Tranmission malfunction is being displayed on dashboard of my ford focus, wont go into gear its an automatic

this light indicates there's an issue with your trans in your car/truck to warn you of a impending problem of your trans and needs to be serviced ASAP

Automatic or manual?
If automatic, the problem can be caused by several things and electronic diagnosis may be required. Often , the gear selector switch/connection is faulty. Of it could be caused by the solenoid valve pack in the transmission.

If a manual, gear selector linkage mis-adjusted, OR defective gear set kicking it out of gear.

Power steering fluid? Rack leaking? try ATP AT - 205 re-seal additive. Good for engine ,PS and transmission.

okay your transmission is either bad or something is wrong with the gearing. Sometimes the teeth that make the gears turn chip and it slips and wont let you in reverse. But when they warm up the metal expands and allows your vehicle to go into reverse. Hope this helps ;)

sounds like your syncroids are off, gears tend to wear,and when they wear down so much it tends to kick out of gear! you could rebuild the transmission or go to a wrecking yard and get a used one. I would suggest the second thing!

If adding transmission fluid doesn't help, you need a new transmission.

If it is standard check your throw out bearing

Just a couple of things to check if you haven't compare the smell and apearance of the tranmission oil to so new, if it looks dark and smell burned you probably have a bad transmision, clutches or burned up. Does it whine or make any noise? a stopped up filter will do this. also is it full when warm on the dip tick runniing in park?

Transmission
fluid
Motorcraft SAE
75W-90 gear oil
(non-synthetic)
Manual transaxle 3.0 quarts
(2.87L)3
Motorcraft FNR5
Automatic
Transmission
Fluid
5–speed
automatic
transaxle
7 quarts (6.7L)4
Premium
Automatic
Transmission
Fluid
6–speed
automatic
transaxle
7.4 quarts
(7.0L

Sounds like the detent inside the trans. is broken. But double check the linkage under the car, whether it's a rod or cable system.