Component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:CLUTCHES/BANDS
54 NHTSA complaints about power train:automatic transmission:internal:clutches/bands issues across 5 makes and 9 models.
The power train:automatic transmission:internal:clutches/bands is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 54 filings from 5 manufacturers and 9 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD FOCUS with 44 filings, followed by JEEP WRANGLER and FORD FIESTA. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FORD FOCUS | 44 |
| 2 | JEEP WRANGLER | 2 |
| 3 | FORD FIESTA | 2 |
| 4 | MAZDA !MX-5 | 1 |
| 5 | JEEP GLADIATOR | 1 |
| 6 | FORD F-150 | 1 |
| 7 | FORD EDGE | 1 |
| 8 | DODGE DART | 1 |
| 9 | CHEVROLET CRUZE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds and then attempting to park the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was tak
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound and hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond, and jerked abnormally. The contact
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while accelerating, the vehicle shuddered and jerked for 2 seconds before shifting into gear. The contact stated that the check engine warni
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping and the vehicle jerked significantly, causing the contact to sustain back pai
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was under warranty and was taken to
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted and the vehicle jerked abnormally with the check engine warning
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to drive at any speed, the vehicle would jerk aggressively while either accelerating or decelerating, The contact also note
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the fail
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that on three occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle began vibrating with a grinding sound coming from the front end of the vehic
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving off from a complete stop and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle briefly shuddered and hesitated. The vehicle returned to normal
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an inde
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the accelerator pedal failed to function as intended. A
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was pulling back and failed to shift into the intended gear. The contact c
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking, and the transmission shuddered. The contact stated that the failure was inte
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the vehicle made an abnormal rattling sound and failed to respond. No further informat
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving below 15 MPH, the transmission began jerking and slipping and there was an abnormally loud sound coming f
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was slipping. Additionally, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of transmission
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while at a stop, the vehicle shuddered. The vehicle failed to move forward when in third or fourth gear. There were no warning lights illuminated
My Jeep has had an open recall for 6 months. No parts available. Was told parts are now available. Was scheduled for appointment on 11/17/23 at local dealer (Montgomery Jeep in Nicholasville, KY).
Related Vehicle Components
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve power train:automatic transmission:internal:clutches/bands issues? ▼
How dangerous are power train:automatic transmission:internal:clutches/bands defects? ▼
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.