RoadVitals

2011 Ford Focus Powertrain (other) Problems

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

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
19
Latest Nov 14, 2023
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.
17%
of 113 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.
1
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

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 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 powertrain

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the wrench symbol was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was vibrating and shaking and there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact stopped the vehicle, the engine was still running and attempted to shift into reverse(R), but the vehicle would not shift into reverse(R). The contact was able to shift into drive(D) however, the vehicle failed to exceed 15 MPH. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact had been informed by the mechanic that the failure could be related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V845000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

NHTSA ID
11555145
Incident
Nov 14, 2023
Mileage
159,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 12, 2019

MY 2012 FORD FOCUS IS EQUIPPED WITH THE DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION AND HAS HAD ISSUES FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. SHUDDERING UPON START WAS THE BIGGEST ISSUE. CAR FINALLY STOPPED RUNNING AND WAS REPAIRED AT DEALER BUT NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS EXTREMELY NOISY AND WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING, INCLUDING ON HIGHWAYS AT SPEED. TRANSMISSION WILL ALSO SLIP QUITE BADLY UPON LAUNCH AT TIMES WHICH CAN BE A CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO ENTER TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID
11231273
Incident
Jun 25, 2019
Mileage
120,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 25, 2019

THE CLUTCH SYSTEM ON MY MANUAL 2011 FORD FOCUS WENT OUT. THE CLUTCH NOW PLAYS ON THE FLOOR BOARD WITH NO CATCH IN IT. THE GEARS WONT BUDGE. I RESEARCHED AND SEEN THE NEWER MODELS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY CAR. WHEN THE CLUTCH WENT OUT IT WAS ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY IN BRIDGE CITY, TX.

NHTSA ID
11182451
Incident
Feb 23, 2019
Mileage
153,000 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 26, 2018

ONLY 3 OUT OF 4 DOORS OPEN, THE OUTSIDE DOOR LATCHES HAVE FAILED SINCE PURCHASE IN 2013. HAVE ALSO CONTINUALLY FAILED/RE-BROKE AFTER BEING FIXED. CAR ALSO DOES NOT UNLOCK AFTER BEING LOCKED AND INSIDE DOOR MECHANISMS DO NOT UNLOCK AFTER BEING ENGAGED.. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO MULTIPLE TIMES THE A SOLENOID HAS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY AND FAILS TO ACCELERATE SAFELY (TAKES A OVER A MIN TO GO FROM 35-60) AND EVEN THEN IT WILL NOT MAINTAIN 60 MILES PER HOUR GOING UP A HILL . THIS IS A AUTOMATIC VEHICLE , AND IT IS UNSAFE , ESPECIALLY WHEN EXITING OFF A ONRAMP TRYING TO EXCEL TO POSTED SPEED LIMIT TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC OFF THE RAMP. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS/ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE ITS PURCHASE AND IT IS A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11113939
Incident
Jul 23, 2018
Mileage
120,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 27, 2018

WITH LESS THAT 70000 MILES ON THE CAR MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO OUT ON ME. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AS IT IS UNDER WARRANTY, AND LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER GETTING IT FIXED IT WAS ALREADY STARTED TO GO ON ME AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE SIX MONTHS.

NHTSA ID
11104296
Incident
Feb 21, 2017
Mileage
65,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 27, 2018
Crash reported

SEVERAL TIMES, MY BREAKS HAVE NOT RESPONDED WHILE PRESSING DOWN ON THEM, MY FOOT WILL BE TO THE GROUND AND THERE IS NOTHING. IT CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED GOING 35 MILES AN HOUR.

NHTSA ID
11104294
Incident
Apr 25, 2017
Mileage
70,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 9, 2017

2011 FORD FOCUS SE TRANSMISSION PULLING AND JERKING, CAUSING THE TIRES TO VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING. UPON FIRST ACCELERATING BEFORE MOTOR WARMS UP, THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE A TRUCK. IT IS EXTREMELY LOUD. THE CAR HAS TO BE MOVING FOR AWHILE BEFORE THE LOUD NOISE DECREASES SOME, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUES.

NHTSA ID
11022447
Incident
Jul 19, 2017
Mileage
1 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 26, 2016

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW BUT THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS SHIFTED ROUGH. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS BECAUSE FORD HAD REDESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION SO IT WOULD SHIFT BETTER AND BE MORE FUEL EFFICIENT. EVEN THOUGH WE COMPLAINED THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. CONSEQUENTLY, THIS PROBLEM HAS EFFECTED THE CARS OVERALL PERFORMANCE AND HAS NOW BECOME SO BAD THAT THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGH, JUMPS OR LAUNCHES OUT , SHAKES, HAS HESITATION AND EVEN ROLLS BACK IF YOU ARE ON A HILL. CONSEQUENTLY, THE CAR SEEMS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IT FEELS AT TIMES LIKE THE CAR MIGHT JOLT OUT BECAUSE OF THE ROUGH SHIFTING. WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS ROUGH AT HIGH SPEEDS IT TENDS TO PULL IT TO ONE SIDE.

NHTSA ID
10899038
Incident
Aug 26, 2016
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 15, 2016

MY VEHICLE SLIPS WHEN CHANGING GEARS..FIRST STARTED WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND..IT'S AUTOMATIC TRANS. THAT WAS YESTERDAY NOW IT STALLS GOING INTO ANY GEAR

NHTSA ID
10874368
Incident
Jun 14, 2016
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 2, 2016

TAKATA RECALL I WAS COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT READY TO PUSH THE CLUTCH IN TO SLOW DOWN. I TRIED TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH AND IT WAS STUCK. I LET MY FOOT OFF AND TRIED AGIAN. THE CLUTCH WENT DOWN. I THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD AND DANGEROUS. I WAS GLAD MY WIFE WASN'T DRIVING. I WANTED TO PULL OVER AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. I GOT IN THE TURN LANE. WHEN I PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN TO GO THE CLUTCH WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS STUCK IN THE TURN LANE. IT WAS A BUSY ROAD, BUT I WAS OFFERED HELP AND WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT THROUGH THE LIGHT AS IT CHANGED. I NOTICED THAT THE CONNECTION FROM THE CLUTCH TO THE PEDAL WAS BROKEN. A PLASTIC PIECE HAD BROKE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 57000 MILES. I FEEL LIKE I WAS LUCKY NOTHING HAPPENED. THAT PART SHOULD NOT BREAK ON A CAR. I WANT TO FEEL SAFE WHEN ME OR MY WIFE ARE DRIVING OUR VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10871979
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Mileage
57,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 13, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTERED WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND HESITATED, BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,719. UPDATED 08/03/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO THE CLUTCH. HOWEVER, THEY WERE ONLY TEMPORARY FIXES. UPDATED 08/09/16.*JB

NHTSA ID
10855333
Incident
Apr 17, 2013
Mileage
84,719 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 29, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY VIBRATE WHILE IDLING. THE FAILURE HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

NHTSA ID
10838958
Incident
Jan 30, 2015
Mileage
85,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 11, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD BANGING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT SOLENOID WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ID
10632491
Incident
Aug 19, 2014
Mileage
67,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 11, 2014

THROTTLE BODY WENT OUT ON MY 2011 FORD FOCUS SES WHILE DRIVING. BROUGHT IT INTO HUB CITY FORD IN LAFAYETTE, LA FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. FIRST TRIP, CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND SAID IT SHOULD HAVE PERFORMED LIKE NEW. AS I WAS LEAVING THE PARKING LOT, THE WRENCH LIGHT ON DASH TURNED ON AND I HAD TO GET IT REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10568350
Incident
Aug 26, 2013
Mileage
52,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 5, 2014

I WAS DRIVING FROM HOUSTON TO THE WOODLANDS GOING HOME FROM WORK. NOTICED THE RPM KEPT REVVING UP AND I COULDN'T CONTROL THE SPEED. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE RPM METER AND MY ENGINE BEFORE. RON CARTER IN ALVIN SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER ISSUE AND "FIXED" IT WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM HAS NOW COME BACK IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. I COULD HAVE SERIOUS HURT OR KILLED MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME. I FEEL THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10558570
Incident
Jan 5, 2014
Mileage
47,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 17, 2013

THIS IS THE FIRST REPORT OF 3 SEPARATE INSTANCES. STARTING UP FROM WAITING AT A SIGNAL LIGHT THE SYSTEM FLASHED "STOP SAFELY NOW". ( I HAD JUST TOUCHED THE DISPLAY SCREEN TO VIEW THE BATTERY POWER.) PROCEEDING THROUGH A LEFT TURN AND WHEN GETTING TO THE CURB THE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. AT THAT POINT A COMPLETE TURN OFF OF THE CAR WAS ATTEMPTED WHICH DID NOT HAPPEN, WITH THE DISPLAY STILL BEING ACTIVE. REPEATED ATTEMPTS FINALLY COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN THE SYSTEM, WHICH WAS THEN RESTARTED NORMALLY. THE OTHER TWO INSTANCES OCCURRED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, AND ROUNDING A NEIGHBORHOOD TURN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10548278
Incident
Oct 17, 2013
Mileage
8,664 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 17, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PCM MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE UPDATED. THE UPDATES WERE PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10512539
Incident
Aug 15, 2012
Mileage
15,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 13, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE POWER TRAIN WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,720.

NHTSA ID
10470384
Incident
Aug 2, 2012
Mileage
10,700 mi
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension+1 more
Filed Jul 13, 2012

THE CAR HAS POOR STEERING, POOR SUSPENSION CONTROL OVER BUMPS, AN ACKNOWLEDGED BUT UNREPAIRED TRANSMISSION MOUNT, SEVERE ALIGNMENT ISSUE, TIRES ARE FEATHERED AND CUPPED PER DEALER AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO FIX IT. THE CARE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BUT THE DEALER STATES IF WE DO NOT PURCHASE NEW TIRES, PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION MOUNT. IT HAS BEEN AT 3 FORD DEALERS IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS. I SAID NOTHING IS WRONG (THOMAS FORD IN BEVERLY MA), NEXT FIXED A BEARING AND 2 SUSPENSION PARTS AND SAID IT IS FIXED (IT WAS NOT) (DANVERS MOTOR COMPANY, DANVERS MA) AND FINALLY THE SELLING DEALER SAID THE ALIGNMENT, TIRES AND TRANSMISSION MOUNT ARE FAULTY (JACK MADDEN FORD, NORWOOD, MA). THIS CARE IS UNSAFE AND IS UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10465531
Incident
Jul 2, 2012
Mileage
30,300 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .