2012 Ford Focus: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Jun 18, 2025 · Transmission · 150,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the contact stated the transmission unexpectedly downshifted before slamming into gear. The vehicle intermittently returned to normal functionality, or the RPM would fluctuate, and the transmission would shift rough. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who retrieved DTC: P07A3 (Failure with the clutch A stuck causing transmission friction). The contact was informed that the clutch actuator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Dec 27, 2022 · Transmission · IL

Transmission failure again after already having vehicle serviced by Ford dealership in Cedar Rapids Iowa due to fuel issue from what they said was the issue. Still showing same coded and same issues with hard shifting and vibration and loss of power while trying to drive. Nearly cause daughter to be in multiple accidents. Issue started at around 40k miles and still happening and put over $10k in parts in this car now. Including new exhuast manifold and catalytic converter, O2 sensor, new fuel pressure sensors, new throttle body and other parts all done by dealerships. Getting old chasing parts. Now another shop said I was told all wrong and it's been a Transmission issue this entire time and ford just didn't want to fix it.

Filed Oct 30, 2021 · Transmission · MI

Slow acceleration rough shifting in transmission E8 and E9 Code's detected on my OBD reader at auto zone

Filed Oct 20, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 116,000 miles · FL

When attempting to start the car for work the car stated system malfunction and oil change required then locked up the steering wheel. I thought maybe turn it off and turn it back on again since we got the oil changed 2 weeks ago, still popped up errors like steering assist fail. Before this the car started having some delayed shifts, shaky at lower speeds along with other transmission errors. Not sure if they are related but either way my car is out of commission until able to be towed and serviced.

Filed Dec 13, 2019 · Transmission · 52,798 miles · MI

While making a turn the vehicle began to move then the engine revved up to 7000 RPM then slammed into gear the next shift did the same thing. I was almost hit by on coming traffic because the vehicle failed to move. After pulling over the vehicle had no reverse and could only be driven at very low speeds without feeling like it was going into neutral before shifting. The vehicle is now at the dealer who has stated it has a transmission concern. This is a serious safety issue!

Filed Jul 31, 2019 · Transmission · 104,000 miles · SC

My 2012 ford focus with dual clutch, dps-6 transmission has on multiple occasions unclutched the transmission while attempting to accelerate from a stop to make a left turn across a busy road. The unexpected lack of acceleration due to the transmission failing to transmit power to the wheels has nearly caused my wife and I to be hit by oncoming traffic despite starting the turn with adequate room to cross traffic and accelerate. Thankfully, adequate space and reaction by oncoming drivers has prevented a wreck. Ford has, on multiple occasions, flashed the computer and replaced parts and did extend the warranty on the transmission slightly. However, the transmission is slightly now out of warranty and continues to have the same problems with failing to accelerate and then violently slamming into gear. Ford has refused to cover further repair of the defective transmission despite clear evidence of the continued defectiveness of the transmission.

Filed Jul 24, 2019 · Transmission · 48,000 miles · TX

2012 ford focus titanium dps6 equipped clutch shudder instances and TCM failure -- 2018 acceleration is unpredictable. Before warranty repair, the car would have noticeable lag when accelerating from a stop. This has LED to several dangerous situations where the car is expected to accelerate, but instead slowly crawls and shudders. One instance included turning left onto a highway from a stop. The car bogged along for roughly 3 seconds and almost caused a collision with an oncoming semi. When the accelerator is pressed, the car should accelerate as expected; it should not shudder or rev as if in neutral. When attempting to turn right onto a frontage road from a stop, the car slammed into gear mid-turn causing a tremendous amount of wheel hop, jerking the car towards the curb. Another instance was in a residential area. Accelerating from a stop sign at a t-intersection (cross-traffic does not stop), the car crawled forward and revved as if in neutral; no acceleration occured for several seconds. This almost caused a collision with another vehicle; there was plenty of time for a functioning vehicle to pull out onto the road safely. The latest occurence was in a parking lot. Turning left out of a parking lot lane, the TCM failed and the car lost power in the middle of an intersection.

Filed Jul 19, 2019 · Transmission · 145,000 miles · OH

Continues to shudder, hesitation and rough shifting while driving on surface streets and highways after two repairs and three recalls.

Filed May 27, 2019 · 185,000 miles · KY

Unsure what is wrong. However, I have had my car in 2 twice for a shudder, jerking, and hard shifting. The dealership fixed the hard shifting for a cost, but the shuddering with never got fixed has been happening even before they reset or replaced the transmission control module. It shudders going up step hills, and at times when accelerating. This happens frequently, and we were told this is a common problem, and we shouldn't be alarmed. However after driving every day for a living, this doesn't feel or sound correct, its definitely not safe.

Filed Oct 8, 2017 · Transmission · 118,500 miles · OH

While driving on surface streets @ 25 MPH, check engine light came on. Transmission shuddering, rough shifting, overheated and needed to stop driving to cool down. After parked overnight, car won't start. Tried three times and then hold key and car resets and starts. Waited next day, car won't start. Tried three times and then hold key and car resets and starts. Drove car to dealership. Need new clutch, battery in transmission, transmission control module and other parts. Car has only 118k miles on it.

Filed Nov 2, 2016 · Transmission · 25,116 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving low speeds and accelerating from the stop position, the contact heard loud noises. The vehicle jerked each time the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle also roll backwards when in park and when the contact was exiting the vehicle. The contact also stated that the transmission was slipping out of gear and made a grinding clunking noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission slipped out of gear and the transmission control module needed replacement. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 25,116.

Filed Sep 2, 2016 · Transmission · 82,000 miles · ME

We bought my wifes focus with about 22k miles on it in june 2013. Since then we've brought it in 4 times to have the transmission "shutter" fixed. As of today the problem still exists but it isn't bad enough for them to fix it again. It mostly shutters from 1st to 2nd gear reaching upwards of 2800 RPM. Just shy of their 3000 RPM requirement. The car will shake and sometimes make a clunk and we're told to keep driving it.