NHTSA Complaint #10788703 — 2011 FORD FIESTA

AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN 2012, I EXPERIENCED SHAKING WHILE SHIFTING, SHUTTERING NOISES AND IDLING IN LOW GEARS. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO MY CLUTCH. COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THEY REPLACED THE FLEXPLATE AND SEALS AND REINSTALLED THE TRANSMISSION. I CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SHUTTERING, SHAKING AND TROUBLESOME SHIFTING BUT WAS REASSURED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS EXPERIENCE WAS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE AND ITS TRANSMISSION AND I NEED NOT BE CONCERNED. THIS WEEK, WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE METAL PARTS BREAKING UNDER MY LEFT FOOT FOLLOWING BY GRINDING NOISES. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY BUT HAD TO APPLY THE E-BRAKE BECAUSE THE CAR ROLLED FORWARD IN PARK AND REFUSED TO ACCELERATE IN DRIVE. I ALSO SAW MESSAGES ON THE COMPUTER MONITOR THAT READ "HILLSIDE START ASSIST" AND "TRANSMISSION OK." I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND AFTER LEAKING WHAT APPEARED TO BE OIL ALL OVER THE BED OF THE TOW TRUCK, THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A DIAGNOSIS FOR THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME THAT HE BELIEVES THE ISSUE IS THE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT TWO MONTHS AGO, THIS SAME SERVICE ADVISER COMPLETED A TCM UPDATE FOLLOWING A LETTER I RECEIVED FROM FORD THIS YEAR TO HAVE THIS UPDATE APPLIED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND ALL OF THEIR AFFILIATED DEALERSHIPS HAVE ENDANGERED THE LIVES AND WELL-BEING OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND ARE PROVIDING MISLEADING INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR VEHICLES.