2011 Ford Fiesta: complete transmission failure

Filed Jul 30, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · 144,000 miles · SC

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 federal safety agency Hotline to report the safety failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

Filed Jul 23, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · OH

I am reporting a serious mechanical and safety issue involving my 2011 Ford Fiesta. After receiving a partially state-funded engine replacement in June 2025, my vehicle began experiencing serious transmission problems shortly after. Within a month, it went into limp mode multiple times, and warning lights appeared: the wrench light, incline warning, and “Transmission Malfunction – Service Now” messages. A diagnostic scan revealed multiple DTCs related to the Transmission Control Module (TCM), Input/Output Shaft Speed Sensors, and Clutch A disengagement (P286F) — which I understand are linked to known issues with this model’s transmission. These failures make the car dangerous to drive. The vehicle has lost power unexpectedly, putting me at risk of an accident. I’ve also been told by the repair shop that I may now need a new transmission and/or TCM, despite just receiving a major engine repair. I am unable to afford another large repair and this situation has severely impacted my ability to travel safely. I am requesting an investigation into the Ford Fiesta’s transmission problems and to confirm whether this should have been covered by a recall or warranty extension. I want to also add that my transmission clutch was repaired by Ford only 2 years ago. Please advise if this falls under known manufacturer defects or safety bulletins, and whether Ford Motor Company can be held responsible for the faulty transmission and associated safety risks.

Filed Apr 14, 2023 · Transmission · NC

I only had 77k miles on my fiesta and always well maintained. The transmission system had an internal transmission failure and I was told it would cost $8600 to fix so I had to get a new car. 77k is very low for transmission issues. I called ford and they said only one part within the transmission was recalled so they couldn’t do anything about it. It’s very disheartening that 2011 was a year that didn’t have an extended transmission warranty but other years were. Since I couldn’t pay for the repair, I used it as an only $500 trade in for a new car instead of the Kelly blue book value. There were no problems before. I was driving to work and I heard a knocking sound so drove it to ford to be looked at.

Filed Jan 8, 2023 · Transmission · NE

No incident yet but can smell burnt clutch only 58,000 miles it's the dual clutch for DP6 transmission I think is the name of the transmission , if clutch fails while going up hill and hits the vehicle behind you because all of a sudden your car is not moving . Not related to 2011 Ford Fiesta , but girlfriends 2014 Ford Focus with around 58,000 miles on it ,mileage is close to my miles , transmission has problems transmission and engine light came on , code said actuator A is bad , but from what I've read on the internet that when transmission and engine light both come on it says bad transmission control module . Her car is 2014 Ford focus , going to call dealer tomorrow, her extended warranty expired in August of last year . I have also read that Ford has extended warranty on TCM to 10 years . We are not wanting to take it there an have them tell us transmission needs replaced . I've owned Ford's all my life never seen so many transmission problems with a vehicle as Ford has with this dual clutch transmission. I used to be a mechanic all my life , I rebuilt transmissions for 14 years never seen any ford problems like these transmissions are having . If we are told her transmission is bad that will be the last Ford's I'll ever own , transmission replacement is 7000 to 8000 dollars to replace when Ford knows this transmission has problems , not really fair an owner has to spend that kind of money on something that Ford knows is bad from the year 2011 to 2018. Thank you for your time

Filed Jul 25, 2022 · Transmission · 135,000 miles · FL

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.

Filed Aug 7, 2020 · Transmission · 5 miles · IL

My car transmission doesn't work properly, the info screen displays transmission troubles ,I tried to accelerate the car on drive and goes to 10 MPH and doesn't change gears. This happens when I first turn the car on, going on a city street, after the car is turn on for more than 10 or 15 minutes then it works better but the message on the info screen still shows transmission failure, or trouble shuts.

Filed Aug 10, 2019 · Transmission · 158,134 miles · MI

The transmission shuddered and delayed propulsion since I bought the car in 2011-12. Took it to dealers numerous times for "updates" and listened to a variety of excuses as to why the shuddering-- but they never fixed the problem. Eventually, last month a day after my engine light came on and warned of transmission problems, the fiesta stopped propelling my car numerous times on the way home. After stopping along the highway for a couple minutes, the car would move forward again. My car now seats in my garage, undriveable with an apparently failed transmission. Service center that just examined the problem quoted me $4,400 to install new transmission!

Filed Jul 25, 2019 · Suspension, Transmission · 232 miles · OH

At 232 miles we started taking this car back to the dealer for transmission problems, and were told they had no clue what was going on, before 60,000 miles they replaced the transmission or did software updates numerous times, also after 60,000 it continued. In addition the frame and axels have had several issues when the car has never been in accident. I was told by a ford mechanic the transmission caused that due to the severe shaking caused by the transmission issues. In addition the air conditioning had issues over and over and the electrical system also had issues after recalls for something to due with the battery harness, my lights went out, my radio stopped working, my air conditioning system and many other odd electrical things happened at this point this car sits in my driveway and is unable to be driven because of safety issues, while I wait and hope that ford is forced to do a buy back. I purchased this car for my daughter when she went off to college in the hopes she would have a safe reliable car, it has been anything but that, so many problems over the years but unable to financially to purchase another and forced to spend money on repairs to keep this one running. I am so upset that they knew before they ever put this car on the road that it was unsafe just so they could make money at the risk they were putting people in, there were several times my daughters car would shake stutter and slow down that she had to pull off the road to avoid causing an accident.. I have all of the work bills do you want those?

Filed Jul 17, 2019 · 500 miles · SC

Dual-clutch transmission - car has been repaired 5 times for 2 different transmission failures. The transmission problems do not currently trigger computer diagnostics for repairs; which may imply that the last repair was designed better to mask the triggering of the computer diagnostics. The problem remains that the car has a delay in acceleration with the gas pedal fully depressed and then once engaged, jumps forward. The delay at traffic lights, stop signs and highway ramps puts the car in danger of being rear ended or t-boned once the car wanders into the intersection without acceleration power. The abrupt engagement of acceleration puts the car at risk of losing control. Additional problems in the past have included the car revving at a high RPM as if the car could not shift to the next gear. Please note the date below was the latest date, but the car has had the problem since purchase; therefore the miles on the next page reflect the first incident, and the date reflects the last date I drove the car.

Filed Jul 11, 2019 · Transmission · 35,000 miles · IL

The car constantly surges forward at dangerous speeds and won't slow down even when slamming on the brakes. This has happened over the years but is happening much more in the past year. This is a very dangerous problem. There were several occasions when I narrowly missed slamming into the car in front of me. I've also been thrust into a busy intersection. You must force ford to recall and replace these dangerous dps6 transmissions before someone dies. They and you have known about this problem for many years and have been putting more than a million car owners and others at risk. Please do something now! While it has been happening over the years, the most recent near collision was in a busy intersection in chicago on july 8, 2019. Thank you. The transmission failure warning has gone on numerous times over the years and causes the car to slow to 5 MPH until the computer is reset.

Filed Feb 5, 2019 · Fuel system, Transmission · 50,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford fiesta. While accelerating from a stop light, the vehicle vibrated violently. The vehicle was taken to multiple independent mechanics who stated that the transmission and fuel injection needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to citrus motors ford (1375 s woodruff way, ontario, ca 91761, (855) 451-7126) where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch and shaft needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Jan 30, 2019 · Transmission · 160,000 miles · CA

The transmission has been shuttering, stalling and jerking irraticly while in motion, on the street/ highway sometimes rolls backward and forward on reverse have notified manufacture they won't help put in shop replaced transmission cost 1700 and the problem still exists but worse now when turning jerks and shakes and is leaking tried to get it fixed again no mechanic will do the work plus now my warranty is expired and I can no longer afford repairs. This will be the third attempt on repairing the vehicle transmission. This car is very dangerous to be driving on the road can cause many accidents due to power train malfunction. Ford and other mechanics don't want to do the work to repair the car plus all models transmissions are faulty regardless if it gets replaced. Car needs to be recalled!!