KnownCarProblems2011 Ford Fiesta Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 730 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Fiesta, most often about the transmission (50% of complaints, typically around 56,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Fiesta model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2011 Ford Fiesta problems
Transmission
366 complaints · 50%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, clutch assembly.
I bought this car used with 35000 miles on it. The first thing I noticed was when starting or stopping the car would shudder, like it was gripping and couldn't catch a gear. I normally drive hwy, and I notice no problems when going above 45mph. However I was in stop and go traffic and I thought the car was going to…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact took her vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance and was advised she had a transmission leak; however, they will not repair it until it gets worse. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 51,000.
Body and structure
125 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
This morning at 6:00 am as I drop my son off to the babysitters to go to work in my beautiful green ses 2011 Fiesta. I shut my back passenger door and it didn't close? Luckily I had 2 bungie cords to hold it closed as I drove to a dealership to get it fixed.4 hours later and a rental car. Berge Ford calls me and tells…
Opened passenger side rear door to put child in car carseat. Shut the door, got in and started car. When I started to reverse the door open alert came on. Got out of car thinking I just didn't shut the door hard enough. The door would not latch. Have not gone to dealership because bumper to bumper warranty is up. From…
Engine
118 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 63,500 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, exhaust system.
I purchased this vehicle in may 2013 as a used vehicle from the Ford store in san leandro, ca. I have had nothing but trouble with this car since I purchased it. The first thing that broke was my passenger side visor. Even though "visors and front seat SRS warning" is checked off on the 172 point inspection form I was…
I was driving my vehicle and the engine light came on as did the wrench icon signifying a need of immediate repair. The car kept driving, but I had to slow down for traffic. When I tried to accelerate again, my car had little power. I pressed the gas pedal further and the car jerked forward, then slowed itself down…
Electrical
96 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 62,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery, horn.
While in motion, my vehicle had an intermittent electrical issue. The service wrench appears, and displays "engine malfunction, seivce now" the engine then derates and runs very rough. With a manual transmission, it is difficult to shift gerars without stalling. Upon turning off and restarting, the engine resets and…
I purchased this vehicle in may 2013 as a used vehicle from the Ford store in san leandro, ca. I have had nothing but trouble with this car since I purchased it. The first thing that broke was my passenger side visor. Even though "visors and front seat SRS warning" is checked off on the 172 point inspection form I was…
Other or unspecified
58 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles.
My car has been repaired 3 times and needs another repair for the transmission once again. In the past month this car has died on me while driving first time was at a intersection luckily I was able to pull into a gas station it was towed to carmax where they took it to joe myers Ford they had it for week and some…
My car says its not in park when its is in park. I have had this car for 15 months have had nothing but issues...I walked out to my car to get in to leave for work and it would not start. The car states its not in park when its in park...
Speed control
57 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
While coming to a stop light check engine light started flashing. Had no response from accelerator peddle. Would not go. Was able to roll into a parking lot. After shutting off vehicle and restarting it ran fine. Continued 1-2 miles and condition occurred again. Had to restart in the road to continue home. Ran fine to…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle experienced a period of unintended acceleration and abnormal shaking. The failure occurred three times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed as a clutch failure and…
Doors and locks
41 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: doors.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While the vehicle was parked, the rear passenger side door was opened. When the door was closed, it would not latch. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the latch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that the rear passenger side door failed to latch. The dealer stated that the rear passenger side door needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000.
Steering
26 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles.
Pop/clunk/knock noise on turns and loose steering incidental to extreme tire wear on front right tire. Tsb ref # : 11-10-28 issued oct 31,2011 Ford:2011-2012 Fiesta
Began to hear a clunking noise in the steering accompanied by vibration in the steering wheel. This noise and vibration has steadily increased since first noticing it. Feels as though a bearing or bushing has failed or a tooth in the steering gear is missing. Please note: this car has been maintained in a timely…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 Ford Fiesta recalls
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on july 27, 2020. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20s30.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 fiesta, 2013-2014 fusion, 2015 mustang, 2013-2015 escape and c-max, 2012-2015 focus, 2014-2016 transit connect, 2013-2014 lincoln mkz, and 2015 mkc vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15v-246, 16v-643 or 17v-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches with an improved part, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed to owners on june 5, 2015. The recall began on december 18, 2015. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15s16.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) notified the agency on april 23, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2013-2014 ford fusion and lincoln mkz vehicles manufactured july 1, 2012, to may 31, 2013, and 2012-2014 fiesta vehicles manufactured february 1, 2012, to may 31, 2013. On april 30, 2015, ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 119,567 vehicles, including certain model year 2011 ford fiestas manufactured from november 11, 2009, to may 31, 2013 and certain model year 2013 ford fusion and lincoln mkz vehicles manufactured from february 1, 2012, to june 30, 2012. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Air bags
Risk: An occupant in the right rear seating position will not have coverage from the side curtain air bag in a side impact collision when the front passenger seat is empty, increasing the risk of injury to the right rear occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will reprogram the vehicle's software free of charge so that it no longer suppresses the passenger side curtain air bag when the front passenger seat is empty, and consistent with the description in the owner's guide. The safety recall began on october 26, 2012. Owner's may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 fiesta vehicles, manufactured from november 3, 2009 through september 21, 2012. The vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) no. 208, "occupant crash protection." the passenger side curtain air bag will not deploy in the event of a side impact collision when the front passenger seat is empty. Although the side curtain air bag system was designed to suppress the side curtain air bag under this scenario, that information is not explained in the owner's guide for these vehicles as required by fmvss no. 208.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Door latch failures
Summary
In december 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation based on 235 vehicle owner questionnaires (voqs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (my) 2012-2014 ford fiesta, and 2013-2014 fusion and lincoln mkz. Some voqs reported the failure occurred after the latch had been remedied under a prior recall which involved fracture of the latch pawl spring tab due to thermally induced cyclic fatigue. Other voqs alleged a similar failure in vehicles not previously recalled. A latch with a fractured pawl spring tab typically results in a ?door will not close? Condition, however in certain somewhat rare circu
Door latch failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (my) 2011-2013 ford fiesta, my 2013 ford fusion and my 2013 lincoln mkz vehicles. All of the affected vehicles share the same door latch design.odi has received 281 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with over 100 claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion. There were no crashes reported however three separate injuries were indicated, all caused by a rebounding door striking a consumer after they attempted to close it. In response to odi's information request (ir) letter, ford motor
Door latch failure
Summary
On september 11, 2014 the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe14-028) to investigate claims of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (my) 2011-2013 ford fiesta vehicles. Odi has received 207 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with sixty-five claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion. Two injuries were reported, both caused by a rebounding door striking a consumer after they attempted to close it. In response to odi's information request (ir), ford motor company (ford) responded with 451 unique reports related to the alleged defect.one claim involved an incident in which property
Questions about the 2011 Ford Fiesta
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Fiesta?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (366 complaints, typically around 56,000 miles); body and structure (125 complaints, typically around 55,000 miles); engine (118 complaints, typically around 63,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Ford Fiesta have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 8, 2020 (doors and locks). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the Ford Fiesta?
- It is the most complained-about Fiesta model year since 2000, with 730 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.