My car broke down on the interstate. It started loosing power. So, I stopped at a store. The car told me the transmission was too hot to try again in 5 minutes. So, I looked up my VIN number, and their was a field service action. I went to the Ford dealership, and they told me that it had expired. So, it would be $250 just to hook it up to find out what was wrong with it. I just purchased the car…
2011 Ford Fiesta powertrain problems
severe 341 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
341
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
8crashes
11injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 341 powertrain complaints filed for the 2011 Ford Fiesta, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Powertrain accounts for 47% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 341 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
Since new the car's transmission has had lurching and jerking issues when shifting that have progressively gotten worse. Multiple times the car has lurched and stalled missing the next gear and almost caused us to get side swiped while making a turn. We were left stranded and had to replace the control module which Ford eventually paid for. Now after getting a trans malfunction warning the Ford…
After driving and then parking the Ford fiesta 2011 for a short dinner and the coming back to the car. I found that the car was not able to be started and it was stuck on the park position. The auto had to be towed to a Ford dealership. There they found out that it was the transmission.they performed fsa 14m01 plus other bulletins that pertained to those transmission problems that the Ford…
At a complete stop to turn right with brake pressed, the accelerator would not work as I took my foot off the brake and pressed the gas pedal. I was able to coast off the street turning right until eventually the car would accelerate. Very scary. *tr
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle was slow to start. The vehicle started after several attempts. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the clutch needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to reverse or shift…
Ford transmission, I recently purchased a 2011 Ford fiesta after which finding out about the customer satisfaction repairs for the transmission seals,and clutch as well as the door latches and other issues. I brought the car into 2 different dealers for the repairs, the one dealing with the repair of the clutch and seals I have had to bring it into twice for the issues regarding it. Before the…
2011 Ford fiesta bought at garber used cars in saginaw michigan. I have had my car worked on for the recall for t e transmission rings. They told me they needed to also change out the clutch. Prior to this I spent 1200 dollars on the transmission part they said wasn't covered by a recall. The engine light started coming on a few days ago. They told me it was the catalytic converter. 650 to…
Clutch shudder. After having a replacement clutch assembly installed 12,000 miles ago, the clutch shudder, shaking, delayed acceleration, and jerkiness have returned. Assembly was reinspected at dealership, confirming that the replacement clutch assembly also has the failure symptoms. A new assembly is being ordered
The vehicle was purchased brand new. We have already taken it to Ford repair shops a number of times for replacement parts, repairs, recalls, etc. Recently, the vehicle would not start (among other continuing problems with shaking while braking, jerking when shifting gears--both of which we've already had worked on several times) so we had it taken to a Ford dealer near where we live. We…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2011 Ford Fiesta?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2011 Ford Fiesta?
It's a meaningful issue. 341 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 262 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 34,000 and 87,000 miles, with the median around 60,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 34,000; a quarter make it past 87,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Ford/Fiesta.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.