2001 Ford Focus transmission problems

Filed Dec 13, 2016 · Transmission · OH

The car jerks when I put it into reverse. The cars stalls when I put it into drive. I have to take off in 2nd gear. Then I can put it into drive and it takes off just fine.

Filed Jan 14, 2014 · Transmission · 87,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH and changing gears from second to third, the vehicle began shaking uncontrollably. The vehicle was not been taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnosis. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 87,000.

Filed Jun 11, 2013 · Driver assistance, Engine · 199,806 miles · WA

I have a 2001 ford focus lx with 199,871 miles on it and its my first ford car. I have owned many of ford trucks in my life and always fixed problems with them myself. But with my focus, every time in the past 4 years when I turn a corner roughly around 15 MPH or over, it cuts out and the car bogs out and jumps like the engine is going to jump out then I get a bad smell almost like sulfur coming from the car. All fluid levels are good with a full gas tank. This happens whether the car is hot or cold. Usually I can just punch the gas pedal to the floor and it will eventually gain RPM's again and go with no problems until I turn sharp again. I have recently replaced spark plugs and cables, alternator, transmission and clutch plate, fuel pump and various pcv valves and hoses. Had the fuel pressure tested and it was fine. This problem has been consistent like this for the past 4 years with no other problems. I have always been a ford guru but this car is making me think twice. I have 2 small children that go with me almost everywhere with me and just today as I turned a corner getting on the highway ramp, it bogged out worse then ever with many angry drivers on my tail. I thought I was going to crash the car into the guard rail. I hit the pedal to the floor like I usually do and it started going again, but in fifth gear it kept jumping and cutting out. I turned off the side of the road to turn the car off then back on and it ran fine all the way home. I have read many forums with the same issues on my make and model and tried many solutions with no luck. With your expertise, do you have any ideas why this is happening. I see this problem allot with focus but never any working solutions.

Filed May 7, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 70,000 miles · WA

Saturday may 04/2013 my car killed over 30 times driving about 5 miles. This happened last year doing 60mph on the freeway. It is impossible to restart a manual transmission at this speed. In this case, I drove into the service department of ford of bellevue and it continued to kill while there trying to move it. The service person blew me off wouldn't even take the time check it out or even listen. As I was driving out it killed too many times to count. The sales manager said to bring it in monday. Sunday it stopped killing. When I brought it in monday, I asked for the service manager, the service employee went to find him & it took about 10 minutes, that was curios as the place was deserted. When the service manager arrived, he refused to discuss the matter only saying we were busy. I had contacted ford as well as the franchise holder auto nations previously but nothing was done. Last week I sent a letter to the chief engineer at ford but I suspect nothing will be done at that level again. In my research I found the following information today that was posted by another individual " the vehicle is stalling at unpredictable times due to fuel delivery system/fuel pump. I am a ase certified mechanic. I talked to ford, then I called the local dealer. They told me, as they have in the past it's a fuel pump issue..." there is more to this posting but the bottom line ford knew of this problem all along and chose to ignore it. This is an accident waiting to happen & it could be a killer.

Filed Jan 26, 2013 · Brakes, Transmission · 153,000 miles · OH

I was driving to work and I turned on my cruise control, I had to barely brake for a caution when a car was coming in my lane, once I went around them...I left the cruise control off....but the car sped up on its own...approximately 65-70 miles an hour. My brakes were working just fine. I called my dad to see what he wanted me to do....I drove on to work (approx 20 more miles) and didn't have my foot on the gas pedal the whole time....the cruise was off...the pedal was stuck and the car continued going 60 miles per hour....once I came to my exit, I took it out of 5th gear (manual transmission) and the car revved up horribly...I pulled into work and shut it off. Restarted it and it was doing the same thing. These cars need recalled!!!!

Filed Dec 17, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 106,000 miles · CA

I was stopped at a red light, when the light turned green and I engaged the gas pedal the car began to clank and jerk loudly and violently. I drove' the car about two feet before the steering seized up, the car could not be put into neutral, died completely, and had to be pushed to the side of the road. One of the pistons, cylinder # 1, was extensively damaged, due to the valve seat failure which shattered the piston, broke off pieces of the piston skirt, and bent the connecting rod. No damage was done to the cylinder wall, but pieces of the piston skirt were found in the oil pan, and pieces of the piston crown were found in the bottom of intake manifold. Valve seat breakage in the older model focus, is so common that aera engine rebuilders association issued two bulletins (tb 1725 & tb 1939) to alert the industry to this issue. These bulletins state that the 'intake valve seats are made of a powdered metal that shatters easily'. On october 29, 2012, after the vehicle had been repaired, I phoned ford to request a refund for the cost of the parts and was informed, that since there was no recall no refund could be issued. The valve seats have subsequently been modified from the faulty powdered metal type, this shows that ford is and was aware of this issue. Internet entries that outline this problem on the 2001 model can be found at numerous websites, including: http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/focus/2001/.

Filed Apr 17, 2012 · Transmission · 170,000 miles · KS

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. The contact was driving 20 MPH when she noticed that the vehicle would not acclerate before stalling without waring. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted they advised that the vehicle was not under recall and provided no further assistance. The failure and current mileages were 170,000.

Filed Sep 2, 2010 · Transmission · 137,000 miles · TX

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. While traveling 65 MPH the contact noticed that the steering wheel had suddenly jerked to the right without warning, seconds later the contact noticed that the traction control light had appeared on the dashboard. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 137000.

Filed Apr 8, 2010 · Body, Engine · 110,000 miles · MO

I have had my ford focus wagon for three years now. I had to repair a alot of things on this car! Tranny, alternator, fuel pump, timing belt, and the only door that opens from the outside is the passenger right front, which my kids have to climb through to get to the back because both back doors broke not even four months from the day I bought it. Also the driver door only opens from the inside because of the companies defected car door handles. My friend has the same car, and its the same way. Not mentioning how everytime I stop it dies out and I have to try and keep starting it. It seems there is always something wrong with it.

Filed Feb 3, 2010 · Transmission · 82,000 miles · MN

I was driving, and wanted to shift to lower gear (from 5th to 4th - manual transmission) for braking. The transmission was stuck in the 5th gear. I used the clutch to coast to a safe stop and had the car towed to a service location. The mechanic diagnosed it due the broken cables from the shifter to the transmission. The mechanic replaced these cables and the car is ok. We did not save the cables.