NHTSA Complaint #10438463 — 2011 FORD FIESTA

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 FORD FIESTA. IN THE PAST 5 MONTHS I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM 5 TIMES BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND LURCHES FORWARD WHEN I AM ON A HILL OR IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AND GOT THE SAME RESPONSE AS WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY BOTH SAY IT IS "NORMAL". AFTER CONTACTING FORD DIRECTLY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY LOCAL FORD CONTACTED ME AND WENT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH ME WHERE HE SAID HE BOTH HEARD AND FELT WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. HE THEN TOOK A CAR RIGHT OFF THE LOT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND TOLD ME THAT ONE DID NOT DO ANY OF THE THINGS MINE IS DOING. A COUPLE HOURS LATER I GET A CALL FROM HIM STATING FORD HAS TOLD HIM THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE CAR TO MAKE THESE NOISES AND LURCH FORWARD AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO FOR ME. ASSURING ME THAT THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS IT WILL BE COVERED. I DRIVE 70 MILES A DAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON HILLS AND TO ME THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMPLAINED TO FORD ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM SO THEY DID THE TSB FOR THIS ISSUE AND IT MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE NOW WHEN I AM ON A HILL THE CAR ROLLS BACK AND THE GRINDING NOISE IS WORSE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK RIGHT AFTER THEY PERFORMED THE TSB AND TOLD THEM AND THEY ARE STILL SAYING THIS IS NORMAL. *TR