Car manufacturers make it a priority to produce the safest and most reliable vehicles possible. However, problems do arise beyond their control. When this happens, a recall may be issued.
Are there any open recalls specific to the Ford Focus SE?
As of September 2020, no. However, there are recorded complaints about the SE and open recalls on some Ford Focus models.
- Hesitates upon acceleration
- Difficulty shifting gears
- Rough shift from first to second gear
Thankfully, this article will discuss these complaints and what you can do if you own an affected car.
Shuttering/Hesitation Upon Acceleration
Some 2012-2017 Ford Focus SE owners state the car hesitates or shudders when trying to accelerate. Other owners stated the car hesitates when accelerating from the stop position. The problems were well-publicized, and many attributed the issue to the dual-clutch automatic transmission.
A dual-clutch automatic transmission shifts faster and delivers better fuel efficiency than typical automatic transmissions. In some cases, customers would take their cars back to dealers for an update on the transmission’s software.
However, some owners stated the problems would reoccur after receiving the update.
The fix? Ford responded to the complaints by issuing multiple technical updates and extending the warranty on some 2014 Ford Focus models by two years or 40,000 miles.
In 2017, some Focus owners began to sue the company, and in early 2020 Ford settled and agreed to buy back defective Ford Focus vehicles for up to $22,000.
Difficulty Shifting Gears/Rough Shift from First to Second Gear
Some Ford Focus owners stated their cars seemed to have difficulty shifting gears, or they would experience a rough shift from first to second gear. Other drivers stated the clutch seemed like it slipped, similar to what drivers of a manual transmission would feel when their foot would slip off the clutch when changing gears.
The problem is the dual-clutch automatic transmission can slip in a similar fashion to a manual transmission. In many cases, drivers weren’t used to how dual-clutch automatic transmissions felt.
Additionally, to improve efficiency, Ford uses dry clutches as opposed to wet clutches. A wet clutch offers smoother engagement by using hydraulic fluid to “bathe” the friction disks.
How to Handle Problems/Open Recalls on a Ford Focus SE
If you’re experiencing problems with your Focus SE similar to the problems discussed above, make sure you schedule an appointment with your dealer to see if your car is part of the settlement. If you can’t schedule an appointment, contact Ford customer service at 1 (800) 392-3673.
You can also check to see if your car is part of any open recalls by visiting the NHTSA website and entering your vehicle identification number (VIN).
