NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Ford Fiesta. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
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.
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)
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"
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.
PowerShift dual-clutch transmission, slipping, bucking, and shuddering during acceleration. Subject of a class-action lawsuit.
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.
Transmission control module failure
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.
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.
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)
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.
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
Transmission won't move in reverse and goes slow in drive
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
I have a 2013 Ford Fiesta that I had financed through a 3rd party just right at a year . The ride was rough to begin with and I began experiencing problems such as a loud shrieking/grinding noise under the hood , which triggered the check engine light . Also pressing the gas and the car not accelerating properly which causes jerking , stalling , and etc. I had a mechanic look at it and did minor repairs but this problem is reoccurring. Recently , I was backing out of a parking spot and shifted the car into drive from being in reverse and pressed the gas and it didn't accelerate it just made a loud revving noise and jerked until I proceeded out the parking lot into traffic. The car continued to jerk really ridiculously, and I had to put on emergency lights and pull over into the nearest parking lot. I then had to call someone to trail me home. I recently had it towed to a local transmission shop after it jerked/stalled out really bad on me in heavy traffic again and didn't really want to accelerate to the proper speed. The mechanics at the Transmission shop ran a thorough diagnostic , and other tests and let me know that it's the Transmission Control Module that needs replaced and that it has to go to the dealership. Well I called a Ford Dealership , and the representative said it takes months to get in a new Transmission Control Module and also that even when replaced it really does not fix the problem as per many other similar situations the service representative has dealt with. I have been completely screwed all the way around with this car and I'm not even sure why there isn't a recall on these 2013 Fod Fiesta because they are really dangerous and it's so very inconvenient with all the troubles that come with it.
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.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while his daughter was attempting to reverse; after shifting into reverse, the vehicle failed to move. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission control module and the clutch. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact’s daughter owns a 2014 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact then stated that that while the accelerator pedal was depressed the vehicle hesitated. No warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated; however, the technician found that the clutch was slipping, and the clutch and shift forks failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.
Transmission keeps having problems. I was told to replace transmission module
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30-35 MPH, the vehicle was shaking and shuddering. The vehicle failed to move forward and stalled. The vehicle was restarted. The “Transmission Overheating - Service Immediately” message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where the transmission control module was replaced, and it was diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while attempting to shift into reverse, the vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under recall and provide no further assistance. The failure mileage was 78,175.
we broke down in hopskinville kentucky at a gas station. had problems with going into drive and reverse. not wanting to shift. got it going on highway. wouldnt shift into gears lost of power. engine roars loudly and has difficulty shifting to higher gears when we attempt to accelerate. It feels like gears ears slipping or catching when speeding up or slowing down.Unpredictable shifting Trouble shifting into higher gear Trouble downshifting Getting stuck in the same gear. yes it has cause it would not shift and be stuck in the road.. took it to lovegreens in kirksville MO back at home. been nothing but issues and problems. they have lied to us and the ford customer service. they never ran a test on my vehicle they told ford that they havent done a test cause i was trying to get a loaner vehicle,. it has not been inspected. none of the lights came on until we experence the breakdown in kentucky. made it to athens alabama then had it trailered back to kirksville mo due to it almost causins a wreck. lovegreens said they have fixed the recall of the tcm but it was never fixed. i asked ford if i can get a diagnostic test if i can take it to another dealership for the recall... they would not honor it due to lovegreens claiming they fixed the tcm. 2 weeks later i went to pick the vehicle up it was stuck in first gear and it would not shift out of 1st gear. put it in L and then back to drive still would not shift gears. i decided to park it and i havent drove it since.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the transmission seemed to have slipped out of gear, and the vehicle decelerated to 10 MPH. As the contact depressed the accelerator, the vehicle was bucking into gear. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated and there was an indicator flashing that the transmission had overheated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the TCM needed to be replaced. Additionally, the TCM failure caused damages to the transmission and the transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact drove the vehicle from the dealer to her residence; however, while driving, the vehicle stalled and was towed to the residence. The contact researched online and related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 14M02 Automatic Transmission Control Module (Power Train). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.
Rear Passenger Door Latch Failed. We were forced to use a ratchet strap to return home safely due to door swinging open on turns. The safety recall for this was created in 2015 but as of June 2023 there is still not a solution from Ford. They also will not reimburse any repair done after 2017. This is unacceptable.
Car loses power and shudders when driving. I have pulled out into the road multiple times and had the car slow when acceleration pedal was pushed because the transmission wasn't engaging properly. We have also had a message appear on long road trips that says pull over and wait 5 minutes for transmission to cool as car begins to downshift at HIGHWAY speed!!! This has been an ongoing problem. We have been told repeatedly , well that's just how the Ford Transmission was designed by mechanics. I have been waiting for a transmission appointment with my local Ford Dealer since the end of May. The appointment was Sept. 11th. The service agent just called me to inform me the problem is the clutch and pressure plate which needs to be replaced. The car has 104, 000 miles on it. Ford is not willing to do anything to make this safety issue right. I have called them and they say my VIN is not included in their database. Please help me correct this before my family is in a wreck.
Intermittent door lock recycling
The contact's daughter owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while her daughter was attempting to reverse out of a parking spot, the vehicle failed to respond with the engine revving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that her daughter turned off and restarted the vehicle several times; however, the failure persisted. The contact's daughter shifted into drive(D) and the vehicle responded. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the TCM needed to be replaced and that the failure was related to an unknown extended warranty program that had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was not available.
I bought a Ford Fiesta in 2013 at Ford Parkway, Winston Salem. I received a letter from Ford to recall this car due to the transmission being defective stating that I can either file a lawsuit or bring the car to Ford to replace the transmission. Ford said they would replace the transmission. After that, I noticed that the noise was a bit less than before and my wife started using the car but not daily because she has been working from home, which resulted in having less than 56K mileage. Recently, I noticed that the car was not running smoothly, and a loud noise started to come every time I drive the car. I went to Ford Parkway, they said the entire transmission needs to be replaced, I told them that they should have done so when they said they did back to 2017. However, the service department informed me that they only replaced the outer shaft and the clutches back then, even though this was a known manufacturer defect issue and Ford stopped making this model because of that. Now, because of not driving this car daily for long miles like most people do, the transmission problem popped up later than expected and after my warranty period has expired which I wouldn't have benefit from it anyway because of the coverage that was for the transmission software only. I talked with the service director at Ford parkway, and explained to him that the warranty period should have nothing to do with the defect issue because lots of people who were lucky enough discovered this fatal issue early enough to get reimbursed and settled from Ford without waiting all that long as in my case because of not driving the car daily. I also talked to Ford customer service and asked to speak with a regional manager, they refused and said that they opened a case for me but they could not let me talk with the regional manager because he couldn't do anything. I have the call Ref number. Please advise on how this fatal issue can be settled as it threats our safety every time we drive the car.
I was involved in a double roll over crash and the airbags did not deploy.
I purchased the vehicles from Duffy's Auto in Auburn Washington. After the first week of signing the paperwork I noticed a problem with the transmission that was significant. I brought it into the dealership and spoke to Tim Duffy owner of Duffy's Auto. He took it in and went for a test drive and said to me quote "your transmission is shot". "I hope you got the power train warranty on your loan". I replied yes it was strongly suggested by your sales representative. I paid $1,250 for this warranty. It was suggested by Tim Duffy that I continue to drive the vehicle until the check engine light comes on which triggered a response of why do we have to wait till it completely breaks down? He said it would make it easier on the dealership to get a transmission if he had the codes. My car continues to have issues when coming to a complete stop and starting again it's like a shake rattle and roll. At one time going up a hill and it slipped out of gear is all I can figure. I noticed on consumer complaints that this vehicle is infamous for transmission issues for this year and model. I now have a car that is worth virtually nothing with the transmission having issues and a dealership unwilling to fix it. I need help. I am a consumer who is a caregiver and needs a reliable transportation and I had high hopes for this vehicle to provide that. However after the first week of noticing the problem I have reported it to several individuals at Duffy's Auto in Auburn Washington. They are attempting to resolve some issues but I have a feeling come tomorrow when I turn the car in that nothing's going to be done and I need to know legally where I can start a process of obtaining a lawyer. Thank you for your time and listening to my concerns and complaint. I just want to car that runs good. If you need to reach me please call 253-340-9071. Sincerely, Brock Foltz
COMPLAINT - Request Ford Dealer to honor recall -to add me on waiting list Airport Ford service personal not helpful and abrupt TCM transmission RECALL 14M02 2013 fiesta it has 57000 miles
The contact’s daughter owns 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at 40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact was unsure whether there were warning lights illuminated. The contact’s daughter was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module (TCM) had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the parts had been on national back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the parts were not available. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the RPM increased with the engine revving; however, the vehicle failed to respond. Additionally, the vehicle also failed to reverse as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle also failed to exceed 10 MPH while driving. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the vehicle shuddered and hesitated before stalling. The transmission failure message was displayed. Additionally, on several occasions, the vehicle would not immediately respond after shifting to reverse(R). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission clutch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.
CONSTITUENT EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THEIR 2013 FORD FIESTA. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS APART OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS UNSATISFIED WITH THE SETTLEMENT.
DOOR LATCHES KEEP BREAKING. I HAVE ALREADY PAID TO FIX 2 NOW A 3RD ONE IS BROKE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE DOOR LATCHES ON THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, MODEL BUT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED.
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights were inoperable. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that there was corrosion on both headlight relays after opening the fuse box. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with headlight relay corrosion. The headlight relays needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that his vehicle was under recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V246000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). The contact stated that he went to get his vehicle repaired and was advised that there were no programs in place for the recall and that they will not repair his vehicle until it was known for a fact that Ford will reimburse the dealer. The contact stated it had been a long period of time that he had been waiting to get his vehicle repaired due to recall. The failure mileage was unknown
In my 2013 Fiesta, the driver's side seatbelt will no longer retract back in place properly- and while driving it would not retract properly, usually staying loose. The passenger side seatbelt would not fit snug around the passenger either. Both front seatbelts would not restrain anyone in the event of braking hard. I took it in for repair to Fred Bean's Ford in Exton, PA. It was unsafe to drive the car because both the driver and passenger would fly forward when the brakes were pushed hard- no restraining at all from either seatbelt. The dealership will charge me over $800 to install a new part called a pretensioner in both seatbelts. I will save my receipt.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle would not accelerate. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that as he restarted the vehicle and switched gears to drive, the vehicle would not move. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake calipers had seized onto the rotors. The contact stated that the brake calipers, brake pads, brake lines, and the rotors were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred intermittently while driving. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the ABS assembly needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that he would be responsible for the cost of the repair since the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The contact also stated that the front passenger’s door inadvertently opened while driving. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The manufacturer was notified of the failures and referred the contact to NHTSA. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
My transmission light came on and the car began to shutter, would stay at a consistent speed even when I wasn't touching the gas pedal, and the tachometer was fluctuating up and down when I was not touching the gas pedal. I had a passenger in the car, and we both felt unsafe with how the car was acting. I took the car into an auto shop to look at the transmission fluid in case that was the issue, but they said it was fine and that I should have a diagnostic test done on the transmission to see if it needs to be replaced.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while his wife was driving uphill at 5 MPH, the transmission inadvertently lost power and the vehicle rolled back downhill. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated after replacing the battery himself, the warning message "transmission malfunction" appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000.
The car suddenly couldn't move in reverse gear or any other forward gear except 1st gear. It is definitely very risky especially if you were on the highway, car cannot move faster than 10 mph. The check engine light was also on. Dealer said it needs a TCM replacement but the parts can take months to get. It is supposed to be a very well-known issue as ford covers this under the TCM extended warranty. Now I'm left in nowhere, stuck at home without a car and Ford doesn't provide any resolution for me to commute or move around.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026