Ford PowerShift transmission defect class action overview:
- Who: Four drivers sued Ford Motor Company.
- Why: The plaintiffs say there is a defect in their 2017-2019 Ford Fiesta and 2017-2018 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with DPS6 dual clutch transmissions.
- Where: The Ford class action lawsuit was filed in Delaware federal court.
Ford concealed a defect in certain Ford Fiestas and Ford Focus vehicles that can cause jerking, difficulty stopping and even engine failure, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiffs Margaret Barnes, Eric Senkyrik, Michael Hogan and Sharon Jackson filed the class action lawsuit against Ford Motor Company June 17 in a Delaware federal court, alleging violations of federal and state consumer law.
They’re looking to represent anyone in the United States who purchased or leased any 2017-2019 Ford Fiesta and 2017-2018 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with DPS6 dual clutch transmissions.
According to the class action, Ford designed and marketed its “PowerShift Transmission” as a more advanced and fuel-efficient alternative to a traditional manual or automatic transmission, also known as an automated manual transmission.
Theoretically, an automated manual transmission should have the convenience of an automatic transmission without sacrificing the fuel efficiency and shift speed of a manually shifted vehicle, the Ford class action states.
“In practice, however, Ford’s PowerShift Transmission is plagued by numerous problems and safety concerns,” the lawsuit says.
The plaintiffs say the PowerShift transmissions in the vehicles suffer from a defect that causes transmission slips, bucking, kicking, jerking, harsh engagement, premature internal wear, sudden acceleration, delay in downshifts, delayed acceleration and difficulty stopping.
They say the defect eventually causes “catastrophic transmission failure.”
Ford class action claims PowerShift transmission defect caused by overheating issue
According to the lawsuit, the issue is caused by defects of the transmission’s “dry” clutches system which cause clutches to overheat and fail, as well as damage other transmission components.
The plaintiffs say that Ford has never acknowledged publicly that the alleged PowerShift transmission defect exists.
“To the contrary, Ford actively concealed, and continues to conceal, the Transmission Defect by, among other things, telling customers that the symptoms associated with the Transmission Defect were ‘normal driving conditions,'” the Ford class action states.
The plaintiffs allege that Ford internally acknowledges that there is no permanent fix for the alleged defect; however, it continued to manufacture and distribute class vehicles with the PowerShift transmission defect through the 2019 model year.
The plaintiffs are suing for breach of warranty and under state consumer protection acts and seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs, interest and a jury trial.
Meanwhile, in 2020, Ford settled a class action lawsuit alleging Ford’s PowerShift transmission, installed in certain model years of Ford Focus and Fiesta vehicles, was defective in a way that put passengers and other motorists at risk.
What do you think of the allegations in this case? Let us know in the comments!
The plaintiffs are represented by Berge Montague PC and Capstone Law APC.
The Ford PowerShift transmission defect class action is Margaret Barnes et al, v. Ford Motor Company, Case No. 1:22-cv-00823, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
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64 thoughts onFord class action alleges PowerShift transmission defect
My 2015 ford focus that I purchased from Demerow Ford in Oregon in 2023 has this problem. When starting out at stoplights etc, it jerks and doesn’t transition into 2nd gear easily. I’ve tried contacting the dealership but they will not call me back and since I moved back to NC a week after purchasing the car, I’m pretty well screwed.
My 2017 Ford focus is having excelration problems. And the massage transmission hot hot wait 5 minutes to cool off. Then will will drive at 20 mph only for 4 blocks only then even have to repeat .