NHTSA Complaint #11671633 — 2014 FORD FIESTA

Vehicle presented to A&T Auto Repair with rotation-dependent clunking sound. This clunking started after loud metallic snapping noise occurred while coasting in gear on a flat surface. Mechanic noted that clunking noise came from the transaxle. Once the transmission fluid was drained, metallic grit and large chunks resembling gear teeth were found in fluid. A replacement transaxle was installed, along with a new "clutch kit" containing flywheel, pressure plate, and slave cylinder. Following installation and engine start up, slave cylinder leaked, prompting the order of new parts and replacement labor. According to Mechanic, four different slave cylinders from two separate manufacturers leaked in the same fashion upon engine startup, due to a "locking" malfunction of the slave cylinder. The recurrent nature of the parts failure seems to indicate a deficiency in part design that causes a fluid leak, possibly endangering driver and passengers in the event of a transmission failure.