Issues with new 2012 Ford Focus

[ElGatto]

Originally Posted by wb2300

Received my 2012 Focus SEL Hatch with the 6 speed Select Shift Auto Tranny this past June 20, 2012. Experienced a little jerkiness and hesitation at lights and stop and go traffic for about the 1st 200 miles of driving. This seems to be resolving itself as most of this is no longer present. It's a great car and I really enjoy driving it. Have about 350 miles on the car now and it rides real smooth. I would recommend this car to anyone.

Bravo to you and 1000's of other satisfied Focus owners. :)

[Becks]

I'm curious about 2 things. I don't know a lot about how this auto tranny works but, I have never heard of needing to drive a new car 500-1,000 miles before it settles in, or acclimates to the way you drive. What happens if you share this car with your significant other, and they have a different driving style ?

Also, why don't the Ford dealers do these program updates b4 the customer takes delivery ?

[RFrench6646]

I am new to this site, I found it in a google search under "2012 Ford Focus Transmission Shudder". I got mine a little over a month ago, It's an SEL, A/T. I noticed the shuddering right away, after receiving it. I now have 3000 miles (mostly highway, obviously). And still have a shudder when starting off from a red light, once it goes, it shifts fine. I have noted that it doesn't do it when the car is first started up. It seems to only happen after it has heated up to normal operating temp. I am going to schedule my first oil change at the dealer soon, and will talk to them about this. I hope there is a program update, or something that can aleviate this issue. I swapped from a Honda Civic, to this car because I was highly impressed with the ride, fit&finish, Sync, and the awesome Sony 10 speaker stereo. So I am REALLY hoping to get this resolved!!!

[Dylan1970]

Originally Posted by RFrench6646

I am new to this site, I found it in a google search under "2012 Ford Focus Transmission Shudder". I got mine a little over a month ago, It's an SEL, A/T. I noticed the shuddering right away, after receiving it. I now have 3000 miles (mostly highway, obviously). And still have a shudder when starting off from a red light, once it goes, it shifts fine. I have noted that it doesn't do it when the car is first started up. It seems to only happen after it has heated up to normal operating temp. I am going to schedule my first oil change at the dealer soon, and will talk to them about this. I hope there is a program update, or something that can aleviate this issue. I swapped from a Honda Civic, to this car because I was highly impressed with the ride, fit&finish, Sync, and the awesome Sony 10 speaker stereo. So I am REALLY hoping to get this resolved!!!

You have to understand that shuddering,rattling noises,and hesitation on pull aways are some of the negatives to the new transmission system they put in.You can have it checked, it would never hurt to do that ....but don't get too disappointed if they tell you it's normal. Most car companies are implementing these types of transmissions, the days of the tourque converter are over and so are the days of the smooth as glass automatic trannys. Here is the info you seek....go into the forum "Third generation focus" look for a thread entitled "DCT/Powershift Trans Update....TSB Thread" you just have to look for it. On that thread go to post #1316 by TimThom62. He has a link to the spec sheet that might be helpful to you.

[JimsFocus]

I've been told by two service managers and by a Ford Customer service rep that transmisson noises are never "normal", there is a problem. Have your car checked.

[Dylan1970]

Originally Posted by JimsFocus

I've been told by two service managers and by a Ford Customer service rep that transmisson noises are never "normal", there is a problem. Have your car checked.

As I said....check the post I referenced above, it is a fact sheet that tells all about the DCT and what to expect. I had my car at two different Ford dealerships and they both heard the shuddering noise and told me it was normal! Now, the noises and shuddering in my car has quieted down over the last week or so. I'm not saying that stuff shouldn't be checked but I also don't believe in going around scaring people unnecessarily either. There are some common sounds that people will hear with a DCT that doesn't mean a repair is needed, I would hate to tell someone to go spend a ton of money only to be told what they hear is normal. I think alot of people on here are losing their minds over something that none of us really know alot about. I think Ford should have done a better job in educating new buyers on the intricacies of these new DCT's, but they didn't and now this is the confusion that it causes. The other thing you need to realize is that this is NOT the transmission of the past....if I would've heard these noises in my 06 Focus I would've been scared. I've been told that some noise is not uncommon in a DCT, at least to a certain extent.

[JimsFocus]

I don't consider reporting facts as scaring people. If you have not experienced some of the problems reported here, it might be difficult to understand people's frustration.

When my trans starts making noise, it doesn't shift right. It hesitates and then jerks into gear. Downshifting when trying to pass is slow and dangerous. The noise is loud enough at times that people walking turn and look at my car. Noise is one thing, but when perfomance is not up to par, or dangerous, that's another matter.

My brother travels a lot and has rented a 2012 Focus several times. He never heard a noise when shifting, even after he knew of my problem and was looking for the noise. I'm sure there are thousands and thousands of Focus' out there without problems, but there are some with problems.

As I said, two service managers told me I have a problem with my trans, and they also said Ford doesn't have a fix. I assume that is why I've been waiting 3 weeks for a loaner so I can have my car checked again.

[Dylan1970]

Originally Posted by JimsFocus

I don't consider reporting facts as scaring people. If you have not experienced some of the problems reported here, it might be difficult to understand people's frustration.

When my trans starts making noise, it doesn't shift right. It hesitates and then jerks into gear. Downshifting when trying to pass is slow and dangerous. The noise is loud enough at times that people walking turn and look at my car. Noise is one thing, but when perfomance is not up to par, or dangerous, that's another matter.

My brother travels a lot and has rented a 2012 Focus several times. He never heard a noise when shifting, even after he knew of my problem and was looking for the noise. I'm sure there are thousands and thousands of Focus' out there without problems, but there are some with problems.

As I said, two service managers told me I have a problem with my trans, and they also said Ford doesn't have a fix. I assume that is why I've been waiting 3 weeks for a loaner so I can have my car checked again.

I'm sorry if you're having problems...if your garage told you there is a problem then you are doing the right thing by having it checked. However, there are a bunch of people....including me who have heard noises, taken the car back to service and been told that those noises are a normal symptom of the transmission. The difference is when I was told by my service manager that the noise I was hearing was normal I believed it.....I didn't continue to rant and rave about it. Some people just can't ever be happy even when a professional tells them everything is okay. Those are the folks that I think are doing the "scaring" of people. Ford really dropped the ball here too, my salesman never told me anything about the new design, they really should educate their customers instead of leaving them in the dark.

[Dylan1970]

Originally Posted by Dylan1970

I'm sorry if you're having problems...if your garage told you there is a problem then you are doing the right thing by having it checked. However, there are a bunch of people....including me who have heard noises, taken the car back to service and been told that those noises are a normal symptom of the transmission. The difference is when I was told by my service manager that the noise I was hearing was normal I believed it.....I didn't continue to rant and rave about it. Some people just can't ever be happy even when a professional tells them everything is okay. Those are the folks that I think are doing the "scaring" of people. Ford really dropped the ball here too, my salesman never told me anything about the new design, they really should educate their customers instead of leaving them in the dark.

@JimsFocus....Personally, I think with a few exceptions....you being one of them most of the people on here are just experiencing the normal noises of a fully operational transmission. There is no secret that a DCT is not as quiet or as smooth as the old automatic, some cars may be quieter than others....some quiet down with time and mileage. Every case is different as is every car....hopefully mine is okay and hopefully you get your issues resolved as well.

[Dylan1970]

Originally Posted by Becks

I'm curious about 2 things. I don't know a lot about how this auto tranny works but, I have never heard of needing to drive a new car 500-1,000 miles before it settles in, or acclimates to the way you drive. What happens if you share this car with your significant other, and they have a different driving style ?

Also, why don't the Ford dealers do these program updates b4 the customer takes delivery ?

Most dealers will tell you to vary your driving speed for the first 1000 miles, that is a typical break-in period. This is a new transmission run strictly by computer so basically your driving habits program the computer to you. Hey, it's the latest technology...nobody said it would be easy to understand.