Certain 2011 through 2015 Model Year Fiesta and 2012 through 2016 Model Year Focus Vehicles Equipped with a DPS6 Automatic Transmission Transmission Control Module Extended Warranty Coverage REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT âÃÂâ Due to ongoing limited part availability, program terms have been revised. âÃÂâ Vehicle pickup & delivery has been added. âÃÂâ Labor allowance table has been updated. âÃÂâ Additional repairs updated. âÃÂâ Added Attachment VI Mobile Repair/Vehicle Pickup and Delivery Record. âÃÂâ Added Attachment VII Mobile Repair Assessment.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Ford Focus powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Ford Focus have filed 18 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 67,000 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Focus | 37 |
| 2008 Focus | 21 |
| 2009 Focus | 37 |
| 2010 Focus | 41 |
| 2011 Focus (this page) | 18 |
| 2012 Focus | 1,348 |
| 2013 Focus | 1,049 |
| 2014 Focus | 1,538 |
| 2015 Focus | 541 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 18 powertrain complaints filed for the 2011 Ford Focus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Certain 2011 through 2014 Model Year Fiesta and Focus Vehicles Equipped with a DPS6 Automatic Transmission - Transmission Clutch Shudder / Transmission Input Shaft Seal Warranty Extension
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Short-Term DPS6 Dealer Customer Handling Direction
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A even if grease was not applied from the factory. Also verify that the engine/transmission alignment dowel pins are present as well as the engine crankshaft dowel pin, if equipped, when installing the transmission. Failure to adequately lubricate the converter hub greatly increases the likelihood of the flexplate cracking in the future. Missing dowels may cause a misalignment issue also resulting in a premature failure. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 307-01.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CERTAIN 2011 THROUGH 2014 MODEL YEAR FIESTA AND FOCUS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A DPS6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TRANSMISSION CLUTCH SHUDDER / TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT SEAL WARRANTY EXTENSION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report transmission problems starting early in the vehicle's life. Manual transmission owners describe clutch pedals that fail or go to the floor without catch, sometimes due to broken plastic connections in the pedal linkage. Automatic transmission owners report shuddering, hesitation, rough shifting, and slipping out of gear into neutral without warning—sometimes on highways at speed. Several owners had transmission replacements under warranty, but the replacements failed again within weeks.
Stalling is another major complaint, occurring at both low and highway speeds with minimal warning. Some stalls are accompanied by jerking or banging noises from the transmission. One owner experienced violent jerking at 25 MPH before stalling; others found their vehicles unresponsive to throttle input. Dealers often cannot pinpoint the cause, though one technician recommended throttle body replacement as a precaution.
Shift solenoid failures have been diagnosed in multiple cases, causing jerking and harsh transmission behavior. One owner was told the transmission control module was defective; another had PCM updates that didn't help. Multiple owners describe acceleration failures—taking well over a minute to reach highway speed or being unable to maintain speed uphill. One owner reported three separate instances of the vehicle displaying "STOP SAFELY NOW" and shutting down unexpectedly. The common thread: these failures often occur at low mileage (under 70,000 miles) and dealers struggle to provide lasting fixes.
Same Ford Focus powertrain reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission shuddering, hesitation, and rough shifting
Multiple owners report the transmission shudders, hesitates, jumps, or shifts roughly at various speeds. One owner noted temporary fixes via clutch adjustments that did not hold. Another described transmission stuttering at lower speeds initially diagnosed as designed behavior, then found to be a defective transmission control module.
When: Lower speeds (25–45 MPH) and during acceleration; one case at 84,719 miles, another at 15,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering and shaking during acceleration; Hesitation on acceleration; Rough shifting; Transmission jumps or launches out; Loud noise on cold start before warmup
Repairs/costs cited: One transmission control module replaced; one shift solenoid diagnosed as faulty but not repaired; clutch adjustments performed but temporary
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claimed rough shifting was designed for fuel efficiency; no remedy offered; one dealer stated vehicle was working as designed
Transmission slipping and loss of power
Owners report the transmission slips out of gear into neutral without warning, fails to accelerate properly, or loses power during driving. One case involved complete transmission failure requiring replacement under warranty, yet failure recurred within a week.
When: Highway speeds and during normal acceleration; one case under 70,000 miles, recurrence within a week of replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Slips out of gear into neutral without warning; Fails to exceed 15 MPH or accelerate to posted speed limits; Slips badly upon launch; Takes over a minute to go from 35–60 MPH; Cannot maintain 60 MPH uphill
Repairs/costs cited: One transmission replaced under warranty; replacement transmission failed within one week and worsened over six months
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 18V845000 (Power Train) mentioned in one case; no other manufacturer action documented
Clutch failure in manual transmissions
Manual transmission owners report clutch pedal fails to engage properly or goes to the floor with no catch, leaving the vehicle unable to shift gears. One owner reported the clutch pedal connection broke due to a plastic piece failure.
When: Early in ownership or at low mileage; one case at 57,000 miles on highway
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch pedal stuck or unresponsive; Clutch goes to floor with no catch; Broken plastic connection between clutch pedal and linkage; Unable to shift gears
Repairs/costs cited: Plastic clutch pedal connection broke and required repair; one owner stranded in turn lane on busy road
Stalling and loss of engine power
Owners report sudden stalling during driving, sometimes with warning lights. One case involved violent jerking followed by stalling at low speed; another involved stalling at highway speed with throttle/transmission warning lights. One owner reported the throttle body was replaced as a precaution.
When: Occurs early in vehicle life (7,915 miles, 10,700 miles) and at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls without warning; Violent jerking before stall; Power train warning lamp illuminates; Throttle control/transmission warning light illuminates; Vehicle unable to diagnose root cause at dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replaced as a safety precaution; one case undiagnosed and unrepaired despite dealer investigation
Shift solenoid malfunction
A shift solenoid is diagnosed as faulty, causing jerking and loud banging noise from the transmission. Another owner reported multiple solenoid replacements were necessary due to improper shifting and acceleration failures.
When: 67,000 miles in one documented case
Symptoms owners cite: Loud banging noise from transmission; Vehicle jerks during driving; Vehicle fails to shift correctly; Fails to accelerate safely
Repairs/costs cited: Shift solenoid diagnosed as faulty; owner reports multiple solenoid replacements performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but no solution offered
Transmission control module defects
At least one owner's vehicle was diagnosed with a defective transmission control module that caused shuddering and hesitation. PCM module updates were performed in another case but did not resolve hesitation issues.
When: 84,719 miles (TCM replacement); 15,000 miles (PCM update)
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shuddering and hesitation; Hesitation during acceleration attempts; Shuddering without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission control module replaced; PCM module updated at dealer but issue persisted
Abnormal vibration while idling
One owner reported abnormal vibration during idle with no warning and did not pursue diagnosis or repair.
When: 85,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal vibration while idling
Engine startup warning and system shutdown
Owner reports the vehicle displayed 'STOP SAFELY NOW' warning, shut down while turning, and failed to power off properly. This occurred on three separate instances.
When: Startup from stop light and during low-speed maneuvering
Symptoms owners cite: Display shows 'STOP SAFELY NOW' warning; System shut down unexpectedly during driving; System does not shut down when attempted; Display remains active after shutdown command
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the wrench symbol was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was vibrating and shaking and there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact stopped the vehicle, the engine was still running and attempted to shift into reverse(R), but the vehicle would not shift into…
This is the first report of 3 separate instances. Starting up from waiting at a signal light the system flashed "stop safely now". ( I had just touched the display screen to view the battery power.) proceeding through a left turn and when getting to the curb the system shut down. At that point a complete turn off of the car was attempted which did not happen, with the display still being active.…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2011 Ford Focus?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2011 Ford Focus?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 15,000 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 67,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,000; a quarter make it past 120,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Ford/Focus.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.