Is the 2011 Ford FIESTA reliable?

The 2011 Ford FIESTA has 1039 complaints filed with NHTSA (2.8x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: TRANSMISSION problems.

What are common problems with the 2011 Ford FIESTA?

Top problems: TRANSMISSION (366 complaints, avg repair $500); BODY/STRUCTURE (126 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (120 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2011 Ford FIESTA?

Yes, there are 3 recall(s): LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, AIR BAGS. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2011 Ford FIESTA?

The 2011 Ford FIESTA gets 32 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1500. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2011 Ford FIESTA?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2011 Ford FIESTA is approximately $1,339/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2011 Ford FIESTA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Ford FIESTA has 1039 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.8x the segment average of 367. The most common issue is transmission problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: tl*the contact owns a 2011 ford fiesta. while reversing or attempting to stop, the contact noticed a loud noise. the vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist who stated that the transmissin needed to be replaced. the transmission was replaced by the local dealer but the failure continued. the . There are 3 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 26 crash reports 29 injuries

1039

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

2.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

TRANSMISSION

366 complaints

35%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. WHILE REVERSING OR ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE LOCAL DEALER BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE
• 2011 FORD FIESTA, HAVE HAD FOR 28 DAYS (PURCHASED ON 11/10/10) HAS BEEN IN TO SHOP TWICE. FIRST TIME THE ENGINE WAS VERY SLOW TO TURN ON--LIKE A DEAD BATTERY WITH CLICKING NOISES. THIS TIME, THE CAR WAS SLOW TO TURN ON AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, WOULD TRY TO REVERSE OR DRIVE AND IT WOULD REV LIKE
• THIS VEHICLE, BOUGHT NEW IN SEPTEMBER, 2010, HAD LOUD SOUNDS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. FORD HAS PUT 2 NEW TRANSMISSIONS IN IT. THE 3RD REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A PROBLEM THAT "ENGINEERING HAS TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION". FORD, ON TWO OF THE 3 REPAIR ATTEMPTS, SENT OUT A FIELD ENGINEER TO I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 10 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. WHILE REVERSING OR ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE LOCAL DEALER BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2011 Ford FIESTA

Based on 851 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 57K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

208

30-60K

233

60-100K

283

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

Earlier than typicalmedian 38K mi · 14 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

Earlier than typicalmedian 37K mi · 12 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BODY/STRUCTURE

Reported earliermedian 55K mi · 113 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

Reported earliermedian 63K mi · 51 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

AIR BAGS

Reported earliermedian 44K mi · 24 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

Reported earliermedian 45K mi · 21 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (3)

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH08/06/2020

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.

Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2011 Ford FIESTA

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,500

Per month

$125

Per mile

12.5¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$1,715/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,298/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2011 Ford FIESTA

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,339

Full coverage / month

$112

Liability only / year

$598

vs US avg

-20%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.98x

× vehicle age0.85x

= Full coverage estimate$1339

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford FIESTA Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2011 FIESTA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1039 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. WHILE REVERSING OR ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE LOCAL DEALER BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: AT CROSSROADS FORD,PRINCE GEORGE,VIRGINIA: THIS 2011 FORD FIESTA...SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON..DEALERSHIP CHECKED CAR TSB(POWER TRAIN CENTRAL MODULE-FOR TRANSMISSION) ONLY RE-SET/RE-PROGRAMMED TRANSMISSION COMPUTER.(APRIL 25,2011. ON NOVEMBER 4,2011...I TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO MORGANTON N.C.FO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: VENTILATION DUCT FALLS ONTO DRIVER'S RIGHT FOOT DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, INHIBITING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THE ACCELERATOR. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 2011 FORD FIESTA. ATTORNEY WRITES ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE STATED HE WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING. THE DRIVER STOPPED THE VEHIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 3 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)