Major Problems with Ford Fiesta Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Ford Fiesta to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

Ford Fiesta complaint overview

2254 recorded complaints across model years
Years covered 2011–2019
Most recorded categories POWER TRAIN (1043), ENGINE (362), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (258)
Highest recorded count 624 in 2011

Complaint counts are reports, not confirmed defect rates. Older model years have had more time to accumulate reports, and sales volume and reporting coverage differ by year. A higher count does not by itself make a year the least reliable, and these figures are not a failure probability.

Compare two model years

Year A Year B

Problem category

Ford Fiesta FlawScore

Best and Worst Years for Ford Fiesta

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Ford Fiesta.

Model Year	Complaints
2019 Fiesta	3
2018 Fiesta	4
2017 Fiesta	22
2016 Fiesta	56
2015 Fiesta	123
2014 Fiesta	362
2013 Fiesta	546
2012 Fiesta	514
2011 Fiesta	624

Worst 3 Ford Fiesta complaints

2011 Ford Fiesta POWER TRAIN Victims: 5 Mileage: 47000 miles

2015 Ford Fiesta AIR BAGS Victims: 5 Mileage: 80000 miles

2011 Ford Fiesta ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL Victims: 4

Browse Ford Fiesta complaints by category

Problems with POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Ford Fiesta owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
POWER TRAIN 01/19/2015 my boyfriend had driven my car to the store about one mile from my home. about 10:40 pm....	1043 ~ 34155 miles
ENGINE 2015 ford fiesta titanium with ford smart key system. we are able to enter vehicle and start it without having...	362 ~ 38618 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER my airbag warning indicator has illuminated and has stayed on for two days now. there are also strange noises coming	258 ~ 43443 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE car is two years old one person driver got in car and went to shut door. handle broke right off...	253 ~ 47618 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM this all came about at 11:30 pm when leaving the work place the car would not provide heating to the...	205 ~ 46649 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford fiesta. upon depressing the accelerator pedal the vehicle was extremely slow to pick...	162 ~ 38035 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford fiesta. while attempting to open the door the front driver's side internal door...	96 ~ 41516 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM this problem initially surfaced with less than 2500 miles on the vehicle. immediately after refueling my vehicle the engine would...	96 ~ 47473 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES tl* the contact owns a 2014 ford fiesta. the contact stated that nhtsa campaign number: 15v246000 (latches/locks/linkages)exceeded a reasonable amount...	75 ~ 41858 miles
LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES tl* the contact owns a 2014 ford fiesta. the contact stated that the rear passenger side door failed to latch...	73 ~ 42702 miles
AIR BAGS tl* the contact owned a 2015 ford fiesta. while driving 20 mph the contact's vehicle was involved in a side...	67 ~ 44042 miles
STEERING takata recall. my cars transmission is not working well....	61 ~ 35335 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL i bought the car in sep 2015. about two weeks after having the car i noticed the car would stall/shake/jolt...	47 ~ 39805 miles
SERVICE BRAKES takata recall. my cars transmission is not working well....	44 ~ 51442 miles
SUSPENSION tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford fiesta. while driving 10 mph the vehicle began to vibrate abnormally. the vehicle...	33 ~ 35808 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING driving on the highway at 65 mph car looses power you cant accelerate it hesitates and wants to shut off...	23 ~ 75407 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN jerking shuddering loss of power on acceleration. was almost been rear ended because of this. this is a recurring issue....	19 ~ 2402 miles
SEATS driving down the road at 45 mph the rear driver side passenger door flew open and then would not close....	18 ~ 23614 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING my wife and i purchased the car new from our local dealership. after owning the car for about a week...	18 ~ 14763 miles
SEAT BELTS seat belt will not retract and retractor is completely broken...	14 ~ 34430 miles
WHEELS tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford fiesta. while driving 20 mph the vehicle vibrated severely before the front passenger...	14 ~ 36013 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE after filling the fuel tank the engine has a tendency to stumble and stall when idling (such as when the...	13 ~ 26009 miles
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford fiesta. while driving approximately 60 mph on the highway the vehicle did not...	13 ~ 36448 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER this all came about at 11:30 pm when leaving the work place the car would not provide heating to the...	13 ~ 24529 miles
TIRES tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford fiesta. while driving at any speed the front passenger side wheel disengaged from...	10 ~ 9318 miles
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM vehicle power steering shuts off during low speed (15mph) right hand turn. traction control light illuminates at the same time....	9 ~ 27322 miles
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY the transmission in my 2012 ford fiesta seems faulty. when driving the car i do not feel safe and at...	9 ~ 45334 miles
STRUCTURE bought vehicle new in jan 2013. was quiet at the time. has become louder and sounds like something rubbing when...	9 ~ 44721 miles
FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford fiesta. the contact stated that the headlights and horned failed without warning. in...	4 ~ 114500 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC i bought this car brand new in july of 2012 and i have had nothing but problems with it. the...	4 ~ 8750 miles
CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN tl* the contact owns a 2014 ford fiesta. while driving 80 mph the vehicle stalled and the immobilizer malfunction warning...	3 ~ 42696 miles
CHILD SEAT tl* the contact owned a 2014 baby trend hybrid 3-in-1 booster seat. while driving 25 mph another vehicle crashed into...	3
RADIATOR ASSEMBLY > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2014 ford fiesta. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 17v209000 (engine and engine...	2 ~ 42750 miles
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford fiesta. while driving 60 mph the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was...	2 ~ 58000 miles
DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY 2015 ford fiesta. consumer writes in issues with voice command and keeping phone connected to vehicle. *ld the consumer stated	2 ~ 2000 miles
HORN > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2014 ford fiesta. the contact stated that the horn did not sound. the dealer stated...	2 ~ 41135 miles
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford fiesta. the contact stated that the vehicle experienced numerous failures with the transmission...	2 ~ 75025 miles
12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford fiesta. the contact stated that the check engine light and the power steering...	2 ~ 50397 miles
SOFTWARE > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2014 ford fiesta. the contact stated that while traveling at various speeds the transmission exhibited...	2 ~ 21500 miles
TREAD/BELT > TIRES tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford fiesta equipped with kumho solus tires tire size 185/60/15. the contact stated that...	2 ~ 21500 miles
TRUNK LID > BODY > STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford fiesta. the contact stated that the trunk lid failed to close properly and...	1 ~ 32682 miles
INTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford fiesta. the contact stated that when starting the vehicle the fuel tank would...	1 ~ 30000 miles
TAIL LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford fiesta. the contact stated that the tail lights failed to illuminate. the vehicle...	1 ~ 150000 miles
FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford fiesta. while accelerating from a stop light the vehicle vibrated violently. the vehicle...	1 ~ 50000 miles
WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford fiesta. while driving 60 mph at night the contact was pulled over by...	1 ~ 100000 miles
OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION > SENSOR > AIR BAGS tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford fiesta. once the vehicle was started the air bag warning indicator illuminated on...	1 ~ 82000 miles
FRONT PASSENGER > OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION > SENSOR tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford fiesta. once the vehicle was started the air bag warning indicator illuminated on...	1 ~ 82000 miles
DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN tl* the contact owns a 2014 ford fiesta. while driving various speeds the vehicle jerked lunged forward and hesitated when...	1 ~ 57747 miles
FAN/MOTOR > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY moisture can enter the hvac system and freeze during cold temp causing the blower motor to freeze leaving it inoperable....	1 ~ 40050 miles
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY i was driving down interstate 85 south between perry hill road and eastern boulevard when a rock hit my front	1 ~ 25000 miles
TIE ROD ASSEMBLY > LINKAGES > STEERING tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford fiesta. while driving at any speed the front passenger side wheel disengaged from...	1 ~ 37388 miles
GLASS, SIDE/REAR > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford fiesta. the contact stated that the rear window shattered spontaneously. the failure occurred...	1 ~ 1000 miles
HARNESS RETAINER/CHEST CLIP > CHILD SEAT cpsc: baby trend hybrid lx 3-in-1: consumer stated she and her son were involved in a head-on collision. after the...	1
STRAP/WEBBING > HARNESS > CHILD SEAT i was traveling from las vegas nv to twin falls id with my son [xxx] on dec 14 2015 to...	1
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford fiesta. the contact received a manufacturers recall on the door. the contact stated...	1 ~ 70000 miles
EQUIPMENT tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford fiesta. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v461000 (equipment) however the...	1
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford fiesta. after the contact parked the vehicle he heard an abnormal booming static...	1 ~ 66000 miles
WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford fiesta. while driving at 55 mph during inclement weather both windshield wipers became...	1 ~ 72800 miles
LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS > WHEELS tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford fiesta. while traveling approximately 60 mph the rear passenger side tire blew out...	1 ~ 58000 miles
REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford fiesta. the contact stated that the rear window had no wiper which made...	1
LATCH > HOOD > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford fiesta. the contact stated that the hood latch ajar light illuminated on the...	1 ~ 97000 miles
SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY i was driving on the highway in the early evening approx 55 degrees fair weather a/c and heat off smooth...	1 ~ 11000 miles
SIDEWALL > TIRES tl* the contact owns a 2014 ford fiesta se. the contact stated the vehicle was equipped with hancock optima h426...	1 ~ 672 miles
NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT 2014 ford fiesta. consumer writes in regards to navigation system defect. *smd the consumer stated when the vehicle was in...	1
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford fiesta. while driving approximately 15 mph the vehicle failed to accelerate and the...	1 ~ 50000 miles
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT 2011 ford fiesta. consumer writes in regards to heating and air conditioning system *tgw the consumer stated he would become...	1
HEATER CORE > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY 2011 ford fiesta. consumer writes in regards to heating and air conditioning system *tgw the consumer stated he would become...	1
PEDALS AND LINKAGES > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford fiesta. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he noticed that...	1 ~ 5 miles
FAN > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford fiesta. the contact was driving 55 mph when he began to smell gasoline...	1 ~ 5000 miles
OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL > OTHER > EQUIPMENT car model: new ford fiesta year: 2011 delivery date: march 25 2011 kilometers: 3000 following the replacement of the transmission...	1 ~ 2000 miles
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl*the contact owns a 2011 ford fiesta. the contact stated that the entire muffler exhibited severe rust. the vehicle was...	1 ~ 25 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS airbag off light comes on frequently when adult passenger is seated in 2011 ford mustang . your web site does...	1 ~ 20 miles

FAQ

What year Ford Fiesta is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 9 years, Ford Fiesta models of 2019, 2018, 2017 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Ford Fiesta?

Ford Fiesta models of 2011 and 2013 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

Torque wrench

EPAuto 1/2-inch Drive Click Torque Wrenc...
- Durable Ratchet Head: Made from Hardened treated Chrome Vanadium steel alloy (Cr-V) Corrosion-Retardant: Satin Finish. Made in Taiwan
- Easy Storage: A sturdy plastic storage case is included. Non-Slip Grip: Knurled handle
- Easy to Read: High...
LEXIVON 1/2-Inch Drive Click Torque Wren...
- PRECISE - Ships pre-calibrated to +/- 4% accuracy and ready to use. Include calibration certificate with traceable serial number.
- DURABLE - Reinforced ratchet gear head constructed from hardened, heat-treated Chrome Vanadium alloy steel.
- LONGEVITY -...
LEXIVON 1/2-Inch Drive Click Torque Wren...
- PRECISION - Ships pre-calibrated to +/- 4% accuracy and ready to use. Include calibration certificate with traceable serial number.
- DURABLE - Reinforced ratchet gear head constructed from hardened, heat treated Chrome Vanadium alloy steel.
- LONG-LASTING...
LEXIVON 3/8-Inch Drive Click Torque Wren...
- PRECISION - Ships pre-calibrated to +/- 4% accuracy and ready to use. Include calibration certificate with traceable serial number.
- DURABLE - Reinforced ratchet gear head constructed from hardened, heat treated Chrome Vanadium alloy steel.
- LONG-LASTING...
LEXIVON Inch Pound Torque Wrench 1/4-Inc...
- PRECISION - Ships pre-calibrated to +/- 4% accuracy and ready to use. Include calibration certificate with traceable serial number.
- DURABLE - Reinforced ratchet gear head constructed from hardened, heat treated Chrome Vanadium alloy steel.
- LONG-LASTING...
TEKTON 3/8 Inch Drive Micrometer Torque ...
- Includes 1-pc. 3/8 in. drive torque wrench; Storage case; Product manual with torque conversion chart
- Wrench emits a click that can be heard and felt when the preset value is reached
- Permanently marked, high-contrast dual-range...

Mechanic tool set

Crescent 180 Pc. Professional Tool Set i...
- The Crescent Professional Tool Set has a newly designed 72T quick release ratchet
- Carefully selected assortment of hand tools for most industrial, mechanical, and consumer applications
- Get incredible access from combination wrenches with narrow heads,...
Craftsman Mechanic Tool Set, 215 Piece, ...
- MINIMAL ARCH SWING: 72-tooth 1/4 in. and 3/8 in. Drive Ratchets produce a 5-degree arc swing. Ideal balance between access and durability.
- VERSATILE: Comprehensive set of 1/4 in., 3/8 in. Drive Sockets and Drive Tool...
Craftsman Mechanic Tool Set, 230 Piece w...
- TACKLE A VARIETY OF PROJECTS: Complete automotive jobs and general mechanic fixes with this heavy-duty, 230-piece all-in-one mechanic tool set
- OPEN AND CLOSE THE DRAWERS WITH ONE HAND as you work with a spring-loaded locking...
DEWALT Mechanics Tool Set, 1/4" & 3/8" &...
- 72 tooth count ratchet providing a 5 degree arc swing for maneuverability in restricted areas
- Anti-slip driver handle provides maximum comfort
- Housed in a durable carrying case with metal latches
- Full-polish chrome for corrosion resistance
DEWALT Mechanics Tools Kit and Socket Se...
- Socket sets include 72 tooth count ratchets which allow for a 5 degree arc swing for maneuverability in restricted areas
- Ratchets include a low profile directional lever to help reduce catch points and for easy...
Amazon Basics Mechanic's Tool Set with C...
- Mechanic tool kit and socket set for tackling multiple sizes and types of fasteners, especially nuts and bolts
- Includes a 201-piece set that combines most popular sockets, wrenches, hex keys, and screwdriver bits
- Both metric...

Tool box

TUFFIOM 8-Drawer Rolling Tool Chest w/Lo...
- LARGE STORAGE CAPACITY: The rolling tool chest is designed with 8 drawers and 1 bottom cabinet for storing tools, small equipment or other objects. And the bottom cabinet features side hooks for hanging tools like...
beyond by BLACK+DECKER BLACK+DECKER BDST...
- Sturdy + Stackable: Durable Auto-Lock Latches Make Connecting These Stackable Units Quick And Easy
- Quick Access: The Quick-Release On The Locking Latch Allows You To Easily Separate Each Module When Stacked For Quick Access To...
BIG RED ANTBD133-XB Torin 20" Portable 3...
- Heavy duty tool box is made of thick steel, with powder coat red paint finish, beautiful and easy to clean
- Measures 20.5" L x 8.5" W x 12" H, and is equipped with 3 drawers...
DEKOPRO 228 Piece Socket Wrench Auto Rep...
- HIGH QUALITY&STANDARDS:Forged from high-quality steel and finished in high-polish chrome,strength, durability, anti-corrosion protection.All the tools meet or exceed ANSI critical standards
- COMPLETE VARIETIES:Contains tools needed for most small repairs and basic DIY projects around the...
Torin 17-Inch Plastic Tool Box,3-Tiers M...
- Tough metal latches are solid and easy to open and close, with long use life
- Foldable three-tier tray provides you with more storage space and you can separate metric and imperial tools to take them...
CARTMAN 148 Piece Automotive and Househo...
- Comprehensive Tool Set: The Cartman 148-Piece Tool Kit includes all the crucial tools needed for everyday home repairs and maintenance, from cutting to tightening, measuring to hammering.
- Durable and Corrosion-Resistant: All tools in the kit...