My Focus problems so far...

[Nesbit]

Hi,

Just thought i would share my current situation with you all regarding my 2013 Focus Trend Powershift


6th July, 2013
On the look out for a new car. Test drive a Mazda 3 and Ford Focus (auto). Love the finish, look and handling of the Focus. Worth noting that there was no rough transmission changes on the demo. Toss up between the manual and auto, since i have a dodgy left knee and do a lot of stop start traffic i go the auto.

7th July, 2013
Go back to the dealer, agree on the price and get the paper work started. This is my first brand new car, im just a tad exicited. Was told it might take a week to get a candy red in. I am happy with that.

17th July, 2013
Car is ready to be picked up. Get the run down from the dealer meet the service team, shake hands and i am on my way. Once i get home i noticed it felt very sluggish on take off from being stationary. Thought it felt funny but let it be as it might need to be broken in.

20th July, 2013
What have i bought! Clunking, grinding and shuddering from transmission on take off very noticeable. Both in D and S mode. Get onto Google and see that this is common. Oh no.

22nd July, 2013
Take the car back to the dealer and let them know the car it changing gears like a dog. Service tech takes the car for a drive and notices the shuddering and gear change clunkiness (thank god it did it when he was in the car). Advised to book car in to have computers reset looked at. Car has done 700km.

24th July, 2013
Dropped car off to the dealer to have the computers looked at. Mechanic could not find any faults. As a precaution the dealer has offered to replace the clutch as previous tech experienced the problems! Car was very rough driving back to work, grinding gear changes from 1-4. Felt like it was about to stall, and now there is a loud rattle coming from the transmission. Sounds like a tray of nuts and bolts being shook around. Car has done 770km.

29th July, 2013
So i have had my brand new car for 12 days and it is getting the clutches replaced. Car was terrible this morning driving to dealer, gear changes from 1-3 sounded like a manual car changing gears without pressing the clutch. Ford Australia called me to check on my new purchase. Have let them know all about the problems, they did not seem that concerned, more worried about if the dealer connected my iPhone to the car! Picked up the car that night seemed a lot better, no sluggish take offs or grinding gear changes.

2nd August, 2013
After driving the car all day, late afternoon the gearbox is back to its old tricks. Rattles, crunches and grinding. I do some tests... up hill, down hill, round corners... no difference still the same old PowerShit. Called the dealer they told me to take it in on Saturday morning for them to look at. Took some video so i can show them what the noise sounds like. Car has done 1520km

3rd August, 2013
Dropped car off in the morning. Showed the video to service manager and also the head mechanic. Explained about the noises and the tests i had done. Picked the car up that afternoon, was told that they have performed a clutch point reset and that i have the latest firmware for the computers. No sign of the noises as yet. If the issue continues Ford have advised that they will need the car for a few days to test.

6th August, 2013
So the PowerShit is back to its old ways. More noticeable when changing down from say 60-40km and then taking off again. It is like it does not know what gear it wants and just crunches into one.


So after having it back to the dealer so many times and having a clutch replaced on a 770km brand new car what else is left for them to do? As far as i can see this is the last time. Are my options a new transmission, my money back or a new car?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading, i will keep this thread updated with my progress in an aid to help fellow Focus owners.