NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
This page covers 6 recalls, 729 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2011 Ford Fiesta.
31–32 mpg combined
7.4–7.6 L/100km
Subcompact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2011 Ford Fiesta draws the bulk of its complaints from the powertrain, which accounts for well over a third of all reports. Owners frequently describe the dual-clutch automatic transmission, the PowerShift, shuddering, hesitating on acceleration, slipping between gears, and in some cases dropping into neutral without input while driving. Stalling at various speeds is another common theme, often with no warning light and the engine restarting after a short wait, only to stall again. Structural complaints make up the second-largest group, with owners reporting unsettling sounds and handling disturbances that suggest suspension or underbody component failure, particularly when turning. Electrical complaints are notably smaller in volume but include recurring fuse failures, blown headlight circuits, and accessories like the AC cycling off after repairs.
729
Total Complaints
32
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
22
With Injuries
By System
The 2011 Ford Fiesta has 6 recalls, the most serious being corrosion inside the battery junction box that can damage fuse and wiring terminals, potentially causing electrical failures across systems that depend on that circuit.
Two recalls cover the same door latch problem from different angles. A broken pawl spring tab inside the latch mechanism can prevent the door from catching fully, so a door that feels closed may swing open while driving. Prior repair attempts on some vehicles did not fully resolve the issue, and those vehicles were recalled a second time to complete the fix properly.
The airbag concerns center on the right side of the cabin. When the front passenger seat is empty, the passenger seat sensor tells the restraint system to shut off both the side curtain airbag and the seat-mounted side airbag for that position. The problem is that the side curtain covers the rear passenger window as well, so a rear-seat occupant on the right side loses that protection in a side-impact crash even though they are actually sitting there. This affects vehicles that were not properly addressed in the prior correlated recall.
The electrical recall specifically affects vehicles registered and driven in Canadian provinces where road salt is used heavily in winter, including Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland-Labrador. Salt-laden moisture working into the battery junction box corrodes the fuse and terminal connections over time, which can cause unpredictable power loss to the circuits that box supplies.
At a glance
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
A door latch component may break, making doors hard to close or allowing doors to appear closed when they're actually unsecured.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect door latches and replace them if needed at no cost. Owners can also check latch date codes online to verify if repair was done correctly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Road salt moisture can enter the battery junction box and corrode fuse and wiring terminals, causing loss of electrical power to the engine or exterior lights, which may result in stalling or reduced visibility.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and clean corroded terminals, replace defective fuses, and install seals in the battery junction box to prevent moisture entry.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The door latch mechanism contains a small spring tab that can break, preventing the door from latching securely. Doors may appear closed but unlatch unexpectedly while driving.
What the fix does
All four door latches will be replaced with a stronger, more durable part.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A component in the door latches may break, making doors hard to close or causing them to appear securely closed when they are not.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace all four door latches with improved parts at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger side curtain air bag won't deploy during a side-impact crash when the front passenger seat is empty. The system was designed to suppress the air bag in this condition, but this wasn't explained in the owner's guide as required.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the vehicle software to allow the passenger side curtain air bag to deploy when the front passenger seat is empty.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The safety system incorrectly disables the right side air curtain and front passenger side airbag when it detects the front passenger seat is empty, even though a rear passenger may be present and need protection during a side crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the Restraint Control Module software to fix how it manages the air curtain and airbag deployment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
