Ford Focus 2013 Problems

I feel your pain, but I fear that neither Ford nor its dealers know how to fix this problem. They are clearly muddling along in the dark, making so-called software changes, and ultimately putting a new clutch in. I suspect they know that it won't fix the problem, and they're just waiting for the day these cars are off he road and no longer a problem for them. I don't believe you will get anywhere with Ford, what I would suggest is that you contact a lawyer and try to get a class action up. It rarely happens in this country, where we tend to roll over and cop it, but at some point something has got to give and carmakers held to account. Another reader who doesn't want to be identified has recently got back to us to tell is that they have reached a settlement with Ford over a similar issue. That suggests that if you're persistent enough you could reach a resolution.

Persist in contacting Ford's customer care people and seek a solution. If you give up, there's no chance of getting a resolution. We are prepared to contact Ford on your behalf, but we need your name and details of your car before we can do anything.

With the broad spread of capped-price servicing, lots of dealerships are padding service bills with unnecessary stuff to shore up their income. I've never head of aircon sanitising but a Google search found a spray can of the stuff for $20. Draw your own conclusion there.

If Ford has told you that your car cannot be fixed and you have it in writing I would be going to them and asking for a full refund of your money on the basis that they sold you a car that was 'unfit for purpose'. If you don't get a satisfactory resolution with Ford got to your consumer affairs people and take action they way. In the meantime we will contact Ford about the issue.

UPDATE 3/7/15: We approached Ford for a response to Charlie's complaints and the comment we got from a company spokesman was: "Officially, we're currently working closely with this customer to ensure a good outcome for them. Our Customer Relationship Team is in contact with the customer. In such circumstances our policy is to always provide customer support and work through any vehicle issues on a case-by-case basis."

Like Charlie, we think the offer of a trade-in price for his daughter's car is grossly inadequate. By any measure Ford has sold her a car that is unfit for the purpose for which it was sold to her, and we think she should receive a full refund of the original purchase price. Anything less would see her out of pocket for something she was not in any way responsible for.

UPDATE 7/7/15: Ford last week informed us that they have now reached a satisfactory resolution with Charlie Allia’s daughter over the automatic transmission in her 2013 Focus.

Although details are sketchy because of confidentiality agreements between the parties it is believed the problem relates to the way the dual-clutch transmission operates rather than a mechanical malfunction of the gearbox.

Unless you really enjoy driving, the Elantra will be better on space and will have more factory warranty coverage.

I would guess that the dealer has tried a quick fix that hasn't worked rather than actually attacking the cause of the leak, which probably requires him to dig deeper into the car to identify and repair it. Take the car back and request that he make another attempt to fix it.

To start with keep an accurate record, dates, times, what is said etc., of any conversations to have with the dealer personnel and Ford so you have plenty of ammunition to put to Ford if it comes to a head. Request a meeting with the Ford dealer and take them for a drive so you can demonstrate your concerns about the car, than ask for a Ford representative to assess the car, again preferably with you present. Shuddering is a sign of a clutch problem with the gearbox, erratic movements could also be a clutch issue, but could also be an electronic problem with the gearbox computer.