This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The transmission in my Fiesta has had the same issue for many months. Sluggish on acceleration, jerking motions while cornering, rough shifting, disengagement and grinding noises from the assembly. I have taken it to the dealer numerous times to be looked at. On some occasions they have performed parts replacements, other times they have reprogrammed the cpu. In every case the problem persists. There are instances when the dealer can replicate the problem and others where they cannot. I am very concerned about driving this vehicle as the powertrain is unstable. The vehicle currently has 60,000 miles on the odometer and is 5 years old. The problems have been occurring for several years. The date referenced below is the last date the problem occurred.
The transmission is very sluggish between shifts of first and second gear. The car also doesn't always downshift when the brakes are applied. Had a recall notice from Ford for a software update to the tcm. Took in for service. No change. Dealer says it's just the way that transmissions works. Current situation is dangerous.
Currently driving my car with a bad clutch assembly because the part is on back order because of a customer satisfaction bulletin from Ford Motor Company. Driving today and the vehicle in front of me came to an abrupt stop. I came within an inch of rear ending the vehicle because when I put my brakes on my cars the clutch would not do downshift to stop my car. Had to steer to the right onto curb to avoid hitting the car in front of me, came within an inch of hitting the car. The dealer service department told me putting in a new clutch will not fix the problem because they are putting in the same defective part. This is my second clutch assembly within 7,000 miles.
I bought a used 2011 Ford Fiesta in December of 2014. Within a couple of weeks I began to experience excessive shuddering, knocking, banging noises. Excessive shaking, stuttering. I have taken it to my Ford service department and all they said is Ford wont do anything until the car breaks down or fails to move at all. And when that does happen, all corporate Ford will do is replace the clutch and they even said that wont be a long-term fix because it will always happen again and again.. I am really fearful of getting into a serious accident with this lemon... I am hoping but not holding my breath on Ford taking responsibility for this.. until the NHTSA makes them do something about it.
Car will not start. Push start button makes the car do a fast clicking noise. The car will not start even from a jump. Upon taking the vehicle to the auto shop discovered a bad transmission module resulting from overheating/loss of fluid. Module replaced by Ford. Three weeks later same problem.
- Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
After being in park at a gas station, I go into drive and start to go when the cars shudders, screeches, halts, and then loses power. I was able to start the car again, but when I pressed the gas there is no power. I try to put the car in park, and though the gear is in park an alert comes up telling me to put the car in park. Car will not go into park. Keeps rolling. Have to use my emergency break to stop the car. Paid out of pocket to have the car towed to the nearest Ford dealership. They said they were "pretty sure" it was the transmission control module. 5 days after bring it to them I call and find out that they have reprogrammed the transmission control module and something with the clutch. The problem is still not fixed. I haven't even been able to talk to the mechanic personally, but the lady at the service desk said "it's really thrown him for a loop. It definitely seems to be something with your transmission, but diagnostics says nothing is wrong with the car". this is going to kill someone. Period. It could've killed my boyfriend, my friend, my unborn baby and myself. I'm am furious with Ford. I have read hundreds of complaints from other people have the same problem with the same car. How has this not been recalled"?"
While driving from denver to longmont co (8/14/15) on hwy 76 the vehicle would not respond when I needed to accelerate then the engine cut off. I was able to restart and put in neutral to navigate traffic to get to side of the road. The car died. It could not be restarted. While waiting for tow truck I was able to start car again and tried to drive, it would not respond to accelerator and then died. Car was towed to longmont repair shop. The mechanic there reached out to Ford and was told they were aware of those issues but part was on 6 month backorder. Car was then picked up by Ford of longmont. They said that it wasn't the tcm and replaced 3 smaller parts. Six days later I was driving on diagonal highway in boulder co and the car refused to accelerate and the died. Car was towed to Ford of longmont again. I was told by the service department that Ford requires that when replacing the tcm they must first repair minor part and return to customer as "fixed" and wait for subsequent part failure before replacing the tcm. Ford of longmont replaced the part on 8/20/15.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While driving approximately 20 mph, the power train hesitated intermittently without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the vehicle where it was diagnosed that the tsm needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the vehicle could not be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.
In Feb. Of 2015 I received a letter from Ford Motor Co. About the transmission control module. The "notice" said my car may experience intermittent symptoms of lose of power while driving, no-start, or a lack of power, among a few other things. When I called a Ford dealer...I was basically treated like a stupid old woman and when I ask what I should do, I was told drive it until it happens!. well, it happened! 5 months later my car stalled, the motor kept running, the car just would not go, I was lucky I had time to get to the side of the road before I was rear-ended. Ford did "fix" my car. Today, 3 months later, my car stalled on a very busy high, 18 wheeler right behind me and once again I was able to quickly turn into a parking lot. Now they have my car and it will take 3 months, that's right 3 months to "fix" it! I'm very happy to be alive to report this. I'm very happy I get to see my family again. Thanks Ford for almost taking my life twice!!!! why is this not a recall!!!!!!! let's not forget about the people I could've died with today. I'm so mad. How can Ford get away with this. Who will die today, tonight or tomorrow because of this? better pray it's not your family member or mine!
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While attempting to accelerate, the vehicle made a jerking motion and hesitated to accelerate. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred and the clutch had to be replaced again. The VIN was unavailable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 27,000.
Issues with car weak performance, car shuddering, grinding noises in engine, stalling when brake is pressed while in drive gear, car lunging forward and not wanting to engage, not wanting to go after a complete stop, not engaging in reverse, and engine light coming on randomly. Almost rear ended by a car behind me came to a screeching stop because of the hesitation to engage in first gear. Took the car to a Ford dealer and was told that I would have to pay a diagnosis fee. Because if it did not test at a certain level of performance the dealer would not pay for the testing or repair. I stated I had a customer satisfaction program 12mo1 letter for the clutch assembly and they said it did not matter. I left the dealer very upset and dissatisfied. Drove the car and the symptoms worsened. I got into my car one day and the car would not engage in reverse. Luckily on was parked on an incline and coasted out of the parking spot. Drove the car to the dealer and they did not have the new clutch assembly in stock. I then asked for a rental until the car was repaired because I felt it was very unsafe to drive my daughter in with the problems it was having, I was told no. So I was forced to drive this car with these problems for a week until the Ford dealer received the new clutch assembly. This car is a very dangerous vehicle to have on the road not only for those driving the vehicle but also for those car that drive behind these cars. Ford absolutely knows they have a major issue with the dual clutch system. Regular clutches are controlled hydraulically but these dual clutches are control electronically by the tcm which has a customer satisfaction program 14M01 that Ford has sent out. Between the leaking transmissions seal corrupting the clutch and the tcm failing that controls the clutch that is a double jeopardy situation. This is a very dangerous car to have on the roads.
Driving on interstate 75 in the middle lane at 70 mph my tcm malfunctioned, I knew this because of the customer satisfaction program 14M02 that I received in February 2015. My car abruptly had no power. I feared for my life because I had semi trucks and vehicles coming up behind me at very high speed and I had no power to my vehicle. I had to coast over one lane as safely as possible to the shoulder to safety. I am very thankful me or my family was not in a serious accident. The park and drive symbols on the dash were flashing between P and D and the engine light kept flashing. I turned off my car and called my brother. He said to see if it starts. It did after several tries. I then turned on my hazards and drove to the next exit which was within 200 ft. I got off the highway and took the back roads home. I got within 4 blocks of my home and it did it again, lost power. Let it sit a minute and turned it on again, and pulled into my residence. The next morning I drove the side streets to the dealer but made a stop. Came back out to my car and the vehicle would not start. Called the dealer and they sent a tow truck but I had to wait 1 hour for the truck to arrive. This is a very dangerous situation with the tcm. A very serious problem is since it's not a recall you do not have the option to have it fixed before you're put into a dangerous situation. You have to wait until you have problems before Ford's will fix the tcm. Ford did replace the malfunctioning tcm on my car. A recall needs to replace the customer satisfaction program 14M02, this is a very dangerous and life threatening problem.
I was driving my vehicle and the engine light came on as did the wrench icon signifying a need of immediate repair. The car kept driving, but I had to slow down for traffic. When I tried to accelerate again, my car had little power. I pressed the gas pedal further and the car jerked forward, then slowed itself down immediately and bucked on me a few times. I was in traffic and it caused me to almost get rear ended twice as it would abruptly stop. The engine ran, I could drive, but it wouldn't let me go very fast and kept switching gears on me. I took it to the shop, and they said it was a logic issue but could be a further transmission issue and I should drive it until something else happens. They also promised me that the logic was fixed and nothing like that would happen again. This something else happened a week later exactly as it had happened before. Again, I almost got into an accident because of how abruptly the car stopped and sped up. The internet is full of stories just like this one.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While driving at 50 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The engine warning light illuminated and service engine, transmission soon was displayed across the message board. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 6,000. MA 10/6 the dealer reprogrammed the transmission. Updated 10/15/15
When acceleration transmission shifts very rough. Bangs gear -> grinding noise. Car feels weak and rolls backward very easy. Gas pedal not responsive. Caused almost a car crash on the freeway when sudden loss of power. I have been driving manual and automatic cars but this is dangerous!!
Suddenly hard shift, and weak performance. Grinding noise when shifting or driving slow. Gas pedal not responsive. Caused almost a accident on the freeway when suddenly the car lost power and neither up or downshift was possible. I have been driving manual and automatic cars and trucks for years, this is poor engineering and very dangerous. Cars also tends to roll back and engine often vibrates, it wants to stall because its in the wrong gear or something. And again, it bangs the gears and the car literally wants to jump forward in the car in front of me.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While driving 20 mph, various warning lights illuminated and the vehicle came to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the automatic transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,000....updated 09/22/15 updated 11/07/2017
September 2013- whining/grinding noise in car. Nothing found. All 4 tires replaced (was told the sound was the tires). Sound was still there after tires were put on. Was told it was "normal". February 2014- transmission whine, grinding noise, car shudders when changing gears. Ford replaced the clutch assembly (first clutch replacement). May 2014- grinding noise in car. Ford checked the wheels, nothing found. July 2014- transmission whine, grinding noise, shudders in between gears. Ford replaced clutch (second clutch replacement). Also, gas tank was slow to fill. Ford replaced gas tank. August 2014- gas still slow to fill. Ford adjusted filler neck. October 2014- car overheated, stranded me at a gas station. Had to get car towed to the Ford dealership. Ford replaced cooling fan. February 2015- replaced serpentine belt (believe this was damaged when car was hit on the interstate by a crate that flew out of a truck 2 months prior. Insurance covered repairs at the time, but believe the damages to this belt was missed.) April 2015- transmission whine, grinding noise, shudders when shifting gears. Ford replaced clutch assembly (third clutch replacement). Took 2 months for parts to come in because they were on national backorder. Ac was also not cooling. Ford replaced the rt valve. The car now has 125K miles on it and our warranty has run out. Called Ford this week to launch a complaint and was told they couldn't do anything else because the warrant was out (warranty was good thru 125K miles). There are thousands of people who have the same issues. I do not understand how this is not a recall item yet. This transmission has slipped and on more than one occasion, my family and I were almost hit because of the car stalling. Why do you have to wait until someone gets killed to recall something"?"
There were two incidents where car lost all power while travelling at 35 and 50 mph, the check engine light came on, the transmission dashboard indicator flashed from P to D back and forth. When restarting and idling, the engine shuddered. After the first incident (5/29), Ford dealership reprogrammed the transmission control module. After the second incident (6/13), two weeks later, the dealership replaced the clutch and the transmission control module (tcm).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Park City, UT, USA