YearToAvoid

2014 Ford Fiesta Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

63/100

#4 most-complained of 9 Fiesta years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2014 Ford Fiesta has a Complaint Index of 63 and ranks 4th worst of 9 model years, earning a Caution verdict. It logs 502 complaints, 7 recalls, and 23 crashes, with Transmission & Powertrain issues making up 41% of complaints.

Complaints
502
Recalls
7
Crashes / fires
23 / 8
Injuries / deaths
17 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
30
27 city / 36 hwy

Top 2014 Ford Fiesta problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain208 (41%)
  2. Engine109 (22%)
  3. Structure & Body82 (16%)
  4. Other80 (16%)
  5. Electrical System47 (9%)
  6. Fuel System32 (6%)
  7. Brakes24 (5%)
  8. Airbags18 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires16 (3%)
  10. Steering11 (2%)

What owners report

  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in frontal or rollover crashes, sometimes with only the lower airbag firing while the steering wheel airbag stayed inactive.
  • Some owners describe brakes failing to slow the car despite repeated pedal pumps, in one case leading to an under-hood fire.
  • Transmission control module failures reportedly caused sudden power loss, stalling in traffic, and clutch damage over repeated occurrences.
  • Owners report the accelerator failing to respond while the vehicle shook violently and jerked forward without warning, sometimes rolling backward into obstacles.
  • Engine coolant leaks were linked to overheating and stalling, with one case requiring full engine replacement at 63,000 miles.
  • Steering reportedly became unresponsive during turns, with the car drifting off the road despite driver correction.
2014 Ford Fiesta complaints: complaints filed per quarter622014 Q12015 Q42017 Q32019 Q22021 Q12022 Q42024 Q32026 Q3
637 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q3 (62).

2014 Ford Fiesta recalls

7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V331000Jun 8, 2020Structure & Body2,147,323 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. 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.

    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.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.

  2. NHTSA 20V177000Mar 23, 2020Structure & Body288,110 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

    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, Washington, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 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.

    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.

    Remedy: 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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15.

  3. NHTSA 17V210000Mar 27, 2017Structure & Body191,432 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Fiesta, 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. 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.

    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.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began May 1, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S16.

See all 7 recalls for the 2014 Ford Fiesta →

2014 Ford Fiesta fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
36 MPG
Combined
30 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,150
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2014 compared with other Fiesta years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201120122013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Avoid75617332
2013Avoid88667332
2014Caution63502730
2015Caution50258430
2016Good38178030

All Ford Fiesta years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Ford Fiesta reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2014 Fiesta a Complaint Index of 63, ranking it 4th worst among 9 model years, with a Caution verdict. Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 41% of all reported issues.
What is the biggest problem with the 2014 Ford Fiesta?
Transmission & Powertrain problems are the top issue, accounting for 208 of 502 complaints (41%), with a median failure mileage of 30,000 miles.
Does the 2014 Ford Fiesta have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2014 Fiesta, covering structure & body door latches, fuel system leaks (including a fuel tank replacement campaign), and engine coolant sensor issues.
How does the 2014 Fiesta compare to other Fiesta years?
The 2014 model ranks 4th worst of 9 years with a Complaint Index of 63, better than 2011 (100), 2013 (88), and 2012 (75), but worse than 2015 (50), 2016 (38), 2017 (13), 2018 (0), and 2019 (25).
What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Ford Fiesta?
The 2014 Fiesta gets an EPA-rated 30 mpg combined (27 city/36 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.