Transmission went out on my 2017 Ford Focus SE… anyone know if there’s still a class action pending?

Hey everyone,

I’ve had my 2017 Ford Focus SE since 2019, bought it with 30k miles and now it’s at 126k. I’ve always dealt with the classic ‘stuttering’ but never had a full-on transmission failure until two weeks ago. I was about to back out from work, put it in reverse, and… nothing happened.

I’m not putting more money into this car because I’m over its faulty setup. Does anyone know if there’s still a class action lawsuit active? I heard something about it recently but can’t find details.

All the legal stuff with the Focus DCT transmission issues was settled years ago. The car’s 7 years old now, which is about the end of its service life. Probably best to cut your losses and send it to the junkyard.

@Remy
No, I’m talking about the recent lawsuit that was supposedly still open as of last week. It was specifically about the faulty transmission and claims of false advertising.

Wylie said:
@Remy
No, I’m talking about the recent lawsuit that was supposedly still open as of last week. It was specifically about the faulty transmission and claims of false advertising.

The last thing I found was from the Detroit Free Press in 2022. Pretty sure it got settled already.

Story from 2022

If you’re thinking of the earlier class action, that’s the one that led to the TCM warranty extension:

Story from 2019

And here’s the settlement link from 2022, but I think the class is closed now:

Settlement info

There are open cases on other Ford models like the Escape and F-150, but nothing current for the Focus.

Wylie said:
@Remy
No, I’m talking about the recent lawsuit that was supposedly still open as of last week. It was specifically about the faulty transmission and claims of false advertising.

I couldn’t find anything still pending either. Everything points to it being closed in 2022.

Wylie said:
@Remy
No, I’m talking about the recent lawsuit that was supposedly still open as of last week. It was specifically about the faulty transmission and claims of false advertising.

The original class action covered models up to 2016, so maybe 2017 wasn’t included. Could be a newer one in the works.

@Remy
I think the 14M02 extended coverage is good through 2025 at least, so maybe there’s still a chance for warranty coverage.

As far as I know, nothing new has come up since 2022, and that lawsuit looks like it wrapped up. The 2019 one did extend TCM coverage through 2025, so maybe check if your VIN has any active recalls. Even if you’re paying out of pocket, a lot of these can be fixed, though it’s not always cheap.

Try using FORScan and an OBDII tool to recalibrate the clutch forks. It’s usually not the transmission itself that fails but rather the forks, clutch, or control unit.

I’ve got a 2013 Focus and my extended warranty expired last year. I’m also having transmission issues. Hope your extended warranty is still active!

I have the same car, bought in 2019, and I also deal with the stuttering. Any other problems? Mine’s only at 69k miles.

Hadi said:
I have the same car, bought in 2019, and I also deal with the stuttering. Any other problems? Mine’s only at 69k miles.

Mostly just the stuttering when accelerating from a stop. People behind me get annoyed because it takes a second for the car to start moving, but that’s just how it is. I’m so ready to get rid of this thing!

My 2017 is at 140k miles, no issues at all. Just regular maintenance keeps it running smoothly.

Ellis said:
My 2017 is at 140k miles, no issues at all. Just regular maintenance keeps it running smoothly.

I keep up with maintenance too, but two shops told me that the 2017 Focus transmission is inherently flawed, so it’s a waste to keep putting money into it. I’m done with it… just looking for something reliable now.

Faulty? Clutch parts are wear items. They’re not meant to last forever.

Clove said:
Faulty? Clutch parts are wear items. They’re not meant to last forever.

Both shops I visited said the transmission was designed poorly, and any repairs won’t last. Ready to get rid of it.