Ford FiestaYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 3,180 NHTSA owner complaints across 15 model years, the Ford Fiesta years to avoid are 2011, and the strongest years are 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The Fiesta has 15 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoid'11Use caution: 2012, 2013, 2014 Best years'16 '17 '18 '19Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints3,180Top: Power train Safety recalls151978–2019 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Ford Fiesta years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Fiesta median. Tap a year for its full report.

0 1 1 2 1 1 73061766850425817975 35 108

'78'88'89'91'01'02'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

2019Solid62/100108 complaints · 3 recalls 2018Best86/10035 complaints · 0 recalls 2017Best74/10075 complaints · 0 recalls 2016Solid59/100179 complaints · 0 recalls 2015Solid50/100258 complaints · 4 recalls 2014Caution34/100504 complaints · 7 recalls 2013Caution30/100668 complaints · 3 recalls 2012Caution31/100617 complaints · 3 recalls 2011Avoid27/100730 complaints · 3 recalls 2002Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 2001Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 1991Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls 1989Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 1988Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls

Complaints by system

Most common Ford Fiesta problems

All model years combined: 3,180 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

1,499Power train33 crash/fire/injury

508Engine28 crash/fire/injury

409Structure17 crash/fire/injury

341Electrical system18 crash/fire/injury

199Vehicle speed control

185Latches/locks/linkages

135Fuel/propulsion system

102Air bags

76Service brakes

49422 other systems45 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Power train	1499	33
Engine	508	28
Structure	409	17
Electrical system	341	18
Vehicle speed control	199	12
Latches/locks/linkages	185	2
Fuel/propulsion system	135	6
Air bags	102	64
Service brakes	76	15
22 other systems	494	45

15 recalls

Ford Fiesta recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

Sensing system: camera25V-695 · 2019 · Oct 13, 2025 · 1,448,655 vehicles Sensing system: camera24V-951 · 2019 · Dec 20, 2024 · 30,715 vehicles Doors: latch23V-775 · 2015 · Nov 17, 2023 · 45,173 vehicles Doors: latch20V-331 · 2011–2014 · Jun 8, 2020 · 2,147,323 vehicles Doors: latch20V-177 · 2014–2015 · Mar 23, 2020 · 288,110 vehicles Disc: caliper19V-629 · 2019 · Aug 28, 2019 · 2,624 vehicles Doors: latch17V-210 · 2014 · Mar 27, 2017 · 191,432 vehicles Engine and engine cooling: engine17V-209 · 2014–2015 · Mar 27, 2017 · 208,584 vehicles Doors: latch15V-246 · 2011–2014 · Apr 24, 2015 · 456,440 vehicles Delivery: fuel pump15V-005 · 2014–2015 · Jan 9, 2015 · 54,543 vehicles Fuel system, gasoline: storage14V-402 · 2014 · Jul 2, 2014 · 175 vehicles Air bags12V-488 · 2011–2013 · Oct 5, 2012 · 154,471 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 15 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

5 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Fiesta

Jul 31, 2026
Timing Belt FailureEA26004 · 2014–2017 · still open
Open
Dec 18, 2025
Timing Belt FailurePE25020 · 2014–2017 · closed Jul 31, 2026
No recall
Dec 19, 2019
Door Latch FailuresRQ19005 · 2011–2015 · closed Feb 7, 2022
Led to recall 20V-177
Feb 27, 2015
Door Latch FailureEA15002 · 2011–2013 · closed Nov 13, 2015
Led to recall 15V-246
Sep 11, 2014
Door Latch FailurePE14028 · 2011–2013 · closed Mar 18, 2015
Led to recall 20E-010