The Lemon Index2011 Ford Fiesta.
The 2011 Ford Fiesta is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 281 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 256, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 31 to 33 mpg combined. The best Ford Fiesta year is 2018.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 730 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Fiesta year. 2011 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 30K to 81K miles on the car (601 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 23K–81K miles
- body structure complaints mostly came at 37K–74K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 33K–90K miles
Recalls 3
- latches/locks/linkages 2020
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.
- latches/locks/linkages 2015
On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 119,567 vehicles, including certain model year 2011 Ford Fiestas manufactured from November 11, 2009, to May 31, 2013 and certain model year 2013 Ford Fu…
- airbags 2012
The vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." The passenger side curtain air bag will not deploy in the event of a side impact collision when the fro…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 85 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- On some 2011 fiestas there may be a variety of starting problems and engagement problems
- The check engine or traction control light may be on with two possible trouble codes
- Transmission fluid leaked on clutch assembly and by using metal parts cleaner, containing 60%…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedDoor latch failures2019–2022
- ClosedDoor latch failure2015
- ClosedDoor latch failure2014–2015
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fiesta 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Fiesta 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1950–2050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
2011 Ford Fiesta. Consumer writes in request to initiate safety recall for "bucking and jerking" problem while driving.
2011 Ford Fiesta owner · NHTSA complaint 10488182
More owner reports
I was unloading stuff from my car and shut the door when it re opened , there was another incident where another door did the same thing ! I currently have two non working doors on my vehicle and both doors broke within a month.
NHTSA complaint 10654598
Passenger side door latch failed after parking vehicle. Door tied shut. Never repaired due to high dealer cost.
NHTSA complaint 10664088
Quick answers
Is the 2011 Ford Fiesta reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 2.6× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 256; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Fiesta year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2011 Ford Fiesta problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (50%), body structure (23%) and engine (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Ford Fiesta have?
3 safety recalls (latest: latches/locks/linkages). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Ford Fiesta get?
31 to 33 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2011 Ford Fiesta safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2011 Ford Fiesta problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 30,000 and 81,500 miles. The middle report was at 56,000 miles, from 601 complaints.
Does the 2011 Ford Fiesta have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 50% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2011 Ford Fiesta cost in fuel a year?
About $1950 to $2050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Ford Fiesta have?
1.6L 4-cyl.
What Ford Fiesta year is better than the 2011?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2019 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works