The Lemon Index

All cars · Ford Fiesta · 2011

2011 Ford Fiesta. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index256100 = average car
Complaints281NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold91,847U.S. model year
Per 100K sold306complaints
Year rank#6 of 9#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 2

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
1.6L 4-cylAuto (AM6)FWD29 / 37 / 32Regular$1,950
1.6L 4-cylManual 5-spdFWD28 / 36 / 31Regular$2,000

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 30,000 and 81,500 miles. Median 56,000, from 601 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Transmission & drivetrain56,00023,000–81,000303
Body structure55,00037,400–74,500112
Engine68,60033,600–90,00094
Electrical62,00025,500–98,20073
Speed control53,80027,100–79,10048

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Transmission & drivetrain50%
Body structure23%
Engine13%
Electrical10%
Speed control9%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
73032522319

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 3

  • 20V331000 Jun 2020 Latches/Locks/Linkages / Doors / Latch

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. 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. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

    Risk. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

    Remedy. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Ow

  • 15V246000 Apr 2015 Latches/Locks/Linkages / Doors / Latch

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on April 23, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured July 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, and 2012-2014 Fiesta vehicles manufactured February 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013. 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 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured from February 1, 2012, to June 30, 2012. A component wit

    Risk. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

    Remedy. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches with an improved part, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed to owners on June 5, 2015. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S16.

  • 12V488000 Oct 2012 Air Bags

    Defect. Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Fiesta vehicles, manufactured from November 3, 2009 through September 21, 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 front passenger seat is empty. Although the side curtain air bag system was designed to suppress the side curtain air bag under this scenario, that information is not explained in the owner's guide for these vehicles as required by FMVSS No. 208.

    Risk. An occupant in the right rear seating position will not have coverage from the side curtain air bag in a side impact collision when the front passenger seat is empty, increasing the risk of injury to the right rear occupant.

    Remedy. Ford will notify owners and dealers will reprogram the vehicle's software free of charge so that it no longer suppresses the passenger side curtain air bag when the front passenger seat is empty, and consistent with the description in the owner's guide. The safety recall began on October 26, 2012. Owner's may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
ClosedDoor latch failures20192022
ClosedDoor latch failure20152015
ClosedDoor latch failure20142015

Manufacturer communications 85

Ford filed 85 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • 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%…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Ford Fiesta 5 HB FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Ford Fiesta 4 DR FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoNo

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
201125628191,847Transmission & drivetrain
201239730756,775Transmission & drivetrain
201345239071,073Transmission & drivetrain
201433524563,192Transmission & drivetrain

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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