A class action lawsuit was filed in June of 2022 alleging 2017-2019 Ford Fiesta and 2017-2018 Ford Focus vehicles are equipped with defective DPS6 Dual PowerShift clutch transmissions. This transmission is intended to provide an advanced and fuel-efficient alternative to the traditional manual or automatic transmission.
According to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, these vehicles are alleged to have many problems which lead to concerns for safety. The owners of these vehicles have stated that the PowerShift transmissions have a defect that causes the vehicle to experience lurching, jerking, bucking, slipping, sudden or delayed acceleration, delays in downshifts, difficulty stopping, and eventually transmission failure. All of these issues can put drivers at risk for increased collisions.
The issues arising from the transmission are caused by defects in the dry clutch system. The transmission then overheats, fails, and leads to overall damage of other transmission components.
Ford has not publicly acknowledged that the transmission defect exists. The Ford class action lawsuit states Ford has actively concealed the issues and claims the problems are “normal driving conditions.” These vehicles continue to be sold without informing customers of the defect. There seems to be no fix at this time, despite the previous legal settlement regarding earlier models of the Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus.
Previous Ford PowerShift Transmission Class Action Lawsuit
This is not the first time a class action lawsuit has been filed against Ford for PowerShift Transmission issues. In 2012, a lawsuit was filed regarding the 2012-2016 Ford Focus and 2011-2016 Ford Fiesta vehicles known to have a defective PowerShift Transmission causing jerking, delays in downshifting, sudden or delayed acceleration, shuddering, and premature internal wear. This case was resolved in 2020, and more than 2 million vehicle owners were notified of the settlement and made aware that they may qualify for compensation, ranging from a $20 cash payment to a full buyback of the vehicle.
California Lemon Law Lawyers
If you have purchased a Ford Focus or Ford Fiesta and have experienced issues with the PowerShift Transmission, you may need to seek assistance from a lemon law attorney. Reach out to the lawyers at Young & Young APC to see if you qualify under the California lemon law. Contact us today for a free case evaluation to discuss the specific circumstances regarding your potential lemon vehicle.
