2011 Ford FIESTA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
730 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
56,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 602 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 336 of 730 complaints (46.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 296 | 40.5% |
| Engine operation | 99 | 13.6% |
| Braking behavior | 55 | 7.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 55 | 7.5% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 336 |
| Engine | 108 |
| Electrical System | 89 |
| Structure:Body | 89 |
| Unknown Or Other | 58 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 55 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 34 |
| Steering | 26 |
Power Train: 336; Engine: 108; Electrical System: 89; Structure:Body: 89; Unknown Or Other: 58; Vehicle Speed Control: 55; Structure:Body:Door: 34; Steering: 26
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 126 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 132 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 163 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 93 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 67 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 126; 25,000 to 49,999: 132; 50,000 to 74,999: 163; 75,000 to 99,999: 93; 100,000 to 149,999: 67; 150,000 and above: 21
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (163). 128 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 42 |
| 2012 | 32 |
| 2013 | 44 |
| 2014 | 154 |
| 2015 | 131 |
| 2016 | 77 |
| 2017 | 37 |
| 2018 | 32 |
| 2019 | 76 |
| 2020 | 37 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 9; 2011: 42; 2012: 32; 2013: 44; 2014: 154; 2015: 131; 2016: 77; 2017: 37; 2018: 32; 2019: 76; 2020: 37; 2021: 13; 2022: 16; 2023: 13; 2024: 7; 2025: 9; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 296 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 99 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 55 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10362886 · 2010-10-29 (October 29, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. WHILE REVERSING OR ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE LOCAL DEALER BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,046.
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369627 · 2010-12-08 (December 8, 2010)
2011 FORD FIESTA, HAVE HAD FOR 28 DAYS (PURCHASED ON 11/10/10) HAS BEEN IN TO SHOP TWICE. FIRST TIME THE ENGINE WAS VERY SLOW TO TURN ON--LIKE A DEAD BATTERY WITH CLICKING NOISES. THIS TIME, THE CAR WAS SLOW TO TURN ON AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, WOULD TRY TO REVERSE OR DRIVE AND IT WOULD REV LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. FINALLY GOT IT TO FUNCTION, BUT WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING IT. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TODAY, THEY RECHARGED THE BATTERY AND SCRAPPED SOME PAINT OFF OF SOME PART AND PUT SOME KIND OF OIL ON IT. I WAS TOLD THAT BATTERY PROBLEMS C…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10371614 · 2010-12-17 (December 17, 2010)
THIS VEHICLE, BOUGHT NEW IN SEPTEMBER, 2010, HAD LOUD SOUNDS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. FORD HAS PUT 2 NEW TRANSMISSIONS IN IT. THE 3RD REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A PROBLEM THAT "ENGINEERING HAS TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION". FORD, ON TWO OF THE 3 REPAIR ATTEMPTS, SENT OUT A FIELD ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST ENGINEER (ON THE 2ND REPAIR ATTEMPT) SAID TO PUT ANOTHER NEW TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE, (THE 2ND NEW TRANSMISSION TO BE PUT IN THE VEHICLE). THIS STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE …
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10371614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392302 · 2011-03-21 (March 21, 2011)
TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY CHANGING GEARS OR SELECTING INCORRECT GEAR. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER DUE TO TRANSMISSION REMAINING IN TOO HIGH A GEAR FOR ENGINE RPM'S. LAPSE IN GEAR SELECTION CAUSES ERRATIC AND DANGEROUS ACCELERATION. DANGEROUS GEAR CHANGES CAUSE CAR TO BOTH SURGE AND STALL - DEPENDING UPON ENGINE RPM'S NOT CORRESPONDING TO CORRECT TRANSMISSION GEAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10347296 · 2010-08-04 (August 4, 2010)
YOU'VE FILED A PROBLEM INCORRECTLY. THE BELOW COMPLAINT WAS FILED UNDER FIESTA, BUT IT'S CLEARLY AN F250 PICKUP THAT HAD THE PROBLEM. REPORT DATE : AUGUST 4, 2010 AT 04:22 PM SEARCH TYPE : VEHICLE YEAR : 2011 MAKE : FORD MODEL : FIESTA RESULTS : 1 | ALL RECORDS DISPLAYED MAKE : FORD MODEL : FIESTA YEAR : 2011 MANUFACTURER : FORD MOTOR COMPANY CRASH : NO FIRE : NO NUMBER OF INJURIES: 0 ODI ID NUMBER : 10344678 NUMBER OF DEATHS: 0 DATE OF FAILURE: JUNE 9, 2010 VIN : [XXX]... COMPONENT: SER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10347296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10418751 · 2011-08-07 (August 7, 2011)
TEST DRIVE WAS GREAT. AT APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MISS GEAR SHIFTS AT SPEEDS BELOW 15 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT UP INTO 2ND AND UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFT BACK DOWN INTO 1ST, THE SAME WITH 2ND AND 3RD GEAR SHIFTS. I AM ALSO HEARING A METAL CHATTER/SCRAPPING SOUND BELOW THE CAR AT ALL SPEEDS. RECENTLY I HAD TO SUDDENLY BRAKE HARD AND WHEN I WENT BACK ON THE GAS THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE, IT SEEMED TO STILL BE IN 4TH GEAR AND DID NOT SHIFT DOWN OR SELECT THE PROPER GEAR. AT 1000 MILES I WENT TO THE DEALER AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10418751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10376507 · 2011-01-13 (January 13, 2011)
UNUSUAL CLUNKING NOISES WHEN STARTING IN THE COLD. SOUNDS LIKE A DEAD-BATTERY START, BUT LOUDER. CAN START CAR, BUT NOT WITHOUT THIS ODD NOISE. YESTERDAY, AFTER STARTING CAR, IT REFUSED TO ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR--EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE. TURNED CAR OFF, RE-STARTED AND WAS THEN ABLE TO FIND A GEAR. ALSO, FIRST AND SECOND GEARS ARE NOT ENGAGING PROPERLY; THERE IS A CLUNK WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND IT IS HERKY-JERKY. IT IS IN FOR SERVICE NOW AS I TYPE, BUT THE COURTESY VAN DRIVER TOLD ME THEY HAVE HAD 2 FIESTA'S IN ALREADY WITH THIS PROBLEM AND HE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10381266 · 2011-02-09 (February 9, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68.
Owner-reported narrative. 68 miles reported. Look up ODI 10381266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10482842 · 2012-11-01 (November 1, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT HER OFF, CAUSING A CRASH. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND FROM THE FLOOR LEVEL. THE AIR BAG THAT DEPLOYED FROM THE FLOOR WAS SEWED STITCHED ON THE OUTSIDE AND THE SEAM WAS EXTREMELY SHARP. THE DRIVER RECEIVED LACERATIONS HER RIGHT WRIST. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL LATER ON WHERE SHE RECEIVED STITCHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482842 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10468786 · 2012-08-01 (August 1, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN HE BEGAN TO SMELL GASOLINE FUMES. THE ODOR WAS SO OVERPOWERING THAT EVEN AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE HE COULD STILL TASTE AND THE SMELL GASOLINE IN HIS HAIR AND CLOTHING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AND WOULD BECOME STRONGER WITH EVERY RECURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A SECOND DEALER. THE SECOND DEALER WAS ABLE TO LOCATE AN OIL LEAK AROUND THE SEAL, WHICH WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10730248 · 2015-06-24 (June 24, 2015)
SEPTEMBER 2013- WHINING/GRINDING NOISE IN CAR. NOTHING FOUND. ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED (WAS TOLD THE SOUND WAS THE TIRES). SOUND WAS STILL THERE AFTER TIRES WERE PUT ON. WAS TOLD IT WAS "NORMAL". FEBRUARY 2014- TRANSMISSION WHINE, GRINDING NOISE, CAR SHUDDERS WHEN CHANGING GEARS. FORD REPLACED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY (FIRST CLUTCH REPLACEMENT). MAY 2014- GRINDING NOISE IN CAR. FORD CHECKED THE WHEELS, NOTHING FOUND. JULY 2014- TRANSMISSION WHINE, GRINDING NOISE, SHUDDERS IN BETWEEN GEARS. FORD REPLACED CLUTCH (SECOND CLUTCH REPLACEMENT). ALSO, GAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,625 miles reported. Look up ODI 10730248 at NHTSA ↗