2013 Ford Fiesta Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Ford Fiesta.

20122014
Complaints
916
Crashes
19
Fires
10
Injuries
14
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2013 Ford Fiesta Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1378 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:33,454 mi
Crash-related:3
#2109 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:35,113 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:4
#361 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:58,961 mi
Fires:1
Considering a 2013 Ford Fiesta?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Ford Fiesta.

Transmission / Drivetrain
378
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
33,454
Engine Problems
109
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Avg Miles
35,113
Electrical Faults
61
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
58,961
Body Structure
56
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
42,324
Unintended Acceleration
43
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
24,539
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
24
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
65,535
Latches / Locks
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
45,643
Structure:Body:Door
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
41,326
Fuel System
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
34,242
Electronic Stability Control
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
46,643
Airbags
12
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
59,835
Brakes
10
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
59,645
Headlight/Taillight Failures
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
80,415
Suspension Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
35,717
Automatic Transmission
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
81,967
Seat Belt Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module:Software
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Traction Control System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Software
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Engine Control Module (Ecu/Ecm)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Ford Fiesta. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2013 Ford Fiesta

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~2,758,234 vehicles.

20V331000Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
~2,147,323 affected

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.

15V246000Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
~456,440 affected

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 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.

12V488000Airbags
~154,471 affected

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.

Other Ford Fiesta Years

2013 Ford Fiesta — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2013 Ford Fiesta reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2013 Ford Fiesta has 916 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Transmission / Drivetrain with 378 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2013 Ford Fiesta?
Top reported problems: Transmission / Drivetrain (378 complaints, avg 33,454 mi); Engine Problems (109 complaints, avg 35,113 mi); Electrical Faults (61 complaints, avg 58,961 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Ford Fiesta?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 39,187 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2013 Ford Fiesta?
NHTSA complaints for the 2013 Ford Fiesta include 19 crash-related reports, 10 fire reports, 14 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2013 Ford Fiesta have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,758,234 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2013 Ford Fiesta?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (transmission / drivetrain) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford Fiesta reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2013 Ford Fiesta

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

Check Any VIN — $4.99