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Ford Fiesta.

The best Ford Fiesta years are 2018, 2019, 2017. Years to avoid: 2013, 2012, 2014. Across 2011-2019, it has a Lemon Index of 237, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2011 to 2019.

237Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Lemon alert. Whole model, 2011-2019: 2.4× the average car's complaints.

Best year 2018 · Worst year 2013

Ford Fiesta
Photo shows a 2014 Ford Fiesta. Elise240SX, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

20112562.6× the complaints20123974× the complaints20134524.5× the complaints20143353.4× the complaints20151331.3× the complaints2016102about average2017631.6× fewer complaints2018273.7× fewer complaints2019313.2× fewer complaints

Best years to buy

2018.

2018273.7× fewer complaints than average2019313.2× fewer complaints than average2017631.6× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2013.

20134524.5× the average car's complaints20123974× the average car's complaints20143353.4× the average car's complaints

Quick answers.

Is the Ford Fiesta a good car?

Not overall: it draws more complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2011-2019: Lemon Index 237; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2018 and the worst is 2013.

What are the best Ford Fiesta years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2018, 2019, 2017.

What Ford Fiesta years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2013, 2012, 2014.

How many recalls does the Ford Fiesta have?

23 safety recalls across the 9 model years we track. Most: 2014 (7), 2015 (4), 2011 (3). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Ford Fiesta problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name transmission & drivetrain, body structure and engine most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
20112562.6× the average car's complaints281transmission & drivetrain (50%)3★★★★☆31–33
20123974× the average car's complaints307transmission & drivetrain (37%)3★★★★☆32
20134524.5× the average car's complaints390transmission & drivetrain (64%)3★★★★☆32
20143353.4× the average car's complaints245transmission & drivetrain (46%)7★★★★☆29–35
20151331.3× the average car's complaints84transmission & drivetrain (38%)4★★★★☆29–35
2016102about average55transmission & drivetrain (45%)0★★★★☆29–35
2017631.6× fewer complaints than average31transmission & drivetrain (35%)0★★★★☆29–35
2018273.7× fewer complaints than average14transmission & drivetrain (36%)0★★★★☆29–31
2019313.2× fewer complaints than average20transmission & drivetrain (40%)3★★★★☆28–31

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Ford Fiesta transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data