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CarComplaints.com Notes: Welcome to North America, Ford Fiesta. Thanks for bringing your herky-jerky transmission, numerous interior quality complaints, and an engine that dies while driving.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
13 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,973 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2011 Ford Fiesta drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2011 Ford Fiesta Owner Comments (Page 7 of 17)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #204

Jul 092015

Fiesta

  • 69,456 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While shifting from first to second gear, there was a loud clicking noise coming from the front of the vehicle. While stopped at a red light, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted. The failures recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was functioning properly. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was approximately 69,456.

- Scotts Valley, CA, USA

problem #203

Jul 312016

Fiesta

  • 60,000 miles
Unable to get car out of park, when I did, coming out of a parking lot, it stalled in middle of a busy street, had no power, transmission, stability and check engine light came on, after pushing on the gas peddle a few times, it finally, had enough power to drive it home.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #202

Jun 272016

Fiesta

  • miles
Vehicle has been one of many thousands to experience severe transmission issues, which have now become serious safety concerns due to Ford's inability to provide a solution. This 2011 Fiesta with automatic transmission was purchased new and had the sluggish feeling early on. Dealer said it was a "smart engine" and would have to learn driver's driving habits. The problem persisted and got considerably worse around 9K miles....took it in, failed transmissions test...new clutch put it. Thought it was fine until it started doing the same thing...failed test...no parts available- had to wait on parts. This is about the 5th or 6th time going through this process, except that now the problem is the most severe it's ever been (even with the a new clutch put in last week and being told it was "fixed'). car won't start at times, then when it does, it drives very sluggish - or won't come out of low gear (revs very high)....of if you get it into higher gear, it will suddenly slip out of it back down to low - very high rpms and very loud. It is hard to accelarate and know that it's going to go - this is especially troubling at an intersection making a left turn, on the highway with higher speed traffic etc. Many others have experienced this same problem very severely. Class action suit in ca now-- and one just started in australia. Same problems. Ford has continued to sell these cars for years, knowing that this problem is there- their only solution being to wait for parts and then get it "repaired" - except it is being repaired with parts that are no better and seem to be far worse than early on. It is scary to drive and feel safe - yet one has to get to work, etc. Ford is digging their heels in and still offering no remedy, knowing about these very unsafe situations that drivers are being put in. Please scan the internet regarding the many people who have had serious problems.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #201

Jun 122016

Fiesta

  • 40,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have been dealing with transmission issues since I bought the vehicle. The first time it happened I was doing 50 mph and it shifted out of gear. This was quite disturbing. I took it in to Ford and they told me it just needed the program updated. Then during the winter it wouldn't go into gear at all, not forward, reverse or anything. Once again I took it in and they said it was the programming. They programed it again. So back in Feb it happened again, and I did then receive a letter stating there was some issues, so I was given a 100,000 mile warranty on fixing the issue. Well I told them to replace the tcm, but once again they love to reprogram. So my oldest son is in need of a vehicle and he was driving it up in madison Wisconsin on the most crazy freeway and it decided to lose the power doing more than 50 mph. My son was so stressed and was almost hit by a semi. I have had it with the reprogramming. I have emails and calls put into Ford and I am not asking for anything but a fix or to trade in and start over. They don't want to do anything for us at all. I guess they want someone to die first before they fix anything.

- Elkhorn, WI, USA

problem #200

Jun 052016

Fiesta 4-cyl

  • 52,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that the vehicle would not accelerate in reverse. The vehicle was shifted into drive, but there was still no acceleration. The vehicle accelerated afterwards to approximately 30 mph and grinding noises were present. The vehicle felt as if it were struggling to engage into gear. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but they could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000. Updated 08/16/16 the consumer stated she decelerated, the vehicle lurched and bucked as if it were about to stall. The consumer stated a computer was replaced. Updated 08/30/016.

- Lincoln University, PA, USA

problem #199

May 232016

Fiesta

  • 65,000 miles
Driving vehicle on expressway and vehicle just cut off. Been complaining to Ford since I purchased vehicle about 2 years now, took it in for repairs several time. Was told that the problem is corrected but it keeps doing the same thing. It will roll back when I stop at a light or stop sign. This is dangerous. This time I was lucky nothing serious happened. Next time I might not be.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #198

Oct 012015

Fiesta

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Took my car in for a recall on the trans/clutch (my car is automatic). Less than 3 months later the trans was grinding hard, slipping and stalling while driving. I took it back in. Its been about 3 months and my trans is starting to act up again. Ford says there is nothing they can do about it because its acting like they knew it was going to. That Ford sold a bad trans and its the "characteristics" of the trans.

- Sandwich, IL, USA

problem #197

Apr 302016

Fiesta

  • 80,900 miles
Hesitation, jerking and clutch grinding noises. Went to make a left hand turn and my car hesitated on acceleration causing a near fatal accident from an on coming car. Luckily the oncoming car was able to slow down enough to avoid hitting my passenger side where my daughter was sitting. I have been experiencing hesitation, severe jerking and grinding of the clutch the entire weekend.

- Trenton, MI, USA

problem #196

Apr 282016

Fiesta

  • 55,000 miles
Vehichle has been returned to a Ford dealer numerous times for transmission issues. Has had all updates completed as required by the dealer, yet continue to have transmission issues. The vehicle shudders and hesitates while attempting to shift gears (it is an automatic transmission). This occurs at low speeds as well as higher speeds. Feel it may be a risk for causing an accident. The dealer says there is nothing more they can do.

- Cumberland, MD, USA

problem #195

Apr 222012

Fiesta

  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While putting out of a parking space, the vehicle jerked and lost power. The contact had to wait until the traffic died down to pull out of the space. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the computer needed to be reset and the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

problem #194

Apr 212016

Fiesta

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

From a stand still up until speed, every gear shift is meet with a shudder and feels like it slips while the transmission chages gear. Just recently the car started to jerk and stutter and I barely made it home. The rpms rise and dip and is undriveable. It has been brought in for transmission module reprogramming and inspection of transmission fluids. I thought in the past that the shaking and stuttering was normal, according to Ford that is normal. It's not that when my car started jerking and sputtering that I realize something is very wrong.Ford did give me an extended warranty for up to 70K miles. Also, I notice that when the surface is wet and I break gradually on a wet surface ie, painted street dividers, painted street signs or oil, ABS will break the vehicle, the vehicle will lock up causing it to slide and then when I get on the gas pedal the car will be unresponsive to my gas pedal input. Basically, I wouldn't be able to get out of hands way because the cars power to move for 2-3seconds is non existent.

- South San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #193

Mar 192016

Fiesta

  • 62,800 miles
About 3 months after buying this used Fiesta, castro in milsboro, de found a leak under the motor. Since I wasn't loosing oil the Ford dealersip didn't think it was a major issue. In August of 2015 reverse slipped out 5 times in 4 weeks. Ford dealer in lewes, de finally looked into problem and found the transmission seal had blown causing fluid to get onto clutches and throw-out bearing. Two weeks later it was finally fixed. Now I'm having issues with hard shfting, and stalling between gears. The dealership in georgetown, de checked and stated the transmission was "within Ford peramiters". Ford customer support stated "if the problem escalates to please call us back" so the car still is shifting badly at this powing.

- Selbyville, DE, USA

problem #192

Dec 122014

Fiesta

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While driving at various speeds and attempting to stop, the vehicle would shudder and make an abnormal noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under a manufacturer's satisfaction recall for the power train, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was brought back to the dealer where the software was updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- St. Paul, MN, USA

problem #191

Sep 142015

Fiesta

  • 45,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While driving at various speeds, the transmission stuttered. The contact stated that the failure previously occurred and the transmission would not shift. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was brought back to the dealer twice for repairs, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #190

Mar 182016

Fiesta

  • miles
"takata recall" when I stop at a red light, and then try to go when it turns green, 2 out of three times there is no forward gear. Then I have to turn on the 4way flashers, turn the key off and on again, then I can go forward. This is very dangerous in heavy traffic. Other times the car won't go into neutral when coming to a stop light, and wants to push you into the car in front of you, or thru the light! I've had it to the dealer probably 5 times, never ever helped. I tell the dealer every time I go there that the car is gonna kill me! I won't lend to anybody. I'm very uncomfortable driving my grandchildren in this car.

- Medina, NY, USA

problem #189

Mar 102016

Fiesta

  • 79,000 miles
My daughter drives this car. Car stutters when driving, idle goes up to 3K, overheat icon came on, idle goes high but car decelerates, car bucks like a Bronco. Ford charged us over $500 to replace a cooling fan, did 3 software upgrades, said they replaced the transmission control module, same issues repeated except for the overheat icon, idle still went high and car stutters, bucks, again the trans stopped propelling the car. Now they say it's the throttle body and want over $800 !! to repair it. The 2011 Ford Fusion has a similar problem and is now covered for free under a customer satisfaction program, all of the windows in the car are hard to raise, you have to manually push them up while holding the up button. The throttle issue is new but why didn't those codes turn up previously when the car exhibited the same symptoms? imo this is a poorly manufactured vehicle. Only 79K miles and sooooo many problems.

- Azle, TX, USA

problem #188

Mar 082016

Fiesta

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While at a stop, the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact attempted to shift into park, but the gear shifter failed to shift out of drive. The contact had to restart the vehicle in order to shift into park and resume normal function. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Chicago Heights, IL, USA

problem #187

Jan 112016

Fiesta

  • 92,731 miles
My car will not go in gear. I took it to Ford on 2/2/15 because my car was stalling when I put it in gear they ran test and said my car was fine.. it not running.

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #186

Jan 112016

Fiesta

  • miles
Transmission studders and hesitates in lower gears when turning or pulling up to parking area slowly. Transmission has been serviced by Ford 3 times but we are now waiting 8-12 weeks for another set of clutches mean while it is getting worse to drive.

- Sun City, AZ, USA

problem #185

Jan 012015

Fiesta

  • 55,000 miles
While driving, vehicle shudders and hesitates when accelerating. Lurches forward at times when stopped. Bucks while shifting (transmission is their powershift automatic). One time the transmission completely disengaged while driving on the parkway during a snowstorm, leaving in a very dangerous position. Had to turn the car off and on several times to get transmission to "reset". at times, when releasing brake from stationary position, car would shudder even before applying the throttle. Transmission control module has been changed out twice in the last 15 months of purchasing the car from the dealer as "certified pre-owned". last tcm change, the car had same issues as soon as I left service department. Called service adviser as soon as I got home and he said I had to drive the vehicle 1000-12000 miles for the transmission to "get used to the way I drive". needless to say, after 2000 miles, there has been no change in condition. Taking vehicle back for the 5th time for continued problems. I have recently inquired about a class action law suit against Ford Motor Company being filed in ca regarding these same issues from other Ford Fiesta owners.

- Massapequa Park, NY, USA

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