My wife’s 2017 Focus has been having major problems. She’s still paying off the car, and about a month ago, the transmission control module started failing. The car is unsafe—it runs for a few minutes and then shuts off while driving.
I’ve read online that this is a common issue for this model, yet Ford hasn’t issued a recall. They also claim it’s not under warranty, and fixing it will cost us about $4000.
My wife is a teacher and relies on her car for work. We don’t have that kind of money, and we’re still paying off the loan. I’m at my wit’s end. Has anyone dealt with this issue? Were you able to get Ford to help or find another solution?
Ford does have an extended warranty on the TCM, but only until June 2025. I had this happen with my 2012 Focus. It took a few visits before the dealership replaced the TCM. Keep pushing the dealership for answers. Also, there are class-action lawsuits against Ford over this problem.
@Oakes
Really? Ford told us to check the VIN for recalls, but nothing came up. They also said there’s no warranty for this unless we bought extra coverage. The dealership, Ford’s customer line, and their website all say we’re out of luck. What else can I do to push back?
Oakes said: @Linden
I’m in Canada, and there was a class-action lawsuit here and in the US. You might want to look up that lawsuit. Sorry I can’t help more.
That lawsuit doesn’t cover the 2017s or 2018s, only models up to 2016 in the US.
@Uma
So Ford is lying to us? This article says they should cover one TCM replacement, which is exactly what we need. Thanks, I’ll bring this to the dealership.
Linden said: @Uma
So Ford is lying to us? This article says they should cover one TCM replacement, which is exactly what we need. Thanks, I’ll bring this to the dealership.
Dealerships hate doing these repairs because they barely make money on them. When I had my 2015 fixed, I had to call Ford corporate, explain the issue, and hound the dealership to follow through. I only found out about the warranty from a forum post like this.
Try an independent shop and get a quote. Also, clean the electrical grounds—it’s simple and free. If that doesn’t help, independent shops are usually cheaper than dealerships. Next time, research the car before buying. The Focus Mk3 automatics are notoriously bad.
I’m dealing with the same thing. I owe $8500 on mine and have replaced the clutch actuators, done grounding mods, replaced the electric power steering rack, and more. These cars are a nightmare.
The 2017-2019 Focus models with the DPS6 transmission are basically unfixable. Even if you replace the transmission, it’ll fail again. Ford does have a buyback program, but it’s limited to cars under 66,000 miles and only applies in certain states.
Check if your insurance has mechanical coverage—it might be your best bet to get rid of it.
@Lin
Thanks for confirming what I suspected. We’re past 66,000 miles, so no buyback for us. I agree that paying for repairs doesn’t make sense since it’ll just fail again. We’re looking into selling it or trading it. This is why I only buy Hondas. My old Civic never gave me problems like this.
@Linden
I hear you. You might be able to reset the transmission temporarily to drive it to a dealership. If the loan balance is low, you could roll it into a new car loan. Private sales might fetch around $5000, but trading it in will probably get you closer to $1300-$1500.