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Here Are The Ford Fiesta Years To Avoid


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silver Ford Fiesta

Photo by John Liono on Unsplash

The Ford Fiesta is a supermini vehicle marketed as a subcompact car for drivers to enjoy. It was first manufactured in 1976 and retired in 2019. It offers value for those who don’t need a lot of space and don’t want to spend much. There are many quality Ford Fiesta options, but many Ford Fiesta years to avoid.

If you’re interested in purchasing this vehicle for yourself, it’s critical to invest in the best year. Here at CoPilot, we can help tell you about the Ford Fiesta years to avoid and which ones to buy. Get the most value for your investment. 


THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE FORD FIESTA

If you’re buying a used Ford Fiesta, you should know which years are safe to buy in terms of reliability. So for today’s post, we’ll walk you through the recent generations of the Fiesta and determine which is the most reliable Ford Fiesta year and which models to skip.


Quick Answer - Avoid Ford Fiesta Year Models 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

The small Ford Fiesta first appeared on the market in 1976, and it retired in 2019 after years of hard work. If you want to purchase a version for your life, you might wonder which Ford Fiesta years to avoid so you can maximize value. We recommend staying away from the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 models for the best ownership experience.

There are many troubles with these models, but most stem from the transmission. Unfortunately, repairs for this component can be costly and time-consuming - items most drivers cannot afford. It’s vital to know which models to steer away from in the buying process for the future of your car ownership.


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Which Models of the Ford Fiesta Are Safe to Buy Used?

We’ve talked about the poor models, but what about the good ones? There are plenty of excellent years to choose from if you want the Ford Fiesta for your next vehicle. Let’s talk about some of the best choices.

According to carcomplaints.com, here are some of the best years for the Ford Fiesta:

  • 1991 Ford Fiesta
  • 1995 Ford Fiesta
  • 1996 Ford Fiesta
  • 2006 Ford Fiesta
  • 2007 Ford Fiesta
  • 2008 Ford Fiesta
  • 2009 Ford Fiesta
  • 2010 Ford Fiesta
  • 2017 Ford Fiesta
  • 2018 Ford Fiesta
  • 2019 Ford Fiesta
  • 2020 Ford Fiesta

These models soar far above the Ford Fiesta years to avoid, sure to appeal to any driver on the hunt for a smaller vehicle. 

As with any vehicle, there are still some faults you can anticipate with these Ford Fiesta years. Steering issues, interior accessory faults, and air conditioning breaks were the ones that stood out the most. Still, they’re much less extreme than in the poorer years.

If you invest in one of these years, you can feel confident on the road. It’s critical to know the best versions, and it’s also vital to understand the Ford Fiesta years to avoid.

Which Models of the Ford Fiesta Are Not Safe to Buy Used?

Although there are plenty of excellent options if you want a used Ford Fiesta, there are also some Ford Fiesta years to avoid if you want to make the most out of your money. Let’s talk about these a little more.

According to carcomplaints.com, here are the worst years you can purchase if you want a used Ford Fiesta:

  • 2011 Ford Fiesta 
  • 2012 Ford Fiesta 
  • 2013 Ford Fiesta 
  • 2014 Ford Fiesta 
  • 2015 Ford Fiesta 
  • 2016 Ford Fiesta 

These are the worst options if you’re on the hunt for a Ford Fiesta in your life.

The worst year for the Ford Fiesta was 2011. This year was plagued with transmission troubles. Some of the most problematic include hesitation in acceleration, shuddering, and leaking transmission fluid. It’s a problematic model.

Other common faults in these models include engine troubles, interior accessory issues, and exterior accessory faults. The 2014 model experienced intermittent shuddering, and the 2015 model had issues with a slipping transmission.

You won’t find the same confidence in these vehicles as you will with the better models. Avoid them if you want to save time, money, and energy.


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Problem Counts By Year

Some years of the Ford Fiesta are better than others. When laid on a table, it becomes clearer which ones are better than others. Let’s take a look at the numbers to give you a better idea of the ideal model for your life.

According to carcomplaints.com, here is the reported data from customer complaints about each model:

It’s simple to see which models succeed over others when laid out in this format.

If you’re interested in finding the ideal Ford Fiesta, customer complaints are a valuable piece of information. The fewer the issues, the better idea you can get of the quality of a vehicle. Ensure you examine customer complaints as part of your search. They’re like mini reviews that will save you from wasting money.


HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR BRAKES?

Unless you’re a mechanic or super-dedicated car enthusiast, you might not know much about the brakes on your car. How long do they typically last?​ How often should you replace your brakes​? We’ve got answers


How Do You Find a Quality Ford Fiesta Near You?

If you’re looking for a Ford Fiesta for your life, it can be a little intimidating to search. Luckily, there’s a solution - the CoPilot car shopping app. Our technology searches the area for dealerships that will provide you with vehicle choices you’ll love. You can browse through your options right from your screen.

CoPilot utilizes the same technology as dealerships, so you don’t have to worry about losing out on information. Everything is simple here.

If newer models are more your speed, you should look into CoPilot Compare, the search engine for nearly new cars. Here, you will only see vehicles that are at most five years old. They will have low mileage, most with CPO availability. The service compares prices if you purchase the Ford Fiesta new versus used, though there are few new Ford Fiesta choices.

You don’t need to worry about sponsored results here - we don’t work with dealerships to come up with the information. Learn more about how CoPilot works on our About Us page. We look forward to making your shopping experience a good one.



Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You

The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.

Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.

The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.

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