The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and the "Transmission Malfunction Service Now” message was displayed. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact stated that the RPM's increased rapidly, but the vehicle did not respond. After restarting the vehicle, the …
2018 ford Fiesta powertrain problems
critical 9 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Since around 20,000 miles, my 2018 Ford Fiesta SE has had a grinding noise after shifting at certain gears. I got the car serviced at that time. Now I'm at 70,000 miles and the noise has persisted, and has gotten worse. My transmission slipped at 0mph when I was accelerating, almost causing me to lose control of my car.
THE CAR WAS DRIVING AT 68 MPH AND APPROXIMATELY 2500 RPM STARTED TO LOOSE SPEED DOWN SLIGHT HILL AND RPMS INCREASED TO 5,500 RPM. LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR 3 SECONDS RPMS DECREASED REAPPLIED ACCELERATOR AND OPERATED PROPERLY.
CAR SHUDDERS UPON ACCELERATION FROM STANDSTILL. LOSES POWER SEVERELY GOING UPHILL. ENGINE/TRANSMISSION SHAKES SHUDDERS ENGINE RACES AND QUICKLY ACCELERATES AFTER LOSS OF POWER THEN DECREASES AGAIN. WHEN MOVING FROM STOP CAR SHUDDERS MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AND THEN SLOWLY ACCELERATES BEFORE DECREASING RPM AND THEN RACES AGAIN. *TR
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2018 ford Fiesta?
It's a serious issue. 9 complaints have been filed, including 1 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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