Avoid: 2014, 2013, 2011 (lowest Year Scores on complaints per year on the road, crash reports and recalls)
Best: 2018
9 model years of NHTSA owner complaints and recalls · How we grade
Across 9 model years, the Ford Fiesta has 3,164 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 23 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and engine. 2011 drew the most complaints (730), 2018 the fewest (35).
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for Ford Fiesta vehicles (US, public record). Typical used asking price $7,095–$10,612.
Complaint volume by model year. Raw NHTSA totals, not adjusted for sales volume or time on the road, so older and higher-selling years accumulate more. Every year links to its full breakdown.
Highest: 2011 (730 complaints). Lowest: 2018 (35).
Sentiment is sharply divided between standard models and the performance-oriented ST variant.
Catastrophic, widespread failures described as "planned obsolescence," leading to costly repairs, often before 100,000 miles. Linked to a known class-action lawsuit.
Described as a "money pit," with reports of transmissions needing replacement within a year and various other failures.
Motors fail and produce a persistent clicking noise.
Related to a bad cylinder head, similar to a recall on 2014-2015 models; some 2016 models exhibited the same issue without a recall.
Reports of build quality problems requiring hatch repaint under warranty.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Fiesta. Individual model years are broken down above.
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