general problems of the 2013 Ford Fiesta - part 1

107 problems related to equipment have been reported for the 2013 Ford Fiesta. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2013 Ford Fiesta based on all problems reported for the 2013 Fiesta.

1 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 05/01/2025

Transmission control module failure.

2 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 04/15/2025

Request reversal of recall cancellation by the Ford dealer. Safety recall notice 20s30/NHTSA recall 20v-331 VIN [xxx] ***important safety recall *** I have been working with the service manager, forest at james hodge Ford in muskogee, oklahoma, (1-918-682-1345) and Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. In March of 2025, an inspection was completed on my 2013 Ford Fiesta in regards to this safety recall. Iaw service manager performed an inspection of the door latches and closed out the recall. The issue for this recall states that my vehicle was previously repaired under safety recall 15s15 or 16s30. Evidently this was completed by the previous owner but it states that it is possible that one or more of the door latches was not replaced or may not have been replaced correctly. This proved to be true because in April while on vacation I was driving when my door swung open. After grabbing it I was able to find a place to stop. Then, I discovered the latch would not close! I found a rope to wrap around it to keep it closed to finish out my vacation. Ford has recognized and issued a safety recall due to the risk of doors not closing or doors opening while driving. As stated in the letter I received about the recall the risk if a door latch is not replaced, there is still a risk that the pawl spring tab inside the door latch could break. This condition will typically prevent the door from latching. Where the door is able to be closed, the door may unlatch while driving, increasing the risk of injury. I returned the car to the Ford dealer and was told the recall was for an inspection only and was cancelled. I began calling the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332 on may 1st. Case # [xxx] I have been unsuccessful obtaining a reversal of the cancellation of the recall that is a critical danger. I have been ignored, lied to and promised it would be fixed. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

3 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 10/02/2023

Transmission keeps having problems. I was told to replace transmission module.

4 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 05/05/2023

Car loses power and shudders when driving. I have pulled out into the road multiple times and had the car slow when acceleration pedal was pushed because the transmission wasn't engaging properly. We have also had a message appear on long road trips that says pull over and wait 5 minutes for transmission to cool as car begins to downshift at highway speed!!! this has been an ongoing problem. We have been told repeatedly , well that's just how the Ford transmission was designed by mechanics. I have been waiting for a transmission appointment with my local Ford dealer since the end of may. The appointment was sept. 11th. The service agent just called me to inform me the problem is the clutch and pressure plate which needs to be replaced. The car has 104, 000 miles on it. Ford is not willing to do anything to make this safety issue right. I have called them and they say my VIN is not included in their database. Please help me correct this before my family is in a wreck.

5 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 04/15/2023

Intermittent door lock recycling.

6 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 11/30/2022

Complaint - request Ford dealer to honor recall -to add me on waiting list airport Ford service personal not helpful and abrupt tcm transmission recall 14m02 2013 Fiesta it has 57000 miles.

7 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 04/01/2022

Door latches keep breaking. I have already paid to fix 2 now a 3rd one is broke. There was a recall for the door latches on the same year, make, model but my VIN number was not included.

8 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 03/21/2021

Purchased used on March 2021 dealership somehow made it drive perfect until I drove it for 2 days. Then noticed engine shifting issues, loss of transmission engagement while driving, no-start, or a lack of power. Idles very rough in parked position- spitting and sputtering. Vehicle stalling, losing power while driving, rpms at 4 while on highway @ 65-70 mph as if it never changed out of 2nd or 3rd gear. Called Ford and had the tcm updated April 2021 at gabriel Ford dealership,livingston texas. The update did not help and I was told that I needed to ?drive it like I stole it? but that makes the power-train issues worse. Ford dealership pointed me to NHTSA to write a complaint. As of may 15, 2021 it doesn't matter if its on highway, local in town, low mph or 65 mph the transmission continues to jerk, lose power, sputter, after updating the check engine warning light never came on when transmission issues happened. Vehicle jerking. After driving about 20 miles with rpms at 4 stopping at a light then trying to accelerate the vehicle sputtered and would not gain acceleration, very slow to gain acceleration. Loss of acceleration power will cut out & car will buck & sputter, also makes a grinding or noise then stopped. It's almost caused accidents with my children in the car!. Rpm revs up really high but the speed doesn?t change. At a red light my car began acting funny when the light turned green the car was hesitant to go it was having trouble shifting and accelerating the check engine light never came on. This vehicle power train transmission is faulty and very dangerous. Highway or street driving, in traffic, presenting a dangerous driving hazard. Current mileage @144,000.

9 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 12/16/2020

Bought this car used 2013 on 12-01-2020 had less than 2 weeks and it completely shut down on my daughter driving to work, took to local dealer they said nothing they could find, but this is a very dangerous thing to happen for no reason the car just down thank goodness she was not on the highway! again, the dealer that sold us the car defends that they have checked it out but we are afraid going forward the next time she wont be so lucky we have no warranty and the dealer who sold us the car kept insisting we pay an extra 2000 for a warranty I feel maybe they know something is wrong or about to be for them to be so pushy again, she was driving to work and it just shut down lights started to flash and then a noise was made, the brakes worked still and the steering wheel worked but nothing else.

10 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 08/31/2020

6/18/20 car seized up as if hand brake were on. Loud grinding, shaking, barely move on acceleration. Ford dealer said nothing wrong. 6/20/20. Returned to Ford with same complaint but worse. Repaired transmission leak. 8/11/20 towed to aaa recommended mechanic. Said problem was brakes. Made repair. 8/31/20 same symptoms but much worse. Towed to same mechanic. Do not have response yet. Researched symptoms on motorbisquit, carcomplaints, Ford corporate website. All say 2013 Fiesta transmission is a lemon. My car is dangerous to drive.

11 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 08/29/2020

On the freeway car sputters when shifting and all dash lights flicker and car lozes power jerks like its gonna die out while driving on freeway on the freeway. While driving.

12 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 06/08/2020

Ford faulty transmission problem - Ford Fiesta.

13 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 06/08/2020

Ford front axle and defective faulty transmission -2013 Ford Fiesta two major things went wrong.

14 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 06/08/2020

Transmission problem - defective and faulty transmission firestone 06-08-20.

15 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 01/04/2020

Car remains stuttering idiling high then low atemps to shut off from time to time, I have taking vehicle to get checked at local Ford dealer only when check engine light comes on and says tcm failure or mal function, they repair the part if it's available but now car still does the same thing only difference no oncheck engine light comes on now all repair has to come out of my pocket because they say no check engine light displayed sonrhwy have to guess whatbitnis. This is a known problem from this model vehicle even had a class action lawsuits which I didn't partake in and Ford just won't recall this stupid vehicle. I trusted Ford and financed this car for what it eventually will get us hurt or even killed.

16 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 12/30/2019

The vehicle is straining to pick back up speed once it comes to a stop or slows down. There also seems to be a clicking sound coming from the transmission on the driver side. It seems to have trouble switching over the years because it's a dual transmission I'm suspecting something's wrong with the clutch there seems to be a shutter.

17 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 08/31/2019

When backing out of driveway passenger door opened as it had not latched. Mechanism apparently broke for no reason and door will not latch.

18 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 08/19/2019

The passenger door latch on my 2013 Ford Fiesta suddenly stopped working. The Ford garage said it would be $306. 83 + tax to have the part replaced. The currently broken part replaced a recalled door latch in 2016, but apparently only had a 2 year warranty. The door latch broke for the same reason as the 2015-2016 recall, but there is no currently safety recall on this part. I shut the door and thought it was closed. After driving 4 miles, I opened the door and it would not close/latch properly. The vehicle was backing up when the alert dinged on the dash saying the passenger door was open. The alert did not sound when the car was started, which concerns me that the wind caught the opening of the door while going in reverse. I am concerned that the replacement part is just as faulty as the recalled door latch.

19 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 07/17/2019

While accelerating after a stop light, the transmission stutters violently before 'kicking into gear' and accelerating like expected. It's everyday.

20 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 06/27/2019

Rear passenger door won't latch. When car is in locked mode, you can open the door without pulling the door handle. When in motion door will swing open.

21 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 06/04/2019

Check engine light went on. Error code p0420 catalyst system efficiency below threshold (bank 1); replace the catalytic converter was suggested. Ford is claiming this is not under warranty, however the epa. Gov website states the clean air act cars are to have an 8 yr/80k miles warranty. Ford denies knowledge of this law.

22 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 06/03/2019

I am the owner of a 2013 Ford Fiesta se. I take my car for regular maintenence. I replaced my front and rear brakes in December. A month or two ago I felt an anomaly in my suspension and brakes. The car kept feeling like had a shimmy while driving. It also started making a weird noise. I had my vehicle visually inspected and nothing was noted. I finally took my vehicle to kendricks body shop in aiken, SC and they told me that my brakes had failed causing them to go through the rear backing plate. I was also informed that my vehicle needed to be towed and it was not safe to drive.

23 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 05/18/2019

I have a complaint against clinton family Ford in rockhill SC my car had a recall on it while under factory warranty but it was in service there twice but the problem was never fixed now that my extended warranty is out and I'm having the same problem they won't fix it they want to charge me 1887. 28 dollars for something that wasn't fixed while under factory warranty my number is 980 745 5653 sandra biggers is my name their number is 803 366 3161 my email is sweetsan68@gmail. Com please help me resolve this problem thanks sandra.

24 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 05/15/2019

This car has been trash every since I drove it off the lot I have had to have this car serviced so many times for so many different reasons. My complaint today is the compressor has gone out plus it is making a knocking noise when I turn on the heater. Any suggestions? has any one else complained? if you check the history on this car you will find all the trouble I have had to address?.

25 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 05/15/2019

Back in may, I got a car from abilene used car sales that I am currently leasing from. After a few weeks, the passenger door lock began to malfunction, it would take multiple slams to keep the door closed. After a couple more weeks, the back right passenger door began doing the same thing. Another week later, the driver's door was also being difficult to close. So, within a month, 3 of the 4 doors would require hard slamming to close. Sometimes they wouldn't close at all & because of this, I do not feel safe driving in my own vehicle. I would like Ford to do something about this & help me get this fixed.

26 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 03/15/2019

Purge valve caused fuel tank to be sucked in 3/4 of an inch. While driving I have surging and when stopped the idle is erratic and bounces between 1000 to 2000 rpm. Causes code p0300 to come and go and also p0497 to come and go. Extremely hard for dealerships to find the problem. I have video and picture proof of issue.

27 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 03/01/2019

The transmission slips or shutters then it looses power while driving.

28 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 01/27/2019

Driver door latch won't close and latch. Vehicle was parked. Called Ford dealer who stated my vehicle does not have a recall. Research indicates there's a problem with my vehicle year, make and model door latches. Please help!.

29 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 10/22/2018

The car randomly does not start this all began after my transmission programming being updated and now my pcm is failing and sometimes they car excellerates and the engine revs higher than normal. On several occasions this car has left me stranded. Random codes appear and disappear. One time my car turned off and I lost power steering.

30 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 09/18/2018

On September 18, 2018, my Ford Fiesta (2013 se 4 dr) right passenger door suddenly, and inexplicably, failed to latch, posing a serious safety risk. Fortunately, the car was stationary. However, I had to hold the door closed with a strap while driving to the dealership for repair. Their response was "these things give out from time to time". I did not believe that and conducted online research into the persistent problem of Fiesta door latch failures. I contacted Ford motor's main number and was told my VIN is not on the list for recall # 15s16 (door latch failures). However, my car was produced at the same factory, and during the same time period, as the effected recalled Fiesta vehicles. My car was manufactured on August 14, 2012, in cuautitlan, mexico. In 2015, Ford motor company issued recall 15s16 for Fiestas produced at the cuautitlan production site for cars dating Feb 1, 2012 - may 31, 2013. I am not certain what Ford's criteria is for selecting certain vins for recall. However, this is a serious safety issue that has effected many Fiesta drivers. I believe Ford has omitted some vins from the original recall list, and must add every VIN produced at that cuautitlan mexico plant during the time frame specified in the initial recall for door latch failures. Without doing so, myself and other consumers cannot bring our vehicles into dealerships for safety inspection and part replacements to prevent latch failures, and, therefore, remain at risk of our Fiestas posing a safety issue.

31 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 09/13/2018

Front driver side wont close. Hatch needs to be replaced. Dealer said it will cost around $500 to replace. I saw an article of hatches on recall from 2012 to 2014.

32 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 09/01/2018

In 2016 door opened while driving, Ford fixed door latches,all doors, under a recall. A few months later the rear doors failed again. I was charged to repair the latch. On sept 1, 2018 the passengers back door opened while driving on city street and will not latch again. Called dealer and they stated I will have to pay to have it replaced again. I have not had it repaired yet, part is out of stock.

33 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 06/30/2018

I opened my back passenger seat and closed it. When I closed it, it didnt close. I cant close my door now.

34 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 04/11/2018

Rear passenger door does not latch shut, prompting the dashboard to read that the door is open.

35 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 03/14/2018

I have been having issues with my Fiesta ever since the first week I got it back in 2015. When driving, the car starts to jerk like its not transitioning into the next gear correctly. I have taken it to multiple shops and even the Ford in my area and no one seems to know what the problem is. At times it feels like the car will completely shut off. One of my CO workers has the same car and says the same thing happens to her all the time and nobody knows what the problem is. This happens everyday more so when you are a stop and begin to speed up. Its a very uncomfortable feeling and it makes for a bad ride, especially when you have other people in the car and you all start jerking because of the car. I do not recommend this car to anyone !!!.


Other Equipment related problems of the 2013 Ford Fiesta


Fiesta Service Bulletins
Fiesta Safety Recalls
Fiesta Defect Investigations