Transmission jerks aggressively from 1-3 gear. Sometimes acceleration is delayed and sluggish. Has almost caused a wreck on several occasions. Also, the delayed reaction causes the car to lurch forward and the engine revs up high causing the breaks to fail. So you must drive with more distance than normal to avoid collision. I had one car completely replaced. Transmission was completely shot after 400 miles. Grinding, slipping, jerking, clunking, hesitation, etc. This transmission is a piece of junk. Both cars had the same problems.

- Houston, TX, USA

Extreme transmission shudder. Jolting, jerking, shuddering, shaking, stalling. Had "dual clutch" replaced 3 times thus far. Requested a buyback, buyback denied. Had a couple more repair attempts and now the can't isn't running fully - sent it certified letter from a lawyer and trying to go through the buy back process again before going to court. Had 3 near accidents. This car is a lemon and extremely unsafe.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

I bought the 2013 Fiesta in August of 2013. With 500 miles on it the transmission was lurching, clanking, and grinding. I took it to the dealer and they told me it was normal and they wouldn't even look at it. I also complained that the car was only getting 25mpg highway when it claimed 40. They said it was in the window for epa, and it would get better after 1500 miles. I complained to the main Ford customer service and they told me there was nothing they could do. I now have $14K miles on it and it still averages 20-25mpg highway. I had to take the car to them at $12K miles to fix the engine malfunction. When I called the mechanic he already knew what it was, which means it happens a lot. The engine still lurches, clanks, grinds, etc. I'm $8K upside down on trade in already because the value of this car has dropped so much in the last year due to all these issues.

- Huntsville, TX, USA

Within a few weeks of purchase, the shuddering from a stopped start increased in magnitude (I understand the transmission is supposed to act like a manual but this was too severe) and on occasion after shifting from reverse to drive there was no engagement in the transmission, stepping on accelerator only revved the engine, no movement. Took the car back in, they state that is normal operation, the computer has to get used to your driving. Here we are one year later, it is no better and now has a transmission leak. Took back in for that and the service guy says, oh yeah we are booked way out to Aug 17 (it was July 24th) on fixes for that and he mentioned it is a known issue. Seems it has been known since 2011 yet the sales guys never mentioned it. Evidently mine is severe enough that they got me scheduled for Aug 7. they said that the transmission fluid may have gotten into the dry clutch and all would likely have to be replaced. It is great that they can continue to sell these knowing full well there are problems.

- Dupont, WA, USA

Auto transmission shutter..from a complete stop through the shifting the transmission shutters. My local Ford garage says the car needs transmission packs, ,however due to Ford S computer reading the vehicle is operating at a normal range, so the garage cannot repair. We have almost been involved 3 rear end collisions because of this. Ford has not yet issued a recall on this matter even though there are many Fiestas with this problem, .

- Seneca Falls, NY, USA

I brought my Fiesta in for service about three months after driving it off the lot. I experience knocking, chugging, jolting and jerking everytime I accelerate from a stop light or stop sign. Getting on the highway last week as I accelerated, my speedometer got stuck at 55mph and there was an extreme vibration coming from the bottom, along with the normal snapping noise. I'm taking it back for more service next week for the same reason it was in three months ago. I've only owned the car 9 months. I feel like this car is dangerous and I don't like to drive it. I travel 40 miles each way to work daily and I was happy about the gas mileage that I was getting but I didn't sign up for a lemon.

- Athol, MA, USA

The vehicles engine makes noise as if something is caught in the engine or is having trouble shifting the entire time while driving. The car jerks aggressively when you begin to accelerate as if it is having trouble changing into gears. When trying to accelerate at times it will seem as if it looses power causing to almost come to an abrupt stop and shaking as if it is going to shut off! not the kind of trouble you should be having with a new car! I have to step off the gas pedal so that it can stop jerking. Several times I have been in the middle of traffic almost having people slam into me because of the abrupt stops the car has, or me almost hitting a car because it jerks to a sudden take off when pressing the accelerator.

- Oak Lawn, IL, USA

In February of 2014 I took my Fiesta in complaining of grinding and rattling noises when taking off from a stop. Both inner and outer input shaft seals were replaced due to a leak as well as the clutch assembly. In July of 2014 at approx. 13,104 miles, my average miles per gallon was dropping as well as the car shuttering on acceleration and turning the vehicle. Again, within five months the clutch assembly was replaced, in may of 2014 a different issue, the check engine light came on. This time diagnosis was the catalyst element failing and the exhaust manifold assembly was replaced. Another issue was I had the green phone icon light flashing on the center display, in which the front display was replaced. I really like the my Fiesta, but I do not feel very comfortable driving it, too much has gone bad in a short period of time. Ford needs to do more in addressing and fixing these issues. Too many Fiesta owners have these issues and this is not a safe vehicle.

- Kettering, OH, USA

I was at the light. The light turned green. The car lunged as I entered and almost hit a pedestrian. I now have 9785 miles.I have already got them to fix the transmission and 590 miles later it was back to the same thing. It lunges. It grinds a tow speed. It is a nightmare. I know I am not the only one complaining. Please do something before someone dies.

- White Plains, NY, USA

I have had my car in numerous times to the dealer with problems with the transmission. Finally in may of 2014 I had the clutch replaced. The car was about 75% better, not perfect but better. Today the transmission is slipping and shifting through various gears randomly. It has no acceleration power from a stop. I am afraid to drive the car. The car is very dangerous to drive and they need to recall these cars.

- Berwyn, IL, USA

Ford Fiesta 2013 (automatic transmission) - started car. Put car in reverse. Car did not reverse and there were rattling and grinding sounds coming from transmission. Restarted car. Car reversed. However, once car was put into drive the transmission was rattling and grinding again. Once I tried to accelerate, the car lurched forward, stopped and lurched forward again. The acceleration was not smooth, it felt like the car might stall. The engine noises were loud and not typical. Until I reached 45 miles per hour, the engine did not quiet down. Driving in traffic was terrible. I had to leave extra room to stop as I did not trust the car to downshift properly. I had to leave extra room to accelerate because I could not predict if the car would go at all or accelerate at an unpredictable speed because the transmission was not trustworthy and the clutch kept slipping. Overall, the Fiesta's transmission issue has to do with the vehicle's design, and this is not an isolated incident. From 20,000 miles on, I have taken the car in twice to try and fix this defect and it continues to exist. I currently do not have the car as it is at the dealership and has been for 24 days and counting. They can't seem to fix the defects and this transmission design should be investigated. I am currently working with the BBB autoline to try and resolve this issue.

- Cream Ridge, NJ, USA

First complaint filed 7/13 reference # 10524870. Transmission made a clanking noise when driving from 10-60 mph. Also jerks back on occasion from a stopped position and going forward. The cylinder block, hex head, and gasket and clutch replaced. Since my complaint I have been in arbitration and received a 5 year/100,000 mile power train extended service plan warranty on 12/2013. The care still makes the clanking noise when shifting "sounds like a loose bicycle chain". since then I have had a oil leak and on 4/17/14 the camshaft was replaced. Last week the oil was changed and now I have a transmission leak. I have called several Ford dealers and turned away from one due to 3 week wait time for any transmission problems and most Ford dealers ae experiencing the same problem with 3-4 weeks to get an appointment for a transmission check.

- Malibu, CA, USA

When at a stop or slow roll and then give it gas the transmission feels like it slipping or a hesitation, so when your beginning to take off or merger into traffic it feels like its going to stop. This can cause me to get in an accident. Took car into dealer he said there was no slippage and that the transmission does not have a torque converter. What ever the problem is it, S been doing it from day one, im worried that my wife might get into an accident from this problem. Something is wrong with this and it needs to be fixed, the car shakes when it does this also all at the same time.

- Spanaway, WA, USA

This is my company car. Brand new in March 2013. At about 7500 miles I started getting hesitation and shuddering during acceleration. Took to dealer ([xxx]). transmission repair took 3 weeks. Now at 19000 mile it is doing the same thing. Took back to same dealer. They said Ford now has a "shudder test" and if it is under 250, no repairs. It continues to worsen. It can be a real problem when you don't know if your car is going to take off or just shake and hesitate like a [xxx]! are they just trying to nurse ut along until it is out of warranty? my employer that assigned me this car owns four of them for the sales staff and one of the others has been in twice for repairs on the transmission for the same problem. I have been driving different vehicles for work and personal reasons for 40 years and no one can convince me this is even close to normal. Ford needs to step up to the plate. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Columbus, OH, USA

My 2013 Ford Fiesta SE hatchback has acceleration issues I believe will cause me to be in an accident. While accelerating into traffic the vehicle can down shift or "bog down", causing me to lose acceleration and nearly causing collisions. Had it not been for the defensive driving of the other drivers I definitely would have been in an accident.

- Elmhurst, IL, USA

This has been an ongoing problem over the past 12 months. This vehicle shudders and grinds when shifting through 1st to 3rd gears. The vehicle grinds sporadically while maintaining constant speed at low speeds and highway speeds. After coasting, the vehicle will grind and shudder during acceleration. The vehicle has failed to shift into gear on three occasions, one of these incidents nearly resulted in an accident. Most recently, the vehicle has been losing power, grinding, and shuddering for up to 5 seconds before the gear fully engages when turning or conducting U turns, which causes other motorists to nearly rear end my vehicle during heavy traffic. Ford has reprogrammed the transmission three times, without improvement, and informed me each time that they cannot verify a deficiency, and has not honored warranty replacement.

- Hinesville, GA, USA

Vehicle shutters upon acceleration and feels like it wants to stall. When vehicle is turning to the left from a stopped position, the shuttering is extremely pronounced and feel like it will stall. When vehicle is driving up a hill, it will slow down, shutter, and feel like it will stall. Vehicle does not run smoothly, and will jerk forward during acceleration. Vehicle will not accelerate up to speed when entering highway, and almost causes me to get hit from behind as other vehicles and trying to get up to speed as well. When vehicle approaches approximately 35-40 mph, a chattering grinding sound develops, and sounds like it is coming from the front driver side engine area.

- Lilburn, GA, USA

Merged onto highway. Car would not speed up to highway speed (65) and started jerking back and forth - seemed like transmission issue. Was in danger of being hit from behind by other cars. Jerking decreased in frequency and was able to speed up after about a 1/2 mile, but basic problem continued. Drove approximately 6 miles to dealership where I bought the car. Turned car off and went inside to talk to service technician. He got in the car with me and we drove it for a couple of miles. The problem did not recur on drive. I was told this was a typical problem and the remedy was to turn the key to off position and reboot the computer. I pointed out that this could not be done while driving on a highway! I was not informed of any relevant service bulletins or scheduled for any repairs.

- San Diego, CA, USA

My 2013 Fiesta is 1 year old with 12500 miles on it. When first purchased the transmission would drop out, typically on starting from a stop or accelerating out of a turn. I was told that the computer was learning how I drive. This did improve. As time has gone on however, I have noticed a shudder when accelerating from a stop or at low speeds. This shudder has gotten progressively worse with the transmission being bogged down and refusing to shift in time. The more I drive, the worse it gets, especially after the engine has heated up. It is like trying to learn manual, which I have tried! it feels like the engine is going to stall and die. This happens in stop and go traffic, with a continuous fear that my engine is going to stall in rush hour traffic. I bought a brand new car to eliminate the fear of getting into an accident because of poor car condition. Transmission issues with a 1 year old car are ridiculous. Please fix this problem.

- Westmont, IL, USA

This has been an ongoing problem with the vehicle. I purchased car on November 10, 2012, and on November 13 heard a noise in engine. The car would jerk and surge on take off. I returned car to dealer who could not find anything wrong with car. The noise became louder, car began to shudder and surge more often during take off, and stick in reverse. I returned car to dealer on January 8, 2013, but the couldn't find problem. Over the next few months the noise became louder, car shuddered and surged, and began sticking in drive. I returned to dealer again on May 29, 2014, and dealer told me about transmission problems with Ford Fiestas. I picked car up on June 5, 2015 and drove short distance and all power to transmission went out. It eventually 'came back' and I was able to return to dealership. The problem was worse than when I took it to dealer in the beginning. This was a very scary situation because I was in the middle of rush hour traffic. I have had ongoing problems since I purchased car. It had 3 miles on it the date of purchase. I financed 21,049 to get car, and cannot afford to trade car in and go upside on payments. The car is a lemon! I have spoken with Ford 3 times about the matter. I am scared to ride in the car now. I need a car to go do work daily. Ford should recognize this problem and replace my car with a 'better' car. It is a shame that a large conglomerate like Ford can sell a 'lemon' and a consumer like me (single mom) with limited income has to 'take it." Ford should be held accountable. I have researched the problems and found supporting evidence to my case. I have contacted the attorney general's office in my state about the matter, and spoke with general manager at dealership. Ford has offered to extend my bumper to bumper warranty to 75,000 miles or 5 years (Nov. 2017) but I am still scared to ride in the car. It's dangerous.

- Moss Point, MS, USA