2011 Ford Fiesta recalls and problems

The 2011 Ford Fiesta has 3 safety recalls and 730 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer.

Recalls
3
Complaints
730
Crashes / fires
32 / 5
Injuries / deaths
34 / 3

Recalls may cover only some 2011 Ford Fiesta vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2011 Ford Fiesta recalls

Recall 20V-331: Latches/Locks/Linkages

Reported Jun 8, 2020 · 2,147,323 vehicles affected · Ford Motor Company

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.

Recall 15V-246: Latches/Locks/Linkages

Reported Apr 24, 2015 · 456,440 vehicles affected · Ford Motor Company

Problem: 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.

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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 12V-488: Air Bags

Reported Oct 5, 2012 · 154,471 vehicles affected · Ford Motor Company

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

2011 Ford Fiesta problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Power Train366
Structure126
Engine108
Electrical System96
Unknown or Other58
Vehicle Speed Control57
Latches/Locks/Linkages41
Steering26
Air Bags24
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)18
Fuel/Propulsion System15
Service Brakes14

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 89
  • Structure › Body › Door — 34
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 23
  • Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch — 21
  • Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers — 4
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) — 4
  • Power Train › Clutch Assembly — 3
  • Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 2

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 56,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2011 Ford Fiesta complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine · reported Aug 20, 2026
Ford has had a long known issue with 2011-2015-FIESTA ( Cuautitlan ) they issued a Customer Satisfaction Program that ended June 2025. I purchased the car July 2026 used w/o none issues. Checked VIN for recall and Maryland Inspected. Driving it one week and the check engine light comes on. Apparently the TCM recognized a change in driving pattern but FORD will not honor the replacement. How is it not a safety issue with the vehicle can decide not to engage risking a collision? I am willing to pay for the labor of the part but would like the part covered as it should.
Unknown or Other · reported Oct 6, 2025
While driving my car with my two little nieces in the backseat, I heard a sound that made me think a wheel was coming off. As long as I was driving straight, the vehicle seemed to be okay. But when I made a turn onto the next road, something broke underneath the car and we began to spin around. It felt like the wheels were rubbing under the floor of the car and we were in the middle of the street. When I got out, I saw the rear wheels were cocked at an angle to the rest of the car. I thank God we weren't on a busy highway where we could have all been killed.
Power Train · at 106,902 miles · reported Sep 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road on several occasions. The vehicle was able to restart after 10 minutes; however, the failure recurred upon resuming driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed. The mechanic related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 15B22 (Transmission Control Module Reprogramming for Overt TCM Failure Warning). The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled…
Electrical System · reported Aug 3, 2025
I am having issues with the fuse box under the hood. I keep shorting out on my headlights ans AC clutch relay. I've purchased new head lights (bulbs), replaced them and they still didn't work. I checked the fuses after investigation online and they have blown. I had my AC completely fixed and it ran fine for a while, then stopped working. I had it checked and was told the AC relay clutch fuse was loose. I replaced it. Three weeks later it shorted out, again.
Power Train · at 130,000 miles · reported Aug 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving on a main road at 30 MPH, the transmission shifted independently to neutral(N). The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle. The contact shifted to drive(D) and drove to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Other Ford Fiesta years

Compare all Ford Fiesta years · All Ford models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Ford Fiesta have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2011 Ford Fiesta: 20V-331 (latches/locks/linkages), 15V-246 (latches/locks/linkages), 12V-488 (air bags). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2011 Ford Fiesta?

Owners report power train problems most often (366 reports), followed by structure (126). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 56,000 miles.

Are Ford recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Ford dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.