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CriticalVery commonTransmission

Ford Focus: PowerShift DPS6 dry dual-clutch — shudder, slipping and repeat failures (AU class action)

PowerShift DPS6 dry dual-clutch — shudder, slipping and repeat failures (AU class action) is a very common transmission fault on the Ford Focus on the 2011–2016 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 37 documented faults on the Ford Focus.

Vehicle
Ford Focus
Years
2011–2016
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
dct
System
Transmission

This page covers the Ford Focus as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Ford Focus faults37 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Clutch yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The LW/LZ Focus's 6-speed PowerShift auto is the same dry dual-clutch that plagued the Fiesta: chronic shudder, lurching, clutch pack and seal failures, and transmission control module deaths, often recurring after repair. It drove the Capic v Ford class action in Australia and the ACCC's $10 million penalty against Ford Australia. Extended warranty programs are long expired. A specialist inspection or a manual car are the only safe plays here.

What you would notice

  • Shudder/vibration on take-off like a slipping clutch
  • Banging or lurching between low gears
  • Hesitation then lunge when accelerating from a roll
  • Transmission overheat warnings or limp mode

How to check it

Where to look. DPS6 transaxle; symptoms felt through the whole car from a standing start

Do multiple gentle standing starts, a hill start, and low-speed creep in traffic — shudder on take-off is the signature. Demand every transmission invoice: look for clutch packs, input shaft seals and TCM replacements and note the dates (repeat failures are the norm). Scan the TCM for codes before buying.

Parts involved: Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “How many clutch/TCM replacements has it had and when was the most recent?”
  • “Was it part of the class action or an ACCC complaint?”
  • “Will you allow a pre-purchase transmission inspection?”

Now check the Ford Focus you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

  • ACCC v Ford Motor Company of Australia — $10m penalty (2018)
  • Capic v Ford Motor Company of Australia (Federal Court class action)
  • CarsGuide / Drive.com.au Focus PowerShift complaint coverage

Ford Focus buyer questions

Is powershift dps6 dry dual-clutch — shudder, slipping and repeat failures (au class action) serious on a Ford Focus?

We rate it critical and very common on the Ford Focus. The LW/LZ Focus's 6-speed PowerShift auto is the same dry dual-clutch that plagued the Fiesta: chronic shudder, lurching, clutch pack and seal failures, and transmission control module deaths, often recurring after repair. It drove the Capic v Ford class action in Australia and the ACCC's $10 million penalty against Ford Australia. Extended warranty programs are long expired. A specialist inspection or a manual car are the only safe plays here.

How much does it cost to fix on a Ford Focus?

$1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Ford Focus years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011–2016 Ford Focus. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Do multiple gentle standing starts, a hill start, and low-speed creep in traffic — shudder on take-off is the signature. Demand every transmission invoice: look for clutch packs, input shaft seals and TCM replacements and note the dates (repeat failures are the norm). Scan the TCM for codes before buying. Look here: DPS6 transaxle; symptoms felt through the whole car from a standing start