2015 Ford Fiesta problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
76% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2015 Ford Fiesta are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 95% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 13 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 72%).
Does the 2015 Ford Fiesta have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 185 of 245 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Fiesta concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (76%), and the largest group is filed under power train (104). For comparison, the 2014 scores 61% and the 2016 scores 75%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2015 Ford Fiesta
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2015 Ford Fiesta said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 185 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2015 Ford Fiesta?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2015 Ford Fiesta involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Escape, 2014-2015 Fiesta ST, 2013-2014 Fusion and 2013-2015 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI engines. If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil.
Risk: If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a coolant level sensor and the supporting hardware and software, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 21, 2017. The…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on January 8, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 15, 2014, to May 8, 2014, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured April 21, 2014, to May 15, 2014. On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 45,505 vehicles, including certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Transit Connect vehicles…
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2015 Ford Fiesta? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2015 Ford Fiesta have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 185 of 245 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Fiesta concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (76%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2015 Ford Fiesta?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2015 Ford Fiesta involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 17V209000 (engine and engine cooling: engine), 15V005000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford Fiesta years are better?
Among the Ford Fiesta years we track, the 2019 (32%), the 2018 (50%) and the 2012 (55%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2015 (76%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2015 Ford Fiesta?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2015 Ford Fiesta has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.