10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 63,187 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
My 2011 Ford Fiesta shudders, has sudden or Delayed Acceleration, delays in downshift, difficulty stopping/braking, it hesitates when changing gears.also has harsh engagement.I purchased from a private owner in 2021. I have contacted Ford Motor Company Headquarters. I have taken it to my local Ford Dealership, told them what it does, they would not drive it so they could see what it does and how dangerous it can be at times. All they said was "oh it's the TCM and we got them back ordered for 6 mths" But if I want to pay for and order the part and just leave my car setting at the Ford Dealership until the part comes in I can do that. Then pay God only knows how much for them to put the part on. This is the only vehicle I have right now. I told them that. They said "oh we can't give ya no loaner car for that long. And the longer you drive it like that the more it's gonna tear up other parts of your car. And The Ford Motor Company said Oh you missed the deadline for the buy back program or any compensation for your carI Ford has failed to meet the standards required by The Federal Motor Safety Commission and yhey refuse to acknowledge me or help me in any way. All the other 2011 Ford Fiesta cars with the Dual Shift Clutch Transmission were fixed or bought back or the owners were compensated. I am in the same unsafe predicament as those consumers were. I'm not asking for a brand new vehicle Or thousands of dollars. I just want my car fixed and something to drive to work and to the grocery store while they fix it. Or another car of equal value to what my car is supposed to be. Thank you in advance for anything you can help me with.
- Wytheville, VA, USA
The engine light has been on and then goes off. The vehicle slows down in traffic on the street or highway and jerks when taking off. It drags upon take off and you can hear a rattling sound under carriage
- Willoughby, OH, USA
I have had the tcm on this vehicle replaced twice after transmission malfunction light suddenly came on. It came on a third time and the issue still causes transmission malfunction indicator to illuminate, however this time it is my dual clutch. Same symptoms in the vehicle every time. With no warning, the vehicle will suddenly lose power, fail to change gears, shutter forward after stopping, come to a complete stop in the middle of driving. Two days ago driving uphill, my vehicle, with no warning at all, started going in reverse, down the hill. I am in the middle of a class action suit with Ford that is taking forever to settle. I have tried to get Ford to replace my clutch, but they claim it is not part of the extended warranty like the tcm is now, even though it causes the same issues with the vehicle. I can pay to have it fixed myself, but it can go out at any given time again, with no warning. Ford does not believe these issues are safety issues. They are. These cars do these things suddenly. As I am reaching out to Ford about this, they do however inform me that there is a recall on my door latches. They consider this a safety issue, but not the transmission? unbelievable.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
I was heading out in reverse the car felt slow when I pressed the gas it took a while to accelerate. When I came to a stop the wheel felt stiff and shaky. I pressed the gas pedal to turn, but it wouldn't go. It felt like the gas was suffocating it wasn't moving and the wheel felt stiff and hard to turn it took a awhile to move. I got scared and drove back home. I took it to Ford left it there to get checked. I asked about the transmission because the light had turned on. I was told they reset the module and that they sent me an estimate to my email if I wanted to do the repairs that they recommended. I asked if it was ok to drive the car they said yes, that I would feel it shudder, but that it was ok to go. I have been driving it to work, but it still takes a while when I press the gas.
- El Paso, TX, USA
When I purchased my vehicle new I had several problems with the transmission. After several trips to joe cotton Ford in carol stream, il there was no remedy besides removing the cables from the battery to reset the vehicle's computer. On September of this year I received a letter from Ford Motor Co. To advise that they need to do a software update due to a tcm circuit failure. I took my vehicle to friendly Ford 333 E irving park, roselle, il, on Monday November 11, 2019, so they can rectify the problem. Prior to taking my vehicle to the dealership I removed the battery cables. Apparently the dealership was not able to install the new software. The service advisor advised me that the card code reader was not able to identify the error message and they had to charge me. My vehicle was at the dealership for several days and they loaned me a car while it was in service. I was charged $199 for them to look at the problem and since they could not update the software I had to pay the bill. I called Ford Motor Co. For assistance and the agent told me that there was little they can do since the dealership is a franchise. This is unjust that I was charged for something I was advised that would be free of charge. I hope to be reimbursed.
- Hanover Park, IL, USA
Car will stop accelerating or moving in the middle of driving and completely lock up. I am unable to go forward or in reverse when this happens. However the car will still rev just not move. This is so dangerous and has happened in intersections as well as on the freeway. I've had car looked at multiple times and have had to tow off side of freeway due to it not moving!
- Tacoma, WA, USA
Takara recall I've owned this death trap since 2012 and has had the dual transmission replaced at least twice.. it has always jerked and stalled out on me while traveling through intersections, pulling off from stop signs/red lights, and while driving up hills. It's embarrassing, but most of all unsafe for me, my children, and other drivers.
- Birmingham, AL, USA
Takata recall, my car keeps jerking and stuttering to go I've had this car for about four about 4 years, I've took it to the shop about 5 times the workers told me there wasn't anything the could do after I kept taking it because the dual clutch would keep messing up yesterday while driving on the high way my car stayed at 30 mph it then started smoking so I had to pull over I then stopped my car and then my car would not start up until this day now I am stuck with a car note with no car
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to sam packs five start Ford located at 144 N stemmons fwy, lewisville, tx 75067, (469)470-4900 to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clutch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.the VIN was not available.
- Coppell, TX, USA
2/4/15, dickinson co. Kansas, collision with fixed object, left turn, impact to passenger front corner, ran off right side of the road, struck fixe object, damage to both passenger front corner/quarter of car. 10/11/16, jackson co, Missouri, moving in Transport collision, impact rear of car, towing indicator, driver front and passenger airbags deployed. 2 accidents: Former owner, not me. The car truck is always lifted when closed, front side of windshield frame is bumpy, passenger side near back wheel is bumpy, the car accidents smashed the car. Transmission, jerks back and forth 24/7, going to, from street lights, intersections, like wants to die on normal straight street and on hills. The car rolls back on hills by itself. Lack of acceleration speed from brakes to gas pedal. The 10/8/2018 phone call mike from Florida, Ford, tranmission settlement phone call said "transmission is the Ford flaw". I went to the blue springs, mo, independence, mo, dealerships 4 times from March 13, 2017, July 4, 2018: Battery fuse box recall. Passenger door flew open/door latch recall, Sept. 24, 2018, the blue springs, mo, dealership did not fix the tranmission, under 100,000 mile warrenty. The air conditioning compressor broke and it is not working from Sept., 24, 2018, the cost to fix is $2,172, they charged $99.50 diagnostic, did not fix the air conditioning. The defroster is not working since Oct. 10, 2018, it is connected to the compressor, when turned on the defroster makes a crank noise in the engine. The heater system has a weird crank noise when turned to low, high, does not work either. The BBB autoline closed my lemon law complaint case number frd1825535 case, did not help me, because they limit cases to 36,000 miles. The vehicle is a life hazard 24/7. my car is 82,130 miles. I can not drive this non-reliable car.
- Blue Springs, MO, USA
Issues involving class action lawsuit
- Baton Rouge, LA, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While waiting at a red light, the vehicle spontaneously accelerated and rear ended a utility vehicle. The contact depressed the brake pedal down to the floor, but the vehicle kept accelerating on its own. The contact opened the driver side door and ran to the sidewalk. Directly behind the contact was a fire truck and the occupants witnessed the entire crash. The contact was advised to leave the vehicle and the fire department was able to turn off the engine. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact also stated that the tipm was replaced twice. The first time was by huntersville Ford in huntersville, North Carolina in August of 2015. The second time was by salisbury Ford in salisbury, North Carolina in August of 2016. The huntersville Ford dealer also replaced the clutch twice. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 67,378.
- Mooresville, NC, USA
The vehicle was purchased brand new. We have already taken it to Ford repair shops a number of times for replacement parts, repairs, recalls, etc. Recently, the vehicle would not start (among other continuing problems with shaking while braking, jerking when shifting gears--both of which we've already had worked on several times) so we had it taken to a Ford dealer near where we live. We found out the problem is with the transmission control module. It turns out that Ford has a csp for this problem. However, we did not know about it and by the time we started having problems, we were past the mileage for the warranty coverage. I am extremely displeased with this vehicle and the customer service we have received. I believe it is bias and discriminatory to repair problems you know about only if they are on vehicles with mileage under 150,000. If there is a known problem. Ford should fix it and fix it for everyone, not just people who do not drive their vehicle frequently. This car has had known transmission problems and numerous recalls already. The problem is, every time we have it worked on, it never fixes it completely.
- Columbia, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic throttle body failed and would need to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 22,000.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
Ive taken my car to the dealership around 4 times for the same problem. The fourth being the worst. The car will shudder, shake, over rev, low power when taking off and lack of powersteering and brakes. Its had its tcm reprogrammed to no avail! clutch has been replaced to no avail. Third time it stared again and had to get the car reprogrammed again. The last time the car would not drive over 30 mph without shaking shuddering and trying to find the right gear. Couple of times the car stopped while driving!! dealership replaced the tcm.on about the fourth time in. My wife drives our kids to school in this car and I have not confidence in its ability to sustain and deliver my family safely to their destinatation. Im currently making payments and have also tried to talk to Ford about a buy back or replacement and they said I don't meet or qualify for the California lemon law. They had pulled my records at the dealership to verify the car status. All actions that the car displayed and others have encountered have happened when pulling away to accelerate. A couple of my complaints on the service record was not recorded. I think the first and the last ones were however.
- South San Francisco, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While driving approximately 45 mph, the rpms accelerated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the tranmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,766.
- Porter, ME, USA
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
When using cruise control, engine speeds up excessively on small inclines. During city or highway driving. It has happened more than once, but the last time in traffic scared me.
- Logansport, IN, USA
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
- Kalamazoo, MI, USA