2013 Ford FIESTA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2013 Ford FIESTA has 917 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 11.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (43% of all complaints), specifically: transmission started grinding while trying to accelerate from sitting idle. brakes locked up 3 different times while i had my foot on the brake. the transmission revs very high with any street that is not completely flat. when i sit at a stop light it will roll backward when i try to go. it is an au. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.
917
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
11.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
TRANSMISSION
393 complaints- • TRANSMISSION STARTED GRINDING WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM SITTING IDLE. BRAKES LOCKED UP 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE TRANSMISSION REVS VERY HIGH WITH ANY STREET THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY FLAT. WHEN I SIT AT A STOP LIGHT IT WILL ROLL BACKWARD WHEN I TRY TO GO. IT IS AN AU
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH UPHILL, THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE AUTHORIZED DEALERS WHO ALL ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS OPERATING NORM
- • WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, CAR WILL ROLL BACKWARDS WHEN RELEASING BRAKE AT A STOPLIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD. *TR
“TRANSMISSION STARTED GRINDING WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM SITTING IDLE. BRAKES LOCKED UP 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE TRANSMISSION REVS VERY HIGH WITH ANY STREET THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY FLAT. WHEN I SIT AT A STOP LIGHT IT WILL ROLL BACKWARD WHEN I TRY TO GO. IT IS AN AU”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
113 complaints- • WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY VEHICLE GOT VERY SHAKY AND UNCONTROLLABLE TO DRIVE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA. AFTER BEING ABLE TO PULL OFF FREEWAY AND CHECK CAR WE NOTICED A HUGE TRAIL AND PUDDLE OF OIL COMING FROM MY CAR
- • I ALMOST DIED IN THIS CAR TODAY. I RENTED IT FOR MY TRIP IN MAUI. IT WAS PRACTICALLY NEW WITH ONLY 10,000 MILES ON IT, SO THERE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANYTHING WRONG, EVEN IF THE PEOPLE THAT RENTED IT BEFORE ME DROVE IT HORRIBLY. TODAY I DROVE IT INTO THE HILLS (UPCOUNTRY MAUI). I WAS ON A ROAD WITH A
- • FIRST TIME IT ALMOST COMPLETELY DIED ON ME GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT GUNNED IT AND TOOK OFF. ABOUT 3 MILES DOWN THE HIGH WAY ENGINE LIGHTS AND SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON. I GOT TO WORK AND THEY TOWED IT. THEY SAID THEY CHANGED SOME KIND OF WIRING UNDER THE FRONT WINDOW AND DAS
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY VEHICLE GOT VERY SHAKY AND UNCONTROLLABLE TO DRIVE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA. AFTER BEING ABLE TO PULL OFF FREEWAY AND CHECK CAR WE NOTICED A HUGE TRAIL AND PUDDLE OF OIL COMING FROM MY CAR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
94 complaints- • FIRST TIME IT ALMOST COMPLETELY DIED ON ME GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT GUNNED IT AND TOOK OFF. ABOUT 3 MILES DOWN THE HIGH WAY ENGINE LIGHTS AND SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON. I GOT TO WORK AND THEY TOWED IT. THEY SAID THEY CHANGED SOME KIND OF WIRING UNDER THE FRONT WINDOW AND DAS
- • ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOW MY TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. TONIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND HILL ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *TR
- • MY FORD FIESTA 2013 HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH SHUDDERING, LUNGING, JERKING, AND FAILING TO ENGAGE GEAR SHIFTS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL FORD DEALERS AND SERVICEMEN THAT I NEED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS IF IT WERE A STICKSHIFT AND HESITATION BETWEEN GEAR SHIFTS IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. A FORD DEAL
“FIRST TIME IT ALMOST COMPLETELY DIED ON ME GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT GUNNED IT AND TOOK OFF. ABOUT 3 MILES DOWN THE HIGH WAY ENGINE LIGHTS AND SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON. I GOT TO WORK AND THEY TOWED IT. THEY SAID THEY CHANGED SOME KIND OF WIRING UNDER THE FRONT WINDOW AND DAS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
78 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK FAILED TO OPEN WHEN ACCESSED WITH THE CONTROL MECHANISM UNLESS ALL FOUR AUTOMATIC DOORS WERE ACTIVATED PREVIOUSLY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE P
- • BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW IN JAN 2013. WAS QUIET AT THE TIME. HAS BECOME LOUDER AND SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING RUBBING WHEN TURNING AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING. CAR IS HESITATING AND STUTTERING TERRIBLE. HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT MAKING TURNS WHEN IT BEGINS TO HESITATE AND THEN SPEEDS UP. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE IS
- • CLOSED DOOR AND DOOR BOUNCED BACK. LOCKING MECHANISM HAS BROKEN TWICE ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *TR
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK FAILED TO OPEN WHEN ACCESSED WITH THE CONTROL MECHANISM UNLESS ALL FOUR AUTOMATIC DOORS WERE ACTIVATED PREVIOUSLY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE P”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
62 complaints- • FIRST TIME IT ALMOST COMPLETELY DIED ON ME GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT GUNNED IT AND TOOK OFF. ABOUT 3 MILES DOWN THE HIGH WAY ENGINE LIGHTS AND SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON. I GOT TO WORK AND THEY TOWED IT. THEY SAID THEY CHANGED SOME KIND OF WIRING UNDER THE FRONT WINDOW AND DAS
- • ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOW MY TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. TONIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND HILL ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *TR
- • I PICKED UP THIS VEHICLE BRAND- NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON 8/2/13. BY 8/5, THREE DAYS AFTER I GOT THE CAR, THE ENTIRE FRONT END HAD STARTED TO SHUDDER AND CHUG, AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. IT FELT LIKE A DEEP-SEATED TIMING ISSUE (THE ENGINE RPMS HAD BEEN A BIT OFF SINCE I PICKED UP THE C
“FIRST TIME IT ALMOST COMPLETELY DIED ON ME GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT GUNNED IT AND TOOK OFF. ABOUT 3 MILES DOWN THE HIGH WAY ENGINE LIGHTS AND SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON. I GOT TO WORK AND THEY TOWED IT. THEY SAID THEY CHANGED SOME KIND OF WIRING UNDER THE FRONT WINDOW AND DAS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 917 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION STARTED GRINDING WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM SITTING IDLE. BRAKES LOCKED UP 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE TRANSMISSION REVS VERY HIGH WITH ANY STREET THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY FLAT. WHEN I SIT AT A STOP LIGHT IT WILL ROLL BACKWARD WHEN I TRY TO GO. IT IS AN AU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY VEHICLE GOT VERY SHAKY AND UNCONTROLLABLE TO DRIVE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA. AFTER BEING ABLE TO PULL OFF FREEWAY AND CHECK CAR WE NOTICED A HUGE TRAIL AND PUDDLE OF OIL COMING FROM MY CAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: FIRST TIME IT ALMOST COMPLETELY DIED ON ME GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT GUNNED IT AND TOOK OFF. ABOUT 3 MILES DOWN THE HIGH WAY ENGINE LIGHTS AND SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON. I GOT TO WORK AND THEY TOWED IT. THEY SAID THEY CHANGED SOME KIND OF WIRING UNDER THE FRONT WINDOW AND DAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK FAILED TO OPEN WHEN ACCESSED WITH THE CONTROL MECHANISM UNLESS ALL FOUR AUTOMATIC DOORS WERE ACTIVATED PREVIOUSLY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE P
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ford FIESTA — Year Comparison
How does 2013 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 917
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 8
- Crash reports
- 10
- Injury reports
- 7
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2013 Ford FIESTA