2013 Ford Fiesta Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact received the recall notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (latches, locks, and linkages). The contact stated that the passenger-side door opened while driving at 30-35 MPH. While her daughter was driving, the passenger side rear door came ajar. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was able to inspect and confirm the failure. The repair was approved then denied. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who referred her to another dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

NHTSA ID

11741575

Incident

May 13, 2026

Mileage

88,000 mi

The vehicle experienced a sudden transmission failure while driving. Before the failure, the car began shuddering and hesitating during acceleration. It then started making loud metal grinding noises from the transmission area and eventually lost the ability to move properly when placed in Drive or Reverse. This created a safety risk because the vehicle could not accelerate normally in traffic and became difficult to control. The issue appears related to the transmission and/or clutch system. Warning messages and abnormal shifting behavior occurred prior to the failure. I previously asked a dealership in 2020/2021 to inspect and repair the transmission issues while the vehicle was still under warranty, but they stated the problem was not “bad enough” at that time and did not perform any repairs. The vehicle is currently inoperable due to this malfunction.

NHTSA ID

11731703

Incident

Apr 16, 2026

I was driving down [XXX] . I stopped at a stoplight. When the light turned green I pressed the gas to accelerate when suddenly mid intersection my transmission went out causing me to have no power. Approximately 5 minutes prior to this I did get a message about a transmission malfunction. Due to the transmission going out I was stuck in the intersection. I had it towed to a shop where they have confirmed that the Transmission Control Module (TCM) has failed. There are a couple parts of the transmission that they have not been able to confirm whether they are working due to the TCM failing. I believe that the TCM failing can put drivers in a potentially unsafe position like it did to me. I was stuck in an intersection of 2 very busy roads due to this failure. I dont currently have the part that failed with me. It is still currently on the vehicle. The vehicle and component has not been inspected by anyone other than the shop it was towed to. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11728218

Incident

Mar 21, 2026

My low beam heads both stopped working at the same time. Upon investigation I identified the problem came from corrosion of the relay in the battery junction box. This problem exactly matches a Ford recall for some 2013 Ford fiesta manufactured in Canada. My vehicle is not covered by this recall, but the problem and failure point is identical. The text of that recall is as follows: "Safety recall in certain Canadian provinces of select 2012-13 Ford Fiesta vehicles for potential battery junction-box corrosion Ford is issuing a safety recall for certain 2012-13 Ford Fiesta vehicles in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec. In affected vehicles, battery junction-box relay or fuse corrosion can lead to a loss of low-beam headlamps and daytime running lamps while driving. This action affects 13,564 vehicles in Canada. Affected vehicles were built at Cuautitlán Assembly Plant from June 25, 2011, through April 27, 2013. Dealers will clean the battery junction box, install foam sealing to the cover and replace any corroded fuses, terminals or relays. There will be no charge to the customer for these services. The Ford reference number for this recall is 19S28"

NHTSA ID

11718262

Incident

Feb 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was a loud rattling sound coming from the vehicle and the vehicle experienced a loss of power and decelerated. The vehicle was driven to a nearby service station. After restarting the vehicle and shifting to drive(D), the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was later towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 131,000.

NHTSA ID

11706151

Incident

Dec 12, 2025

Mileage

131,000 mi

My car has 74,000 actual miles and the transmission is acting up kicking out of gear and loosing coummcation with the tcm and a sensor comes on about bad clutch pack

NHTSA ID

11704414

Incident

Dec 31, 2001

Top of the driver side door handle broke free from the door. The car has previously been cleared of any recall defects - but a loose door handle may absolutely have something to do with the inner workings of the door/latch and may be a safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11685557

Incident

Apr 2, 2025

PowerShift dual-clutch transmission, slipping, bucking, and shuddering during acceleration. Subject of a class-action lawsuit.

NHTSA ID

11683162

Incident

Jul 2, 2025

Transmission control module failure

NHTSA ID

11680125

Incident

May 1, 2025

Request Reversal of Recall Cancellation by the Ford Dealer. RE: Safety Recall Notice 20S30/NHTSA Recall 20V-331 VIN [XXX] ***IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL *** I have been working with the Service Manager, Forest at James Hodge Ford in Muskogee, Oklahoma, (1-918-682-1345) and Ford Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. In March of 2025, an inspection was completed on my 2013 Ford Fiesta in regards to this safety recall. IAW service manager performed an inspection of the door latches and closed out the recall. The issue for this recall states that my vehicle was previously repaired under Safety Recall 15S15 or 16S30. Evidently this was completed by the previous owner but it states that it is possible that one or more of the door latches was not replaced or may not have been replaced correctly. This proved to be true because in April while on vacation I was driving when my door swung open. After grabbing it I was able to find a place to stop. Then, I discovered the latch would not close! I found a rope to wrap around it to keep it closed to finish out my vacation. Ford has recognized and issued a safety recall due to the risk of doors not closing or doors opening while driving. As stated in the letter I received about the recall the risk is: If a door latch is not replaced, there is still a risk that the pawl spring tab inside the door latch could break. This condition will typically prevent the door from latching. Where the door is able to be closed, the door may unlatch while driving, increasing the risk of injury. I returned the car to the Ford Dealer and was told the recall was for an inspection only and was cancelled. I began calling the Ford Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332 on May 1st. Case # [XXX] I have been unsuccessful obtaining a reversal of the cancellation of the recall that is a critical danger. I have been ignored, lied to and promised it would be fixed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11675124

Incident

Apr 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

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the driver's door unintendedly opened. The contact immediately pulled over to attempt to close the door; however, the door failed to close. The contact used a rope to keep the door closed with the rear passenger’s door on the driver's side door. The vehicle was previously included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages), and the vehicle was inspected and determined that there was no failure with the doors. The vehicle was not repaired at that time, and the recall was closed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the door latch had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

NHTSA ID

11663207

Incident

Apr 18, 2025

Mileage

78,000 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed several times before the vehicle came to a stop. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle almost crashed into another vehicle due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with brake master cylinder and vacuum brake booster failure. The contact was informed that the brake master cylinder and the vacuum brake booster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact was informed that a brake fluid leak was not visible. The contact stated that the low brake fluid warning light was illuminated, and the brake fluid was refilled two days prior to the failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included with the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11659907

Incident

May 8, 2025

Mileage

40,000 mi

Static through speakers - possible cause, alternator, spark plugs, or faulty wiring. Passenger air bag light - comes on and off on its own randomly. Overheats - with fluids all topped off and car parked and running for 5 minutes it will start extremely overheating with visible smoke. Not sure why. Wire cover - plastic panel on ground towards front of door on driver side needs better coverage. Panel just keeps popping off showing wires. Not sure to what. If gets wet from getting in and out of car can shock you while your driving if touch it just right. Emergency break - don't work Warming indicator - says doors are open when they aren't. Headlights - work when they want to. Theft alarm - don't work Hood pop lever - the lever to pop your hood isn't connected well. The whole lever is just hanging under my steering wheel from the cords. Not latched into anything just kinda floating in the air, makes it hard to pop the hood, can be a distraction while driving with something hitting your knee. Belt buckles - when using seat belts, comes unclicked randomly while driving or won't buckle at all when first trying to put it on. Trunk - unlatches and opens randomly while driving or parked. Shocks? - not sure if it's shocks or what it is. But there is no comfortability while driving. You can feel every bump, pot whole, Crack, anything you drive across. Think it messed up my bearings because of it. But I'm not a mechanic so these are just examples of what's going on and what i think.

NHTSA ID

11655136

Incident

Apr 17, 2025

The vehicle suffered a direct rear impact from another vehicle traveling approximately 95 mph while this Ford Fiesta was traveling 60 mph forward. Both front seats were positioned upright with a properly seated driver and a passenger seated whilst turning his body behind the seat. The impact was severe enough to trigger the Ford Fiesta's SOS Post-Crash Alert System. As a result of the impact, both front seats of the vehicle broke free of their positions and reclined backwards. This action of the seats cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle as his hands were stripped from the wheel. The airbags did not deploy. The driver's head flew forward and slammed back hard into the headrest. The vehicle was inspected by a police officer at the scene who commented that the seats had failed. The vehicle was also inspected by an insurance inspector. The vehicle is currently in the possession of Progressive and may be available to inspect. The vehicle was in proper working order before the accident occured and provided no sign of issues with the seats.

NHTSA ID

11627821

Incident

Sep 18, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The vehicle had failed to start. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to reverse. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The contact related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 14M02. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch, the TCM, and the doors needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11623625

Incident

Feb 1, 2024

Mileage

60,000 mi

Car shudders with noises on the transmission, not going on reverse and sometimes can not go on driver or forward too, car has codes for transmission clutches

NHTSA ID

11619555

Incident

Oct 13, 2024

Transmission won't move in reverse and goes slow in drive

NHTSA ID

11617149

Incident

Sep 29, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, and while driving up an incline, the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle was not responding as needed. The contact stated that while at the top of the hill and driving down the hill, the vehicle regained motive power. The contact stated that no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was occurring while driving up an incline. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the internal transmission seals were leaking and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,429.

NHTSA ID

11613079

Incident

Aug 12, 2024

Mileage

74,429 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shuddering. The contact stated that previously it was difficult to shift out of park(P). Additionally, the contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The message "Turn Vehicle Off - Transmission Overheating" and "Transmission Malfunction - Service Now" were temporarily displayed. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch pads had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

NHTSA ID

11609470

Incident

Aug 15, 2024

Mileage

132,000 mi

Cars transmission went out at 64000 miles car started jerking then showed a message to use brake stop safely I pulled over and then said transmission hot give a few minutes then after a few minutes it said transmission ready then I tried to drive it and it did the same thing all over again. When I got it home I found out the reverse is out

NHTSA ID

11600981

Incident

Jun 1, 2024

Ford Fiesta 2013 had a transmission malfunction warning pop up and the car aggressively jerked back then wouldn’t accelerate past 25 mph. The warning light stayed on. The car a couple miles after the incident wouldn’t accelerate at all even though the engine was on. This type of stopping happened twice. This issue is not related to my driving or accident but due to Ford producing a car with set malfunctions.

NHTSA ID

11591504

Incident

May 22, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the transmission experienced a catastrophic failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 92,800.

NHTSA ID

11591108

Incident

May 28, 2024

Mileage

92,800 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on three occasions, the vehicle jerked, lost motive power, and failed to accelerate above 25 MPH. The check engine, oil, and ECM warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and restarted. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where the failure could not be replicated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the failure persisted. The check engine and ECM warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the Transmission Malfunction message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.

NHTSA ID

11590552

Incident

May 22, 2024

Mileage

101,000 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of a failure with the transmission. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into second gear and was stuck in first gear. The contact stated that there was transmission fluid coming from the transmission. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence however, the failure persisted. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11587862

Incident

May 9, 2024

Mileage

160,000 mi