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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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62 thoughts onFord class action alleges PowerShift transmission defect
I bought my 2018 Ford focus new from local ford dealer. Had issues starting just months after buying & service engine light would randomly appear brought it to dealer they said it was just the battery. Changed battery still happened and 5 months after my warranty & only 44,000 miles my car wouldn’t go into reverse and now wont start. I’m still making payments & insurance for a car I can’t drive or afford to fix!!! I was also never told about the concern with these transmissions or I would have never invested in this vehicle. I
I had to replace my Ford Focus Titanium transmission and clutch at 65,000 miles because premature wear in my transmission. Makes me frustrated to know Ford knew this was an issue and still released the car.
Hola, Tengo un ford focus 2015 con 150 mil km y la transmisión ya no sirve, lo lleve a la agencia ford y no me dijieron que ya no tenia garantia y para repararlo me cobran 70 mil pesos mexicanos. Son unos ladrones! Quien me puede asesorar? se puede hacer algo legalmente?
Ayuda por favor
I have a 2018 ford focus titanium with 50,000 miles. Car would not accelerate, especially going up hill. It costs thousands to fix (or supposedly fix as im having problems again). I called Ford to complain and asked for a form to complete. They never sent. I also asked if they heard of other people having this problem and lady said no. After reDing these comments i think she was not completely honest! Can a ything be done? I have my receipts and had 2 different mechanics look at my car. Thank you for any replies.
I have a 2018 Focus SEL that I purchased new from a local Ford dealership. First, the salesman never mentioned the problems people were having with DPS6 transmission/clutch. If he had, I never would’ve bought the car. I decided to buy a new car because I didn’t want to have to deal with all the problems and repairs of a used car anymore. What was I thinking??? Between the time I purchased the car in April 2018 and June 2021 ( last warranty repair at 55,598 miles) my car had 5 transmission/clutch replacements and spent 72 days in the shop being repaired. The last repair in June 2021 took 48 days. It needs to be replaced again but the Warranty ran out and it would cost over $2000 to put a band aid on it. Because the truth is, there is no fix because the problem is in the design, not the part. I have contacted Ford Motor Co. and they don’t give a shit and don’t offer any suggestions. No wonder Ford doesn’t make cars other than the Mustang anymore.
I have a 2018 Ford Focus and the clutch was replaced 3 times and I only have 45,000 miles on my car. I contacted ford about the lemon law but I didn’t qualify because the first transmission clutch replacement was at 12,000 instead of 10,000. The Car is fine for 10 to 15 thousand miles and then the problems start all over again. It accelerates at a red light, no power when going up hills. My car get so hot when driving for 15 minutes that the lid on the windshield washer fluid crumbled when I went to take it off. Back to the Ford garage I go. I did buy the extended Warranty but at 65,00o miles it is up. I filed a complaint with the safety highway patrol. The solution a lawyer told me was to get rid of the car. I don’t have money to buy a new car. Ford should be responsible. I have tried to go through Ford but they will not help.
My 2017 Ford Focus barely has 20k miles and is in need of a new transmission, it will not go into reverse, the replacement transmission is $5500 and not available for THREE months, I am stuck with a car payment and insurance payment for a car I don’t have the use of, in the peak of winter. I don’t even know what I am going to do or how to go about this. It is ridiculous.
I have a 2014 Ford Fiesta. This week the car stopped going into drive out of nowhere. Threw the service transmission now warning. Towed it to the ford dealer after being told it would take $105 up front to diagnose it they still don’t know what’s wrong with it. They said they would need to go on a deep dive in the transmission that it’s probably the dual clutch but it would be another $800 to diagnose that. They said it’s out of the warranty even though it’s showing on several bulletins for this issue. I’ve only owned the car 2 years! Asked another mechanic and he said it’s a dealer repair and that he’s had 4 in his shop for the same reason in the last month.
I recently had my transmission clutch replaced by the Ford dealership for my Ford Focus 2018. It was returned to me unable to start with the engine ticking! They’re now stating the battery is defective after purchasing a new one under two years agooo
I recently had my transmission clutch replaced by the Ford dealership for my Ford Focus 2018. It was returned to me unable to start with the engine ticking! They’re now stating the battery is defective after purchasing a new one under two years ago.
Had my 2018 ford focus pcm go out. Just 19,000 miles. Still at the dealership almost a month.