Hey everyone! I have a 2014 Focus with just over 25k miles on it. The car’s in good condition, but there’s this one annoying issue with the transmission. It’s been pretty smooth for the three years I’ve owned it, but now it’s started clunking between 1st and 2nd gear. I feel it especially when I’m accelerating between 20-40 mph, and it’s become more noticeable in stop-and-go traffic. After 40 mph, it seems fine though. Could it be related to the weather change or something else? I don’t have a lot of money, being in college and all, so I’m wondering how long I can drive it like this before things get worse.
Edit: Just to clarify, I’m a 19-year-old girl and not very car-savvy. Would really appreciate any advice or help. Thanks!
Just keep driving it. Don’t worry about fixing it. The transmission issues with these cars are well-known. Ford should’ve just taken them all back. Honestly, the 2011 model was the last one worth having. Sorry to be blunt, but it’s true.
Had a 2017 Focus that I just sold after the transmission threw a p07a3 fault. I dropped 3k on fixing it, and it didn’t last long. If you’re dealing with a transmission that’s gonna fail, it’s more of a ‘when’ than ‘if.’ You might want to sell it now while it’s still running, but you probably won’t get much for it. If you have to drive it, just accelerate harder than normal and never release the gas pedal suddenly. That’s how mine lasted a bit longer.
Cairo said: @Grier
Yeah, I know it’s just a matter of time. Does insurance cover this kind of fix, though?
No, unfortunately not. There was a recall for the shudder, and Ford offered a fix for the TCM module for some models, but I think your year might be out of the recall range. But I’d check anyway.
@Grier
I’m sure it’s too late now. We tried dealing with this about a year and a half ago (my grandfather works at the dealership where we bought it, so it’s been a bit of a family matter), but they couldn’t really help us. Is it even worth fixing at this point?
@Cairo
You’d be better off selling it and using the money to buy something like a used Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic. They’re more reliable and should fit your budget.
@Cairo
The only reason I spent the money on repairs was so I could sell it for a decent price. Even after that, I could feel something wasn’t right, and I knew it was going to fail again. Honestly, your best bet might be getting a used Corolla or Civic.
@Cairo
My suggestion is to find a good used transmission or have yours rebuilt. It shouldn’t cost more than $1k USD. I’m sending my own gearbox for repair soon, and it’ll cost me around 800 EUR.
Cairo said: @Grier
Yeah, I know it’s just a matter of time. Does insurance cover this kind of fix, though?
Insurance won’t cover the fix unless you were in an accident because of the defective transmission, which is kind of dumb. What I’d do is find a transmission specialist who can do a free diagnostic. That way, a professional can tell you exactly what’s wrong and whether you need to worry about any damage. From what you’re describing, it sounds pretty typical for these Focuses.
Honestly, sell it. You’ll probably get more miles out of a 2005 Toyota with 100k miles than you will with that Focus. My 2017 Focus barely lasted 104k miles. The 2014 model is even worse.
Clarke said:
Honestly, sell it. You’ll probably get more miles out of a 2005 Toyota with 100k miles than you will with that Focus. My 2017 Focus barely lasted 104k miles. The 2014 model is even worse.
Selling it is not an option for me. My parents have made it clear that I’m keeping this car until I finish college, which is another 2.5 years.
@Cairo
Your parents are putting you in a bad spot here. They need to understand how terrible these cars are. You should really tell them that this car’s transmission is known for being the worst. There’s actually an extended warranty on it due to a court ruling. Take it to a dealer and see if your car is covered under that warranty.
@Clarke
Sell it, man. I had a 2018 Focus that I loved, but after 34k miles, it was a disaster. This month alone I spent $1.5k on tires and alignment, and the issues just keep piling up.
