Ford PowerShift DPS6 reliability: years to avoid, problems & recalls

By CarWhere Research · Updated

Ford extended clutch and input-shaft-seal coverage to 7 years/100,000 miles (programs 14M01 and 19N08) and transmission control module coverage to 10 years/150,000 miles (14M02) on 2011–2015 Fiesta and 2012–2016 Focus cars, and a federal court approved the Vargas class settlement in March 2020. Coverage is measured from each car's warranty start date, so most of it has now ended.

Ford PowerShift DPS6 at a glance

Ford DPS6 PowerShift 6-speed dual dry-clutch automatic: key facts
FactDetail
TypeDual-clutch (DCT)
Forward speeds6
Used byFord
Years in use2011–2016 model years documented in Ford's programs (Fiesta 2011–2015, Focus 2012–2016)
Also known asDPS6, PowerShift
Transmission-related NHTSA recalls listed0
Warranty extensions / special coverage listed3
Court settlements listed1

What the Ford PowerShift DPS6 is

The DPS6 is a six-speed automatic built around two dry clutches rather than a torque converter; Ford's own program documents describe it as a "dual dry-clutch PowerShift 6-speed automatic transmission." In the U.S. it was the automatic option in the Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus, and Ford's warranty-extension programs cover 2011–2015 Fiesta and 2012–2016 Focus cars equipped with it.

Because it shifts with computer-controlled clutches, its behavior depends heavily on clutch condition and software. Ford's service programs targeted three areas: clutch shudder (including fluid contamination from leaking input shaft seals), the transmission control module (TCM), and TCM software. Ford handled these through customer satisfaction programs and warranty extensions rather than safety recalls.

Which vehicles use the Ford PowerShift DPS6?

Makes, models and model years equipped with the Ford PowerShift DPS6
MakeModelModel yearsNotes
FordFiesta2011–2015Cars equipped with the DPS6 automatic, built at Cuautitlan, Mexico (per program 14M02)[1][2]
FordFocus2012–2016Cars equipped with the DPS6 automatic, built at Michigan Assembly (per program 14M02)[1][2]

Ford PowerShift DPS6 years to avoid vs. safer years

“Years to avoid” here means the model years with the most documented action — recalls, manufacturer warranty extensions or court settlements — not a prediction about any single vehicle. A car from these years with completed repairs and good records can be a sound buy; one without them deserves a closer look.

Model years with the most documented problems

  • 2011–2014 Fiesta and 2012–2014 Focus (DPS6, built before June 6, 2013) — Covered by Ford's 14M01 clutch-shudder and input-shaft-seal warranty extension and the 14M02 TCM extension.[2][1]
  • 2014–2015 Fiesta and 2014–2016 Focus (DPS6, built from July 9, 2013) — Covered by Ford's 19N08 clutch warranty extension for clutches that may judder or shudder, and by the 14M02 TCM extension.[3][1]

Known Ford PowerShift DPS6 problems

Clutch shudder on light acceleration (2011–2016)

Ford's program 14M01 says some 2011–2014 Fiesta and Focus cars built before June 6, 2013 may show excessive clutch shudder during light acceleration, which may be caused by fluid contaminating the clutch from leaking input shaft seals. Ford says cars built from June 6, 2013 have improved seals, but its later program 19N08 says 2014–2015 Fiesta and 2014–2016 Focus cars built from July 9, 2013 were made with clutches that may judder or shudder on light acceleration from a stop or during shifts; the repair uses revised clutch material.[2][3]

Reported symptoms

  • Shudder or judder when accelerating gently from a stop
  • Shudder during shift events
  • Transmission fluid leaking from the clutch housing (on cars with leaking input shaft seals)

Transmission control module (TCM) faults (2011–2016)

Ford's program 14M02 extended coverage on the DPS6 transmission control module to address intermittent loss of transmission engagement while driving, no-start, or lack of power. Ford also ran program 15B22 to reprogram the TCM for an overt TCM failure warning, and program 19N07 to cover TCM replacement for six months after a 15B22 reflash on cars no longer covered by 14M02 or the new-vehicle warranty. A 2019 supplement added an inspect-only labor allowance because the TCM is not always the cause of these symptoms.[1][4][5]

Reported symptoms

  • Intermittent loss of transmission engagement while driving
  • No-start
  • Lack of power

Ford PowerShift DPS6 extended warranty coverage

Manufacturer warranty extensions and special coverage for the Ford PowerShift DPS6
ProgramVehiclesCoverageNotes
Program 14M01: clutch, input shaft seals and software calibration[2]Certain 2011–2014 Fiesta and 2012–2014 Focus with DPS6, built before June 6, 20137 years / 100,000 milesMeasured from the warranty start date; transfers to later owners. Given the model years, this coverage has ended for these cars.
Program 14M02: transmission control module[6][1]Certain 2011–2015 Fiesta and 2012–2016 Focus with DPS610 years / 150,000 milesMeasured from the warranty start date; transfers to later owners. Coverage has ended or is about to end for nearly all cars; a Ford dealer can confirm status by VIN.
Program 19N08: transmission clutch[3]2014–2015 Fiesta built July 9, 2013–Oct 15, 2014; 2014–2016 Focus built July 9, 2013–Nov 5, 20157 years / 100,000 milesOne-time repair program; transfers to later owners. Given the model years, this coverage has ended.

Extended coverage is tied to the VIN and usually measured from the original in-service date and mileage. A franchised dealer can confirm whether it still applies to a specific vehicle.

Class-action settlements involving the Ford PowerShift DPS6

  • Vargas v. Ford Motor Co., No. CV-12-08388 AB (FFMx)[7]

    U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

    Vehicles: Vehicles originally sold in the U.S. and equipped with the DPS6 PowerShift transmission (class definition per the settlement agreement)

    Amended settlement granted final approval March 5, 2020. The court found it guarantees at least $77.4 million to class members: more than $47.4 million Ford had already paid to repurchase about 2,666 vehicles by the end of 2019, plus a guaranteed minimum $30 million in cash payments for repeat service visits. Repurchases are decided through an arbitration program tied to state lemon-law standards or a settlement fallback standard; the last date to submit cash-payment claims was October 21, 2024.

Summaries describe the public settlement record only; settlements are not findings of fault.

Buying a used car with the Ford PowerShift DPS6: what to check

  1. Ask a Ford dealer to run the VIN in Ford's OASIS system for open or completed DPS6 programs (14M01, 14M02, 15B22, 19N07, 19N08).
  2. Test-drive in stop-and-go traffic and accelerate gently from a stop several times; Ford's programs describe shudder on light acceleration.
  3. Look under the car and around the transmission for fluid leaking from the clutch housing area.
  4. Review service records for clutch replacements, TCM replacements and TCM software updates.
  5. Run a title-history check for a manufacturer repurchase, since the Vargas settlement included a repurchase remedy.

Related research

Year-by-year verdicts for models with the Ford PowerShift DPS6

Engines and model known-issues pages

Compare other transmissions

All transmissions: reliability and years to avoid

Frequently asked questions

Which Ford cars have the DPS6 PowerShift transmission?

Ford's warranty-extension programs cover 2011–2015 Ford Fiesta and 2012–2016 Ford Focus cars equipped with the DPS6 automatic. It was the automatic option in those cars; manual-transmission Fiestas and Focuses do not have it. A Ford dealer can confirm from the VIN whether a specific car has the DPS6 and which programs apply.

Is the Ford PowerShift warranty extension still active?

Mostly not. Programs 14M01 and 19N08 covered the clutch for 7 years or 100,000 miles, and 14M02 covered the transmission control module for 10 years or 150,000 miles, all measured from each car's warranty start date. With these cars now 10 or more years old, nearly all coverage has ended; a dealer can check a specific VIN.

Was the Ford DPS6 recalled?

Ford addressed the DPS6 through customer satisfaction programs and warranty extensions, not safety recalls. NHTSA's recall records for the 2011–2016 Fiesta and Focus list transmission recalls only for manual-transmission versions. Still run any VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup, because those cars have unrelated recalls.

What did the Vargas v. Ford settlement provide?

The court's March 5, 2020 final-approval order describes cash payments for owners with three or more qualifying transmission service visits (a guaranteed minimum of $30 million), a repurchase remedy through an arbitration program, and reimbursements for certain clutch replacements. The court found the settlement guaranteed at least $77.4 million to class members. The cash-claim deadline was October 21, 2024.

What does PowerShift clutch shudder feel like?

Ford's program documents describe shudder or judder during light acceleration from a stop or during shifts. On cars with leaking input shaft seals, fluid may also leak from the clutch housing. Ford separately documented intermittent loss of engagement while driving, no-start, or lack of power tied to the transmission control module.

How CarWhere compiled this page

Every problem, recall, warranty extension and settlement above is CarWhere’s own summary of a primary record — NHTSA recall campaigns, manufacturer service bulletins and warranty-extension notices filed with NHTSA, manufacturer press material, and court or settlement-administrator records — and is numbered to its source below. We list a model year under “years to avoid” only when a manufacturer, regulator or court record ties it to the transmission. Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public owner-complaint data, counted once per complaint. We do not estimate failure rates or repair costs. See also the years-to-avoid methodology.

Sources

Descriptions are CarWhere’s own summaries of the records below. Recall details are as reported to NHTSA by the manufacturer.

  1. Customer Satisfaction Program 14M02 – Supplement #4: DPS6 transmission control module extended warranty coverage (Aug 26, 2019) — Ford Motor Company (via NHTSA)
  2. Customer Satisfaction Program 14M01 – Supplement #6: DPS6 clutch shudder / input shaft seal warranty extension (Aug 16, 2016) — Ford Motor Company (via NHTSA)
  3. Customer Satisfaction Program 19N08: DPS6 transmission clutch shudder / clutch warranty extension (Aug 14, 2019) — Ford Motor Company (via NHTSA)
  4. Customer Satisfaction Program 15B22 – Supplement #2: DPS6 transmission control module reprogramming (Aug 16, 2016) — Ford Motor Company (via NHTSA)
  5. Customer Satisfaction Program 19N07 – Supplement #1: DPS6 transmission control module service warranty coverage (Aug 26, 2019) — Ford Motor Company (via NHTSA)
  6. Customer Satisfaction Program 14M02 – Supplement #2: DPS6 transmission control module extended warranty coverage (June 14, 2016) — Ford Motor Company (via NHTSA)
  7. Vargas v. Ford Motor Co., No. CV-12-08388 AB (FFMx): Order granting renewed motion for final approval of class action settlement (Mar. 5, 2020), Dkt. 301 — U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (filed order, copy hosted by Public Citizen)
  8. NHTSA recalls by vehicle: 2014 Ford Focus — NHTSA
  9. NHTSA recalls by vehicle: 2014 Ford Fiesta — NHTSA

Independent reference compiled by CarWhere Research — not affiliated with or endorsed by any manufacturer or transmission supplier. Product and model names are trademarks of their owners.