I've had my new Ford Focus for less than 2 months. I'm about to take it back to the Northside Ford Service Center in San Antonio, which will make my fourth time to have it back in service since I bought it. At very low speeds, like in stop-and-go driving, with light breaking pressure, the car shakes and shutters.
When I got mine last year, it was smooth as silk -- 500 miles later, it developed a shuttering problem much like how you described. A noise developed as well.
The shuttering problem did not go away until I went in for the 12B37 update. Since then it's been an awesome performer.
Oh, if you need 12B37, or any other update, check this out and enter your VIN:
https://www.etis.ford.com/
The noise still exists, but this will help explain the underlying reasons:
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=306863
Since I've had no metal shavings in the tranmission fluid after 5000 miles, or anything leaking, I'm not going to worry... and, as I always do for cars, I bought the maintenance plan/extended warranty. I prefer some piece of mind, though I hope it never has to be used. And any car has the potential for post-purchase problems; assembly line issues are variable, even under the best of times (that doesn't mean a company should put out slop that's designed to fall apart after x number of years or other things...).
This is normal. Many people have complained about this before (including Fiesta owners), but they're just not used to dual clutch transmissions. This isn't a PowerShift exclusive issue either. The DSG system used in Volkswagens have the same issue. It's just how these transmissions work. They have a very notchy feel to them because they're technically automated manual transmissions.
What makes this different from regular automatics is the absence of the torque converter, which smooths out the shifting process. You're probably asking "well why the hell don't they have one?" Because torque converters are highly inefficient and sap a lot of power from the engine and reduce fuel economy considerably. The only solution would be to switch to a CVT or another traditional automatic car.
Sorry to put it so bluntly but that's just the reality of it. If it makes you any happier Ford is talking about development of an 8-speed transmission in the future (which is not dual clutch). Personally I would love to get my hands on a PowerShift car. Ford is probably the only manufacturer in America that is pioneering this wonderful technology for entry level cars (bonus points for using a maintenance-free dry system).
Well said, though while an 8-speed standard automatic will be neat, will that transmission replace DCT, or be available in certain models only? (e.g. the higher-up Fusion)
And, as the inbuilt computer learns how the car drives, these issues should improve. It only bugs me that, for ~500 miles, me (and some others) had an awesome ride but then problems happened. But 12B37 fixed everything, right from the get-go... for me, anyway.
Coffee sitting in a cup in the cup holder began splattering over the seats. If that is the new normal then forget Ford. The transmission tech said he would not buy a car that did what this one did. Can't believe they would design a car that acts this way.
Along with Ford, you might have to forget about Volkswagon, Hyundai, and others that use a DCT...
But it is possible you have a DCT that is not working right, and it's a fairly new technology. My local Ford dealer has only ONE expert on the engineering and design, and Ford dealers are going to all have to train their employees on DCT because it's not going to go anywhere.
And, after the computer learns the routine amd after 12B37, mine has been completely smooth as silk. Even during the idle-low acceleration rumble, getting past the first 10MPH or so became a dream. Nowadays it's a dream all around, but I do have fear the dream will turn into a nightmare. That's not abnormal for anybody buying a car, but that's something one should not lose sleep over. If something happens, deal with it. If nothing happens, a lot of emotional wrenching was made out of a belief rather than fact and therefore in vain. And I'll agree, it's easier to rationalize than to experience but I've been through the experience. My Focus pretty much improved, and even the noise I occasionally hear is rarely as audible as it once was. I'll keep driving in good faith and know that I am covered if a problem happens. I don't think there will be one, and DCT really is a new technology.
But with improved MPG, that's a driving force behind DCT's increasing standardization and why dealers and independent mechanics are only going to do themselves good to learn the mechanism.