NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
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.
This page covers 4 recalls, 666 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Ford Fiesta.
32 mpg combined
7.4 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.
The 2011 to 2013 Ford Fiesta received NHTSA New Car Assessment Program ratings for US-market vehicles. The model earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. In specific crash tests, the Fiesta achieved 4 stars in frontal crash protection, 5 stars in side crash protection, 4 stars in rollover resistance, and 4 stars in side pole crash protection. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a significant redesign occurs, so this rating covers the entire 2011 to 2013 range.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The dominant pattern in 2013 Ford Fiesta complaints is powertrain trouble, specifically the dual-clutch automated manual transmission. Owners very frequently report shuddering and hesitation during acceleration, delayed or missed gear engagement, and the transmission losing the ability to move the vehicle in drive or reverse. Several owners describe receiving a transmission malfunction warning shortly before the failure, and grinding or rattling noises from the transmission area are a recurring detail. Some owners report the transmission dropping out of gear or losing communication with the transmission control module, sometimes accompanied by a clutch-related warning light. With roughly half of all complaints pointing to the powertrain, this is clearly the central concern for this model year. Structure complaints come in second at around 62 reports, though the specifics there are less concentrated. The transmission shudder and stall pattern shows up across a wide range of mileage, not just high-mileage examples.
666
Total Complaints
12
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
7
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Ford Fiesta has 4 recalls, the most serious being door latches that can come open while the vehicle is moving, leaving occupants at risk of falling out or being struck by other vehicles.
The door latch issue has a layered history: an earlier repair attempt on certain vehicles did not fully resolve the problem, meaning latches that were previously serviced under prior recalls may still fail to hold the door securely closed. Both the original defect and the incomplete prior repair are covered under separate recall campaigns, so owners who had the doors worked on before may still need another inspection.
There is also a safety equipment concern: the passenger-side curtain airbag may not deploy in a side-impact collision when the front passenger seat is empty. This leaves anyone seated in the right rear seating position without overhead airbag coverage in a side crash, which increases the risk of head injury.
The remaining recall involves a label on the door jamb or door frame that may list incorrect tire size and inflation pressure information. While this does not point to a mechanical defect in the vehicle itself, driving on improperly inflated tires based on incorrect label guidance can affect handling and tire wear over time.
At a glance
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.
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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 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
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 tire information label may show wrong tire size or pressure. Using incorrect tires or pressure can damage tires and affect how the vehicle handles, raising crash risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will check the tire label and install a corrected label if needed.
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.
