I’ve spent 20 years in the automotive industry, from training dealership staff to representing global automakers on the auto show circuit.Since 2015, I’ve written about the latest makes, models, and marvels as a journalist.I should be the last person to get trapped by a bad vehicle purchase, but I once made a rookie mistake that no factory warranty or above-and-beyond service could fix.
I bought a used 2012 Ford Focus Titanium hatchback without doing an ounce of research.The car with the now-infamous dual-clutch automatic transmission.Looked good on paper Didn't discover the issue until much later When I purchased that used Focus in 2017, everything looked good on paper, from the price to the low miles.
At the time, my job on the auto show circuit had me flying about 250 days a year.An affordable compact car like a Focus was perfect, as I simply wasn’t home enough to justify driving anything fancy.In hindsight, I should have looked at the car's data, not the odometer.
During the pandemic, when everything was shut down, I was home a lot more.Post-pandemic, my career in the automotive industry here in Detroit changed, and I was flying less.I started driving my 2012 Focus a lot more, and that’s when I noticed many of the issues that had since been reported by other Focus owners, particularly for that model year.
Shaking and shuddering Problem became more pronounced over time When I would take off from a stop, my entire Focus would shake and shudder, to the point where it felt like it was “skipping” across the intersection.The shuddering became more pronounced as the months went on, to the point that accelerating down an exit ramp to get on M10 here in Detroit (from 35 to 55 mph, for example) became unbearable.When I visited my Ford dealership in the Detroit metro (Bob Maxey on Jefferson) in 2021, my 2012 Focus was well past the factory warranty by time, but not by miles (I was still under 60,000 miles).
It was from this local dealer in Detroit that I learned what I was experiencing with my Focus was not an isolated incident, and that the transmission was the subject of an investigation by the .Despite my working in the automotive industry at the time, I was unaware of these problems with the Ford Focus.While my Focus never outright refused to move in traffic, a number of owners did report that when they stepped on the accelerator, nothing happened.
Many of those same owners expressed safety concerns about being stuck in moving traffic, despite hitting the gas.Lesson Learned Warranty work was only a temporary fix Since it was a well-documented issue, my service advisor and the dealership's service manager were able to (essentially) have my powertrain warranty reactivated based on mileage, although the repairs stopped short of a complete transmission replacement.Some of the parts also ended up on a national backorder, so I was given a loaner vehicle for most of that November.
In the end, despite my service advisor's above-and-beyond efforts, the repairs did little to resolve the transmission problems, and I eventually traded my 2012 Focus.By the time I did, I had been to my Ford dealer on four separate occasions.However, I always take this personal story of mine as a lesson.
Had I scanned a few Reddit threads or done a little more research, I probably would have avoided getting that Focus back in 2017.Related 6 things to consider before an expensive car repair You don't have to be a master mechanic to advocate for your vehicle and your finances.Posts By Carl Anthony Beyond the product brochures Use these tips to your advantage In addition to online research, here are some other tips you can use when you are shopping for a different vehicle: Call an Independent Shop: This isn’t to say a dealership would be dishonest about the mechanical gremlins present on a certain make or model, but an independent shop isn’t trying to sell the car.
Independent shops work on all types of vehicles and may have experience with the next car you are considering.They often see the real-world failures that brochures and TV commercials don't mention.Do a Pre-Purchase Inspection: While you have an independent shop on the line, ask if they can conduct a multi-point inspection of the vehicle you are considering.
It might cost a couple of hundred bucks, but it might prevent you from having to fork over thousands later.Knowing the vehicle's true mechanical condition before you sign the paperwork will give you peace of mind.Ask Friends or Colleagues: If you know someone who has the same vehicle you are looking at, ask them how they like it and what they think of it.
My experience with my old Ford Focus serves as a powerful reminder that even low-mileage gems can hide deep-seated mechanical flaws.If you have your eye on a new vehicle, use my story as proof that doing research before making a purchase is the single most important thing.Subscribe for Smart Used-Car Insights and Buying Tips Subscribing to the newsletter delivers more real-world used-car lessons, practical pre-purchase inspection checklists, and independent-shop tips so you can spot hidden faults and avoid costly buying mistakes when evaluating a vehicle.
Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.You can unsubscribe anytime.When you are doing research, if you start to think trust your instincts and start looking at a different vehicle entirely.
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