Is the 2015 Ford Fiesta a bad year?
259 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 105, 4.8× a quiet Fiesta year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2015 Ford Fiesta were filed between 31k and 90k miles. You're at 62,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2015 Fiesta owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 62,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 105 (41%) | 31k–90k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 73 (28%) | 42k–86k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 44 (17%) | 36k–72k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical system | 20 (8%) | 20k–70k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 14 (5%) | 26k–78k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 14 (5%) | 7k–66k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 12 (5%) | 38k–62k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 6 (2%) | 33k–78k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 8 (3%) | 9k–37k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 9 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 62,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 259 complaints: 16 mention a crash · 8 report an injury · 26 say the car was towed.
9 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Car dash lights up with all alerts and then totally loses power. You are unable to put car into any gear, your literally stuck wherever this occurs.
My vehicle slips out of gear while in traffic and leave me coasting with the engine racing. This happens every time it is driven.
Shutter in the transmission , when I took it in they claimed the problem wasn't severe enough for Ford motor to fix the issue.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 62,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2015 Ford Fiesta: 4
A component inside the door latches may break, which can make it difficult to latch or possibly allow the doors to open while driving. Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil. If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire.
Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing. If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 87
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2015 Ford Fiesta. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM)…
Certain 2011 through 2015 Model Year Fiesta and 2012 through 2016 Model Year Focus Vehicles Equipped with a DPS6 Automatic Transmission Transmission Control…
Ford is extending the warranty coverage on the DPS6 automatic transmission TCM to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date…
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Timing Belt Failure
Timing Belt Failure
Door Latch Failures
Neighbouring years
2014 Fiesta: 504 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2016 Fiesta: 179 complaints, consider selling.
Every Ford Fiesta year
2001 · 2002 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · All Fiesta years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2015 Ford Fiesta a bad year?
259 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 105, 4.8× a quiet Fiesta year. At 62,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2015 Ford Fiesta were filed between 31k and 90k miles. You're at 62,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Ford Fiesta?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (105), engine (73), fuel system (44), electrical system (20), air bags (14). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 31k–90k miles.
How many recalls does the 2015 Ford Fiesta have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Latches and locks (NHTSA 23V-775), Latches and locks (NHTSA 20V-177), Engine (NHTSA 17V-209), Fuel system (NHTSA 15V-005). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.