Known MK3 Issues So Far

07-08-2011: Complaint of badly fitted nearside doors and DAB radio not staying on station.

29-1-2012: Complaint that stop/start function not working on 1.6 Ecoboost that regularly does 300 mile runs.

17-3-2012: One complaint of a sticking clutch pedal
on a 10,000 mile 2011 1.6TDCI. At first thought to be due to a faulty
return spring, but persisted so probably due to a lazy clutch slave
cylinder.

4-7-2012: Complaint of synchromesh failure on 5th gear of 6,000 mile 1.6 Ecoboost. At the time the parts to fix it were “on back order”.

18-7-2012: Reports of 1.0 Ecoboost turbo failures
seem to be the result of owners switching the engines off when the
turbos are red hot. These turbos need to be idled for at least 20
seconds before switching off, and longer if the car has just completed a
long ascent or the engine has been revved hard.

21-7-2012: Report that ECU shuts down fuel injection of 2.0TDCI when clutch/DMF ‘slip’ is detected, preventing quick standing starts.

9-8-2012: 235x40 R18 tyres only last around 11,000 miles, front and back.

16-9-2012: Powershift dual clutch automatic transmission requires fresh fluid every 3 years at a cost of £250.

30-1-2013:
Report of problems with 115PS 1.6 DV6C diesel engine in Focus
manifested in stuttering and hesitating. F ixed by having 2 PCM updates
and a replacement clutch master cylinder. Apparently also occurs in same
engine designated ‘D2’ in Volvos.

1-4-2013: One reader suffered faulty stop/start
in 1.6 EcoBoost, but since a sensor was replaced had no further problems
over the following 9 months, so presumed fixed.

7-6-2013: Report of a repeat o/s driveshaft oil
seal leak on a 2011 Focus 1.6 125 petrol model. Fixed once under
warranty, then the replacement leaked and is being replaced again under
warranty.

1-9-2013: Spate of problems with year old 1.0
EcoBoost. Minor problem of USB connection failing. Major problem of
engine losing coolant due to a cracked expansion chamber which
eventually led to the engine seizing. New engine authorised by Ford.

14-11-2013: Clutch slave cylinder problem can
develop on Focus 1.6 TDCi 115 (DV6C). Reader needed new clutch plates
as a result after 35,000 miles.

16-11-2013: Complaint of juddering of Powershift
transmission at low speed in 2012 Focus 1.6 estate, as if car is trying
to start off in 2nd or 3rd gear. First complaint of Powershift with 1.6
petrol engine. (Not sure if this is a dual wet clutch Powershift or dual
dry clutch Powershift.)

18-12-2013: Clutch failed on 2011 Focus 1.6TDCI
(DV6C). Replaced under warranty, but car came back feeling less lively.
Probably slave cylinder problem. ECU would have been routinely remapped
to latest Ford spec and if the model had been suffering drivetrain
problems then this would have been countered by reducing torque output
slightly in 1st and 2nd to protect the DMF, clutch and transmission.

27-12-2013: Yet another report of leaking clutch
slave cylinder contaminating the DMF and clutch of a 2011 Focus 1.6TDCI
(DV6C) and the clutch, DMF and slave cylinder all being replaced FoC
under warranty.

9-1-2014: Report of clutch and DMF failure on 2012
Focus 1.0 EcoBoost 125 at 10,500 miles. Quoted at £1,700 for
replacement. (Logged here in case of further reports. Not sure if caused
by same slave cylinder problem as 1.6TDCI).

11-1-2014: Powershift transmissions require a
change of fluid and microfilter every 3 years or 3rd service whichever
comes first. This is essential maintenance. To avoid excessive wear of
the twin oil clutches it is also essential to avoid sitting in ‘D’ at a
standstill. Change to ‘N’. It’s easy to shift between ‘D’ and ‘N’ and
between ‘N’ and ‘D’ with a Powershift because, unlike a VAG DSG, you
don’t have to stamp on the footbrake to do this.