Research · complaint index
Ford Fiesta years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 9 model years of the Ford Fiesta by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2013, 2011 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
1.0 = typical year for this model
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 105 | 13 | 0.6 | 3 | 13 | Typical |
| 2018 | 35 | 4 | 0.2 | 0 | 4 | Fewest complaints |
| 2017 | 74 | 7 | 0.3 | 0 | 7 | Fewest complaints |
| 2016 | 179 | 16 | 0.8 | 0 | 10 | Typical |
| 2015 | 259 | 22 | 1.0 | 4 | 16 | Typical |
| 2014 | 504 | 39 | 1.8 | 7 | 23 | Typical |
| 2013 | 668 | 48 | 2.2 | 3 | 12 | Most complaints |
| 2012 | 617 | 41 | 1.9 | 3 | 12 | Typical |
| 2011 | 730 | 46 | 2.1 | 3 | 32 | Most complaints |
- 2019105 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 201835 complaints · 0 recallsFewest complaints
- 201774 complaints · 0 recallsFewest complaints
- 2016179 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 2015259 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2014504 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2013668 complaints · 3 recallsMost complaints
- 2012617 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2011730 complaints · 3 recallsMost complaints
Data from NHTSA Complaints & Recalls APIs · synced Oct 30, 2026
Fewest complaints for their age: 2018, 2017.
About this comparison
What Ford Fiesta years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2013, 2011 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 9 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.