Problems · NHTSA complaints
2015 Ford Fiesta problems
Owners filed 259 complaints about the 2015 Ford Fiesta with NHTSA between Jan 2015 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is power train (105).
Complaints
259
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
16
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
24
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train105
- Engine69
- Fuel/propulsion system41
- Electrical system20
- Vehicle speed control14
- Air bags14
- Structure12
- Service brakes9
- Steering8
- Suspension6
- Latches/locks/linkages6
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Wheels5
- Fuel system, gasoline5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
9
22
24
29
39
27
18
24
26
15
18
8
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 29 |
| 2019 | 39 |
| 2020 | 27 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 24 |
| 2023 | 26 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 8 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
105 reports4 crashes
“The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for recall repairs; however the issue persisted. After the repairs, while mother was driving on the highway, the vehicle stalled. The clutch became inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not further diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.”
Engine
69 reports2 crashes
“I was driving for couple hours then my oil light came on check engine light came on. Vehicle started to shake very badly. I had to pull over and see what happened. I started the vehicle up again and the oil light and check engine light are still on. I know that these vehicles have the wet belt system on the automatics. But they don't have one for the manual transmission. There should be a recall for these just like the automatics.”
Fuel/propulsion system
41 reports2 crashes
“Car sputters everytime I put gas in it. Sometimes shuts off. It’s every time I put gas. I’m not filling up the gas tank because I notice if I do fill it up. It gives me more problems .. occurring problem”
Electrical system
20 reports3 crashes
“I was driving on the highway, and my car started shaking. All of the sudden I couldn't push on the gas anymore, and out of the blue a notification popped up on my screen that said "transmission failure, service immediately" and the car fully stopped working. I was forced to coast to the side of the highway, where I ended up in an incredibly dangerous spot. I had to call the cops, have them come so I wouldn't get hit (it was fully night time), and had to wait for a tow truck to come tow me and my car off the side of the highway.”
Vehicle speed control
14 reports
“ON MANY OCCASIONS WHEN MY VEHICLE IN IN MOTION THE CRUISE CONTROL COMES ON WITHOUT ANY PROMPT AND ACCELERATES WHILE TRAVELING ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. THIS DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL HAS CAUSED MYSELF AND MY WIFE TO NEARLY HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS FAULTY ERROR IS TO IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE THE FOOT BRAKE PEDAL BUT THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.”
Air bags
14 reports7 crashes
“This goes with Incidents 11500972 & 11500985 2015 Ford Fiesta SE purchased 2.8.18 Crest Ford in Center Line, MI From my other reports, car has had all kinds of issues. This is 3/5 and these are all ACCIDENTS. In early 2019, I was coming home from a medical appointment in the morning. I was the 4th car, sitting at the busy intersection of 9 Mile and Kelly, which was ON 9 Mile, going West. The light was red. I had my seat belt on, like always, my foot on the brake, looking straight ahead at the light. Suddenly, the car shook, like as if a semi was going by, but no one was moving. And even tho my foot was squarely on the brake, the car took off, like someone had pressed the accelerator peddle! Quickly I pressed as hard as I could down further on the brake, but it didn't matter. The car kind of jumped, then took off, again, like someone was had stomped on the accelerator. I was in the right-most lane, I slammed into the Sedan in front of me, which shoved his car off the road, up the edge, and onto the sidewalk, so I was almost sideways. I was horrified. My air bags did not deploy. The man driving and a 2nd man got out, they were furious, screaming what was wrong…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.