Ford’s Transmission Problems

The Problem with Ford’s Transmissions

Stern Law Explains Ford’s Defective Engineered Transmission

The skilled attorneys at Stern Law are currently accepting cases on behalf of owners of lessees of Ford’s Fiesta, Focus, and Fusion automobiles. If you own or lease one of these vehicles and have confirmed or suspected transmission issues, contact our office today to discuss your options for compensation.

What Is Going On With Ford’s Transmissions?

Ford’s Fiesta, Focus, and Fusion lines have been plagued with transmission problems, starting from shortly after owners buy or lease the cars, and sometimes resolving only when owners buy something else. Around the time federal fuel emissions regulations passed and the price of gasoline climbed, Ford found itself in a race with its competitors to create the most fuel-efficient vehicles possible. It wanted small, lightweight cars that could run forever on a single tank of gas. One of the ways Ford accomplished this was by taking a standard (manual) transmission and doctoring it to shift automatically. It then placed the transmissions in its new lines of ultra-efficient cars and sold them to millions of people.

How it Works

Manual transmissions are more fuel efficient, which is highly attractive with fuel standards and increased prices at the pump, but automatic transmissions have greater mass appeal. The ease and convenience of an automatic transmission fit better into the lives of more Americans who are already trying to do too many things at once.

Enter, Ford’s PowerShift transmission, outfitted in the Fiesta starting in 2010 and the Focus in 2012. This new design makes an automatic shifter out of a manual transmission by using a computer-controlled “dry clutch” in place of the oil-fed shifting mechanism of a standard transmission. Because no oil is supplied during a shift, the otherwise-manual mechanism endures rapid wear and tear, and the computer module becomes overloaded trying to handle accelerations and speed changes. All of this causes noticeable issues for the driver.

If you think something is wrong with your new Ford, it’s not just you.

Those odd noises and behaviors in your Ford are not your imagination. While thousands of people figure they just aren’t used to their new cars, these Ford models present very real safety concerns. In Stern Law’s experience working with owners of Fiestas, Focuses, and Fusions, we have heard reports of the following problems with these newer Ford models:

FIESTA: Ford’s Fiesta has some of the worst problems we have seen. Not long after driving the car off the lot, our clients start noticing bizarre sounds and jerking sensations. Especially on a cold start, these cars tend to lurch and slam into the next gear while accelerating. The cars also shake and jerk while decelerating. The unpredictable nature of the vehicle puts drivers at great risk of an accident and injury.  

FOCUS: The Ford Focus looks and acts very similarly to the Fiesta. The focus is a slightly larger vehicle but is fraught with the same faulty transmission issues. Focus owners (in addition to Fiesta owners) also report RPM malfunctions and difficulty slowing down. The inability to decelerate when approaching other cars, objects, or red lights is a terrifying safety issue that leaves our clients feeling scared to drive their cars.

FUSION: Owners of Ford Fusions have also reported issues that can be traced back to a defective transmission. These include rough gear shifting and shaking of the entire car, often when shifting into first gear. The Fusion has become an extremely popular car, and we hear continuous complaints about its performance.

Ford is aware of the problems with its transmissions, and it has been scrambling to implement a working solution while devoting significant energy to minimizing customers’ complaints. Our clients have reported to us that Ford dealers have turned them away, told them the problems could not be replicated, or told them the problems were unrelated to the transmission.

Many clients have also had numerous transmission repairs and offers from Ford to extend warranty repair on the transmission. It is not acceptable to make people wait for answers or force people to return repeatedly to the service department. Every day without your car costs you time and money.

You have options for recovery. Stern Law is actively managing Ford transmission cases, and we are currently reviewing new cases for a mass action. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.

Contact Stern Law, PLLC

Stern Law’s compassionate attorneys recognize your Ford transmission troubles are a serious safety concern. You have rights, and you deserve a just result in your case. If you bought or leased a Ford Fiesta, Focus, or Fusion and experienced transmission problems, contact Stern Law, PLLC, at (844) 808-7529, to schedule a free consultation with one of our accomplished lawyers today.