Power Ford says that the transmission clutches have problems. Have 48000 miles and the transmission was bad at 21000 miles and has gotten worse. Bucks when you take off from stop and when pulling into traffic on 101 and it does not go I have to put into low to get across street. Have friends that will not ride with me because the car is unsafe. Dealer states this is a common problem with these…
2013 Ford Fiesta powertrain problems
moderate 384 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
384
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
4crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 384 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Ford Fiesta, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Of the 9 model years of Ford Fiesta we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 384.
Powertrain accounts for 58% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Delivered on 7/8/13 dealer: jersey city Ford. Dear Ford, we are upset over the repeated problems with our 2013 Ford fiesta, brand new on 7/18/2013. The car has been bucking, grinding and almost stalling. When we called to complain or ask questions we were told that this was normal. The next call and visit for repair we were told it was the new transmission/ power shift on the fiestas & focus.…
I bought a new 2013 fiesta in 6/13. I have been having problems with it since 3/14. The car shakes, shifts and looses power when taking off. These problems are a great concern to me since I have 2 kids and I am afraid we are not safe in this car. In one instance car lost all power while entering the freeway and I could have been easily rear ended by someone. In other instance the car shake while…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was a loud rattling sound coming from the vehicle and the vehicle experienced a loss of power and decelerated. The vehicle was driven to a nearby service station. After restarting the vehicle and shifting to drive(D), the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was later towed to the local…
Im not sure if I have selected correct options. But all I know is when I slow my car and they try to accelerate the car does not speed up immediately it take few minutes. Hence I have to accelerate more to make the car running. This has always been an issue. Quite difficult while switching lanes on highways or taking turns. Specially driving in winter is scary. I find the car very unpredictable.…
Ford fiestas have received numerous complaints due to the powershift transmission Ford installed in the cars. This causes the car to have major delayed acceleration, sporadic jerking while driving, shuddering upon acceleration. I have had to drove off the road multiple times, including tonight on my way home from work, to avoid being hit while merging onto highways or roads due to this delay in…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2013 Ford Fiesta?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 384 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 271 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 10,000 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 28,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 60,000. 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/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.