4 Speed Gearbox Problems

[Blue_XR]

My sister has an LS focus. Anyway we serviced the gearbox as it was due after 40000kms and 3 years and you could feel it in the gear change. The service made a very positive difference in the way it changed gears. Anyway about 6 weeks later the gearbox started playing up. There would be a large vibration when it kicks down from higher gears to the lower. This did not feel normal at all. We took it back to the place that serviced the box and he said that this is not the first box in a focus that has done this. He has seen quite a few of these 4 speeds with similar problems. The problem is with the 3rd and 4th gear apparently, but the box will need to rebuilt. Mind you it is now out of warranty. He even told us to go to Ford first and see if they can do anything.

Apparently this is a fault with this gearbox or at least on the earlier models. We have been told that eventually the gearbox will stop working. We are getting it looked at right now, because a gearbox should not be failing at 40,000kms and it does not get driven hard at all.

Has this happened to anyone else's focus? If so what was done about it.