NHTSA Complaint #10726742 — 2011 FORD FIESTA

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST WINTER I TURNED LEFT FROM MY DRIVEWAY. AS I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE BRIEFLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE IS CONTROLLED BY AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, BUT SLIPPED FROM GEAR, LEAVING ME IN THE ROAD, UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. MY TRANSMISSION HAS ALSO FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AT RED LIGHTS. I WILL STEP ON THE GAS, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL SECONDS OF HESITATION, WHERE MY VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. THEN IT LURCHES FORWARD. FORD HAS SENT A LETTER EXPLAINING THERE HAVE BEEN DEFECTS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BUT I HAVE CALLED 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS IT OCCURS DURING A TEST DRIVE BY THEIR TECHNICIANS. IF THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR DURING THEIR TEST DRIVE THEY WILL CHARGE ME OVER $100 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. THIS DEFECT IS KNOWN TO FORD, YET THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT ENOUGH THAT I CAN BRING IT IN, KNOWING THE PROBLEM WILL OCCUR ON THAT PARTICULAR TEST DRIVE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY VEHICLE OUT OF THE ROAD, DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM HAS ALSO CAUSED OTHER ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. MY O2 SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WORE OUT PREMATURELY.