2013 Ford FIESTA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
667 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
31,483 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 547 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 378 of 667 complaints (56.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 345 | 51.7% |
| Engine operation | 86 | 12.9% |
| Braking behavior | 43 | 6.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 3.7% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.4% |
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 | 378 |
| Engine | 109 |
| Unknown Or Other | 91 |
| Electrical System | 61 |
| Structure:Body | 56 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 43 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 24 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 23 |
Power Train: 378; Engine: 109; Unknown Or Other: 91; Electrical System: 61; Structure:Body: 56; Vehicle Speed Control: 43; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 24; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 23
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 241 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 122 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 79 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 58 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 34 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 241; 25,000 to 49,999: 122; 50,000 to 74,999: 79; 75,000 to 99,999: 58; 100,000 to 149,999: 34; 150,000 and above: 13
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (241). 120 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 59 |
| 2014 | 109 |
| 2015 | 138 |
| 2016 | 81 |
| 2017 | 46 |
| 2018 | 36 |
| 2019 | 85 |
| 2020 | 40 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2012: 3; 2013: 59; 2014: 109; 2015: 138; 2016: 81; 2017: 46; 2018: 36; 2019: 85; 2020: 40; 2021: 16; 2022: 9; 2023: 19; 2024: 12; 2025: 10; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 345 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 86 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 43 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 10477960 · 2012-09-29 (September 29, 2012)
TRANSMISSION STARTED GRINDING WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM SITTING IDLE. BRAKES LOCKED UP 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE TRANSMISSION REVS VERY HIGH WITH ANY STREET THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY FLAT. WHEN I SIT AT A STOP LIGHT IT WILL ROLL BACKWARD WHEN I TRY TO GO. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10477960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10488783 · 2012-12-14 (December 14, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH UPHILL, THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE AUTHORIZED DEALERS WHO ALL ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10488783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511214 · 2013-05-09 (May 9, 2013)
2013 FORD FIESTA BOUGHT 11/23/12. PROBLEMS WITHIN 4 DAYS; IT'S DEFINITELY A DEATH TRAP. TO REPAIR SHOP 11/27/12, 11/30/12, 12/12/12 & 03/27/13 FOR INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS. INITIALLY STARTED HEARING A BUZZING FROM RIGHT SIDE OF MOTOR & SMELLING SOMETHING HOT LIKE RUBBER BURNING. THE ORIGINAL PROBLEMS WERE JOINED WITH A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR (LOUDEST BETWEEN 32 & 42 MPH), IT BEGAN TO HESITATE, SHUTTER, STALL, LURCH, NOT MOVE FORWARD UNTIL HIGH RPMS REACHED & THEN IT SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD. DIFFICULTY…
Owner-reported narrative. 88 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10534699 · 2013-08-11 (August 11, 2013)
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOW MY TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. TONIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND HILL ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534699 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10534290 · 2013-08-08 (August 8, 2013)
FIRST TIME IT ALMOST COMPLETELY DIED ON ME GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT GUNNED IT AND TOOK OFF. ABOUT 3 MILES DOWN THE HIGH WAY ENGINE LIGHTS AND SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON. I GOT TO WORK AND THEY TOWED IT. THEY SAID THEY CHANGED SOME KIND OF WIRING UNDER THE FRONT WINDOW AND DASH. THAT DIDN'T FIX IT. THE NEXT DAY I WAS PULLING OUT OF WENDY'S AND GIVE IT SOME GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I ROLLED THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT GUNNED IT AGAIN. I ALMOST GOT HIT. GOT IT HOME AND PARTED IT. TOOK IT IN THE NEXT DAY AND THEY CHANGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10640962 · 2014-10-02 (October 2, 2014)
WAS ACCELERATING AFTER A STOPLIGHT, AND SUDDENLY AFTER MUCH HESITATION, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD VIOLENTLY AND SHUDDERED. IT CONTINUED DOING THIS AT EVERY STOP-AND-GO FOR WELL OVER A YEAR, AS WELL AS MAKING HORRIFIC GRINDING NOISES, AND STARTED DRAGGING HORRIBLY RECENTLY. I TOOK IT IN FOR CLUTCH/SEAL REPLACEMENT AS INDICATED BY A LETTER FROM FORD, AND GOT THE VEHICLE BACK YESTERDAY. IT ISN'T LURCHING AS MUCH, BUT NEVER SHIFTS INTO SIXTH GEAR (IT NEVER DID BEFORE EITHER) AND NOW VIBRATES AT HIGH SPEEDS, AS WELL AS MAKING A NOISE ONLY DESCRIBA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10640962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10553074 · 2013-11-20 (November 20, 2013)
LAST NIGHT I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THE BRAKES DIDN'T RESPOND EVEN WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKE UNTIL THE END. FINALLY, MY CAR IMPACTED THE OTHER CAR. AFTER THAT, WHEN I TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE SIDE, I ALMOST COLLIDE THE CAR AGAIN BECAUSE THIS TIME THE BRAKE WAS BLOCKED AND I HAD TO PUT THE PARKING POSITION QUICKLY. THIS HAPPEN TO ME BEFORE BUT I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, THE SPEED WAS VERY LOW AND I COULD CONTROL THE SITUATION. I DIDN'T PAY TO MUCH ATTENTION IN THAT MOMENT WHEN BECAUSE IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10553074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10552575 · 2013-11-16 (November 16, 2013)
AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH THE DEALERSHIP OVER A PREVIOUS DEATH TRAP[USED] THE OWNER AGREED TO RECTIFY THAT ISSUE WITH A BRAND NEW 2013 FORD FIESTA.THAT WAS A GREAT THOUGHT TILL THE FIRST ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON,THEY FOUND NO REASON EXCEPT THE GAS TANK HAS NO CAP.I WAS TOLD THIS IS DIRT AROUND THE SEAL AND IT WILL KEEP HAPPENING UNLESS I BUY MY OWN CAP. WELL IT WASN'T LONG AND MY CAR STARTED SPITTING MISSING HESITATING,ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON I TAKE IT BACK IN THEY BELIEVE THERE IS A PINHOLE IN MY GAS LINE.THEY KEEP MY CAR FOR A WEEK THEY DID S…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,015 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552575 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10683924 · 2015-02-17 (February 17, 2015)
WE BOUGHT A 2013 FORD FIESTA IN AUGUST OF 2013. NOT THREE WEEKS INTO OWNING IT, WE HAD SOME TROUBLES AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. IT TURNS OUT THERE WAS A BAD FUEL PUMP THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE IT WAS BEING REPLACED, I WAS GIVEN A FORD LOANER TO DRIVE FOR ALMOST A WEEK, WHILE THEY HAD THE CAR TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP.??THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LOOKED AT 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE SERVICE REP SAID THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF LIQUID ON SOME PART THAT MAKES IT NOT CHANGE GEARS QUICKLY AND THAT THEY WIPED IT OFF AND IT SHOULD …
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10683924 at NHTSA ↗