Fathering law called me to say "your new cars been on the TV regarding premiture clutch failure".

Apparently it was on a watchdog type program called "Don't get done, get dom" earlier this morning.

Yes ... rather alarming!!

See BBC iPlayer ... it's on there.

Did they say which engines or years this affects?

They interviewed "Honest John".

He said he knew of seven 1 litre Ecoboosts having the problem (ie clutch failure on new Focuses within the first 6,000 miles).

He was shown the parts Ford had returned to one of their customers and he pointed out they had not returned the clutch slave cylinder (have I got that right? All mumbo-jumbo to me).

John said he knew of another six or so problems with 1.6 litre petrol or diesel models and in those cases the clutch slave cylinder had been identified as "the villain of the piece".

Linds

What I forgot to add is that Ford are attempting to avoid paying for replacement clutches claiming the problem is down to poor driving rather than a manufacturing defect.

Both vehicles featured in the programme were, I think, Mk 3's ... not Mk 3.5's.

Linds

Out of how many focus mk3 on the road, thats a very small percentage of failures.

iantt

You are absolutely right.

... but the programme asked if there had been enough premature failures to indicate there might be a more widespread design or manufacturing defect.

If there was a problem then mine would have destroyed itself by now.

To be fair a handful of reported failures out of the many thousands sold is a drop in the ocean.

If it was reported as say 1 in 100 then it would be more worrying.

I personally don't like Dominic Littlewood, he comes over as an over-pushy lout with no knowledge of the subject 'He' is investigating.

He's purely a mouthpiece for the many researchers which do the real work but takes all the glory and to me he appears to be supercilious and condescending.

'Honest John' may have a good name on the web for a no bull approach and being candid however one persons view does not constitute un-challenged proof.

Has anyone on this forum posted clutch issues with mk3?

Yes, I have. 2012 1.6 ecoboost 150. I bought it 2nd hand in 9.5k from a ford dealer, full main dealer service history. Clutch started to judder in 1st at 10k miles. Eventually replaced under warranty at 13k. New one intermittently exhibits 'clutch whoop'; when it gets hot and you pull away in 1st you get a whoop sound. Ford not interested in repairing it because the car is over 3 years old now (has 17k on this clock). Car was just short of 3 years old when the original clutch was replaced.

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When the old one was taken out the mechanic said there were heat spots on it, which can point to misuse. Sounds like they can't handle heat properly and it's a product fault, although ford will never in a million years admit it.

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Does anyone have a link to the interview? I can see several posts on the HJ website, one 1.0 ecoboost clutch failed 7 times it seems!

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Dave1987, if you're referring to the programme go to the iPlayer site and enter Don't Get Done Get Dom in the Search box and it'll be the first link, I think.

I tried to C+P the url but couldn't ... presumably verboten?

linds

Just seen it. They've got some serious b***s to still claim that they standby it being driver error as opposed to a manufacturing defect.

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I've just finished watching it & must admit I'm sceptical about it being "driver error".

However anything to do with clutches has always been a grey area & doubt it's likely to change as we're unable to prove otherwise.

All I say is I have 10.5K on the clock & my fingers are crossed (especially as it's a 1.6 TDCI) 😟

To be honest its nothing new some mk1 and mk2s had the same issue again ford said its the way the car was driven and it went no further again it was only a small number some owners had 2 clutches within 30k .

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/ford/focus-2014/?section=good

A reason why a fords not on my to buy list pretty poor from ford given the cost compared to other manufacturers