2011 Ford Fiesta Transmission Problems

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road on several occasions. The vehicle was able to restart after 10 minutes; however, the failure recurred upon resuming driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed. The mechanic related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 15B22 (Transmission Control Module Reprogramming for Overt TCM Failure Warning). The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled for the vehicle to be repaired under Ford Campaign Number: 15B22. The contact stated that upon towing the vehicle to the dealer, the dealer refused to service the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 106,902.

NHTSA ID

11684826

Incident

Aug 27, 2025

Mileage

106,902 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving on a main road at 30 MPH, the transmission shifted independently to neutral(N). The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle. The contact shifted to drive(D) and drove to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11677798

Incident

Jul 16, 2025

Mileage

130,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure was not duplicated. Additionally, the contact received notification of Customer Satisfaction Program 14M02; however, the dealer informed the contact that there was no indication of transmission failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair could not be covered under an unknown special program or recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the safety failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

NHTSA ID

11677361

Incident

May 22, 2025

Mileage

144,000 mi

See attached document from complainant

NHTSA ID

11551016

Incident

Jul 13, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that when the vehicle was shifted to reverse, the vehicle failed to engage in the correct gear. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the TCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred on numerous occasions. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer and remained. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11480857

Incident

Aug 5, 2022

Mileage

135,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the transmission failed to operate as designed. The contact also stated while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the transmission control module and another unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11475667

Incident

Jul 14, 2022

Mileage

135,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The vehicle had previously been serviced at the dealer for unknown transmission repairs on two separate occasions; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made rattling sounds and hesitated during acceleration. Additionally, the gear shifter would not shift into the selected gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ID

11469139

Incident

Jun 14, 2022

Mileage

57,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated when the vehicle was taken for another recall repair two months ago, she was informed of a transmission recall for her vehicle from the manufacturer; however, there was no failure experienced. The contact also stated that recently the reverse gear functionality was inoperable and the oxygen sensor light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 102,000.

NHTSA ID

11462779

Incident

Apr 28, 2022

Mileage

102,000 mi

2011 FORD FIESTA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BROKEN CLUTCH HOUSING. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER THE CLUTCH HOUSING WAS ON RECALL. THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL PRIOR TO IT EXPIRING. *JS

NHTSA ID

11394239

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT CHANGE GEARS WHEN STARTED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KENNY ROSS FORD SOUTH (412-881-0001, LOCATED AT 3200 LIBRARY RD, CASTLE SHANNON, PA 15234) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11208986

Incident

May 10, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE RPMS INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEN GRODY FORD (6211 BEACH BLVD, BUENA PARK, CA 90621) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,587.

NHTSA ID

11103814

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

88,587 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE POWER TRAIN FAULT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID

10985447

Incident

Jun 8, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

2011 FORD FIESTA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REQUEST TO INITIATE SAFETY RECALL FOR "BUCKING AND JERKING" PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BUCKING AND JERKING WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND COMING TO A STOP. AT THE LAST MOMENT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DROP INTO THE LOWEST GEAR WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL REDUCING ITS RPM. THE ENGINE IS THE PULLING AGAINST THE BRAKING ACTION WHEN THE RPM'S BUMP UP TO 16-18 RPM. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER, THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE SITUATION, BUT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY ALSO STATED IT MAY REQUIRE REPROGRAMMING A CONTROL MODULE, WHICH THEY COULDN'T DO, UNLESS FORD INITIATED IT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10488182

Incident

Dec 3, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ROAR AND THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL CLICKING BEFORE STALLING. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD EXHIBIT HESITATION. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE TCM AND PCM MODULES WERE REPLACED AND LATER, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85. UPDATED 10/17/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE DEALER REPLACED A CABLE. EIGHT MONTHS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WHEN IT DID START IT WOULD STALL, OR JUST REV. THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/18/12

NHTSA ID

10475612

Incident

Dec 2, 2010

Mileage

85 mi

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO A NEW 2011 FORD FIESTA WITH THE POWERSHIFT 6-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION. 3 TIMES NOW I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE TRANSMISSION HESITATE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE ENGAGING. EACH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED I HAVE BEEN COASTING IN TRAFFIC AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 15-25 MPH OR SO, WAITING FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO PASS AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ACROSS LANES OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT GETTING HIT. WHEN DOING THIS, INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING QUICKLY TO AVOID GETTING HIT BY TRAFFIC THE CAR WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS REVVING BUT NOT ENGAGING THE CLUTCH SO I WOULD END UP JUST COASTING ACROSS LANES OF INCOMING TRAFFIC. TO AVOID HAVING THIS HAPPEN I HAVE LEARNED THAT I HAVE TO QUICKLY AND FULLY STOMP ON THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO REALIZE I'M IN NEED OF QUICK ACCELERATION. USING ONLY MODERATE PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL YIELDS THE SCARY HESITATION THAT HAS LEAD TO NEAR IMMINENT COLLISIONS. LIGHT PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL TENDS TO MAKE THE CAR BARELY ACCELERATE AT ALL AND SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO STALL. IT SEEMS TO ME THE COMPUTER GETS CONFUSED IN THIS SCENARIO SINCE YOU ARE FIRST DECELERATING, THEN COASTING, THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN ALL WITHIN A SHORT TIME-FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10422423

Incident

Aug 10, 2011

Mileage

4,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. WHILE DRIVING DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EMITTED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WITH EXCESSIVE HESITATION. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND DURING ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. MOST RECENT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND AN ENGINEER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE TRANSMISSION RESPONSE WAS A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

NHTSA ID

10421177

Incident

Jul 27, 2011

Mileage

500 mi

TEST DRIVE WAS GREAT. AT APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MISS GEAR SHIFTS AT SPEEDS BELOW 15 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT UP INTO 2ND AND UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFT BACK DOWN INTO 1ST, THE SAME WITH 2ND AND 3RD GEAR SHIFTS. I AM ALSO HEARING A METAL CHATTER/SCRAPPING SOUND BELOW THE CAR AT ALL SPEEDS. RECENTLY I HAD TO SUDDENLY BRAKE HARD AND WHEN I WENT BACK ON THE GAS THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE, IT SEEMED TO STILL BE IN 4TH GEAR AND DID NOT SHIFT DOWN OR SELECT THE PROPER GEAR. AT 1000 MILES I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I AM GOING BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND TIME AND WILL BE CONTACTING FORD IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ONLY 4 MONTHS AND CURRENTLY HAVE 1800 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 100 MILES NEW. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL DURING UP SHIFTS, UNLESS HE PUT THE VEHICLE IN LOW GEAR AND SLAMMED ON THE ACCELERATOR. FREQUENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION, SEEMED TO PULSE IN AND OUT OF GEAR, AND GOING UP A HILL, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT STAY IN GEAR, IT WOULD TRY AND SHIFT DOWN ONLY TO SHIFT BACK UP ONCE HE LIGHTLY LET OFF THE GAS. UPDATED 11/15/11

NHTSA ID

10418751

Incident

Apr 11, 2011

Mileage

100 mi

CAR MODEL: NEW FORD FIESTA YEAR: 2011 DELIVERY DATE: MARCH 25, 2011 KILOMETERS: 3000 FOLLOWING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY DUE TO GRINDING NOISE AND RANDOM ACCELERATION IN JUNE 2011, I.E. 2 MONTHS AFTER THE DELIVERY DATE OF MY NEW FIESTA, MUCH MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR DENYING THE EXITING PROBLEMS, A COMPLAINT WAS TO FORD HEADQUARTERS ON 12 JULY 2011. A SERVICE MANAGER LEFT ME A VOICE MAIL THAT EVERYTHING IS OK WITH THE CAR! I WONDER,ON WHAT BASIS DID SHE BUILD UP HER DECISION?! THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS ARE NOT OK! 1- RANDOM ACCELERATION 2- ROLLS BACK WHILE ON A DRIVE POSITION (RANDOMLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY) 3- HESITATION (OBVIOUS CAN?T BE DENIED) THE CAR LOSES ITS POWER RANDOMLY AND AFTER A LONG DRIVE. 4- BUZZING GRINDING NOISE WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL INCREASING DAY AFTER DAY THE ABOVE MENTIONED ARE SAFETY ISSUES AND HAVE TO DO WITH TRANSMISSION. I'M STILL WAITING FOR FOR HEADQUARTERS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PROPERLY, AND TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY, ESCAPING THE PROBLEM WON'T SOLVE IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

NHTSA ID

10417741

Incident

Jun 10, 2011

Mileage

2,000 mi

MY 2011 FORD FIESTA HAS ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT SHIFTS HARD AND IRRATICALLY SHIFTS AT LOWER SPEEDS. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES IN THE FIRST 5 MONTHS OF OWNING IT AND ALL THEY DID WAS A SOFTWARE UPDATE ON THE SECOND VISIT. THE FIRST VISIT, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I NOW HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FOR TOMORROW AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR SINCE FEBRUARY. I HAVE DRIVEN IT HOPING THAT IT WOULD JUST WORK ITSELF OUT SINCE IT WAS NEW BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. *KB

NHTSA ID

10410470

Incident

Mar 1, 2011

Mileage

800 mi

2011 FORD FIESTA HAS A "BLUBBERING" TRANSMISSION, MOST NOTABLY WHEN ACCELERATING SLOWLY. BEYOND THIS, MY VEHICLE HAS NOW STOPPED ACCELERATING AND SLOWED TO A COMPLETE STOP AT LEAST 8 TIMES IN LESS THAN ON MONTH. AFTER THE VERY FIRST INCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO TURN MY CAR BACK ON, BUT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN AGAIN WITHIN 5 MINUTES. THE SECOND TIME, THE CAR DID NOT TURN BACK ON. I WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM, RESET THE COMPUTER, AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. THE NEXT MORNING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY ON THE WAY TO WORK. I WENT TO A DIFFERENT FORD DEALER THAT DID A MORE THOROUGH INSPECTION. THEY REPLACED A FUSE, EXPLAINING THAT IT MIGHT BE A POWER ISSUE. MY VEHICLE WAS FINE FOR ANOTHER WEEK, BUT THEN STOPPED 4 TIMES IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS MONTH. THEY CONTACTED FORD ENGINEERS WHO HELPED THE MECHANICS DETERMINE THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING ON PARTS TO BE DELIVERED TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THAT MY VEHICLE MAY BE REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10409407

Incident

Jun 15, 2011

Mileage

3,800 mi

TRANSMISSION UP SHIFTS/DOWN SHIFTS VERY HARD AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 10-30MPH. WORSE WHEN IN TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10406219

Incident

Dec 13, 2010

Mileage

10 mi

HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE!!! I HAVE TAKEN MY 2011 FORD FIESTA IN AT LEAST 6 TIMES TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS COMPLETELY SHOT AND EVERY TIME I GET IT BACK THEY STATE THAT "THEY ALL DO THAT", OR "ITS PERFECTLY FINE." THAT IS COMPLETE RUBBISH! ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR WILL SHIFT UP AND DOWN RANDOMLY TO THE POINT THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE WILL EXPLODE. THE CAR SHIFTS REALLY HARD AND I SMELL BURNING CLUTCH EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. THE MOST THE DEALERSHIP HAS DONE IS REFLASHED THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER. (WHICH WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE FLASH) AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THE SERVICE MANAGER EVEN TOLD ME TO GET LOST AND TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE HE WAS DONE WASTING HIS TIME ON THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10403946

Incident

Apr 23, 2011

Mileage

7,200 mi

TRANSMISSION SHIFT ERRATICLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVILY CONGESTED TRAFFIC. SOMETIMES IT WILL MAKE VEHICLE LUNGE FORWARD WITH VERY LIGHT FUEL PEDAL APPLICATION. TRANSMISSION IS ALSO MAKING AN AUDIBLE "CLUNK" WHEN THIS HAPPENS. MAYBE A PCM RE FLASH COULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM? THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE DAY ONE STARTING IN DECEMBER 2010. *TR

NHTSA ID

10400966

Incident

May 4, 2011

Mileage

100 mi

THE INCIDENTS I REPORT ARE CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION. THIS NEW DUAL CLUTCH SYSTEM IS NOT SELECTING APPROPRIATELY THE RIGHT GEAR AND OFTEN CAUSE TO HAVE THE CAR MOVING ULTRA SLOWLY AT START. NOT TO MENTION THE HUGE METALLIC NOISES WHEN DOWNSHIFTING AT SLOW SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10397471

Incident

Apr 2, 2011

TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY CHANGING GEARS OR SELECTING INCORRECT GEAR. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER DUE TO TRANSMISSION REMAINING IN TOO HIGH A GEAR FOR ENGINE RPMS. LAPSE IN GEAR SELECTION CAUSES ERRATIC AND DANGEROUS ACCELERATION. DANGEROUS GEAR CHANGES CAUSE CAR TO BOTH SURGE AND STALL - DEPENDING UPON ENGINE RPMS NOT CORRESPONDING TO CORRECT TRANSMISSION GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10396548

Incident

Apr 9, 2011

Mileage

1,937 mi