They Break Too?! Engines and Transmissions from Famous Brands That Kept Failing

Ford Powershift

Some of the worst automotive failures have also come from transmissions. Ford faced a $4 billion class-action lawsuit over defective Powershift gearboxes in the Focus and Fiesta models. Nearly two million customers complained about erratic behavior in these dual-clutch automatic transmissions, citing jerking, vibrations, and delayed shifting—issues that made driving frustrating for many American owners.

At first, Ford denied any wrongdoing and blamed the drivers. However, as complaints piled up, the company was forced to offer free repairs through dealerships. Eventually, Ford had no choice but to pay up. In one high-profile case, an owner proved that Ford knowingly sold defective vehicles and won $550,000 in compensation for a faulty Focus. The class-action lawsuit ended in a settlement, requiring Ford to buy back thousands of defective vehicles, paying $22,000 per car.

Experts estimate that the Powershift transmission issues cost Ford around $500 million in the U.S. alone—and that doesn’t even include the similar lawsuit in Australia.