CriticalVery commonTransmission

Ford Fiesta: PowerShift DPS6 dry dual-clutch — shudder, slipping and repeat failures (AU class action)

PowerShift DPS6 dry dual-clutch — shudder, slipping and repeat failures (AU class action) is a very common transmission fault on the Ford Fiesta on the 2011–2018 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 16 documented faults on the Ford Fiesta.

Vehicle: Ford Fiesta
Years: 2011–2018
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: dct
System: Transmission

This page covers the Ford Fiesta as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Ford Fiesta faults16 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Clutch yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 6-speed 'PowerShift' auto in 2011-2018 Fiestas is a dry dual-clutch that shudders, slips, lurches and repeatedly eats clutch packs, seals and control modules; many cars had multiple warranty replacements and failed again. It was the subject of an Australian class action (Capic v Ford) and the ACCC fined Ford $10 million for its handling of customer complaints. Ford's extended warranties on these have expired, so every future repair is on you. On any auto Fiesta of this era, assume the transmission is a problem until a specialist proves otherwise — or buy the manual.

What you would notice

Shudder or vibration pulling away from a stop, like a learner slipping the clutch
Lurching or banging between 1st and 2nd
Hesitation then sudden lunge when accelerating from a roll
Transmission warning light or limp mode

How to check it

Where to look. DPS6 transaxle; behaviour is felt through the whole car from a standing start

Test drive in stop-start traffic conditions: multiple gentle take-offs from a standstill, low-speed creeping, and a hill start.
Any shudder, hesitation-then-lunge, or rattling at idle in Drive is the fault.
Ask for every transmission invoice — clutch pack and TCM replacement history is common — and have the TCM scanned for stored codes.

Parts involved: Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“How many times have the clutches or the TCM been replaced, and when was the last one?”
“Was this car part of the Ford PowerShift class action or ACCC complaint process?”
“Can I have it inspected by a transmission specialist before purchase?”

Now check the Ford Fiesta you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

ACCC v Ford Motor Company of Australia — $10m penalty (2018) over PowerShift complaints handling
Capic v Ford Motor Company of Australia (Federal Court class action)
Drive.com.au / CarsGuide PowerShift owner complaint coverage

Ford Fiesta buyer questions

Is powershift dps6 dry dual-clutch — shudder, slipping and repeat failures (au class action) serious on a Ford Fiesta?

We rate it critical and very common on the Ford Fiesta. The 6-speed 'PowerShift' auto in 2011-2018 Fiestas is a dry dual-clutch that shudders, slips, lurches and repeatedly eats clutch packs, seals and control modules; many cars had multiple warranty replacements and failed again. It was the subject of an Australian class action (Capic v Ford) and the ACCC fined Ford $10 million for its handling of customer complaints. Ford's extended warranties on these have expired, so every future repair is on you. On any auto Fiesta of this era, assume the transmission is a problem until a specialist proves otherwise — or buy the manual.

How much does it cost to fix on a Ford Fiesta?

$1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Ford Fiesta years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011–2018 Ford Fiesta. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Test drive in stop-start traffic conditions: multiple gentle take-offs from a standstill, low-speed creeping, and a hill start. Any shudder, hesitation-then-lunge, or rattling at idle in Drive is the fault. Ask for every transmission invoice — clutch pack and TCM replacement history is common — and have the TCM scanned for stored codes. Look here: DPS6 transaxle; behaviour is felt through the whole car from a standing start