I’m planning to buy a car in March and have been looking into a 2015 Ford Focus SE. However, I’ve seen a lot of complaints about the transmission being terrible. I’ve already been burned by a car failing on me in the past, and I don’t want to go through that again.
Should I just cross this car off my list and look for something else? Any recommendations?
I had a 2012 Focus SEL hatchback that I bought used in 2013 with 36k miles. It was reliable and efficient up to 144k miles when I traded it in for a 2014 Fusion Titanium.
The biggest annoyance was the transmission in city driving—it was jerky and had slight hesitations. I went through the warranty repairs, but they didn’t fix much. Still, it was a decent car overall.
@Kari
What helped me was giving it an “Italian tune-up,” which basically means driving it hard to clean things out. It didn’t solve everything, but it made it better. The car held up despite me driving it rough at times.
Avoid the Focus, especially the automatic. I had a 2016 Focus, and it was such a nightmare with clutch issues that I had to return it under the lemon law.
The main issue is the automatic transmission, specifically the DCT (dual-clutch transmission). Ford outsourced it, and it was designed for better fuel economy but performs poorly. If you’re looking at a manual transmission, it’s fine, but the automatic is a gamble.
@Leith
The transmission itself doesn’t shift badly—it’s more that people treat it like a regular automatic because Ford marketed it that way. If you don’t drive it correctly (e.g., inching forward in traffic without using the gas), it can destroy itself. Part of the blame falls on drivers not understanding how it works.
@Avery
So it’s the consumer’s fault for driving an automatic like an automatic?
Luca said:
@Avery
So it’s the consumer’s fault for driving an automatic like an automatic?
It’s more that people don’t read the manual or research how their car works. It’s not hidden information—Ford explains it, but most people don’t look into it.
@Avery
What kind of driving technique would help with this?
Carter said:
@Avery
What kind of driving technique would help with this?
Avoid inching forward without using the gas. Think of it like driving a manual where you’re just not shifting. Apply enough gas when accelerating to keep the transmission engaged.
I wouldn’t recommend it. I’m currently going through the buyback process with my 2017 Focus, and it’s the same problem Ford’s had for years. It’s baffling that they haven’t fixed it.
If you’re worried about the transmission, just avoid automatics altogether.
The automatic transmission isn’t worth the headache. It’s shaky, jumpy at low speeds, and tends to burn out around 30,000 miles. If you go for the manual, though, the car is solid. I’ve got a 2013 manual, and it’s been reliable. If you’re set on an automatic, consider a Mazda or Toyota instead.
@Harley
This reminds me of a guy I overheard at a gas station saying, “I’d never drive a Ford. My Mazda B3000 will outrun any Ford or Toyota.” Some people just have strong opinions, I guess.
Sam said:
@Harley
This reminds me of a guy I overheard at a gas station saying, “I’d never drive a Ford. My Mazda B3000 will outrun any Ford or Toyota.” Some people just have strong opinions, I guess.
To be fair, Mazdas and Fords were pretty similar during their partnership years. After 2015, they went their separate ways, and Mazda started making their own stuff again.