Issues with new 2012 Ford Focus

[Titanium_Princess]

Originally Posted by 20Focus13

I just ordered a 2013 Focus ST and the only reason I have made this post is that Ford makes pretty good vehicles. I see other members touting their Asian cars and I have had a 1996 Escort last me 212,000 miles which I sold to a friend that drove it for another 40k and my current 2003 ZX2 has 204,000 miles on it and is still a nice car. I again will sell it when my Focus comes in. I really feel bad for all of the Focus owners that have problems with their Focus's and I hope that Ford gets it together and fixes their cars. Then maybe they will get close to the mileage I have had with my little Ford cars.

How did you order your ST? No one has info here in ABQ..

[20Focus13]

Titanium_Princess,

I ordered mine around a month ago and I am sure others have placed orders for theirs even before I did. I am not sure if the dealer has to be a SVT dealer to get one ordered or not. Possibly another member can help you with this. Maybe member "imccrea" can help you because I think they are Ford Internet Sales people.

[DEREKC]

If I am not mistaken, orders began about a month ago for the Focus ST. All dealers will have access to order the car. The sales manager at my dealership told me that he has ordered 2.

[cfioretti]

Hey...

I bought a Focus when they were just released last April. I have been struggling with the transmission issues every day. I have had it in twice to the dealership and was told that it is working as designed and is simply the way the dual clutch shifts.

In particular, I notice the shuddering when I accelerate slowly and right after it shifts to 3rd gear. It almost seems that it shifts too early and the rpm's drop causing the shudder. I can avoid the shudder if I accelerate faster when the car is in 2nd gear.

Anyway, I have had all the software updates installed and that didn't fix the issue. I am tempted to take it in and force them to replace the clutch or rebuild the tranny.

The other noise that is distracting is coming from the AC. It seems that when I have the AC engaged, there is a wheezing / subtle whistling noise. This noise goes away when I turn off the AC (and just have the fan running). So it is something with the AC compressor I suppose. This might just be 'Normal' for these cars too... Does anyone else hear this noise while running the AC?

[CoolPa00]

We test drove a 2012 Ford Focus SE two days ago and felt no hesitation, but when we went back to drive it again, we definitely noticed the transmission shudder that this forum describes! They said that it was "normal" for that kind of transmission, and after they test drove the car again themselves and said that they "didn't notice anything unusual", we immediately left the dealership and said NO THANKS! What a terrible thing to have to deal with in a new car!!

[r1derbike]

Originally Posted by cfioretti

Hey...

I bought a Focus when they were just released last April. I have been struggling with the transmission issues every day. I have had it in twice to the dealership and was told that it is working as designed and is simply the way the dual clutch shifts.

In particular, I notice the shuddering when I accelerate slowly and right after it shifts to 3rd gear. It almost seems that it shifts too early and the rpm's drop causing the shudder. I can avoid the shudder if I accelerate faster when the car is in 2nd gear.

Anyway, I have had all the software updates installed and that didn't fix the issue. I am tempted to take it in and force them to replace the clutch or rebuild the tranny.

The other noise that is distracting is coming from the AC. It seems that when I have the AC engaged, there is a wheezing / subtle whistling noise. This noise goes away when I turn off the AC (and just have the fan running). So it is something with the AC compressor I suppose. This might just be 'Normal' for these cars too... Does anyone else hear this noise while running the AC?

Try accelerating hard several times through the gears, if you have passed your break-in mileage. If the clutch for gears 1, 3, and 5 isn't broken-in, this may be the issue, although you would feel the shudder to a lesser degree (or more?) in 5th gear as well, if the clutch is damaged.

Again, if your mileage exceeds the break-in, accelerate it hard through the gears (4 to 5 times, should do it) to see if the clutch is just not broken-in. If the car is never driven briskly, this may have happened.

Good luck!

[JimsFocus]

I'll be taking my 2012 Focus SE back to the dealer for the second time since the 12B37 recall. About 1 1/2 weeks after the recall my car was making a loud grinding sound shifting into 2nd and 4th. Shifting felt erratic and not much power. They hooked the car up to the computer and found nothing wrong. Said the trans was still learning my driving habits. I don't buy it, I told them. My habits haven't changed in 1800 miles. But the car did feel better...for one week. Then the grinding started again.

I explained to the service manager that I've read about this problem, and that they must be aware of it. He said he is aware, but doesn't know if Ford has a fix yet. That was good to hear...NOT! Instead of re-programimg, this time it may go out to a trans guy. I'll let you know how that works.

[justmy2centsisall]

I would return my car if I could because of the transmission and poor mpg. Just like the very first post and the pages and pages of other people, the transmission slips, stalls, delays and is head jerking. I have 3500 miles on mine, mostly HWY and really it feels like it’s getting worse. So many times I hit the gas and can count easily a second before the car moves. I have nearly been hit numerous times because of it. My first service at the dealer I plan on discussing with them.

Another surprise is how poor the mpg on the 2012. I’m getting 32 to 34 mpg. I had a 08 Focus SE 5spd manual and it was impossible to get less than 34MPG in that car and typically I avg 38mpg even at 112K miles. Same driving habits.

Love the look and most of the features of the 2012 car, but the jerky, nonresponsive transmission is really not making me happy.

[ElGatto]

Originally Posted by JimsFocus

I'll be taking my 2012 Focus SE back to the dealer for the second time since the 12B37 recall. About 1 1/2 weeks after the recall my car was making a loud grinding sound shifting into 2nd and 4th. Shifting felt erratic and not much power. They hooked the car up to the computer and found nothing wrong. Said the trans was still learning my driving habits. I don't buy it, I told them. My habits haven't changed in 1800 miles. But the car did feel better...for one week. Then the grinding started again.

I explained to the service manager that I've read about this problem, and that they must be aware of it. He said he is aware, but doesn't know if Ford has a fix yet. That was good to hear...NOT! Instead of re-programimg, this time it may go out to a trans guy. I'll let you know how that works.

Always remember, for whatever it's worth, the warranty on a manufacturer's defect never ends.

[DEREKC]

Hey, maybe the dealer did not actually performed the update(s).