NHTSA Complaint #10778601 — 2014 FORD FIESTA

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 12/2014. WHEN PURCHASING, IT WAS REPRESENTED AS HAVING AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE WINDOW STICKER ALSO IDENTIFIES AS AN AUTOMATIC TRANS. THE CAR HESITATES WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP POSITON. SHIFTING IS IRREGULAR AND THE ENGINE RACES BETWEEN VARIOUS SHIFTS, I.E. OFTEN BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND SHIFT. DURING THIS PERIOD, I LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVING A HIGHER SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MILES/HOUR, WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, IT WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT FOR MORE POWER ACCELERATION. WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THERE IS LIKE A GRINDING NOISE. I HAVE TAKE THIS VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO WHICH THEY TESTED THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION AND DISMISS MY COMPLAINT. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES SAY THAT THIS IS NOT AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BUT INSTEAD A MANUAL SHIFT TRANS. AND THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT PREDICABLE AND I FIND MYSELF ON GUARD HAVING TO CONSTANTLY BE CAUTIOUS OF UNEXPECTED PERFORMANCE SUCH AS HESITATION AND DELAYED RESPONSES.