Ford Fiesta Problems by Year
NHTSA has 3,170 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls on file for the Ford Fiesta, across 11 model years (2001–2019). The 2011 model year has the most complaints (730). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
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Ford Fiesta years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Fiesta year: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2011 Fiesta: 730 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2013 Fiesta: 668 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2012 Fiesta: 617 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2001 Fiesta: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2002 Fiesta: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2018 Fiesta: 35 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford Fiesta problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 1,498 | 10 | 29 |
| Engine problems | 507 | 9 | 15 |
| Structure problems | 409 | 8 | 12 |
| Electrical System problems | 338 | 9 | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 197 | 8 | 10 |
| Latches/locks/linkages problems | 185 | 8 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 135 | 9 | 4 |
| Air Bags problems | 102 | 9 | 64 |
| Service Brakes | 76 | 8 | 14 |
| Steering | 73 | 8 | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 55 | 9 | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 52 | 8 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 42 | 8 | 0 |
| Suspension | 41 | 8 | 5 |
| Back Over Prevention | 32 | 2 | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 29 | 7 | 11 |
| Wheels | 29 | 8 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 26 | 7 | 1 |
| Seats | 25 | 7 | 3 |
| Visibility/wiper | 17 | 7 | 0 |
| Visibility | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Tires | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Traction Control System | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Child Seat | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Firerelated | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Ford Fiesta problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2016: power train (101)
- 2015: power train (104) · engine (69)
- 2014: power train (208) · engine (84) · structure (54)
- 2013: power train (391) · engine (110) · structure (78) · electrical system (62)
- 2012: power train (274) · structure (128) · engine (68) · electrical system (66) · latches/locks/linkages (57)
- 2011: power train (366) · structure (125) · engine (108) · electrical system (96) · vehicle speed control (57)
All Ford Fiesta model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Fiesta | 105 | 3 | 4★ | Back Over Prevention | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 Fiesta | 35 | 0 | 4★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2017 Fiesta | 74 | 0 | 4★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2016 Fiesta | 178 | 0 | 4★ | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2015 Fiesta | 258 | 4 | 4★ | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2014 Fiesta | 503 | 7 | 4★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 Fiesta | 668 | 3 | 4★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 Fiesta | 617 | 3 | 4★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 Fiesta | 730 | 3 | 4★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 Fiesta | 1 | 0 | — | Power Train | |
| 2001 Fiesta | 1 | 0 | — | Latches/locks/linkages |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Fiesta years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2011 (730), 2012 (617), 2013 (668), 2014 (503) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Fiesta year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford Fiesta?
Power Train, with 1,498 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford Fiesta have?
12 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.