2013 Ford Fiesta: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Apr 16, 2026 · Transmission · KY

The vehicle experienced a sudden transmission failure while driving. Before the failure, the car began shuddering and hesitating during acceleration. It then started making loud metal grinding noises from the transmission area and eventually lost the ability to move properly when placed in Drive or Reverse. This created a safety risk because the vehicle could not accelerate normally in traffic and became difficult to control. The issue appears related to the transmission and/or clutch system. Warning messages and abnormal shifting behavior occurred prior to the failure. I previously asked a dealership in 2020/2021 to inspect and repair the transmission issues while the vehicle was still under warranty, but they stated the problem was not “bad enough” at that time and did not perform any repairs. The vehicle is currently inoperable due to this malfunction.

Filed Mar 16, 2024 · Electrical, Transmission · TN

I have a 2013 Ford Fiesta that I had financed through a 3rd party just right at a year . The ride was rough to begin with and I began experiencing problems such as a loud shrieking/grinding noise under the hood , which triggered the check engine light . Also pressing the gas and the car not accelerating properly which causes jerking , stalling , and etc. I had a mechanic look at it and did minor repairs but this problem is reoccurring. Recently , I was backing out of a parking spot and shifted the car into drive from being in reverse and pressed the gas and it didn't accelerate it just made a loud revving noise and jerked until I proceeded out the parking lot into traffic. The car continued to jerk really ridiculously, and I had to put on emergency lights and pull over into the nearest parking lot. I then had to call someone to trail me home. I recently had it towed to a local transmission shop after it jerked/stalled out really bad on me in heavy traffic again and didn't really want to accelerate to the proper speed. The mechanics at the Transmission shop ran a thorough diagnostic , and other tests and let me know that it's the Transmission Control Module that needs replaced and that it has to go to the dealership. Well I called a Ford Dealership , and the representative said it takes months to get in a new Transmission Control Module and also that even when replaced it really does not fix the problem as per many other similar situations the service representative has dealt with. I have been completely screwed all the way around with this car and I'm not even sure why there isn't a recall on these 2013 Fod Fiesta because they are really dangerous and it's so very inconvenient with all the troubles that come with it.

Filed May 16, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · 144,000 miles · TX

Purchased used on march 2021 dealership somehow made it drive perfect until I drove it for 2 days. Then noticed engine shifting issues, loss of transmission engagement while driving, no-start, or a lack of power. Idles very rough in parked position- spitting and sputtering. Vehicle stalling, losing power while driving, rpms at 4 while on highway @ 65-70 MPH as if it never changed out of 2nd or 3rd gear. Called ford and had the TCM updated april 2021 at gabriel ford dealership,livingston texas.the update did not help and I was told that I needed to “drive it like I stole it” but that makes the power-train issues worse. Ford dealership pointed me to the federal safety agency to write a complaint. As of may 15, 2021 it doesn't matter if its on highway, local in town, low MPH or 65 MPH the transmission continues to jerk, lose power, sputter, after updating the check engine warning light never came on when transmission issues happened. Vehicle jerking. After driving about 20 miles with rpms at 4 stopping at a light then trying to accelerate the vehicle sputtered and would not gain acceleration, very slow to gain acceleration. Loss of acceleration power will cut out & car will buck & sputter, also makes a grinding or noise then stopped. It's almost caused accidents with my children in the car!. Rpm revs up really high but the speed doesn’t change. At a red light my car began acting funny when the light turned green the car was hesitant to go it was having trouble shifting and accelerating the check engine light never came on. This vehicle power train transmission is faulty and very dangerous. Highway or street driving, in traffic, presenting a dangerous driving hazard. Current mileage @144,000

Filed Sep 1, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 54,000 miles · CA

6/18/20 car seized up as if hand brake were on. Loud grinding, shaking, barely move on acceleration. Ford dealer said nothing wrong. 6/20/20. Returned to ford with same complaint but worse. Repaired transmission leak. 8/11/20 towed to aaa recommended mechanic. Said problem was brakes. Made repair. 8/31/20 same symptoms but much worse. Towed to same mechanic. Do not have response yet. Researched symptoms on motorbisquit, carcomplaints, ford corporate website. All say 2013 fiesta transmission is a lemon. My car is dangerous to drive.

Filed Aug 14, 2019 · Transmission · 13,000 miles · KY

The transmission feels like it is slipping. It makes a grinding noise as well

Filed Jul 23, 2019 · Transmission · 79,500 miles · MA

Started the car on one hot and humid day and, while waiting for my wife and aunt at a driveway and without touching the gear shifter, I saw the gear display momentarily jumped from park to neutral and then back to park on the display panel. It happened a few times and I thought that was odd. The car had already undergone three transmission overhauls before the extended warranty ended so I was familiar with the transmission problems that plagued the car, from grinding gears to shuddering and slow shifting in low speed or at an incline, all I had experienced before. But the slipping gear was new. I didn't think much about it at first and drove off when my wife and aunt got on. At the second stop sign, the gear slipped moment after I accelerated following the stop. There was no warning at all ' no abnormal sound, no warning message, no engine light on or blinking. The engine revved up and there was no more power to the wheels. Only then did I notice the gear display showed the car was in neutral, but the gear shifter was still in drive. Fortunately, there were no other cars around us. I immediately tried moving the gear shifter but it was stuck in drive while the gear was in neutral. I stopped the car and tried again, to no avail. I then turned off the car and was able to move the shifter into park. I turned the car back on and was able to move the shifter into drive, and the gear cooperated. I turned around and got back to home safely. I had coped with all of the earlier transmission problems with this car, the trouble of going to the dealership repeatedly, and even adjusted my driving habit with the unique temperament of this car. However, with the gear slipping from drive without any forewarning, I did not feel safe to drive this car anymore. We thought about what would have happened if the gear had slipped while we were driving on the freeway.

Filed Jul 16, 2019 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · MI

Many dangerous instances when the car wouldn't accelerate, jerks, lurches when "accelerating". Had the car in for "repairs" well over 10 times and it is not fixed. I cannot afford another car and these problems have been going on for years. Shouldn't have to feel like my life is at risk every time I am driving to and from work.. I have to make decisions when driving with the consideration that the car may not accelerate due to know transmission issues. Many times on the highway when in a dangerous situation I could not accelerate to get out of the situation. Lucky I haven't been injured due to these known faulty transmissions that executives at ford released anyway. . When turning, 99% of the time there is no acceleration whatsoever until the car straightens out. Lurching, lunging uncontrollablly and constantly. Very dangerous when putting the foot on the accelerator and all that happens is the car revs up. Lurching, lunging, bumping, grinding. Fords explanation is that it is a hybrid auto/manual transmission and people that own this type of transmission are not used to it. No. I have owned many manual transmissions. The design is faulty and they should be take responsibility for putting profits over the safety of their customers.

Filed Jun 25, 2019 · Transmission · AZ

While on streets, transmission noises like rocks, clicking, and jerking occurs constantly contributing to failure to proceed smoothly from a stop and when attempting to slow down in preparation of stopping. At times, there is a sudden slipping with jerking forward, especially if traffic ahead is suddenly slowing dramatically. At times, while slowing to a full stop, the vehicle "jumps" forward then stops. While slowly turning left or right or a u-turn, the car deliberately bucks and hesitates before completing the turn. These conditions are a day to day common occurrence. Speed or the length of distance or time in use does not change the stated conditions, sounds, or occurrences. It has become scary to drive, especially after driving an hour or more on the freeway and when I exit the freeway, the transmission and braking conditions are so magnified that slowing at the end of a ramp to stop is forceful. Not normal. I have had the beginning of these problems since I purchased this vehicle 6/17/15. Of course the problems, the detection of noises and sudden unusual movements did not occur all at once. I took my vehicle to kingman's ford dealer for all maintenance while in az and to a ford dealer in ca. I asked that my description of problems I heard and felt be written in the report or complaint section of every service repair form but it was never done. On 4/8/2016, ford dealer in kingman, az called me to inform me that they had just received the necessary parts to correct all the transmission and operating characteristics I was experiencing and gave me a 2 page powershift 6-speed transmission operating characteristics form dated 9/27/2012 and it contained the "common sounds a driver may notice" regarding: double clicking metal sounds, coast down whine, clicking when engine turned off, low speed grinding. Documentation is with ford.

Filed Sep 10, 2018 · Transmission · WY

The first thing that happened was that it lost all acceleration while driving on a street. I can to a stop turned it off then it was fine (this happened twice). While driving anywhere and while changing gears it would start to grind so I took it in and the replaced the dual clutch but it still did it after. Now it has started to jump after all stops no matter it being 0 - miles away it would keeps losing power and has a transmission malfunction popping up and wont stay running.

Filed Jan 5, 2018 · Engine, Transmission · 1,500 miles · MI

Fsa # 14e08; fsa # 14m01; fsa # 14m02 approx. Mileage at time of first complaint was 1500 miles. Current mileage is 119,xxx january 2018 approximate beginning of complaints is january 2013. Complaints are: -excessive hesitation / shudder / "whiplash-like" feeling when slow and normal acceleration is applied during take off, in all driving conditions. -excessive grinding and occasional clunking noise during slow and normal acceleration after a complete stop. -as of july 2017, occasional grinding with "clanking" noise occurs when slowing down to a complete stop; typically after approximately 30 minutes of highway driving and than at the first stop. -may 2014 to current, red fluid (transmission fluid) found on ground after being parked for more than 12 hours. Fluid seems to be coming from a shaft seal; at time of observation, cv shaft was found to have excessive play ((the service company at the time had the vehicle in the air and I observed the cv shaft rotating more than 1 to 1 1/2 inches (approximately) when no play should have been present; I could also hear the bearings grinding or rubbing.)) -vehicle seems to randomly lose power during first ignition startup. I would start the car, a few seconds later it would have a complete loss of power, I would than restart it, and it would operate as normal. Approximate number of this occurring is no more than 5 times since january 2015. -most recent complaint, october 2017, while accelerating for highway on ramp, vehicle lost complete power for approximately 2 seconds (speed at time of power loss was approx. 57mph). I lost control of steering and vehicle "shifted" or "jumped" to the left. The vehicle made a fast recovery on its own and continued as normal. Weather conditions were not harsh; there was slight rain / mist and above 55 degrees fahrenheit.

Filed Jul 17, 2017 · Transmission · 13,907 miles · FL

Car shakes and shudders when accelerates. At times it jerks and hesitates when stopped. When moving forward sounds like gears grinding , it is automatic. I have taken it 4 times to ford in cocoa florida where I bought it and to be repaired and it still making grinding sounds and jerking! I am very cautious to pull out in traffic, afraid for me and my family to be riding in it.

Filed May 28, 2017 · Engine, Transmission · 54,000 miles · LA

Bought this car new on 12/22/2013 and have been having transmission problems from day 3 of owning it. This car is not safe to drive. It grinds, clicks and makes horribly loud noises. It stalls in the middle of turns and I've almost been ran over many times. It jerks and accelerates on its own without me evening telling it to. Now at approximately 54,000 miles it will no longer even start and the light says "transmission malfunction service now." the wrench light and engine light also come on and off, periodically. Ford motor company is well aware that they put bad transmissions in all of these new cars and we have been robbed. Is it going to take someone's death before someone does the right thing in this situation?