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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’m in the same boat.. I purchased a 2012 Focus with 52K miles from my grandmother in November 2021, she purchased car new and only drove it short trips around town which didn’t allow enough time for trans to overheat and cause issues. However I drive much more.. my first experience with the transmission jumping gears was 4 days after I got it.. discovered Fords Extended warranty program, but was denied repair and charged $165 for “diagnostics and reprogramming” The rest of the winter months (NE Ohio) I had no more issues. As Summer approached I started experiencing more and more “oh Sh!t” moments when transmission overheats and shuts down forcing me to pull to side of road or in someone’s driveway and “wait 10 min” for the trans to cool (dashboard warning system) or on the freeway and randomly and unexpectedly the trans jumps to a lower gear Lurches me and any passengers/cargo forward then refuses to accelerate which often forces me to drive into median to avoid collision. Just the other day I went to leave work after the car was sitting all day and it would not go in reverse, it would go forward but no reverse. And the day before that I ran to grocery store and when I went to leave the car wouldn’t go forward or backwards. My dog and I had to sit there for at least 20 min in 90° temperature waiting for the trans to cool. Everyday there is something new happening and I am seriously starting to get scared driving that car around.
I have 2017 ford fiesta. There is continuous clutch shudder (cracking noise) and harsh shifting. How to participate in this lawsuit?
Purchased New Focus 9/18/18 ADJUSTED RVC on 10/02/20 mileage 16,724 didn’t solve problem 2 weeks later ordered clutch assembly mileage 17,068 did not arrive till 2/24/21 called about same problem 3/15/22 vehicle became worst , on 6/17/22 failed test ORDERED 2nd Cluch assembly keep calling over a month still on Back Order ,problem worst ! How do I become part of the CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ?
My son had a 2017 cord focus SEL. It has the dual clutch and he has had nothing but problems. It leaves him stuck in oncoming traffic because it jumps and stops. He can’t even go up any kind of hill. He has tried to get out of ownership and we can not find any way out of this death trap. We have all the proof needed and it’s been fixed more than once and now completely gone again.
2012 Ford Focus – Transmission issues because of the defect. We were not made aware of the recalls/class action lawsuit. Transmission has been replaced and still continues to have numerous issues. The vehicle has had only 1 owner and has 100,000-110,000 and not able to drive it at all. Are we still able to enter this lawsuit? How do we go about getting some type of compensation for what has already been spent, headaches and now, not having a vehicle at all.
Looking for assistance.
Ford had a defective transmission control module in my 2014 Ford Focus SE. The orders for replacement are said to be 94K plus. There is no telling when the back order will be available, many months or years.
If I am waiting more than six months with no vehicle, is this bad faith for not providing the TCM in a timely fashion? Is there a class action suit against ford for failure to provide TCMs?
We are having the same issue with our 2014 Ford Focus. It’s been in the shop waiting on a part for 3 months now. No ETA on part.
We would love any info available on a lawsuit pertaining to this issue.
I am waiting for the same part on my 2014 Ford Focus.
I have the same issue with my 2014 Ford Focus SE. Only 71,000 miles. Dealership says under warranty, but can’t get part in stock.
Im having the same issue with my 2015 Ford Focus
My daughter has a 2013 Ford Fiesta.
The clutch has been replaced twice and now her transmission needs to be replaced.. Nothing but problems with this PowerPoint transmission.
We had a 2016 that did this! We took it to Ford house and they said it was no good!
I have a 2012 ford focus with the duel clutch.as soon as I start to go up a hill the transmission starts to slip then it tells me my transmission is overheating then i am left stranded till it cools down .
We had a 2014 Ford fusion that did this
I have a 2016 Ford Focus that jerks when accelerating idles at a hire than normal RPM has delayed acceleration and delayed downshift all do to the powershift transmission defects/ dual clutch.
I have a Ford focus and had problems with the brakes. Did not think it was failure at their end
I have a 2018 Ford Fiesta and while driving car i can feel it jerk