If the gearbox slips or loses drive
A slipping clutch, or a gearbox that backs off drive to protect itself, can leave you short of power in traffic. If that happens, or the car won't slow the way it should, pull over somewhere safe and switch off, and don't drive it until it's been checked. Call roadside assistance if you have it. If anyone is in danger, call 000.
Does my Focus have the PowerShift?
The third-generation Focus came here in 2011, coded LW to 2015 and LZ to 2018. At launch the automatic was the six-speed PowerShift: standard on the Titanium and the diesel, optional on the others.
A manual Focus doesn't have it. The fourth generation, from November 2018, used an 8-speed automatic on the 1.5-litre instead. Ask the mechanic to confirm yours from the VIN.
What goes wrong with a PowerShift
The PowerShift is a dual-clutch automatic, more like two computer-run manual gearboxes than a conventional auto. In the Focus and Fiesta it used dry clutches, a design made for manual gearboxes. Wet clutches handle slipping better, because they shed heat better.
The Focus drew criticism for shuddering. Ford attributes the defects to seals that leak fluid onto the clutch, causing it to slip, and has released fixes for the seals and updated clutch kits. Clutch packs overheating, and the control module backing the clutches off to protect them, have been linked to it as well.
What a proper fix looks like
Confirm the gearbox
The mechanic checks which transmission the car has, and what's already been done to it. Any earlier seal or clutch work matters.
Road test and scan
They feel for the shudder and read the stored faults, rather than going on a description.
Find the cause
That may mean opening it up to check for fluid on the clutch, worn clutches or leaking seals.
Put it in writing
The estimate should name the fault, the parts and any software work, and what cover comes with the repair.
Your rights, and checking for recalls
Consumer guarantees sit alongside any manufacturer's warranty. If you think your car's fault dates back to new, your state's consumer affairs office can tell you where you stand.
Before you pay for a big gearbox job, check your VIN with Ford for any program or recall that applies. Keep the paperwork from any earlier seal, clutch or software work, because it tells the next mechanic what's already been tried.
Battery and servicing
Don't forget the simple stuff. A weak battery can upset a car's electronics, so have it tested if the car is slow to start, and see car battery replacement. CarsGuide lists the Focus at 15,000 km or 12 months, and your service book has the final word.
What we'd do with a shuddering Focus
Find any past gearbox paperwork, then have a mechanic who regularly works on dual-clutch gearboxes road test and scan it. Get the cause in writing before you approve the work. If it's a bigger repair, weigh it against the car's age and condition. Tell us it's a Focus, the year and what it's doing. A local mechanic who specialises in your car.