RoadVitals

2007 Ford Focus Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Aug 27, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 391 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Aug 27, 2011

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ENGINE WOULD REV UP AND NOT SHIFT GEARS, ONCE IT DID SHIFT CAR LURCHED FORWARD. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAID TRANSMISSION WAS BURNING OUT. TOWED TO LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO CONFIRMED. FORD STATED THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR ALMOST $3000. FORD PAYED $500. CAR ONLY HAD 27,027 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. THE SUDDEN LURCH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME CONDITIONS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND SUDDEN LURCHING ON THE FOCUS. THE RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION CARRIES A HIGHER MILEAGE WARRANTY THAN THE ORIGINAL ONE WHICH MAKES ONE WONDER IF FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND CORRECTING IT ON THE SLY AS FAILURES OCCUR AND TRANSMISSIONS ARE REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID
10421673
Incident
Aug 15, 2011
Mileage
27,027 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 8, 2011

2007 FORD FOCUS PZEV MODEL. ONLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD, WHEN TRANSMISSION IS PUT IN REVERSE, IT WILL SUDDENLY SURGE AND MOVE MUCH FASTER THAN THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR WOULD CAUSE. IT BEGAN HAPPENING WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT ONLY SPORADICALLY, IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN A LOT MORE NOW THAT THE CAR IS OLDER. IN THE PAST I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT ON TWO OCCASIONS AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG SO I AM JUST VERY CAREFUL WHEN I AM BACKING THE CAR UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10418095
Incident
Oct 1, 2008
Mileage
800 mi
Other / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Jul 22, 2011

MY 88 YEAR OLD MOTHER WAS PULLING INTO HER GARAGE WHEN GRABBING THE SHIFING LEVER TO PUT IT IN PARK IT CAME UP OUT OF THE COLUMN ALONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION CAUSING THE CAR TO GO FORWARD AND HIT THE BOXES. THE KEY WAS LOCKED IN PLACE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. PISS POOR DESIGN OF SCREW HOLDING THE SHIFTER ON AND THE CONNECTION FOR THE POWER. *TT

NHTSA ID
10414646
Incident
Jun 16, 2011
Mileage
70,000 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Jul 18, 2011

2007 FORD FOCUS THROTTLE STICKS! MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I TRY TO COME TO A STOP, THE ENGINE RACES AND I HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING IT TO COME BACK DOWN TO IDLE. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN TRYING TO GO SLOW. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE! THIS IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME! *KB

NHTSA ID
10413397
Incident
Jun 8, 2011
Mileage
37,300 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 14, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL AND EXCESSIVE INCREASE IN RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND REPROGRAMMED THE PCM TO THE LATEST COLLABORATION. THE DEALER FURTHER TESTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED HOWEVER WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,600. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ

NHTSA ID
10390108
Incident
Feb 14, 2011
Mileage
26,600 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 23, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO IT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND HAD OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND BECAME MORE FREQUENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID
10372202
Incident
Sep 1, 2010
Mileage
90,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 24, 2010

VEHICLE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFTER WAS PUT IN PARK AND COULD MOVE TO REVERSE WITHOUT PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON ON SHIFTER. THE KEY DID NOT RELEASE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, SO THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFTER WAS REPLACED AT DEALER. APPROX 47,000 MILEAGE ON VEHICLE AT A COST OF 200 DOLLARS. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE ME BACK THE OLD PART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10367765
Incident
Oct 16, 2010
Mileage
47,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingTransmission
Filed Jan 31, 2010

2007 FORD FOCUS WAGON WITH ALL THE WIRES (ABOUT 10 OF THEM) IN THE BODY TO LIFTGATE WIRING HARNESS CRACKED OR BROKEN. FOUND DUE TO BRAKE LAMP FUSE BLOWING REPEATEDLY, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LIGHTS AND A/T SHIFT LEVER INTERLOCK OPERATION. IT MIGHT HAVE GONE UNNOTICED IF IT WASN'T FOR THE INTERLOCK NOT WORKING. CAR IS OFF WARRANTY SO FORD WILL NOT FIX UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ITEM IN MY OPINION. I WILL REPLACE THE WIRES MYSELF AS I AM AN AIRCRAFT ELECTRICIAN. I WILL USE A BETTER QUALITY WIRE TOO. THE STUFF FORD USES IS NOT MEANT TO MOVE AND FLEX REPEATEDLY. WIRING SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF A CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10303455
Incident
Jan 20, 2010
Mileage
33,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 13, 2009

2007 FORD FOCUS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUES. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL AND DOWNSHIFTS TO LOW GEAR AT HIGH SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING DRIVER AND PASSENGERS TO BE THROWN FORWARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10295480
Incident
Nov 26, 2009
Mileage
46,015 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Nov 10, 2009

HAVE 2007 FORD FOCUS SE WITH 50,000MIL ON IT. 1ST OFFENSE HAPPENED JULY 2009. HAD TO REPLACE 100,000 MIL WARRANTY SPARK PLUGS(FORD PRODUCT) @ 38,000 MIL.THEY WERE BURNT TO CRISP .REPLACED THEN 2 WKS LATER BTWN 45-50 AN HR MY CAR WAS SHIFTING LIKE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD I NO LONGER HAD A WARRANTY(FORD DIRECTLY SAID THIS) WENT TO ANOTHER REP COMPANY. TOLD ME MY CYLINDERS WERE GOING OUT. NO ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON. COMPANY TOLD ME TO CALL FORD DIRECTLY BECAUSE MAYBE THERE WAS A RECALL. THEY TOLD ME THERE WASN'T AND THAT I DID HAVE A POWERTRAIN WARRANTY BUT THIS WAS NOT COVERED,YET MY OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THAT CYLINDERS ARE COVERED BY POWERTRAIN. I PAID OVER $200 TO FIX PROBLEMS IN AUG 2009.IT IS NOW OCT 2009 AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE EVERYTHING AGAIN! I AM TO THIS DATE BARELY OVER 2 YRS OLD ON THE VEHICLE(BOUGHT AUG 2007) AND JUST NOW TURNED OVER 50,000 MIL. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO THIS VEHICLE. THE COMPANY I TOOK IT TOO SAID THAT THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM ALOT BECAUSE THE CYLINDERS GET TOO HOT AND BURN THE SPARK PLUGS BECAUSE THERE IS NO COOLING SYSTEM FOR THIS AREA. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10291618
Incident
Jul 15, 2009
Mileage
48,326 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 23, 2009

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING SO I TOOK IN AND HAD A TRANS FLUSH AND THEN, 6 MONTHS AFTER THAT MY WHOLE TRANSMISSION CAME OUT. A 2007 MODEL SHOULD LAST A LITTLER LONGER THAN THAT. I AM STUCK WITHOUT A VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10259629
Incident
Jul 14, 2008
Mileage
61,000 mi
AirbagsSteeringSuspension+1 more
Filed Sep 22, 2008

YEAR OF VEHICLE: 2007 MAKE: FORD MODEL: FOCUS SE DATE OF PURCHASE: JULY 2007 SELLING/: SPREEN HONDA ODOMETER @ PURCHASING: 24,900 CURRENT MILEAGE: 49,000 PROBLEM(S) WITH THE FOLLOWING: TRANSMISSION - REPAIR ATTEMPTS: SRS/AIRBAG LAMP - REPAIR ATTEMPTS: STEERING SHAKE/VIBRATION - REPAIR ATTEMPTS: SEAT BELT REPAIR/REPLACEMENT - REPAIR ATTEMPTS: AIR BAG LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN IN THE 'ON' POSITION - MULTIPLE REPAIR ATTEMPTS: COMPLAINT TO DEALER: YES. CLD SPREEN HONDA SPOKE TO OWNER WHO SENT ME TO A SALESMAN. THE NEXT TIME I RETURNED IT TO FRITZ DEALERSHIP (SINCE THEY DID ORIG WORK), FOR SAME PROBS & I WAS TOLD I WOULDN'T GET A COURTESY CAR AND THEY HAD NO IDEA HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE FOR REPAIRS. THE INTERIOR AIRBAG LIGHT WAS IN THE 'ON' POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING, THE FRONT END WAS SHAKING LIKE BEFORE. CAR WAS RETURNED THE 2ND TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DEFECTIVE PARTS & HAD TO BE ORDERED. NO COURTESY CAR THIS TIME LIKE THE FIRST TIME SO I WAS STRANDED (I'M DISABLED AND ND TRANS). THE CAR IS FALLING APART LITTLE BY LITTLE WITH THE BACK DOOR HANDLE BROKEN COMPLETELY. THE SELLER (SPREEN HONDA) SAID I WOULD HV TO GET A NEW LOAN ON A NEW VEHICLE INSTEAD OF 'EXCHANGING VEHICLES' AS PROMISED IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OWNER, AT SPREEN HONDA, PLACE OF PURCHASE. I REFUSED THIS 'HUSTLE' BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT WHAT I WAS TOLD OVER THE PHONE, BUT AFTER 2ND SET OF REPAIRS, THE CAR WOULD BE REPLACED...NOT ME PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR AND GIVE UP ANOTHER DOWN PAYMENT! I DIDN'T AGREE TO THIS AND WALKED OUT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN UNDER REPAIR FOR WEEKS OFF/ON FOR THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM I.E., THE TRANSMISSION FIRST REPAIR WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, ALONG WITH FRONT END SHAKING. I WAS GIVEN A COURTESY CAR WHILE REPAIRS WE DONE W/OUT THE 1ST TIME, BUT NOT THE 2ND. I WAS TOLD MY CAR HAD A 'DEFECTIVE PART' & HAD ORDERED IT. THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED AGAIN FOR SAME PROBS MENTIONED ABOVE. AIRBAG LIGHT IS BK ON AGAIN AND TRANSMISSION SLIP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10243069
Incident
Mar 2, 2007
Transmission
Filed Nov 8, 2007

THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES, NO MAJOR INCIDENTS LED UP TO IT, HOWEVER, MINOR SOUNDS WHEN IT SHIFTED, TRACTION CONTROL WOULD NOT SHUT OFF ON ONE OCCASION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208417
Incident
Aug 23, 2007
Mileage
5,100 mi
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Aug 23, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT HEARS METAL GRINDING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. HE STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, BUT ARE STILL SQUEAKING. WHEN HE RELEASES THE CLUTCH AND SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL, HE HEARS A KNOCKING SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE MAKES A TICKING SOUND AS IF IT WILL EXPLODE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRING ALL OF THESE FAILURES. THE REPAIRS USUALLY LAST APPROXIMATELY 3-4 WEEKS BEFORE THE FAILURES RECUR. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER REPLACE HIS VEHICLE WITH A NEW VEHICLE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,701 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.

NHTSA ID
10200571
Incident
Mar 4, 2007
Mileage
300 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 23, 2007

AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IT STARTED TO STALL AND IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I KEPT DRIVING THE CAR HOME AND IT WAS NOT SHIFTING AT 35 TO 40 MILES P/HR. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOUSE AND THEY DIDN'T REPAIR IT AT ALL. FROM THERE I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. SO, I TOOK MY CAR TO BOB BAKER FORD. BOB BAKER FORD TOLD ME THE CAR NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THEY CHARGED ME $3,076.10 DOLLARS. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 FORD FOCUS WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM THEM AND THEY SHOULD PAY AT LEAST FOR THE COST OF THE NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10194061
Incident
May 14, 2007
Mileage
30 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 13, 2007

ON AN UPHILL SECTION OF ROAD (SLIGHT INCLINE) WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE WHILE STOPPED FOR A STOP SIGN, I RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND BEFORE I COULD STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. I WAS ABLE TO REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND JAMMED DOWN THE GAS PEDAL TO AVOID ROLLING BACKWARD INTO THE NEXT CAR IN LINE BEHIND ME. A PERSON CROSSING THE STREET BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR BEHIND WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED. I NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN ON ANY OTHER CAR WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEFORE. THE FORD DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS NORMAL FOR A 2007 FORD FOCUS WITH AUTO TRANSMISSION. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS ROLL BACK PROBLEM IS NOT ADDRESSED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10182422
Incident
Feb 10, 2007
Mileage
780 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .