Ford Fiesta: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Ford Fiesta problems by model year, from 3,166 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2015 (76%, 185 drivetrain complaints), 2016 (75%, 127 drivetrain complaints) and 2013 (68%, 440 drivetrain complaints). 8 of the 9 Ford Fiesta years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 6 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2019 (32%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2018 (50%) to 2019 (32%), down 18 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2013 drew the most drivetrain complaints (440 of 1,890 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Ford Fiesta year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Fiesta | very high | 62% | 426 | 730 | 5/9 | 3 |
| 2012 Fiesta | high | 55% | 321 | 617 | 7/9 | 3 |
| 2013 Fiesta | very high | 68% | 440 | 667 | 3/9 | 3 |
| 2014 Fiesta | very high | 61% | 296 | 502 | 6/9 | 7 |
| 2015 Fiesta | very high | 76% | 185 | 258 | 1/9 | 4 |
| 2016 Fiesta | very high | 75% | 127 | 178 | 2/9 | 0 |
| 2017 Fiesta | very high | 68% | 49 | 74 | 4/9 | 0 |
| 2018 Fiesta | high | 50% | 15 | 35 | 8/9 | 0 |
| 2019 Fiesta | no elevated signal | 32% | 31 | 105 | 9/9 | 3 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Ford Fiesta years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Ford Fiesta engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Ford Fiesta involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 12 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2014 | 14V402000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage | 2014 |
| Jan 2015 | 15V005000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2014–2015 |
| Mar 2017 | 17V209000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2014–2015 |
9 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2012 | 12V488000 | air bags | 2011–2013 |
| Apr 2015 | 15V246000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2011–2014 |
| Mar 2017 | 17V210000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2014 |
| Aug 2019 | 19V629000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2019 |
| Mar 2020 | 20V177000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2014–2015 |
| Jun 2020 | 20V331000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2011–2014 |
| Nov 2023 | 23V775000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2015 |
| Dec 2024 | 24V951000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V695000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Ford Fiesta
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Ford Fiesta
What are the worst years for the Ford Fiesta?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Ford Fiesta years are the 2015 (76% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2016 (75% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2013 (68% of relevant complaints, very high). 8 of 9 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Ford Fiesta?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Ford Fiesta years are the 2019 (32%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Ford Fiesta have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 9 scored years, 1,890 of 3,022 relevant NHTSA complaints (63%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Is the Ford Fiesta reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 8 of 9 Ford Fiesta years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 63% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Ford Fiesta?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Ford Fiesta years we track, out of 12 in total: 14V402000 (Jul 2014, 2014), 15V005000 (Jan 2015, 2014–2015), 17V209000 (Mar 2017, 2014–2015). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.