8.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
29,600 miles
Total Complaints:
19 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (15 reports)
  2. replace transmission (3 reports)
  3. pcm needs to be replaced (1 reports)
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problem #19

Jan 012016

Fiesta ES 1.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,000 miles

I wanna get rid of it ASAP! I'm looking to get a new one.

- Costa M., El Cajon, CA, US

problem #18

Oct 262017

Fiesta SE 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,467 miles

I was frightened of this car a month after I bought it in Jan 2017. It had brake issues, transmission, shudder. jolting forward so hard I thought I was hit from behind. My foot slipped off the brake in a panic I hit the car in front of me. The brakes did not seem to work. The car was a write off and now my insurance rate is way up. My friend has the same car it has been to Ford SEVEN TIMES. Also all the locks were replaced. People would come in the dealership screaming about the brakes and they kept saying it was not covered..the breaks made a noise like shaking metal in a box. DO NOT BUY A FORD FIESTA OR FOCUS. Mine was the 2013...the low price and low millage suckered me in to buying it. It test drove well, do not be fooled. I have lost sleep, have health issues and will be paying for this through higher insurance.

- Cynthia A., Georgetown, ON, Canada

problem #17

Jun 202017

Fiesta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,797 miles

Montgomery AL. I brought A 2013 Ford Fiesta March 20,2017 From Collies Ford In Wetumpka AL. After Two months I had to take the car to Ford to get it fixed cause it had a jerk when you take off when driving the car. So I call and talk with Jay collies and told him what was going on with the car. He told me to call back this number and ask for the Service Department. So I did that, and was telling them what was going on with the car. So they asked me can I bring the car in to let him check what's going on with the car. So I had an appointment to bring it in on 7/12/2017. They told me that I can come pick the car up two days later and I said ok. Call me and told me the car was ready. Don't get me wrong, he gave me a Renter car. When the car was ready, call me on 07/14/2017 and told me that my car was ready and I can come get it any time before they close. So I did. Before other problems go wrong with the 2013 fiesta. I'm waiting for the settlement that support had on the Oct 2,2017. The Certificates that I was supposed to get toward a new purchase of a new car. I just want to know when that is supposed to happen, from the Ford Motor Company? Ford Motor company in Wetumpka AL needs to let me know something about this settlement. I don't need to keep on writing these complaints and nothing gets done.

- Ianthia W., Montgomery, US

problem #16

Nov 012016

Fiesta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,000 miles

Transmission replaced 9-2015 under ford recall, all jerking, grinding, not engaging resolved. On approx 11-1-2016 intermittent jerking, grinding and hesitance when changing gears started again - previous grinding level not at this time but a low level clicking. These are intermittent symptoms.

I returned the car to my dealer who installed the new transmission. I was informed "we put it on the machine and there is no problem."

I called Ford customer line and they suggested that I take it to another dealer (25 miles away and leave the car with them as long as it would take to find the problem.) I took the car to mechanic at local gas station: "Felt transmission slip on 1st to 2nd gear. Felt hesitation on high speed very mild twice. No code found" While symptoms are intermittent I am grateful some issues identified, others remain in limbo.

To get the transmission originally replaced there were multiple issues obtaining, including "drive it for 5K miles and see what happens, it is a minor problem you shouldn't worry about." I feel the same run around has started and I am at a loss on how to effectively proceed.

Looking for advice from those who are experiencing problems with the SECOND transmissions and what satisfaction you achieved.

- gloofbourrow, Oceanside, CA, US

problem #15

Dec 012014

Fiesta SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

Here is a copy of a communication comment I put on Ford.com. I will post this everyday. All of you should, too. This is ridiculous and all Fiestas should be repaired or recalled. "I would like you to picture this: a 3 year old Fiesta driving around sounding like a coffee grinder, bucking and shuddering at every acceleration from a stop; with 2 doors bungee corded closed because latches won't work, broken driver's side interior door handle (which will have to be super-glued) and a piece of Scotch Tape holding the Sync talk button on the steering wheel. Would you call this pride in manufacturing? I just had my 2nd recall notice work done on the transmission of my 2013 Fiesta. There was no improvement that I could hear or feel. They must have just waived some magic wand over it so they can say they did something to appease the customer. I got my doors fixed through a recall. The driver's door handle made of cheap plastic, well that will not get repaired because it is not covered by my extended warranty. Apparently, handles are not covered, probably because you knew they would break when inferior materials are used. The Sync button on steering wheel, also not covered by warranty, will remain Scotch taped. Why? Because the 2 items will cost over $600 to repair. That's right, $600 to replace faulty pieces of plastic that through normal wear and tear, have broken. I am still paying for this car and I have to put an additional $600 into it, because cheap materials were used??? No room in my budget for that. Considering that I have been inconvenienced by driving around with a faulty transmission (and will have to continue to do so), and by faulty door latches that keep the doors from closing, I would think that replacing those 2 small items should be a complimentary repair. This was my first Ford and will be my last. I thought I was doing good to buy American. Turns out, I was the fool. This is my second contact on this issue. I will continue to make contact until I feel satisfied." Maybe if they get bombarded with enough complaints everyday, they will do something about it.

- ahorner, Bradenton, FL, US

problem #14

Sep 212016

Fiesta 1.6L 14 Ti-Vct

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,726 miles

I had the car serviced for the transmission slipping only two weeks after purchase, when it was reprogrammed. The problem continued, so today I took it back in, and was told that this is normal for this vehicle, and that it may take 1000 miles for it to reset itself. My mechanic tells me that this is garbage, and in researching the problem online I've found that it's a common problem for this car. The dealership is telling me that there's nothing wrong with it, but I don't believe this to be true.

- Belinda P., Strasburg, VA, US

problem #13

Oct 012016

Fiesta SE 1.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

Ford is fully aware that the transmissions are faulty and will not recall the vehicle and reimburse owners for putting out a faulty product which needs to be fixed again and again. Transmission is junk.

Update from Oct 7, 2016: Was told the PCM (program control module for transmission) is broke again. This is third time. Last one was just replace this summer so not even a couple months did it last. Then I was told the parts are all on back order from Ford so I have to continue to rent a car when the fix could be done in a day. Service department didn't even get back with me on whether I would get an extended rental since the part OEM is not available.

- Gerald W., Edwardsville, IL, US

problem #12

Aug 202016

Fiesta SE

  • CVT transmission
  • 15,000 miles

Seriously, I've taken this car in 4 times for them to fix the damn transmission, one time they said they "replaced" it (or the gearbox or whatever thing they claimed), and it STILL jerks. Worse, it will do this while accelerating or while in the middle of the term, so that sudden stop can cause a crash if someone is tailgating you.

I strongly suggest everyone join the lawsuit here in the States (or Australia) about any Ford/Focus Transmission issues that have been going on.

- William O., Round Rock, TX, US

problem #11

Mar 012014

Fiesta SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,000 miles

Bought my 2013 Fiesta back in December 2012. Within a few months of driving it, I started noticing the hesitation, shuddering, jerking, loud clutch noises. I have driven a stick shift in the past & it felt like I had forgotten how to shift - but the reality of the situation - it is not a stick shift - it is an automatic transmission. One I had paid extra money for when I bought the car. The first time I was able to bring it in to be looked at was April 14, 2014. They took the transmission and clutch out, replaced the clutch, reprogramed the PCM & TCM, the RPM was bad. they replaced inner and outer seals. Still continued to have the same problems. Brought it in again & head mechanic took me for a drive & proceeded to show me how to retrain the transmission when it would start doing it. Why do I need to retrain my transmission??? I then received a 2 page notice from my Ford dealership stating the "Power Shift 6-Speed Transmission Operating Characteristics" which was dated 9/27/2012 (problems had been occurring since then with this type of transmission???) Now there is a recall from Ford stating the TCM may experience electrical circuit failures that can cause loss of transmission engagement while driving, no start, lack of power. I am bringing it in to be checked tomorrow - wish me luck!

- Faith M., Augusta, GA, US

problem #10

Dec 222015

Fiesta 1.6L-Ti-Vt

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,645 miles

I took my car to the dealer to report that my car has been shuddering and hesitating for the last three weeks, the check engine was on an would not go off. I asked what can be done. I was told that there would still be some shuddering and nothing was wrong with my engine. I was told to bring my car back, if the shuddering got worse. I will be making an appointment in the next 2 weeks.

- Deborah G., Woodbine, NJ, US

problem #9

Feb 242015

Fiesta 1.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,500 miles

I bought this car with less than 6000 miles on the clock and it shudders right through the car on pulling away.The main dealer first said the gearbox had to get used to how I drive, then the dealer told me it was how I drive, too slow!!! The dealer upgraded the software----maybe a little better, but not much. Then the dealer told me it was in Fords parameters so they couldn't do any more to it. So I`m left with a rubbish car. I'LL NEVER buy a Ford again.

- peterwhitfield, Rotherham, England

problem #8

Jun 012013

Fiesta 1.6L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,000 miles

I took the car to the dealer several times complaining about the jerking, thinking it was the transmission, only to be told every time that "that's just the way the new transmissions are"?????? Nothing was ever done to rectify the problem.

- pitterpat831, Annapolis, MD, US

problem #7

Jul 012015

Fiesta 5DR HB SE 4s

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

Transmission seems like it's slipping and jerking and while driving more than three times a day, it's really irritating and is causing my car to seem like it's breaking down. This issue is very dangerous and serious and needs to be corrected or somebody needs to give me a new car. I am suppose to be enjoying my new car, not feeling like I am going to die every time I enter my vehicle.

- Keisha S., Greensboro, NC, US

problem #6

Jul 012015

Fiesta 5DR HB SE 4s

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

It needs to be fixed or replaced it feels like my car is going to fall apart, literally.

- Keisha S., Greensboro, NC, US

problem #5

Dec 172014

Fiesta SE 1.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles

I have a 2013 Ford Fiesta SE, it jerks, shutters, bangs you name it when changing gears... it stalls on me in the middle of the road! I demand this piece of poo be repaired. It was sold to me as a lemon and I want it fixed. This is a shame this vehicle has been sold to so many people with them not knowing the truth. I will do whatever it takes to have it repaired. I have just begun to fight!

- Connie D., Richmond, KY, US

problem #4

Dec 152014

Fiesta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,000 miles

Complaint 1 of 5 Once this car hit 12,000 miles (just around 16 months of driving) the transmission started acting up. I took it to one shop and they said it was broken but would take 3-4 weeks to get the part in. So I drove it the extra 35 miles to the dealer and dropped it off. All they did was reset the computer. I didnt even get it out of the lot when I turned around and went back to the service desk. I was told the computer needed time to learn my driving. So after a week.... complaint 2

- Holly R., Jessup, PA, US

problem #3

Jan 052015

Fiesta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,500 miles

Complaint 2 of 5 - so after a few weeks of "letting the computer get used to my driving" I took it back and they replaced the transmission. It worked fine for about 2 months.

- Holly R., Jessup, PA, US

problem #2

Apr 132015

Fiesta SE 1.6L Ti-Vct 1-4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,297 miles

My car is hesitating and jerking, decelerated several times on the freeway. Took the car into the dealer where I purchased the car, was told there is a known problem with the transmissions with the Fiesta and Focus vehicles, and that there is a 3 week wait to even have it looked at because there are so many people bringing their cars in, so I added my name to the waiting list. I then called around to other dealers in the area and was told the same thing, 2 to 3 week wait. So how long has this been a problem and why does it take so long? This is my only means of transportation for work, if I can't get to work, I don't get paid, which means I can't pay the car note, are they going to wait and give me a 3 or 4 week grace to pay the note? I DON'T THINK SO!!!!

I'm so irritated, the last time I had a similar situation, a known issue with the back passenger door not latching and flying open at will, I had to wait 10 days for them to look at it, get the part in and fix it. Oh yeah, and did I mention I had to pay for that because even though it was a known issue with Ford, it had not escalated enough to a recall, but I was told to keep the receipt ($500 plus) and should it be escalated to a recall, I would be reimbursed. REALLY!!!!

When you know something is a known problem, Ford should take care of it as soon as it's known. This is such an inconvenient situation for customers.

- hgatesbr, North Hollywood, CA, US

problem #1

May 172014

Fiesta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,250 miles

I was merging from one freeway to another when the fairly new car started to repeatedly jerk forward and backwards. It continued to move down the road but would not speed up higher than 45 miles per hour for about half a mile. The jerking calmed and would only occur every few revs and the car sped up sufficiently to stay on the highway. I diverted my original plans to drive the 6 miles to the dealer service center. The service rep at Ford got in the car and drove around with me for a while. He told me that the only cure for the problem was to turn the key and "reboot" the computer. He explained that the cable sending communications to the transmission shared the line with other systems and that could be slowing down or screwing up the communications. I pointed out that "rebooting" the computer while on a highway was not really possible. He said there was not an uncommon problem and I should come back if it happens again and don't turn off the car. I am not making this up. It did not reoccur.... but later transmission problems did arise as explained in another complaint.

- laurak, San Diego, CA, US