2010 Ford Focus: jerking or lurching

6 of the 287 complaints about the 2010 Ford Focus describe jerking or lurching.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 2%
typical mileage: 78,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 4 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Jerking or lurching by model year

2018
76
2017
98
2016
129
2015
141
2014
486
2013
295
2012
346
2011
4
2010
6
2009
2
2008
4
2007
8
2006
6
2005
3
2004
5
2003
8
2002
11
2001
37
2000
36

What owners say

Filed Jun 27, 2016 · Acceleration, Engine · 140,000 miles · AR

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 ford focus. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked and lost acceleration while driving at various speeds. In addition, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle stalled. The failure occurred on numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but the failure was unable to be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

Filed Feb 22, 2015 · Acceleration, Steering · 123,000 miles · OH · 1 injury

When I drive my car it jerks when I drive a certain MPH.. I was on the free way and it felt like I wasn't going to be able to stop or didn't no if my car would stop... My power steering is not working when I turn a corner it makes a grinding noise and when I found out what the problem which was my power steering pump I got it fixed an now the power steering leaks out an still makes the noise.. I feel really unsafe in my car an am afraid to drive with my son in it.

Filed Dec 31, 2014 · Transmission · 65,800 miles · MI

The car started jerking forward at a stop light - turned the heat off and it stopped jerking. Pulled into a parking space and put the car in park it started revving itself and jerking forward (made it up to 2000rmp before I could turn it off). Was at a stop sign and the car started jerking forward - before I could turn the heat off the car stalled out completely. Took to the dealership said the throttle body needed to be replaced. Car jerked forward: idle, park and occasionally in drive. I know that other ford models have had problems with the throttle body and I believe that ford recalled and fixed the other models. It makes me wonder if the focus is having the same problem as the other models did. Maybe the recall should be extended to the focus also.

Filed Mar 7, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 78,000 miles · WI

On march 5th, 2013 I was traveling home at 65 MPH and the car jerked for a brief moment and no warning lights came on. Traveled another 20 miles and again it jerked this time the control module/transmission light (wrench icon) came on and the car began to go into limp mode. I was able to pull off the freeway and shut the car off. After a few second started it back up and reset the computer. Was able to get back on the freeway and make it the next 30 miles home and another 10 miles the next day to the dealership with no issues. I was informed on march 6th that the throttle body was bad and has to be replaced. This seems to be an issue with the 2010 ford focus her in reading the other complaints. Current mileage on the car is 78,000 but entire engine was replaced at 58,000 miles (under warranty do to a timing failure at 65mph destroying the motor!!!

Filed Jun 26, 2012 · Acceleration, Transmission · 28,000 miles · WI

On june 22, the mechanic's wrench appeared in the dashboard while sitting in idle with the gear shift in park. The ford manual states that the warning sign is related to the throttle/transmission. I turned the motor off and restarted the car and the mechanic's wrench went away. On june 25th, the mechanic's wrench appeared again while driving at about 30 MPH and the car started to jerk. It was hard to keep it in the road. I dropped it off at the dealership and they said they could not find any codes registered in the computer system. They stated they could not find anything wrong and even checked on the ford website but could not find anything. I was told to bring it back if it happens again. This does not help because I know something is wrong or the light would not come on and the car would not act the way it had. I am afraid to drive the car in fear of having an accident. Ford is not concerned about this safety issue. There should be a recall on this problem since I have seen many online complaints about this same issue. Please don't wait until someone dies like the issue that loomed around the ford pinto that caught fire on impact due to where the gas tank was located.

Filed May 5, 2010 · Transmission · 7,000 miles · MI

Our 2010 automatic ford focus demonstrated problems with shifting gears at about 7,000 miles. Once the car is warmed up it will not smoothly shift. This occurs while driving between 10-60 MPH, and demonstrates major jerking when it finally does shift, with revving/increased rpms. This problem occurs everytime the car is driven. This is a major problem when entering a highway or a major road with traffic, since the car acceleration does not respond. The dealership said they are aware of the problem and if caught in time the computer is reprogrammed. At a certain point the reprogramming not longer works and the transmission needs major repair. The problem was not corrected with computer reprogramming, and is now in for major transmission repairs with 13,000 miles on it.