2013 Ford Fiesta: hesitation when accelerating

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 Nov 6, 2023 · Transmission · 2,500 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle would jerk and would hesitate to respond. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure recurred while driving from a complete stop, and the vehicle stalled in the middle of the road. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that her husband depressed the accelerator pedal and was able to continue driving; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the TCM was replaced under Ford Campaign Number: 14M02. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle was shuddering. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 2,500.

Filed Oct 17, 2023 · Transmission · 37,000 miles · WV

The contact’s daughter owns a 2014 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact then stated that that while the accelerator pedal was depressed the vehicle hesitated. No warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated; however, the technician found that the clutch was slipping, and the clutch and shift forks failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

Filed Mar 2, 2023 · Transmission · 20,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated to respond and was jerking significantly. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while driving at various speeds. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to dealer several times. The dealer replaced the transmission clutch under warranty. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred 6 years later. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch needed to be replaced; however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

Filed Jul 28, 2022 · Transmission · 83,000 miles · CT

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the vehicle shuddered and hesitated before stalling. The transmission failure message was displayed. Additionally, on several occasions, the vehicle would not immediately respond after shifting to reverse(R). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission clutch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

Filed Oct 28, 2020 · Transmission · 74,300 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford fiesta. The contact stated that at low speeds, the vehicle hesitated while shifting gears with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to kindle ford-lincoln (525 stone harbor blvd, cape may court house, nj 08210, (800) 678-8320) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the shifter, input seal, and clutch where defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the warranty was expired. The failure mileage was approximately 74,300.

Filed Mar 9, 2020 · Transmission · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford fiesta. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the accelerator was depressed right after and the vehicle hesitated. The contact stated that after several minutes the vehicle started to operate as intended. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure might be due to a sensor or an electrical failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Feb 12, 2020 · Transmission · 134,000 miles · ID

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford fiesta. While driving from a stop position the accelerator pedal was depressed however the vehicle shuddered and hesitated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called woody smith ford 535 s yellowstone hwy, rexburg, id 83440 (208) 356-3636, but the vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 134,000.

Filed Nov 4, 2019 · Transmission · 81,920 miles · OR

The transmission is very rough when shifting, hesitating, skipping, does not shift smoothly or easily. I have had the vehicle serviced and been told other transmissions have the same problem. On november 3 2019 the check engine light and maintenance light came on the dashboard. The warning message said transmission needs to be serviced.

Filed Sep 5, 2019 · Transmission · 10,032 miles · CA

Delayed shift at takeoff; shudder and slow speeds at acceleration. Vehicle hesitates to accelerate; shudders, and rattles. *recall reprogram of PCM and TCM twice

Filed Aug 23, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 5,044 miles · CA

Transmission hesitates and crackles when accelerating from stops. Check engine light constantly on.

Filed Jul 18, 2019 · Transmission · 31,404 miles · MI

07i have had many instances of hesitation, surges, bucks, jerks on acceleration. Got error message "getting hot, pull over and shut car off". On long trip transmission overtemp light came on, when driving at 40-50 MPH it would go out of gear an slow down to about 20 MPH then it would go back into gear and speed up again. Clutch adaptive needed to perform a relearn. Shifts rough or jerky while driving, shuddering when accelerating from a stop.