Research · Subcompact Cars

2013 Ford FiestaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 668 owner complaints for the 2013 Ford Fiesta. Most complaints involve power train (391) and engine (110). The EPA rates it 32 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.

Combined MPG
32mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
4of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Jun 2020
Owner complaints
668
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$2,000est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Latches

Free remedy

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.

Latches/locks/linkagesReported Jun 8, 2020NHTSA 20V331000

Latches

Remedy pending

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.

Latches/locks/linkagesReported Apr 24, 2015NHTSA 15V246000

Air bags

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Oct 5, 2012NHTSA 12V488000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

668 complaints filed with NHTSA · Sep 2012 – Oct 2026
  1. Power train391
  2. Engine110
  3. Structure78
  4. Electrical system62
  5. Latches/locks/linkages47
  6. Vehicle speed control43
  7. Fuel/propulsion system14
  8. Air bags13
  9. Electronic stability control (esc)13

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Fiesta model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2011730
2012617
2013668
2014504
2015259
2016179
201774
201835
2019105
Crashes reported
12
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
9
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

391 reports4 crashes
“The vehicle experienced a sudden transmission failure while driving. Before the failure, the car began shuddering and hesitating during acceleration. It then started making loud metal grinding noises from the transmission area and eventually lost the ability to move properly when placed in Drive or Reverse. This created a safety risk because the vehicle could not accelerate normally in traffic and became difficult to control. The issue appears related to the transmission and/or clutch system. Warning messages and abnormal shifting behavior occurred prior to the failure. I previously asked a dealership in 2020/2021 to inspect and repair the transmission issues while the vehicle was still under warranty, but they stated the problem was not “bad enough” at that time and did not perform any repairs. The vehicle is currently inoperable due to this malfunction.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2026Power trainODI 11731703

Engine

110 reports2 crashes4 fires
“My transmission is going out I call ford they tell me there's no recalls on my transmission but I paid for a vin recall check and there is a recall on my transmission”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2026EngineODI 11769214

Structure

78 reports1 crash
“Top of the driver side door handle broke free from the door. The car has previously been cleared of any recall defects - but a loose door handle may absolutely have something to do with the inner workings of the door/latch and may be a safety issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2025StructureODI 11685557
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Subcompact Cars
Engines
1.6L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (AM6) · Manual 5-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Fiesta FWD
Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive
293732$2,000275
Fiesta FWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive
293732$2,000276
Fiesta SFE FWD
Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive
293832$2,000272
  • Fiesta FWD
    Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L
    29 city · 37 hwy · $2,000/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
  • Fiesta FWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L
    29 city · 37 hwy · $2,000/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
  • Fiesta SFE FWD
    Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L
    29 city · 38 hwy · $2,000/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
4/ 5
4 of 5
Ford Fiesta 5 HB FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
14.3%
Overall
4 / 5
Ford Fiesta 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
14.3%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 30, 2026Vehicle 7346Vehicle 7345
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2013 Fiesta questions

How many recalls does the 2013 Ford Fiesta have?

3 safety recalls as of Oct 30, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2013 Ford Fiesta problems?

Owners filed 668 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (391), engine (110), structure (78). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2013 Ford Fiesta get?

The EPA rates the 2013 Ford Fiesta at 32 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

How safe is the 2013 Ford Fiesta?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2013 Ford Fiesta 4 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 30, 2026