Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford fiesta. While driving at any speed, there was a wind flapping noise coming from the front driver side of the vehicle. The vehicle accelerated on it's own with hesitation intermittently. In addition, the entire vehicle shuddered without warning. The issue recurred numerous times. The vehicle was driven to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer…
2013 Ford Fiesta cruise control problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
What stands out
Among the 8 model years of Ford Fiesta in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Fiesta's manual transmission and engine control system have widespread, recurring issues with acceleration loss, grinding noises, and hesitation that dealerships often blame on the clutch or call "normal"—even after multiple repairs including full transmission replacement. Multiple owners report safety hazards from loss of power at highway speeds and on inclines; the car is not a safe choice for inexperienced drivers.
2013 Fiesta owners report persistent drivability issues tied to the manual transmission and engine response system. The most common complaint is hesitation, shuddering, or complete loss of acceleration—especially at takeoff or low speeds. Several owners describe the car losing power while climbing hills or on highways, with the engine "locking up" momentarily then lurching forward. One owner at 10 mph reported needing to lift off the gas and reapply it daily to regain response; another experienced complete power loss while crossing highways at speed.
Grinding or ticking noises during acceleration and shifting are widely reported. Owners say dealerships blame the clutch and replace it—sometimes twice in the first year—without resolving the shudder or hesitation. Multiple owners report the transmission being completely replaced or reprogrammed, often alongside PCM/TCM updates and "adaptive learning" resets, yet the symptoms recur.
An "Engine Malfunction" warning light appears intermittently without storing diagnostic codes, causing the cruise control to disengage unexpectedly at highway speeds. One owner's throttle body malfunctioned at 28,000 miles but was denied warranty coverage. Dealers tell owners the behavior is "normal" or advise drivers to "adapt to the clutch," but owners across the cluster describe the same pattern—a design flaw that cycles through multiple failed repair attempts.
Same Ford Fiesta cruise control reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Acceleration loss and hesitation at takeoff/low speeds
Engine fails to respond or responds with delay when accelerator is pressed, especially from a stop or at low speeds (0–30 mph). Occurs intermittently or daily over months. Car shudders, lurches, or momentarily loses power. In one case, a rented car at 10,000 miles began rolling backward on an uphill driveway when power was lost; in another, the car remained unresponsive for several seconds then lurched forward at 20 mph.
When: Primarily at takeoff and speeds under 30 mph; one instance at highway merge speed (45–30 mph transition); one at 15 mph. Recurring daily to multiple times per incident.
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation or complete loss of response when pressing accelerator pedal; Violent shuddering or jolting from a stopped position; Car rolling backward on inclines when power lost; Delay requiring driver to lift off and reapply throttle; Lurching forward after momentary unresponsiveness
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch replaced (sometimes twice within six months or two years); transmission replaced; PCM/TCM reprogrammed; adaptive learning reset; computer updates performed. Repairs do not resolve the issue; symptoms recur.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers tell owners the behavior is 'normal,' advise them to 'adapt to the clutch,' or say they cannot find a problem despite test-driving. No recalls mentioned. Ford stated the symptoms are within normal operation.
Engine malfunction warning light without stored diagnostic codes
Check engine or 'Engine Malfunction Service Now' light illuminates while driving, causing cruise control to disengage and the car to lose power, particularly on inclines at highway speeds. No diagnostic trouble codes are stored in the computer, making root cause diagnosis impossible. Occurs intermittently; one owner reported three separate incidents.
When: At highway speeds with cruise control engaged; recurring intermittently over years of ownership. One owner described two years of episodes.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine malfunction warning light comes on; Cruise control immediately disengages; Vehicle loses power or slows unexpectedly; Light goes out when vehicle is turned off and restarted; No diagnostic codes present in computer
Repairs/costs cited: No repair codes available. One owner suspects a poor electrical connection under the hood. Dealers have made repairs multiple times on the same vehicle with errors recurring. One owner had a transmission shutter seal replaced twice at no charge but the malfunction light issue persists.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned. One owner notes the alarm system design is flawed because it flags an error without logging a code, preventing proper diagnosis.
Grinding or ticking noises during acceleration and shifting
Loud grinding or ticking noises occur during acceleration or gear transitions. Present early (within one month of driving), persists after clutch replacement, and remains even after transmission replacement. Dealerships acknowledge the issue as a known problem but offer conflicting guidance—one service manager says the grinding is normal with no solution.
When: During initial acceleration, especially from stop; between shifts. One owner reported it within one month; present after 10,000 miles (rental car) and throughout ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise from transmission area during takeoff; Ticking sound from engine bay; Stuttering at takeoff accompanying noise; Noise persists after clutch and transmission service
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch replaced; transmission replaced; no resolution. One owner reports a service manager stating the grinding is 'normal and there's nothing that can be done.'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers acknowledge the grinding as a 'common issue' with the Fiesta. Multiple service managers tell owners the noise cannot be fixed and is normal operation. One owner alleges Ford is instructing dealerships to tell customers 'it's normal, there's nothing that can be done.'
Transmission locking or failing to shift properly
Transmission fails to shift smoothly or becomes stuck in gear while driving at highway speeds. Car behaves as if it has gone into neutral momentarily or becomes unable to downshift. One owner on a major highway at 45 mph dropping to 30 mph (highway crossover) experienced complete lockup; another reports the transmission stuck in gears at various speeds while driving.
When: Highway speeds; one incident at 45–30 mph highway merge. Recurring multiple times during ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission locks up or appears to go into neutral momentarily; Loss of power transmission to wheels; Inability to shift or respond to gear selection; Car becomes stuck or jerky between gears
Repairs/costs cited: Full transmission replacement (one owner); clutch replacement (multiple); PCM/TCM reprogramming; inner and outer seal replacement. Symptoms recur after repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford told owners the issue is 'normal' or that no problem could be found. One owner filed a Lemon Law claim after highway lockup incident.
Unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerates on its own or jerks forward without driver input. One owner at low mileage (200 miles) experienced erroneous acceleration in a low gear; another noted the car 'accelerated on its own with hesitation intermittently.' Difficult to diagnose and replicate at dealership.
When: Early ownership (200 miles, 10 miles); intermittent throughout driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without driver depressing accelerator pedal; Jerking forward without input; Acceleration with hesitation
Repairs/costs cited: Unable to replicate at dealership; no repair performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted but no action documented.
Throttle body malfunction
Throttle body fails, causing the vehicle to enter limp mode and become undriveable. Single report at 28,000 miles.
When: 28,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Throttle body malfunction; Vehicle enters limp mode; Vehicle becomes undriveable
Repairs/costs cited: Owner states Ford refused to cover the repair under warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty denial; no recall or TSB mentioned.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2013 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 cruise control problem on the 2013 Ford Fiesta?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 10,000 and 52,820 miles, with the median around 28,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 52,820. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2013/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.