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Old 10-19-2014, 02:47 PM   #1
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Towing Ford Focus

I am considering buying a FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK as a car to tow.
I am not quite certain that it can REALLY be FLAT towed , and hope someone out there has the accurate answer to this.

Thank You .... Richard
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Old 10-19-2014, 05:35 PM   #2
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According to my 2013 Focus Owner's Manual (3rd Ed), both the automatic and manual Focii can be towed 4-down. However, the ST version, like I have cannot be towed 4-down. It must be towed on a dolly or trailer.

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Old 10-19-2014, 05:42 PM   #3
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Check with Ford. I was told they were approved but recently they had some failures. I do not know if they have changed that or not. I gave up and went with the Fiat 500 manual.
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Old 10-20-2014, 07:30 AM   #4
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Always read the owners manual do not trust what a salesman tells you..The 2014 were able to be towed 4 down but check the owners manual regardless...Call Ford tech support to see if they are having problems...I tow a 2013 Honda Fit Auto but the 2015 Automatic is not to be towed...

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Old 10-20-2014, 05:48 PM   #5
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Thanks to all of you, but due to the confusion in my research, I have decided AGAINST any Ford vehicle.

I tried FordOwner.com ... confusion
I called dealers ... they REFUSED to be of help
Read the manuals online ... confusing at best

I guess I will stick with an older SATURN since I know they are ideal for this task.

Again ... Thanks

Richard
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Old 10-20-2014, 06:21 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Duoglide1 View Post
Check with Ford. I was told they were approved but recently they had some failures. I do not know if they have changed that or not. I gave up and went with the Fiat 500 manual.
The failures for the Focus and Fiestas are customer induced. Due to the design of the transmission the exact procedures in owners guide must be followed. The battery must be disconnected or the risk of either of the dual clutchs could engage and couple to the engine. This can and usually results in transmission failure and even engine failure. Just like if you were to leave a manual transmission in 1st or reverse gear and tow the vehicle. Setting up for neutral towing is really easy and if followed you will never have an issue.

BTW the only Focus automatics that can be flat towed are the newer 2012 body styles with the 6 speed auto. The earlier 4 speed auto's cannot be flat towed at all.
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Old 10-20-2014, 06:25 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RLD_999 View Post
Thanks to all of you, but due to the confusion in my research, I have decided AGAINST any Ford vehicle.

I tried FordOwner.com ... confusion
I called dealers ... they REFUSED to be of help
Read the manuals online ... confusing at best

I guess I will stick with an older SATURN since I know they are ideal for this task.

Again ... Thanks

Richard
How are the manuals confusing? They are very simple step by step directions.

Note:
There must be battery power to properly move the transmission’s

internal components to position
N in Step 3. In addition, moving the

gearshift to position
N without first turning the ignition to the on (II)

position limits the towing capability to 35 mph (56 km/h) and 50 miles
(80 kilometers).
1. Release the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition to the on (II) position.
3. Press the brake pedal, then move the gearshift to position
N.

4. Wait for TRANSMISSION READY to appear in the multi-function
display, then turn the ignition to the off (0) position and release the
brake pedal.
5. Disconnect the negative (black) cable from the battery.
(The anti-theft system does not function until the battery
cable is reconnected.) See
Changing the vehicle battery in the

Maintenance
chapter when disconnecting and reconnecting the

battery cable.
The maximum towing speed is 70 mph (113 km/h).

There is no limitation on towing distance.
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Old 10-21-2014, 09:36 AM   #8
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Make that 2001-2003
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Old 10-21-2014, 03:32 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RLD_999 View Post
AZ99 .. OK, since you feel the urge to be argumentative ...
Year 2000 Manual - FordOwner.com / page 181
.... Tow with flatbed equipment. Front drivewheels must be place on dolly to avoid damage to transaxle.

Year 2001 - same site / their manual ...page 163
In neutral - Max 30 MPH - Max 30 miles
ALSO page 164 ..For FWD ... do NOT tow all 4 on ground. Use dolly.

Page 193 .... Neutral .. Max 56 Mph .. Max 35 miles

I stated that I was looking at 200 - 2003 units, so if the 2012-2014 models changed, that is of no interest to me.

Never mentions battery ... that I saw.

I suggest that YOU look up the word " CONFUSING " and determine for yourself what YOU think the definition means ?
DUH ?
It would have helped a lot if you said what year Focus you were looking to buy. That information makes a huge difference. Also you did not show the entire directions for towing a Focus of that year. Again, the directions are very, very, very clear on page 124 in the owners guide under Recreational towing.

All Front Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicles:
If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transaxle, you cannot tow
the vehicle with the front drive wheels on the ground. It is recommended
to tow your vehicle with the drive wheels on a dolly or two wheel car
hauling trailer.
In case of a roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle (without access
to wheel dollies, car hauling trailer or flatbed transport vehicle) your
vehicle can be flat towed (all wheels on the ground) under the following
conditions:
Place the transmission in N (Neutral).

Maximum speed is 56 km/h (35 mph).

Maximum distance is 80 km (50 miles).

If your vehicle is equipped with a manual transaxle, and in the case of a
roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle (without access to wheel
dollies, car hauling trailer or flatbed transport vehicle) your vehicle can
be flat towed (all wheels on the ground) under the following conditions:
Place the transmission in N (Neutral).

Maximum distance is unlimited.

Driving
124


The site you were also referring to shows the same only worded slightly different. It does provide how to tow your car in an emergency and those are the 30 MPH instructions you posted but it clearly specifies emergency towing.
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