Ford Fiesta Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 3,170 consumer complaints across the 9 model years of the Ford Fiesta (2011–2019) that have at least 5 complaints. 2011 has the most, with 730. Across all years, the part named most often is transmission and drivetrain (1,497 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Fiesta model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 105 | 51,000 | 3 | 41 | 5 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2018 | 35 | 37,000 | 0 | 55 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2017 | 74 | 51,500 | 0 | 93 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2016 | 179 | 57,183 | 0 | 110 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2015 | 258 | 49,210 | 4 | 94 | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2014 | 504 | 40,050 | 7 | 109 | 99 · More | Stable |
| 2013 | 668 | 31,483 | 3 | 89 | 99 · More | Falling |
| 2012 | 617 | 45,000 | 3 | 86 | 89 · More | Falling |
| 2011 | 730 | 56,000 | 3 | 85 | 90 · More | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Transmission and drivetrain1,497 40%
- Engine508 14%
- Other or unknown412 11%
- Body and structure409 11%
- Electrical system338 9.1%
- Vehicle speed control197 5.3%
- Latches, locks and linkages184 5.0%
- Fuel system159 4.3%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2015: “I was recently in a car accident where the steering wheel air bag was activated and metal fragments came through the air bag an cut my head open. My accident was head on impact with a stationary dwelling. All windows were fully intact upon and after impact. Upon retrieving my items from my vehicle I took notice to all these metal fragments in the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11323608, filed 2020-05, 39,000 miles2012: “My transmission continues to slip repeatedly after I took it to Ford where they told me nothing was wrong and that I didn't know what I was talking about . They were rude and inconsiderate. It has slipped in all forms of movement . When I've been braking ,driving urban or highway. I took it back to a different dealer ship and they told me my transmission was bad.”
NHTSA complaint #11351381, filed 2020-08, 103,876 miles2014: “While driving on a onramp I shifted from 3rd to 4th gear and the clutch pedal was then stuck to the floor and did not come back up, I had to manually pull it back up. While driving down city street I shifted from 2nd to 3rd and the clutch pedal once again stuck to the floor and had to be manually pulled up. All fluids are topped off and not above the maximum line.”
NHTSA complaint #11350892, filed 2020-08, 55,000 milesOther Ford models
38,897 complaintsFord Explorer
34,624 complaintsFord Escape
27,530 complaintsFord Fusion
22,441 complaintsFord Focus
22,107 complaintsFord Taurus
18,162 complaintsFord Windstar
14,152 complaintsFord Edge
14,106 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology