I bought a Ford Focus 2012 1.6 diesel Eco Boost in February this year. The car is at present 9 months old. Currently I am experiencing a clunking sound when changing gears whilst the car is in motion.

When I took it to the dealer it would make that clunking noise when using first and second gear. I was told that the noise was part of the workings of the gearbox and that all these models did that. Unfortunately I do not share the same thoughts. I called the Ford Technical Centre (£1 per minute) and there Technical office stated “If you experience a noise within the gearbox whilst the car is in motion, then it is a fault”.

The Ford Relationship Centre was my next move. They were the mediators between me and the Ford dealer.

After I got the car back from the garage I am now getting a clunking noise from second to third gear as well.
I took the car back to the Ford dealership where a Head Technician would experience the noise while I was driving. We drove for a good ten minutes. He agreed there was a clunking sound and believed it was coming from the transmission. He stated “because Ford have made this transmission sol light you may get slack back”. (Or a similar term)

We proceeded to have a drive in a similar model of the same make and year. Strangely, I experienced the clunking in this model albeit to a much lesser degree.

After toing and froing with the garage and the relationship centre, everyone but the purchaser (me) the MAIN FORD TECHNICAL CENTRE, recognise this as a feature of the gearbox and that it is not a fault.

If I had bought a Focus and part of the selling chit chat would be; nice car, nice this and that and oh, there is a clunking in the gearbox but this is normal, I would not have spent £14500. Would You???

Please be aware that should this knocking may make you feel inexperienced and embarrassed when passers-by hear you change gear with a clunk clunk, remember it’s not you. "It’s normal for these cars".

Carl Jones