The Lemon IndexA clutch pedal that stays down or feels soft usually means the clutch hydraulics have lost pressure.
Fix soon. You may not be able to shift. Have it towed or checked.
A leaking clutch master or slave cylinder. Then: low or leaking clutch fluid; a broken clutch cable.
Owners describe this in 1,006 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Ford Focus.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Nissan Altima | 38 | 3% |
| 2006 Volkswagen Jetta | 26 | 4% |
| 2007 Nissan 350Z | 22 | 30% |
| 2006 Nissan Altima | 19 | 2% |
| 2011 Ford Mustang | 16 | 3% |
| 2014 Dodge Dart | 15 | 4% |
| 2016 Ford Focus | 15 | 1% |
| 2017 Ford Focus | 14 | 2% |
| 2001 Ford F-Series | 12 | 0.6% |
| 2018 Ford Focus | 12 | 1% |
| 2017 Chevrolet Cruze | 11 | 5% |
| 2008 Nissan 350Z | 10 | – |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2017 Chevrolet Cruze · 5% 2006 Volkswagen Jetta · 4% 2014 Dodge Dart · 4% 2005 Nissan Altima · 3% 2011 Ford Mustang · 3% 2012 Fiat 500 · 3% 2006 Nissan Altima · 2% 2015 Dodge Dart · 2%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of clutch pedal stuck to the floor
- A leaking clutch master or slave cylinder
- Low or leaking clutch fluid
- A broken clutch cable
- A broken pressure plate spring
- Air in the clutch line
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive if the clutch pedal sticks to the floor?
Fix soon. You may not be able to shift. Have it towed or checked.
Get help right away if you can’t get it out of gear.
Of the 1,006 complaints describing it, 2% mention a crash, 2% say the car was towed, 1% mention a fire and 1% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: power train (87%), engine (7%), vehicle speed control (5%), electrical system (5%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 44,750 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (215), Nissan (184), Dodge (105), Chevrolet (92), Volkswagen (71).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (transmission repairs): the middle half ran $1,700 to $4,000, typical $2,400, from 37 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Engine codes that come up with it
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Car won't go into gear Transmission slipping Transmission shifting hard Transmission shudder Car rolled away in park Whining noise when accelerating
Quick answers
What causes clutch pedal stuck to the floor?
A clutch pedal that stays down or feels soft usually means the clutch hydraulics have lost pressure. Common causes: a leaking clutch master or slave cylinder; low or leaking clutch fluid; a broken clutch cable; a broken pressure plate spring; air in the clutch line.
Is it safe to drive if the clutch pedal sticks to the floor?
Fix soon. You may not be able to shift. Have it towed or checked.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ford Focus, Nissan Altima and Volkswagen Jetta. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 37 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $1,700 to $4,000. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup