Hello guys. I found this 2014 with 120k miles for $5500. The car on picture looks in really good condition, apparently, my concern is…is a Ford and I have not heard a lot of positive things in regards to the transmission, mainly.
As someone who has owned a 2011 Fiesta SE with the troublesome automatic transmission since new, and now has 170K miles on it, I advise against buying this car.
Honestly, everything else about the Fiesta at its price point (originally $13K-$15K) is decent. The paint quality is good, the fit and finish are respectable, and a 2014 model would come with a standard reverse camera (assuming you’re in the US). There have been various updates made to the car over the years, and mine has been relatively reliable in terms of the engine and other components. I handle all my own maintenance, and parts are inexpensive since Ford produced many Fiestas for global markets.
However, the automatic transmission is problematic.
I first experienced issues at 51K miles, which led to a new Transmission Control Module (TCM) and dry clutches. Since then, I’ve had three TCMs replaced and two sets of dry clutches. Ford even sent me a letter last year offering another free TCM replacement, despite being over the warranty limit (now at 150K miles). Unfortunately, Ford seems reluctant to provide service for Fiestas, essentially allowing them to be driven into the ground.
Despite these ongoing problems, I still deal with rattling, jerking, and often need to floor it just to get the car moving. While it’s not an enjoyable driving experience, I’ve paid it off (in 2014), so it’s cheap to own. I’ve managed to put 120K miles on it despite all these issues.
In my opinion, the car you’re considering is worth about $3,000, and that’s only if the owner has documentation of TCM and transmission services.
Avoid this option. If you encounter transmission issues, which you likely will, the repairs will be costly. Additionally, the control units are on long-term backorder. Consider looking for a Camry, Corolla, Accord, or Civic instead.
The 2011+ Fiesta and 2012+ Focus could be solid choices if they have a manual transmission, but I wouldn’t trust the automatic version. I experienced this firsthand with a rental car; it slipped badly while going uphill at just 35,000 miles, forcing me to stop and let it cool down.
I had an accord 2000 previously and now I owed a 2010 Mazda 3. It’s been great. I am looking for a second car more spacious. I really would like a Honda fit but they are a bit overpriced…
Yeah, I wanted to give an American brand an opportunity since I’ve only had Japanese made cars. But yeah, I knew transmission with Ford are bad…thank you for your honest response