Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 258 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Fiesta, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 72 | 28% |
| Engine | 28 | 11% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 17 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 14 | 5% |
| Power train | 11 | 4% |
| Air bags | 9 | 3% |
| Structure | 9 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 2% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 2% |
| Engine | 5 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Car sputters everytime I put gas in it. Sometimes shuts off. It’s every time I put gas. I’m not filling up the gas tank because I notice if I do fill it up. It gives me more problems .. occurring problem
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for recall repairs; however the issue persisted. After the repairs, while mother was driving on the highway, the vehicle stalled. The clutch became inoperable.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I have taken the vehicle to 2 auto places both have confirmed it has engine failure. It only has 140,000 miles
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I was driving for couple hours then my oil light came on check engine light came on. Vehicle started to shake very badly. I had to pull over and see what happened. I started the vehicle up again and the oil light and che
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I was driving on the highway, and my car started shaking. All of the sudden I couldn't push on the gas anymore, and out of the blue a notification popped up on my screen that said "transmission failure, service immediate
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
Transmission going out with car having only 71,000 miles on it .a know fact that Ford knew when I bought this car new .and going out when on freeways or just about anywhere could me in danger
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Low pressure oil light came on and I stopped driving it 18 miles later drove about 25-30 mph hoping it wouldn’t seize on me before I got home. because I figure the oil pump is clogged with timing belt fragments and I c
NHTSA complaint: Engine
This vehicle has experienced the exact issue of a Ford recall for other model year fiestas. The oil pump belt has experienced premature wear and failure, leading to a sudden loss of power. My local Ford dealer says that
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2015 Ford Fiesta. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Escape, 2014-2015 Fiesta ST, 2013-2014 Fusion and 2013-2015 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI engines. If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder
Risk: If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a coolant level sensor and the supporting hardware and software, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed Apr
Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on January 8, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 15, 2014, to May 8, 2014, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured April 21, 2014, to May 15, 2014. On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fiesta, 2014-2016 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washingt
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 Ford or Lincoln dealers will replace the side door latches, free of charge. The recall began September 21, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-73
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fiesta, 2016 Fusion, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington,
Risk: Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the door latch date codes and if necessary, replace all four side door latches, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford
| Reliability raw | 61 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 70 | good |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 100 | excellent |
| Performance | 41 | below average |
| Efficiency | 53 | average |
| Safety | 80 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 258 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 72 of them (28%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 61/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2015 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.