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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 have a 2014 Ford Focus and have same problems please include me in the class action
I too am part of this dilemma. I owned a 2012 Ford focus Titanium and had the transmission replaced completely and still received TCMI problems shifting, shuttering, and slipping. I eventually had the car bought back and replaced under California lemon law essentially allowing me to purchase another 2018 Ford focus titanium which is now having the exact same issues.
I will never buy a Ford again. I owned 14 Fords in my life.
2013 focus. Transmission junk
2018 edge. Motor junk
Ford doesn’t stand behind their mistakes or faulting equipment. Stand behind your problems!!
My 2014 Ford Focus has the DPS6 Dual Clutch Transmission. I purchased it in 2016 with 38,000 miles. In the six years I’ve owned it, it just got diagnosed for the sixth time with clutch/TCM issue. It now has 72,000 miles and would appear to need repair every 12 months or 5,000 miles. This is the nightmare that keeps giving! While waiting for the TCM last year, the clutch warranty expired. Now, nine months after the TCM was last replaced, they say the now “not covered by warranty” clutch needs replaced. The two estimates I got were both $3000 for repair. I believed in Ford as the best American automobile company until now. Will Ford ever make it right for us?
Please include me in this lawsuit. I bought a 2018 ford focus titanium and the transmission is garbage and was told by the ford mechanics that it’s unsafe to drive, the part that supposedly fixes it is on back order and was told it could take 6 months to get the part to fix it and since it’s not a recall I get no loaner car or anything. So I guess ford expects me to pay $18k on a car that they knew for a fact has issues and now I’m carless for the next 6 months while I wait to get a part that’s not even a guaranteed fix?
My 2015 had the TCM replaced last year then it’s in the shop again a little over a year later with the same issue. I’m on SSDI and can’t afford something like this to keep happening I have about 55-57k miles on this used certified car. I think they should just replace my car with a newer model with less headaches. I just paid off my car not even a year ago. I’m alone and this is hard to deal with.
I need to be added to this list. My 2015 Ford Focus is currently at dealership awaiting TCM part to come in. I was just informed it has back order status and is currently taking 4-5 months for corporate to send part. This is ridiculous and they expect me to pay out of pocket for a rental. Wtf I’ve driven a ford for 46 years now. Customer service sucks
I was told the TCM with take about that long for my vehicle too and they wanted me to pay for a rental car because Ford) would only pay 40 or $45 a day for a rental the rest the owner of the vehicle would have to pay. I understand your frustration and I wish I could be on that lawsuit too. I’m disabled unlimited income living in subsidized housing I can’t afford a rental so the car dealer does try to take very good care of me their hands are tied by Ford so I cannot complain about the dealer I go to they’ve treated me very nicely it’s just the company. I wish I would’ve known this before I bought the Ford it would’ve been nice if they would’ve stated this on the certified used vehicle warranty that there would be issues with this. Because each time it goes in the shop under the warranty I have to pay a deductible and if it’s not under the warranty I have to pay out-of-pocket and I just can’t afford that.
2017 Ford Focus with the “clutch” by dealership replaced twice and transmission is done as of a month ago. Absolutely ridiculous. Even when replaced never drove smoothly.
I’m looking for attorney car malfunctioned have brain damage , 2016 Ford fusion se,
I have a 2014 ford focus and the transmission is jerking. This car has had more recalls and it’s a headache.
My daughter has a 2016 Focus experiencing the stated problems. We have been dealing with/fighting with Ford since late 2017. We did some inquiry into the the class-action at the time but were lead to believe her VIN didn’t qualify(this was at the early stages of the class suit being developed, I believe). Her car was under warranty so we just had it “fixed” piece by piece, or so we were lead to believe. She is still having problems, in fact they are getting worse, and now they are charging for diagnostics and saying it is out of warranty. Please help! She just graduated college and is trying to get on her adult feet, and her car is making this very difficult. We don’t live close enough to go to the Ford dealer with her and help her fight and they won’t talk to us because of course she is an “adult” (23) and the car is solely in her name.