Ford Fusion & Focus Overheating Clutch

Ford will be asking the owners of certain Ford Fusion & Focus cars, to return to their dealerships to correct a problem affecting the power train system. The vehicles affected include: 2015-2016 Ford Focus equipped with a 1.0L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission, 2013-2014 Ford Fusion equipped with a 1.6L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission and a small number of 2017 Ford Focus vehicles that had clutch replacements with potentially affected parts.

According to the defect report, repeated aggressive clutch slip could lead to premature wear of the clutch lining and cracks around the outer edge of the pressure plate. This wear can cause excessive slip, introducing a large amount of energy and heat into the pressure plate. The clutch could fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak. Prior to a pressure plate fracture, drivers may notice clutch odor, smoke and reduced vehicle performance.

Dealers will update the Focus vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip, and will replace the clutch as necessary. Owners of Fusion vehicles will have their clutch assembly replaced. Because parts are not currently available, an interim notification will be sent, with a second letter the parts are available.