Problems with Ford Focus transmission solenoid.
I don't know anything about cars, but I have a 2008 Ford Focus that my husband and I bought in
September 2011. It's the worst car I've ever had, and it's a complete nightmare to own, because in
the little time we've had it, it's been in the shop 7-8 times for the same thing. . .the transmission
solenoid. The dealership replaces it, we get the car back, it breaks again, we take it back, they
replace it again, it breaks again, etc. Since it's under warranty, the dealership says it has to call Ford
Headquarters to see what they'll do with it?? Each time it turns out they replace the part and not the
transmission, though the transmission was rebuilt or partly rebuilt the first time it went into the shop?
Now there's about 2,000 miles left on the warranty, or it expires next August anyway, but my
husband's and my patience doesn't seem to have that much time left. Is there a way to fix the
problem, permanently? Right now we're looking into just buying another car and refuse to ever buy a
Ford again, and it's a shame because we liked the car otherwise. The main symptom my car shows, is
the transmission light comes on, and/or there's a hard jerk every now and then, especially when
changing shifts (into reverse, or into drive from reverse after backing out of my driveway or a parking
lot). The first time my car had these problems was the worst. The engine sounded like it was revving,
but the car slowed down while driving. While driving that time, the car would jerk often and pretty
hard, even while driving a steady speed of 45-50mph. At that time it was happening so often (every
few minutes) that I had to pull over because it felt dangerous. . .and that problem happened suddenly.
My car hasn't since been THAT severe, but I still get the jerks at times and the transmission light
comes on. My husband and I are suspicious that Ford is only putting a bandaid on the problem until
the warranty runs out, and then slap us with the big bill of a new transmission that we'd have to
cover.
