The Lemon Index2015 Ford Fiesta.
The 2015 Ford Fiesta is worse than average by owner complaints: 84 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 133, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 29 to 35 mpg combined. The best Ford Fiesta year is 2018.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 258 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Fiesta year. 2015 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 20K to 80K miles on the car (178 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 20K–90K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 17K–81K miles
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 30K–72K miles
Recalls 4
- latches/locks/linkages 2023
Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- latches/locks/linkages 2020
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
- engine 2017
If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil.
Show all 4 recalls
- fuel system, gasoline 2015
On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 45,505 vehicles, including certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured November 11, 2013, to August 29, 2014, 2014-2015 Ford …
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 94 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Transmission fluid leakage and excessive transmission
- 2011-2015 fiesta and 2012-2015 focus may show concerns of loss of transmission engagement…
- 2014-2015 fiesta will exhibit an inoperative oil change now indicator message *cn
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenTiming belt failure2026
- ClosedTiming belt failure2025–2026
- ClosedDoor latch failures2019–2022
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 $1850–2200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.0L 3-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Transmission was shuttering. I was in belief this was a warranty issue as our company has had the same issue with other fiestas
2015 Ford Fiesta owner · NHTSA complaint 11020034
More owner reports
My transmission was recall. They suppose to buy back. I open claim with Ford. Long ago but I was ignored by Ford.
NHTSA complaint 11062925
After filling my gas tank cars stalls unexpectedly. Only happens when gas tank is filled to full, but stalls every single time regardless of where gas is purchased or time of day, etc.
NHTSA complaint 11079574
Quick answers
Is the 2015 Ford Fiesta reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 133; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Fiesta year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2015 Ford Fiesta problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (38%), engine (32%) and fuel or ev drive system (18%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2015 Ford Fiesta have?
4 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 2015 Ford Fiesta get?
29 to 35 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2015 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 2015 Ford Fiesta problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 20,000 and 80,500 miles. The middle report was at 49,200 miles, from 178 complaints.
Does the 2015 Ford Fiesta have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 38% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2015 Ford Fiesta cost in fuel a year?
About $1850 to $2200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2015 Ford Fiesta have?
1.0L 3-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl.
What Ford Fiesta year is better than the 2015?
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