NHTSA Complaint #10490651 — 2011 FORD FIESTA

CAR SPUTTERS TO START, THEN WON'T ENGAGE ANY GEAR. BATTERY WON'T HOLD A CHARGE. TODAY (01 JAN 2013) MARKS THE THIRD INCIDENT. THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW BATTERY THE FIRST 2 TIMES AND TOLD ME THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE (TWICE). THIS CAR EATS BATTERIES. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS DURING COLD WEATHER. AFTER THE CAR STARTED, I ROLLED IN NEUTRAL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY ONTO THE STREET. THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. I WAS A SITTING DUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I COULDN'T GO FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. I HAD TO TURN OFF AND RESTART ENGINE 4 TIMES UNTIL IT ENGAGED A GEAR. THEN I DROVE TO AUTOZONE WHERE THEY TESTED THE BATTERY. THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS GOOD (1- YEAR OLD BATTERY HAD A 3-YEAR WARRANTY) AND THE ALTERNATOR ENGAGED, BUT THE BATTERY LOST ITS CHARGE RAPIDLY UPON TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. *TR