Ford fitted its smaller models with a dry clutch dual-clutch gearbox (DPS6, factory designation Getrag 6DCT250). A dry clutch was designed for manual gearboxes: it sheds heat less well and tolerates slipping worse than an oil-bathed one.
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The symptom shows up when pulling away and at low speed: bucking, kicking, harsh engagement, delayed acceleration. Ford named two causes: the throwout bearing, and leaking input shaft and rear main seals that put oil on the clutch, which then slips even when it should be fully engaged.
On top of that there are transmission control module (TCM) faults: faulty connector pins, failing shifter motors, and a badly connected main ground wire. Ford released seal and clutch kit fixes.
The gearbox led to class actions and fraud investigations in the United States, Australia and Canada. A US settlement was tentatively approved in April 2017.
What to check
- Pull away slowly from a standstill several times: there must be no bucking, kicking or shudder
- In slow, walking-pace traffic watch the shifts: harsh engagement and disengagement point at the clutch
- Watch for delayed acceleration when you press the throttle: one sign of a slipping clutch
