FORD · vehicle model

FORD FIESTA

4,290 NHTSA complaints and 12 safety recalls across model years 1988–2019.

Complaints: 4,290
Recalls: 12
Model years: 14

The FORDFIESTA appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 4,290 consumer safety complaints and 12 recall campaigns across 14 model years (1988–2019). That averages roughly 306 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 1 investigation file tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

Year	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Deaths	Rating
2019	94	14	1	0	4/5
2018	46	5	0	1	4/5
2017	104	12	2	3	4/5
2016	253	18	2	3	4/5
2015	355	28	0	0	4/5
2014	647	37	13	0	4/5
2013	914	19	10	0	4/5
2012	831	18	7	0	4/5
2011	1039	52	7	6	4/5
2002	1	0	0	0	-
2001	1	0	0	0	-
1991	3	0	0	0	-
1989	1	0	0	0	-
1988	1	0	0	0	-

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 1,589 in 2017-2021 to 644 in 2022-2026, a fall of 59.5%. That is the 36th percentile of change across the 772 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

’96

’97

’10

’11

’12

167

’13

608

’14

654

’15

485

’16

288

’17

244

’18

594

’19

308

’20

155

’21

160

’22

198

’23

128

’24

150

’25

’26

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare FORDFIESTA to Similar Vehicles

FORDFIESTA vs BMWX5 → FORDFIESTA vs CHEVROLETCAMARO → FORDFIESTA vs LINCOLNTOWN CAR → FORDFIESTA vs JEEPPATRIOT →

NHTSA Investigations

PE14028Preliminary EvaluationClosed2014-09-11

Door Latch Failure

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the FORD FIESTA?▼

The FORD FIESTA has received 4,290 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1988 to 2019, with 12 recalls. That averages about 306 complaints per model year.

What years of FORD FIESTA are available?▼

PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the FORD FIESTA from 1988 to 2019 (14 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.

Does the FORD FIESTA have safety ratings?▼

NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many FORD FIESTA model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.

What are the most common FORD FIESTA complaints?▼

NHTSA complaints for the FORD FIESTA are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.

How do I check if my FORD FIESTA has been recalled?▼

Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.

Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. FORD FIESTA totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.