j wackerly
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If you google Ford Focus transmission issues , you will fine there is a class-action law lawsuit on this car . I called Ford they said I didn't qualify . The 2015 was the first year for this design . I'm sure they didn't know what stresses the unibody would have on it buy flat towing it behind a RV . As far as normal driving you should have any problems . There is probably not many people flat towing these cars as much as I have . I am on the Road at least 6 months of the year . I believe if you have a full frame or a unibody that is all one piece , you should have any problems . Buy the way when it left me stranded in California and the Ford garage had it for a week to fix the tramission and module . I did have a noise under the hood after that .
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j wackerly
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I was a loyal Ford customer all my life till I got this Ford Focus , With all the transmission and module problems and to put the icing on the cake unibody failed . When it let me down in California the Ford dealer said they do not due loner cars I was on my own . I call Ford costumer service with all the problems I am having with this car . They told me I dint qualify for class action lawsuit , and my extended warranty didn't cover my unibody failure . I ask to talk to her supervisor she hung up on me . If you try to leave a massage her voice mail is full . This is what I get to be a loyal Ford Customer . That is way I will never buy another Ford and get extended warranty .
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hohenwald48
Titusville, FL
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Actually, I think fault lies with the baseplate manufacturer, the installer or with the vehicle owner. They're the ones who designed and installed a baseplate to an insufficiently strong point on the vehicle frame. Like someone said, if the baseplate manufacturer designed the baseplate to bolt to the license plate bracket, who's fault would it be when the license plate bracket pulled off?
Several years ago some baseplate manufacturer (don't remember who) designed a baseplate for a Wrangler that bolted on to the lower front air dam bracket. Several folks had issues with that but it certainly wasn't Jeeps fault.
When you bolt something on to a vehicle, it's your responsibility to make sure it's bolted to something that can handle the load. Ford did nothing wrong here. They designed a frame to hold on the front panels of a car they built. I doubt they ever certified the baseplate design. They did say the car could be towed 4 down but they likely never said you could bolt a towbar in that location.
And Ford doesn't make the decision as to who can bring a class action lawsuit. ![[emoticon]](http://www.rv.net/sharedcontent/cfb/images/doh.gif "doh")
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dodge guy
Bartlett IL
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M still thinking this is from operator error. There are hundreds of people towing a Focus with no issues. I asked before but no answer. Are you making sure the steering wheel is unlocked? If it’s locked the tires won’t turn and the MH will drag the front of the car around a turn which will put tremendous stress on the frame extensions that the base plate is attached to.
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willald
NC
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dodge guy wrote:M still thinking this is from operator error. There are hundreds of people towing a Focus with no issues. I asked before but no answer. Are you making sure the steering wheel is unlocked?
Yes, he did answer this, in the very next post after you asked such. He stated, the steering is unlocked, and he watched as he went around turns to make sure wheels were turning.
Does seem odd that he experienced such a horrible failure here, yet nobody else towing Focuses had this problem. Makes me think, like I said before, this was more of issues with this one particular Focus when it was built, and not indicative of a problem all Focuses necessarily have or will have.
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dodge guy
Bartlett IL
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Thanks willald, I missed that post, and I apologize to the OP for asking again. I installed the baseplate on my Buddy`s 13 Focus. so I think we will be checking his now.
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j wackerly
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dodge guy wrote:Thanks willald, I missed that post, and I apologize to the OP for asking again. I installed the baseplate on my Buddy`s 13 Focus. so I think we will be checking his now. My 2015 focus is new model and not the same as 2013 .
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j wackerly
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hohenwald48 wrote:Actually, I think fault lies with the baseplate manufacturer, the installer or with the vehicle owner. They're the ones who designed and installed a baseplate to an insufficiently strong point on the vehicle frame. Like someone said, if the baseplate manufacturer designed the baseplate to bolt to the license plate bracket, who's fault would it be when the license plate bracket pulled off?
Several years ago some baseplate manufacturer (don't remember who) designed a baseplate for a Wrangler that bolted on to the lower front air dam bracket. Several folks had issues with that but it certainly wasn't Jeeps fault.
When you bolt something on to a vehicle, it's your responsibility to make sure it's bolted to something that can handle the load. Ford did nothing wrong here. They designed a frame to hold on the front panels of a car they built. I doubt they ever certified the baseplate design. They did say the car could be towed 4 down but they likely never said you could bolt a towbar in that location.
And Ford doesn't make the decision as to who can bring a class action lawsuit. How about the transmission problems 4 in less then 5yr . I am not the only one on that .
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dodge guy
Bartlett IL
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j wackerly wrote:hohenwald48 wrote:Actually, I think fault lies with the baseplate manufacturer, the installer or with the vehicle owner. They're the ones who designed and installed a baseplate to an insufficiently strong point on the vehicle frame. Like someone said, if the baseplate manufacturer designed the baseplate to bolt to the license plate bracket, who's fault would it be when the license plate bracket pulled off?
Several years ago some baseplate manufacturer (don't remember who) designed a baseplate for a Wrangler that bolted on to the lower front air dam bracket. Several folks had issues with that but it certainly wasn't Jeeps fault.
When you bolt something on to a vehicle, it's your responsibility to make sure it's bolted to something that can handle the load. Ford did nothing wrong here. They designed a frame to hold on the front panels of a car they built. I doubt they ever certified the baseplate design. They did say the car could be towed 4 down but they likely never said you could bolt a towbar in that location.
And Ford doesn't make the decision as to who can bring a class action lawsuit. How about the transmission problems 4 in less then 5yr . I am not the only one on that .
My buddy had his replaced at 30k miles. and has been flawless for 100k miles. just a month ago he needed to have the shift module replaced. still under the extended trans warranty. all these transmissions are, are a manual transmission with a complex shift assembly attached to them.
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rdhetrick
Texas
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dodge guy wrote:
My buddy had his replaced at 30k miles. and has been flawless for 100k miles. just a month ago he needed to have the shift module replaced. still under the extended trans warranty. all these transmissions are, are a manual transmission with a complex shift assembly attached to them.
Correct, but the "complex shift assembly" was notorious. I had mine for about 60k miles, and while mine never "failed," it did a lousy job of shifting. I took it in to two different dealers, they just said "it's normal" and wouldn't do anything.
Clunks, stutters, hard shifts...no fun to drive, and I always worried about it leaving me along the side the road.
Never so happy to get rid of a car as I was with that one!
The story I heard was that this transmission was modelled after a BMW or Porche (not certain of the brand) that worked really well. I'd guess the Ford engineers missed a few fine details when copying it, or just cheaped out on something, that resulted in a terrible user experience.
Rob - Solo Full Timer
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