Fault Code Lookup › Powertrain codes › P07A3
P07A3 Powertrain · generic range, no listed definition
P07A3 fault code: what 21 Ford owners reported
P07A3 sits in the generic powertrain range (engine, transmission, fuel and emissions), but its SAE definition is not in CarHooq's list, so this page shows only what owners reported. What it meant in practice is below, from 21 complaints owners filed with NHTSA. Updated November 9, 2026.
- 21owner reports
- 1car model
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention a fire
- 2012–2018model years
Which cars get code P07A3?
Every model whose owners mentioned P07A3 in a complaint, most reports first. Each year opens that car's full problem report. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Where does P07A3 show up?
By brand
- Ford21
Component the owner filed it under
Is there a recall for P07A3?
The others concern the component owners file this code under (Power Train) on the same cars; they may or may not relate to the code. Recall repairs are free; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Power Train: Manual Transmission Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
2017 Ford Focus, 2018 Ford Focus, 2016 Ford Focus, 2015 Ford Focus. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Power Train: Manual Transmission Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L Fox GTDI engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
2017 Ford Focus, 2018 Ford Focus, 2016 Ford Focus. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Power Train: Manual Transmission Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Fusion vehicles equipped with a 1.6L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission and 2015-2016 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission. Also included are four 2017 Ford Focus vehicles that had…
2016 Ford Focus, 2015 Ford Focus. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
What happened when owners saw P07A3?
10 of the 21 reports, spread across the models above, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
My 2014 Ford Focus with a DPS6 dual-clutch transmission began experiencing severe shuddering and harsh shifting. A Ford dealership confirmed the concern and diagnosed DTC P07A3 — Transmission Friction Element A Stuck On — using Ford's prescribed pinpoint test. Recommended repair exceeds $4,000. Vehicle is available for inspection. This is a recurring failure on this specific vehicle. Ford's own warranty history documents six prior DPS6 repairs between 2016 and 2023, including two full clutch replacements, three TCM/PCM reprogramming sessions, and a full TCM replacement under program 14M02 — all at Ford dealerships. The current failure occurs just 35,000 miles after Ford's most recent…
When driving my car all of a sudden it loses power almost like it’s struggling to go but the RPM revs up and makes a loud noise and my car kind of got stuck for a minute and there were cars behind me then it started going but every couple minutes it would do that again rev up really loud even when I barely push the gas and lose power and then go I have no idea why it was doing that I took it to get it looked at, but there was no light on then a light finally came on and it came up with P07A3. Transmission friction element A stuck on. It starts end doing that with no notice. Light came on later after I tried to get it scanned. There seems to be extended warranty satisfaction things offered on…
2015 Ford Focus with DPS6 automatic transmission failure. 109,### miles only. Symptoms: No reverse gear, severe clutch slip (high RPM but car barely moves), strong burnt clutch smell, check engine light on. DTC codes: P07A3, P07A5, P087A, P087B, P090C. Ford dealer (Camelback Ford, Phoenix AZ) diagnosed the issue but quoted $3,175 just for labor to open the transmission for inspection, refusing any goodwill assistance after 14M02 program expired in August 2025, despite low mileage and known widespread DPS6 problems covered by TSB 16-0129. Note : "November 20, 2025 – Date I purchased the vehicle. The transmission problem (no reverse, clutch slip, burnt smell) was present immediately upon…
My 2014 Ford Focus experienced a sudden failure of the DPS6 transmission. The vehicle shows trouble code P07A3 (Clutch A Stuck On). The car jerks violently when shifting, loses power, hesitates in traffic, and sometimes fails to engage gears properly. This creates a dangerous situation when merging, crossing intersections, or accelerating from a stop. Sport mode stopped working, and the transmission enters a failure state during driving. The problem puts my safety and the safety of others at risk because the vehicle does not respond consistently when accelerating. Multiple times the car lurched or delayed when I tried to pull into traffic. A dealership inspected the vehicle and confirmed the…
I originally purchased this car in June of 2022. Less than a week after I purchased it, the issues started. My check engine light came on and my vehicle revved high, but did not accelerate. When it did this, it made a mechanical humming/grinding noise. It did this for a few short trips, then the issue seemingly resolved itself...the check engine light never turned off. I got the following codes from my reader: P0420, P2782, and P07A3. This vehicle had multiple recalls regarding the TCM malfunctioning. I tried multiple times to have Ford do the repairs as stated in the recalls. They have refused every single time. I was told that the warranty did not apply to my vehicle, then that the parts…
Whenever the car is just being driven normally it has begun having issues shifting gears esspecially in the lower gears. The check engine light has gone one in the vehicle several times all producing the same error code of P07A3 "Transmission friction element 'A' stuck on". All who have serviced the vehicle have expressed that this is a well known and common issue with the newer models of Focus with active recalls in the past for the years 2012-2016 due to the exact issue that my transmission is portraying now. The vehicle will stutter when it exceeds speeds between 7mph to 14mph. In extreme cases the vehicle will stall out with a set RPM of 1×1000. When a stall out occurs the vehicle…
A "P07A3" code on a 2017 Ford Focus indicates that the transmission's "Friction Element A" is stuck on, meaning a clutch within the transmission is not releasing properly, likely causing issues with shifting and potentially putting the car into limp mode; this is a serious issue that requires professional repair as it usually points towards internal transmission problems. I see slot of people are having the same issue online but yet there is no recall on this issue and there should be.
Transmission control unit (module) has caused the vehicle to randomly rev the RPM. Causes vehicle to hard shift and delayed shifting. Check engine light came on and produced code P07A3. There is a recall for Ford Focus years 2012 -2018 but my vehicles VIN was not attached to this recall. My vehicle has all the same symptoms as the recalled vehicles. The vehicle is not drivable in this condition. It may cause the car to not stop or accelerate into another vehicle. It may also cause more damage to other components. I have 20+ years of mechanical background and have looked the vehicle over myself.
I am writing to address a significant issue regarding my Ford Focus 2014 (VIN [XXX] ). On [XXX], the check engine light illuminated, indicating error code P07A3 - Transmission Friction Element "A". I promptly took my car to AutoNational Ford Bellevue for inspection (customer #[XXX]). Despite assurances of a Transmission Control Module replacement under warranty, the issue persisted after alleged replacement. Upon independent examination on [XXX], it was found that the Transmission Control Module remained unchanged, contrary to the dealership's assertions. 1. AutoNational Ford Bellevue representative initiates a warranty claim (which is valid until 2025) for my Ford Focus's Transmission…
The check engine light came on, then when I started driving it was a little sticky/ rough. I continued to drive it home and the rpm started going up when not needed. I had a code read done and came back as a P07A3, transmission friction element A stuck on.
P07A3: questions drivers ask
What does code P07A3 mean?
P07A3 sits in the generic powertrain range (engine, transmission, fuel and emissions), but its SAE definition is not in CarHooq's list, so CarHooq shows only what owners reported. 21 owners reported it to NHTSA, most often for the Ford Focus (21); their reports describe what happened.
Which cars get code P07A3 most often?
In NHTSA owner complaints, P07A3 is mentioned most for the Ford Focus (21), across 1 model and model years 2012 to 2018. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Is there a recall for code P07A3?
No NHTSA recall text names P07A3 directly. 3 recalls on the cars that report this code concern the same component owners name most (Power Train); they may or may not relate to the code. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What should I do if my car shows P07A3?
Write down when the code appeared and what the car did (warning lights, loss of power, noises, speed, weather). Check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ask a dealer or independent workshop to read the stored freeze-frame data before anyone clears the code, and keep the repair order. If the car loses power in traffic, stop driving it. CarHooq does not diagnose: these are owner reports and official recall notices, not repair advice.
How this page was made
CarHooq read the text of every owner complaint filed with NHTSA for 19 US and European brands (model years 2012 onwards) and picked out the diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote down. This page lists every mention of P07A3. The code is in a generic range but its standard definition is not in CarHooq's list, so CarHooq shows only what owners reported. Nothing here is a diagnosis. More answers: the fault code FAQ. Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain), retrieved November 9, 2026. How CarHooq reports are made.
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