Problems · NHTSA complaints
2019 Ford Fiesta problems
Owners filed 105 complaints about the 2019 Ford Fiesta with NHTSA between May 2019 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is back over prevention (31).
Complaints
105
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Back over prevention31
- Power train21
- Electrical system11
- Service brakes10
- Engine10
- Air bags8
- Vehicle speed control4
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Structure2
- Visibility/wiper2
- Lane departure1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Engine and engine cooling1
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
6
3
5
6
13
7
34
31
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 34 |
| 2026 | 31 |
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
Back over prevention
31 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fiesta. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to perform the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were still unavailable.”
Power train
21 reports2 crashes
“The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle, and the sound was coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer, where it was diagnosed with a synchronization failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced, and two motor mounts also needed to be replaced. The motor mounts were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.”
Electrical system
11 reports1 crash1 fire
“Due to distorted camera image, that has been in our ford fiesta 2019 car for few years now, my daughter-in-law got to a parking accident that is going to insurance now. We have been contacting multiple times ford service to complete the recall. It is unfair that this kind of issue is not fixed and causing safety concerns.”
Service brakes
10 reports1 crash
“My granddaughter and I were driving the car around 50mph. When suddenly we smelled burning. The car wouldnt go when I pressed the gas pedal. We smelled the loudest weird smell. So I immediately pulled into the closest car clinic. The breaks were blue and almost on fire. No warning or anything. Turns out, It was the abs control module. It totally failed and caused the breaks to lock up completely. Which almost caught fire. The break pads were blue. We were terrified. After getting Calipers, break pads, and rotars repaired costing $712. I still have to pay another $1000 when I get paid in a week. To get the abs control Module repaired. Because the car isn’t drivable without that repair. I just wish Ford would pay for the repair. Being that they made most of the 2019 Ford Fiesta SE with the wrong fluids. Which causes the breaks to lock up and the abs control module to fail/die. But they denied it. Which is so unfair. Because We could’ve died. And it’s an expensive repair. At no fault of my own. I will upload the other invoices for the back breaks, rotars, pads, calipers and abs control model as soon as I get it paid and repaired. . Thank you”
Engine
10 reports1 crash
“The brakes stick and then when i hit the gas its sluggish and just takes off full force. Causing 50% gas loss. The breaks are getting stuck. Calipers sticking. This is a fire hazard”
Air bags
8 reports7 crashes
“Car accelerates shifting weirdly, airbag light came on after a few days of signing the lease. I believe this is something that needs to be checked out. The RPM jumps up and down while idling. I feel like this car is very new and shouldn’t have engine problems. Has been routinely maintained.”
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.