Recalls: Ford Mk.3 Focus
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: Ford Mk.3 Focus
2011-15 Ford Focus: fuel leak and fire hazard
In August 2017, a recall was issued for Ford Focus vehicles that were manufactured from 12 April 2011 to 29 September 2015. Under particular environmental conditions, these vehicles may ingest excessive levels of dust and, during a purge cycle, this could block the carbon canister. As a result, the fuel tank could reach vacuum levels that exceeded design limits. The fuel tank may therefore crack and leak fuel; in the presence of an ignition source, this could cause a fire. For the VINs of the recalled Ford Focus vehicles, please see PRA 2017/16259.
2013-14 Ford Focus: front halfshafts may fracture
In September 2015, Ford Australia issued a recall for Ford Focus vehicles manufactured from 21 May 2013 to 24 January 2014. In these vehicles, the wall thickness of the front half shafts may not meet specification and may fracture due to an inability to withstand vehicle loads and stresses. If the half shaft fractured, the driver would hear a noise from the front of the vehicle and there would be a loss of motive power; there would also be a potential for reduced braking performance, loss of the auto park function and potential for damage to other components that could make contact with the half-shaft. According to Ford, potential failures were expected to occur when accelerating from rest. The recalled Ford Mk.3 Focus vehicles had VINs in the range MPB1XXMXB1DA42935 to MPB2XXMXB2EL57528 (PRA 2015/14925).
2015-16 Ford Focus with manual transmission: clutch may overheat
In May 2018, recall campaign 18S07 was issued for Ford Focus vehicles that had manual transmissions and were manufactured from 17 June 2015 to 16 June 2016. In these vehicles, the clutch assembly may overheat as a result of excessive clutch slip – this could cause the clutch pressure to crack, in turn damaging the transmission assembly and allowing transmission fluid to leak. For the VINs of the recalled Ford Focus vehicles, please see PRA 2018/16755.
Problems and faults: Ford Mk.3 Focus
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
Ford LW Focus: ‘Powershift Loyalty Program’, unconscionable conduct and $10m penalty
In July 2017, the ACCC initiated proceedings against Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited (Ford) alleging that Ford engaged in
- unconscionable and misleading or deceptive conduct, and
- made false or misleading representations
in response to customer complaints concerning Ford LW Focus, Ford WT/WZ Fiesta and Ford BK EcoSport vehicles that had double-clutch ‘Powershift’ transmissions.
The ACCC alleged that around half of the 70,000 vehicles sold in Australia had at least one repair relating to the Powershift transmission due to excessive shudder when accelerating, an inability to select gears, a sudden loss of power or excessive noise.
From 2011 to May 2015, the ACCC alleged that:
- Ford refused to provide a refund or replacement vehicle to consumers, even after vehicles had undergone multiple repairs that failed to fix Powershift transmission problems;
- Ford refused to provide a refund or replacement unless owners participated in the Powershift Ownership Loyalty Program which required a payment – on average – of $7000 for a replacement vehicle; and,
- Ford then on-sold vehicles that were traded in as part of the Powershift Ownership Loyalty Program without disclosing the Powershift problems to purchasers.
In April 2018, the Federal Court declared that Ford had engaged in unconscionable conduct in responding to consumer complaints between 1 May 2015 and 29 February 2016, and ordered Ford to pay $10 million in penalties. Furthermore, Ford entered into an enforceable undertaking with the ACCC to establish a program to review customer requests for refunds or replacement vehicles made between 1 May 2015 and 1 November 2016; the ‘Independent Complaints Review Program’ was to start in July 2018 and run for 12 months. Ford also undertook to provide customers with more information about their cars, including the history of manufacturing defect repairs performed on their vehicles.
Ford LW Focus Powershift: transmission clutch shudder
In the USA, Ford initiated ‘Customer Satisfaction Program 14M01’ for:
- 2011-15 model year Ford Fiesta vehicles that were manufactured before 15 October 2014 at the Cuautitlan Assembly Plant; and,
- 2012-16 model year Ford Focus vehicles that were manufactured at the Michigan Assembly Plant
which had six-speed ‘Powershift’ transmissions. While Australian-delivered Ford Focus and Fiesta vehicles were not manufactured at these locations, owners have reported the same symptoms which are described below.
According to Technical Service Bulletin 15-0120 (which was superseded by TSB 16-0109), these vehicles may exhibit excessive transmission clutch shudder on light acceleration. Furthermore, some vehicles may leak transmission fluid from the clutch housing. Once verified, the technical bulletin stated that:
- The PCM/TCM was to be re-programmed; and,
- The clutch was to be replaced.
According to the bulletin, vehicles manufactured after 6 June 2013 had improved transmission input shaft seals that were unlikely to experience leaks; as such, these seals were only to be replaced if leaking. AustralianCar.Reviews understands that a new clutch material was introduced in 2015 because the original clutch material had excessive heat transfer.
As part of Customer Satisfaction Program 14M01, the warranty for affected vehicles was extended to seven (7) years of service or 100,000 miles from the warranty start date of vehicle if the vehicle exhibited 1) transmission clutch shudder or 2) transmission fluid leaks from the transmission input shaft seal.
Ford LW Focus Powershift: loss of power, no transmission engagement and/or no start
In the USA, Ford initiated Customer Satisfaction Program 14M02 for:
- 2011-16 model year Fiesta vehicles manufactured before 27 October 2015; and,
- 2012-16 model year Focus vehicles manufactured before 5 November 2015
that had six-speed ‘Powershift’ transmissions. While Australian-delivered Ford Focus and Fiesta vehicles were not manufactured at these locations, owners have reported the same symptoms which are described below.
According to Technical Service Bulletin 15-0121 (subsequently superseded by TSB 16-0129), these vehicles may exhibit the following intermittent symptoms:
- Loss of transmission engagement while driving;
- No-start; and/or,
- Loss of power.
These symptoms were usually accompanied by an illuminated ‘check engine’ lamp, while Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) U0100, U0101 and/or U1013 or P0606 would be present in the powertrain control module (PCM) memory. Additional symptoms could include messages in the message centre indicating that ‘hill start assist’ was not available, parking aid malfunction/service was required, or the transmission PRNDL/S gear selector on the instrument cluster may flash.
AustralianCar.Reviews understands that these symtpoms were caused by a solder crack in the transmission control module (TCM). To fix, the TCM was to be replaced and the PCM/TCM was to be re-programmed with updated software that could detect a loss of communication with the TCM that exceeded 100 ms. Furthermore, the clutch adaptive learning procedure was to be performed and DTCs cleared. As part of the Customer Satisfaction Program, the warranty coverage on the TCM was extended to ten (10) years or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date, whichever occurred first.
Ford LW Focus: Powershift driving notes
To prevent premature wear of the PowerShift transmission, Ford LW Focus vehicles with this transmission should not be driven like a conventional automatic transmission. As such, drivers should not hold the car inclines by using the accelerator; by braking when coming to rest on an incline, the hill launch assist function will engage to prevent the vehicle rolling backwards when the driver removes their foot from the brake to accelerate. Furthermore, drivers should not engage in stop/start creeping which may cause the clutch to slip.
