RoadVitals

2013 Ford Fiesta Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Jul 15, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 667 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Ford Fiesta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Airbags
Filed Jul 15, 2025

All 4 door airbags spontaneously deployed while driving. The air bag deployment knocked me unconscious and I woke up on the shoulder of the road. The vehicle dialed 911 after the incident occurred.

NHTSA ID
11673602
Incident
Oct 30, 2020
AirbagsInterior & seatsPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 21, 2023
Crash reported1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while making a left turn at the traffic light, with her grandchild in a car seat in the rear passenger seat, the rear passenger's side door opened inadvertently. The contact stopped in the middle of the road. A bystander attempted to close the rear passenger's side door; however, the door failed to closed. The bystander was able to keep the door closed by using a cord. The contact moved her grandchild to the rear middle seat. The contact also stated that while driving on another occasion, the front driver's side and front passenger's side doors inadvertently opened.  Additionally, the contact stated while driving on a slight incline, the vehicle inadvertently rolled back. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the failed to respond. The contact engaged the electronic parking brake; however, the vehicle rolled to the base of the incline. The contact was able to continue driving on the leveled road surface. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving on an incline. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised to contact the dealer for recall repairs. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact also stated that the seat belts pretensioners of the vehicle were not retracting as intended. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was previously involved in a crash. The contact stated while idled at the traffic light, another vehicle crashed into the front end of the vehicle. The front driver's side air bag and knee air bag deployed and propelled burning fragments on the contact's face, legs, neck chest, arms. The contact also stated that the front driver's side air bag also hit her on her chin and neck and knocked her unconscious. The contact was transported to the hospital by emergency services. A police report was filed. The contact stated that she sustained burns all over her body and had been r

NHTSA ID
11539847
Incident
Aug 21, 2018
Mileage
32,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 9, 2023
Crash reported1 injury reported

I was involved in a double roll over crash and the airbags did not deploy.

NHTSA ID
11506337
Incident
Feb 8, 2023
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Apr 22, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH, THE SECOND VEHICLE IN FRONT SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES CAUSING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT TO ABRUPTLY STOP AS A RESULT THE CONTACT REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE BRAKE WAS STIFF AND WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE HOOD, HEADLIGHT, RADIATOR, AND FRONT BUMPER WERE DESTROYED BUT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MUSCLE ACHES AND PAINS AND WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS NO BROKEN BONES BUT SUFFERS FROM PANIC ATTACKS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY HELP. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT IN FEBRUARY OF 2020 A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HIT THE DEER. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY ON THAT OCCASION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000.

NHTSA ID
11321955
Incident
Apr 18, 2020
Mileage
175,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 31, 2019

AIR BAG LIGHT ON CONTINUOUSLY

NHTSA ID
11277322
Incident
Sep 1, 2019
Mileage
89,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 5, 2019

TAKATA RECALL - ON TUESDAY 25TH OF JUNE, THECAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND ACTING A LITTLE WEIRD. NO MATTER HOW MUCH I GAVE IT GAS IT WENT INTO TURTLE MODE AND CUT OFF. I TOWED IT TO DARCARS FORD IN LAHNAM, MD. THE TWO WARRANTIES ON THE VEHICLE EXPIRED SO I BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY COMPANY IS TELLING ME THEY DON'T REPLACE CLUTCH BARREN- SHIFT FORK A- SHIFT FORK B AND SEAT BELT LIGHT WHICH IS ON. NOW I HAFT TO PAY 180.00 DOLLARS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND IT STILL NEEDS ANOTHER TEST FOR THE SEAT BELT LIGHT. WHAT AM I TO DO IF FORD DOES NOT HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11229638
Incident
Jun 25, 2019
Mileage
84,536 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 5, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FIESTA. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALL AMERICAN FORD (3698 US 9, OLD BRIDGE, NEW JERSEY 08857) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. *TT

NHTSA ID
11109710
Incident
Jul 3, 2018
Mileage
82,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 26, 2017

MY TRACTION CONTROL OFF KEEPS COMING ON WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO AND MY BLUE TOOTH ON THE STEERING WHEEL WON'T WORK . WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF COMES ON I LOOSE POWER IN MY PEDAL AND ACTS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANNA GO.

NHTSA ID
11048433
Incident
Nov 24, 2017
Mileage
147 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 30, 2016

TAKATA RECALL AIRBAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATES DAILY. MY VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL LIST. IT ILLUMINATES WHETHER ITS MOVING OR STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID
10823194
Incident
Jan 5, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jan 15, 2016

I WAS UNAWARE ABOUT THE FORD FIESTAS HAVING A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSIONS. MY CAR HESITATES , JERKS AND HARD TO ACCELERATE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO SCHOOL AND TO WORK AND ALSO IT HAS BEEN AT FORD SERVICE CENTER MANY TIMES FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT'S JUST HOW FORD MADE THE CAR AND JUST ACCELERATE MORE

NHTSA ID
10820545
Incident
Jan 6, 2016
Airbags
Filed May 4, 2015
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10714417
Incident
Apr 21, 2015
Mileage
40,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 1, 2015
Crash reported

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR TOTAL. OTHER DRIVER PARK ALONG FREE WAY. PULLS OUT IN FORNT OF ON COMING CAR. FORD FIESTA AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10714026
Incident
Apr 21, 2011
Mileage
40,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 10, 2013

THERE WAS AN AIR BAG RECALL ON MY CAR FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. I GUESS IT WAS CHANGED, BUT ANOTHER DEALER FOUND OUT THAT THE AIR BAG WAS LEFT UNPLUGGED FOR ALL OF THIS TIME. THANK GOD I DIDN'T HAVE A WRECK AND MY HUSBAND WAS WITH ME. GREEN FORD IN NORTH CAROLINA HAS SERVICED THIS VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL AS 3 TIMES I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR REPAIR AND IT IS STILL NOT REPAIRED. IF THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER LIKE THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT THE THING WAS UNPLUGGED AS DID THE DEALER THAT HAS IT NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10542815
Incident
Jul 1, 2013
Mileage
18,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .