Ford Focus....what is the deal with the stuttering off the line????

Seriously, is this really the best Ford can do? We have a few different vehicles at work including several Ford Focusessssssses. I noticed while driving them they all start off from a dead stop and basically run rough is the only way I can describe it, until you get up to about 10 - 15 mph. It feels like the engine is starved for fuel or there is something wrong with the ignition, or there is a dead cat in the tailpipe, something is amiss. Absolutely terrible. Who on here has bought one of these turds and why would anyone else want one?

I have no idea what the problem could be, but I would try giving the suspect vehicles several vigorous Italian tuneups, just for good measure.

"You get a bad DCT, and you get a bad DCT, and you get a bad DCT!"

Are you talking about the newer Focus? The first time I drove one with an automatic I thought the trans was slipping but I don't think it actually was. It was weird. Is that kind of sensation what you're referring to?

Don't the new Focuses have a dry plate clutch setup? I can see that dying an early death if people do the "Cleveland Creep". Which bugs the everloving E36 M3 out of me.

"Cleveland Creep" - Stop a car length behind the guy ahead of you. Then creep forward a little every couple seconds, so the gap is closed by the time the light turns green. Why do people do this? WHY? WHY??? There is no point. I've seen this behaviour nowhere else. WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU, CLEVELAND DRIVERS? YOU USED TO BE COOL

If it's a 2012-up, the "Powershift" dual clutch auto is known for doing weird E36 M3 it seems.

You know...

Problem: Mandatory start/stop Problem: DCT don't creep

Solution: Low-level hybrid like GM did with the Ecotec, where there is just a big beefy alternator that can backdrive the engine via the belt. Use the motor to get the car moving so you don't have to worry about creep killing transmissions.

BlueInGreen44 wrote: Are you talking about the newer Focus? The first time I drove one with an automatic I thought the trans was slipping but I don't think it actually was. It was weird. Is that kind of sensation what you're referring to?

u got it bub. newer focus, with about 20k miles on it, probably a 2014 model.

The good news is that it's a known problem and ford will replace as many clutches as you want at no cost to you up to 100k miles. If it shifts funny or acts weird take it the dealership and they'll reflash the PCM/TCM then take it out for a test drive to evaluate it.

psychic_mechanic wrote: The good news is that it's a known problem and ford will replace as many clutches as you want at no cost to you up to 100k miles. If it shifts funny or acts weird take it the dealership and they'll reflash the PCM/TCM then take it out for a test drive to evaluate it.

thanks for the info but no way in the world would I buy a car knowing I gotta go through this hassle. We also have a few of the older focus cars and those things are even worse. I don't notice the stuttering in those cars but the road noise is enough to want to drive it into a tree after dumping out of it like james dean on a chicky run.

Oddly enough the thing that bothers me the most about newer Focuses is the utter lack of noise. Maybe a little bit of wind whistle, but there's no engine sound, no tire sound, no transmission sound, nothing. If you have road noise, it's because whoever is in charge of maintenance isn't rotating the tires and the rear tires are chopped and cupped like sawblades. (Or onions in the kitchen.... mmm cup of chopped onions)

Every car on the road today has little niggling issues fixed with reflashes. It's the way things are done anymore.

Knurled wrote: "Cleveland Creep" - Stop a car length behind the guy ahead of you. Then creep forward a little every couple seconds, so the gap is closed by the time the light turns green. Why do people do this? WHY? WHY??? There is no point. I've seen this behaviour nowhere else. WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU, CLEVELAND DRIVERS? YOU USED TO BE COOL

They all do it NY state also. They think that their movement will trigger the light when in fact the opposite is true. They all must think I am nuts for staying still. It is funny when the lead car is so far under the light that they can't see it turn green and all that creeping was for nothing.

Knurled wrote: Solution: Low-level hybrid like GM did with the Ecotec, where there is just a big beefy alternator that can backdrive the engine via the belt. Use the motor to get the car moving so you don't have to worry about creep killing transmissions.

That reminds me. I really want to see one of these setups up close in person. Seems like one of the only hybrid setups that could be semi-easily retrofit onto another car.

In reply to ProDarwin:

Where is some hybrid truck/SUV axle, Toyota I think, that has the electrc motor mounted on the diff.

To get back on topic, I wan to say that Ford dual clutch was getting a new calibration almost weekly for a while there, to correct little problems like that, you might want to look into that.

Redline neutral drop. I bet that would fix your problem..until something broke

We have them as fleet vehicles at work and they all eventually do that. A few had the trans replaced as early as 60k miles. Slipping, stuttering, searching for a gear... The worst I've experienced when accelerating from a dead stop I hear a rattling sound until it gets up to speed then it drives normal. Then slow down to part throttle and it rattles again until you step on it.

not sure if it's the same thing but the Zipcar Golf I drive doesn't move but a snails pace from a red light stop, or a full stop ( remember those?). Until I plant it, then it goes. My room-mate assures me this a euro-thing to do with emissions and it's new to me because I haven't driven a new/any car in almost eight years - true statement. Whatever it is for automatics, I hate it.

just remembered he said it is the emissions shutting off the engine. I swear I hear it all the time now when I'm walking past a red light. I live in a city with a lot of european cars.

Get latest reflash, have clutch seals checked for leaking contamination on the dry clutches.

The very newest stuff drives pretty nice IMO, way better than when first released.

plance1 wrote: Seriously, is this really the best Ford can do? We have a few different vehicles at work including several Ford Focusessssssses. I noticed while driving them they all start off from a dead stop and basically run rough is the only way I can describe it, until you get up to about 10 - 15 mph. It feels like the engine is starved for fuel or there is something wrong with the ignition, or there is a dead cat in the tailpipe, something is amiss. Absolutely terrible. Who on here has bought one of these turds and why would anyone else want one?

I completely agree. I had a rental Focus on vacation that did that. It was so miserable I couldn't wait to turn it back in. In fact I tried turning it back in early and getting another one as I thought something was wrong with it. The counter person blandly stated that they all did that. Of course I realize that it was just the set up in this car but it sure put me off of Fords............again.

The past three rental cars I've had this year were Ford Focus...by choice. I actually like the car quite a bit. That's the only one drawback I've seen to it. All of mine have done the same thing. It gives a bit of a shudder when pulling off from a stop, especially if you're only at part throttle. I don't know what it is, but I wonder if it has to do with some type of fuel saving measure. Does it deactivate cylinders while at a stop? But for me, other than that, I think it's a great compact car.

Feedyurhed wrote:

plance1 wrote: Seriously, is this really the best Ford can do? We have a few different vehicles at work including several Ford Focusessssssses. I noticed while driving them they all start off from a dead stop and basically run rough is the only way I can describe it, until you get up to about 10 - 15 mph. It feels like the engine is starved for fuel or there is something wrong with the ignition, or there is a dead cat in the tailpipe, something is amiss. Absolutely terrible. Who on here has bought one of these turds and why would anyone else want one?

I completely agree. I had a rental Focus on vacation that did that. It was so miserable I couldn't wait to turn it back in. In fact I tried turning it back in early and getting another one as I thought something was wrong with it. The counter person blandly stated that they all did that. Of course I realize that it was just the set up in this car but it sure put me off of Fords............again.

The good news is that the transmission will be going away, and being replace with a traditional auto trans box. Decent idea, but when faced with how people actually use their cars, poor execution- and is reflected in Consumer Reports.

nutherjrfan wrote: just remembered he said it is the emissions shutting off the engine. I swear I hear it all the time now when I'm walking past a red light. I live in a city with a lot of european cars.

That's not true. Unless the offending emission is CO2. It's a fuel economy tool, not an emissions tool.

Klayfish wrote: The past three rental cars I've had this year were Ford Focus...by choice. I actually like the car quite a bit. That's the only one drawback I've seen to it. All of mine have done the same thing. It gives a bit of a shudder when pulling off from a stop, especially if you're only at part throttle. I don't know what it is, but I wonder if it has to do with some type of fuel saving measure. Does it deactivate cylinders while at a stop? But for me, other than that, I think it's a great compact car.

So it's a great compact car except that it doesn't run right and it's miserable to drive? I am not being harsh it just seems like that's a pretty big thing. Like I said I couldn't wait to turn mine back in.

Knurled wrote: "Cleveland Creep" - Stop a car length behind the guy ahead of you. Then creep forward a little every couple seconds, so the gap is closed by the time the light turns green. Why do people do this? WHY? WHY??? There is no point. I've seen this behaviour nowhere else. WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU, CLEVELAND DRIVERS? YOU USED TO BE COOL

I did not know there was a name for this. It's not just in Cleveland.