Hi. I have a nearly 4 year old Focus Vignale with the active suspension (I think called Continuously controlled damping). It has never been right - being excessively bouncy/wallowy, or twitchy in the sports mode and causing nausea especially for passengers.

I took it in for a look at by the dealer (It was 8 months old when purchased from Ford Direct) shortly after purchase, and after investigating for a day our so told me Ford had said the wheels needed balancing. They balanced the wheels and it was much better - though probably still less comfortable than standard suspension. Unfortunately this didn't last long (only a few months). I've had the wheels balanced a number of times since, and each time improves the situation just about enough to make the car tolerable, but it never lasts more than a few months before needing doing again.

Note - the tech I took out was feeling bad only after a few minutes test ride - he agreed it was not right

It is now bad again, after only a couple of months since replacement tyres have been fitted.

Unfortunately the car is no longer under warranty - I should have insisted on it being sorted while it was, but it is very difficult to point a finger at exactly what is wrong, so I'm going to have to pay to get it put right - needs doing though.

Has anyone heard of something similar? If so are there common causes (eg faulty sensor). Any advice on how I should approach it with service?

Thanks

Are you sure it's got adaptive suspension?  It wasn't an option on anything other than the ST when I ordered my Mk4.  I would have opted for it if it was!

I've got a 2021 Active Vignale with standard suspension...which is intolerable for my stomach.  The increased ride height on the Active just made it more wallowy...and didn't even remove the jittery feeling in a straight line on rough ground either.  It's got IRS but it's not well setup at all imo.

Pretty certain it was active (anywhere I can look it up with VIN or REG?)

I think it was only available for the ST and Vignale on the 2019 models.

Can look it up on ETIS with an IO account.  But the site is being decommissioned so I'm not sure if they're allowing new registrations now.  I'll check if you PM me the reg.

Probably quicker to just look at one of the shocks and see if it has an electrical connection.

If you have it, the CCD module is also in the boot under the carpet. Mine is bottom left when viewing from the boot opening. 
 

If you reported this in warranty then I’d argue it should still be fixed under warranty. 
 

Wheels shouldn’t lose balance unless they’ve lost a weight or got damaged. 

@alexp999 Do you know what CCD is listed as on ETIS?  I've checked the OPs reg but can't see anything to confirm either way. 

20 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

@alexp999 Do you know what CCD is listed as on ETIS?  I've checked the OPs reg but can't see anything to confirm either way. 

I can't see anything on Etis for mine, but it might be part of the "With Performance Suspension" for the ST.

EDIT:

If you go to Vehicle Software then summary, you can see all the installed modules. I have a Vehicle Dynamics Control Module (VDM) listed, which must be for the CCD.

Ah, I see, thanks.  It does have a VDM listed.

 

You should also be able to see from the history and summary whether it's ever been tested or updated since it was built.

This is what I have bottom left in the boot which I believe is the suspension control module...


 

Just now, tonycollinet said:

This is what I have bottom left in the boot...


 

Yeah, that's it, you've definitely got CCD.

Alex - how do you find the suspension on yours?

44 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

You should also be able to see from the history and summary whether it's ever been tested or updated since it was built.

Looks it has been updated at the end of 2019.

13 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Looks it has been updated at the end of 2019.

I took delivery in August 2019, so that was probably when I took it in the first time.

1 hour ago, tonycollinet said:

I took delivery in August 2019, so that was probably when I took it in the first time.

There might be another module update available now but only Ford dealers can see those.  Usually you'd have to pay but as you've complained about this within the warranty period I'd push for some goodwill at least.

I don't have any experience with the Ford system unfortunately, and can't recall seeing anyone else complain so far.  Have had a Leon with adaptive suspension which worked fine in normal mode.

Can you fine tune the suspension settings in the Focus or are you just given the basic choices of comfort or sport?

 

The wheels going out of balance is very odd.  It's possible that very bouncy suspension isn't keeping tyre contact constant on the road, so tyres are wearing in a sort of patchy way, leaving light spots.  Either that, or the dealership are taking the mick...but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

Other than it locking the damper and clonking over tree roots when it incorrectly activated pothole detection I haven’t had any issues with CCD. It’s much more taught and flat than my mk3 without it. It’s probably tuned differently for a ST though.
 

It certainly shouldn’t be nauseating though. I can’t understand how your wheels need to keep being balanced. You don’t mean alignment?