Focus

• Manual transmission
• 7,000 miles

I purchased this car BRAND NEW in April of 2005, A few months (2-3, sporadically until October when it became more of a regular issue) after I got the car, I started having issues shifting into reverse and then issues shifting into 1st.

In 2008, the linkage busted and the transmission was replaced, this was covered under the cars warranty, but the dealership failed to answer why the car was having issues with shifting. (They could not duplicate the problem) Shortly there after, the issues became worse. I started having issues with 2nd when the temp was below 32F (I live in CO)

In Feb 09, I took the car into a private shop and with only a test drive they pinpointed the clutch as being the issue (something that the dealership apparently could not do). I scraped together the money for the repairs as listed on the estimate, including a $50 charge to machine the flywheel (common and done when the car is new enough that the flywheel shouldn't need to be replaced). When the shop called the DEALERSHIP (because they are the only place to sell the clutch of the Focus) to get the price on the new clutch, they never once told them that the flywheel needs to be replaced at the same time, even though Ford-as well as all of their service departments- knows about this issue.

I am still waiting to get my car back because the repairs took an extra 2 days (1 to diagnose why the repair didn't work initially, and 1 to go back in and replace the flywheel) but I am so thankful that Fort Collins Automotive shop manager Corey, is absorbing the cost of the additional labor to replace the flywheel and is selling me the flywheel at cost instead of marking it up. He did all of this before he know that I was a single mother not getting any child support. As for Ford, they can kiss my ass!