Ford Fiesta grinding brakes problems

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 Nov 27, 2023 · Transmission · MI

Since around 20,000 miles, my 2018 Ford Fiesta SE has had a grinding noise after shifting at certain gears. I got the car serviced at that time. Now I'm at 70,000 miles and the noise has persisted, and has gotten worse. My transmission slipped at 0mph when I was accelerating, almost causing me to lose control of my car.

Filed Oct 20, 2023 · Engine · CA

At 90,000 miles the Engine Timing Crankshaft Sprocket (i.e Crankshaft Gear,Part #: BE8Z6306AD) holding the timing belt on the vehicle has failed. This resulted in the timing belt backing off the cam gears and coming in contact with and melting through the plastic timing belt cover. Luckily, there was an audible grinding noise coming from the engine that alerted us the problem before the timing belt became dislodged. On further review there are numerous cases on the internet of this situation occurring. Please see examples at: [XXX] , [XXX] , and [XXX] . The service interval for this component established by Ford is 150,000 miles. Therefore, these situations represent an early failure of this engine component and poses a safety risk to drivers if the belt comes off track or breaks during operation because the vehicle could immediately lose power. The attached image shows the timing belt melting through the plastic timing cover. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 11, 2023 · TX

Transmision suddenly started making a grinding noise.

Filed Jul 28, 2022 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH and accelerating, there was an abnormally loud grinding sound while the transmission was shifting gears. The contact stated that the transmission was also grinding gears while decelerating. The contact stated that the failure had gone from intermittent to constant. The contact stated that the check transmission light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer who diagnosed that the power train control module (PCM) needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Filed Nov 15, 2021 · Transmission · 76,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle would shudder with a grinding noise coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the clutch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The clutch was replaced but the failure reoccurred. The contact indicated that a second clutch replacement was performed however, recently the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 76,000.

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 Mar 11, 2021 · Electrical, Suspension · 70,000 miles · KS

It just started running ruff my fan went out first then my radio now the transmission is slippin and feels like breaks are grinding

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.