lost all of those customers they were never going to get them back. Count me as one of them. Ford is now in a position of not having any inexpensive entry level cars for new owners/drivers to get them into the Ford family. This is going to come back to bite them in a BIG way.
Been this way for 40 or more years: You didn't buy a $50,000 F 150 or a road hugging weight carrying LTD or Excursion..... so just fun gu. GTFO with your cheap little s*** box problems.
The manufacturers have hated small car buyers for decades.
My Father went to the Ford and Chevy dealers to see about a commuter Fairmont or Chevette. Couldn't be bothered, either one to take him over to see what was in stock just a jerked thumb and an "Over there" comment while the salesmen continued to talk amongst themselves.
He wound up going across the river to Moline and buying a 78 Subaru which served him well for 10 years.
Fun -gu back at cha Ford.
Last edited:
I looked at a 2013 focus hatch with a manual. The salesman told me straight out to stay the F away from the automatic focus'.
I settled on a 2013 Mazda 3 with a skyactiv motor but I really think about that focus a lot. It was a really cool blue...
![[Linked Image]](https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/attachments/usergals/2019/07/full-82667-34434-screenshot_at_jul_13_14_46_02.png "[Linked Image]")
I settled on a 2013 Mazda 3 with a skyactiv motor but I really think about that focus a lot. It was a really cool blue...
This transmission is why I still drive my 1995 Escort which still has it's original automatic transmission.
Having written that, it seems that all car companies are throwing their small car automatic transmissions under the proverbial bus. I'm specifically referring to dual clutch, CVT, to the lack of dipstick, or even a way to add fluid without connecting it to machine at a dealership (like some Toyota's, I think). I think some Mazdas and Chevrolet still use a regular automatic transmission.
Having written that, it seems that all car companies are throwing their small car automatic transmissions under the proverbial bus. I'm specifically referring to dual clutch, CVT, to the lack of dipstick, or even a way to add fluid without connecting it to machine at a dealership (like some Toyota's, I think). I think some Mazdas and Chevrolet still use a regular automatic transmission.
The contempt that American manufacturer has for "A and B market" consumers knows no bounds. They are only served to hold up the CAFE numbers, so they can make more money on SUV's. Yet Toyota makes some crazy number like 350K Corollas for the N.A. market every year, and that's just one car model. They may not be perfect, after all at 185K I did have to replace the AUX jack on mine.
My contempt for Ford also knows no bounds, but dragging my miserable 99 Taurus experiences into this thread is about as relevant as someone trying to drag one Toyota Sienna experience into every manufacturer and every sedan and truck thread.
My contempt for Ford also knows no bounds, but dragging my miserable 99 Taurus experiences into this thread is about as relevant as someone trying to drag one Toyota Sienna experience into every manufacturer and every sedan and truck thread.
Originally Posted by HangFire
The contempt that American manufacturer has for "A and B market" consumers knows no bounds. They are only served to hold up the CAFE numbers, so they can make more money on SUV's. Yet Toyota makes some crazy number like 350K Corollas for the N.A. market every year, and that's just one car model. They may not be perfect, after all at 185K I did have to replace the AUX jack on mine.
My contempt for Ford also knows no bounds, but dragging my miserable 99 Taurus experiences into this thread is about as relevant as someone trying to drag one Toyota Sienna experience into every manufacturer and every sedan and truck thread.
Hey, my AUX still works
But you are right about this completely neglected part of the market. The worst thing is that FORD in Europe knows how to play this game, and they are playing it good.
The contempt that American manufacturer has for "A and B market" consumers knows no bounds. They are only served to hold up the CAFE numbers, so they can make more money on SUV's. Yet Toyota makes some crazy number like 350K Corollas for the N.A. market every year, and that's just one car model. They may not be perfect, after all at 185K I did have to replace the AUX jack on mine.
My contempt for Ford also knows no bounds, but dragging my miserable 99 Taurus experiences into this thread is about as relevant as someone trying to drag one Toyota Sienna experience into every manufacturer and every sedan and truck thread.
Hey, my AUX still works
But you are right about this completely neglected part of the market. The worst thing is that FORD in Europe knows how to play this game, and they are playing it good.
Originally Posted by DweezilAZ
BTW: Many thanks to the OP for the link to the article. I read every word and my upper lip won't uncurl. It's frozen like that from contempt for Ford
And really all the Big 3 are just as guilty. Typically the problems are dealer specific, with a very few dealers trying hard to satisfy clients. Most dealers fall into my "stealership" category, places where they would steal from their own Mom if they thought they could get away with it.
My MIL nearly got hosed by her Nissan dealer on a late model 350z she owns, so it isn't even always domestic car makers.
I can only recall 2 or 3 good dealers in my 45+ years of buying cars. That's a sad stat....
BTW: Many thanks to the OP for the link to the article. I read every word and my upper lip won't uncurl. It's frozen like that from contempt for Ford
And really all the Big 3 are just as guilty. Typically the problems are dealer specific, with a very few dealers trying hard to satisfy clients. Most dealers fall into my "stealership" category, places where they would steal from their own Mom if they thought they could get away with it.
My MIL nearly got hosed by her Nissan dealer on a late model 350z she owns, so it isn't even always domestic car makers.
I can only recall 2 or 3 good dealers in my 45+ years of buying cars. That's a sad stat....
It isn't just the big 3. Every single large car company, including German, Japanese, Korean, and others have had issues like that. Most of them never got the publicity of this one.
It would be naive to think one's favorite car company has never done something like this.
It would be naive to think one's favorite car company has never done something like this.
Fix Or Repair Daily
Found On Roadside Dead
Fu*#ed Old Rusty Dud
I've mentioned in the past how automatic transmissions are too complex and unreliable, and how the manual is always the correct choice to make when buying a car.
Seems Ford agree with me
Found On Roadside Dead
Fu*#ed Old Rusty Dud
I've mentioned in the past how automatic transmissions are too complex and unreliable, and how the manual is always the correct choice to make when buying a car.
Seems Ford agree with me
- Status