Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford fiesta. The contact stated that the throttle body failed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired. No further details were available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.
2011 Ford Fiesta cruise control problems
severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
1crash
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 21 cruise control complaints filed for the 2011 Ford Fiesta, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 8 model years of Ford Fiesta we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 21.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2011 Fiesta has recurring stalling, throttle loss, and transmission hesitation issues that strike unpredictably even at low mileage, creating serious highway safety hazards. Repairs are expensive ($1,000+ for throttle body), often don't stick, and dealers frequently refuse warranty coverage unless they can reproduce the fault during a test drive—which they often cannot.
Owners of the 2011 Ford Fiesta report repeated stalling, loss of throttle response, and transmission hesitation—often occurring without warning during highway driving or at traffic lights. The most severe incidents involve complete loss of engine power while accelerating on ramps or highways, where drivers found themselves unable to merge or escape traffic. One vehicle caught fire after throttle loss.
Cruise control malfunctions show up consistently: sudden unintended acceleration (RPMs climbing 500+ above set speed), throttle response loss while cruising, and sluggish pickup before total power loss. Owners report check engine lights accompanying these events, rough idle, stalling during deceleration, and transmission slip-outs.
Repair attempts center on throttle body replacement (quoted at $1,000 in one case) and transmission service, though some dealerships refuse warranty work unless they can reproduce the failure on a test drive. One owner noted Ford acknowledged a known transmission defect in a letter but still denied repair. Low-mileage vehicles (under 15,000 miles) exhibit these problems, and owners report the failures recur even after repairs. A traction control issue in snow leaves drivers immobilized at intersections.
Same Ford Fiesta cruise control reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Stalling and loss of engine power
Engine shuts down or loses all throttle response while driving, sometimes accompanied by check engine light and audible alerts. Occurs at highway speeds, traffic lights, and during acceleration. One incident resulted in vehicle fire.
When: Various speeds and conditions; as low as 12,000 miles to 50,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of engine power while driving; Engine shut-off without warning; Check engine light and service lights illuminate; No accelerator response despite pedal input; Vehicle coasts to stop or shoulder unable to move; Flames from hood (one incident)
Codes mentioned: Check engine light active, Multiple service lights
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement quoted at $1,000. One owner could not afford repair; another had throttle body diagnosed but repair status unclear. Dealerships sometimes refuse to repair if problem cannot be reproduced during test drive.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford sent letter acknowledging transmission defects. Dealerships refuse warranty repair unless problem occurs during technician test drive; charging $100+ for diagnosis if issue does not appear. One owner planning lemon law suit after three dealership visits.
Transmission hesitation and slip
Automatic transmission loses engagement, slips out of gear, or hesitates before lurching forward. Occurs after stops, at red lights, and during low-speed acceleration. Problem is intermittent and difficult for dealers to reproduce.
When: After stopping or slowing down; reported from early ownership (one incident at 12,000 miles, another at 29,281 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slips out of gear on acceleration; Seconds of hesitation at traffic lights before vehicle lurches forward; Vehicle unable to move forward after slowing or stopping; Violent jerk when accelerator engaged after restart; Gears grinding sensation when braking; Jerking and stuttering during acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch replacement mentioned as needed (on back order 2+ weeks). Transmission repairs performed but failures recurred. One owner unable to get repair because problem intermittent; dealership refused without guaranteed reproduction.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford sent letter explaining defects with transmission. Dealerships require problem to occur during test drive before repair covered under warranty; otherwise charge diagnostic fees.
Cruise control unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerates beyond set cruise control speed, RPMs increase excessively, especially on inclines. Problem occurs on both city and highway driving. Fixed by turning off cruise control; does not recur with cruise off.
When: During cruise control use at 40–70 MPH; mileage 8,000 reported
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates from 40 MPH to 60 MPH unintentionally; RPMs increase 500+ above normal; Excessive engine speed on small inclines; Loss of normal throttle control while cruise engaged
Repairs/costs cited: Computer reprogrammed by dealer. Failure recurred after reprogramming.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Computer reprogramming attempted by authorized dealer; unsuccessful.
Cruise control power loss
While using cruise control at highway speeds, accelerator becomes unresponsive and vehicle loses power as if brakes were engaged. Engine continues running. Problem resolves when cruise control is disengaged.
When: At 60 MPH cruise speed; one incident at 8,000 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power while accelerating to change lanes; Accelerator unresponsive despite pedal input; Feels like brakes are in use despite brake lights not illuminating; Nearly caused accident due to unexpected slowdown; Accelerator responsive again after cruise control disengaged
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership attempted to duplicate problem (status unclear). Owner has not used cruise control since incident.
Throttle body failure
Electronic throttle body fails, preventing normal accelerator response. Vehicle either stalls or sluggishly accelerates with hesitation. Problem recurs even after repair.
When: Mileage 22,000, 40,000 reported; one case at 50,000
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls without warning during driving; Sluggish acceleration with hesitation; Accelerator pedal sinks to floor with no response; Check engine light illumination; Rough idle; Stalling during deceleration
Codes mentioned: Throttle body failure diagnosis
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement required. Cost quoted at $1,000 in one case. One owner parked vehicle while seeking solution; another unable to afford $1,000 repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of recurrent failures. Dealership diagnosis confirmed need for replacement.
Unintended acceleration at stop
Vehicle suddenly accelerates while stopped or at very low speed, lunging forward without driver input. Brake application did not prevent forward movement in reported incident.
When: While stopped or at very low speed; one incident during parking
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle speeds up while foot on brake; Vehicle lurches forward unintentionally; Inability to stop vehicle once acceleration begins
Cruise control electrical failure
Cruise control system stops functioning entirely. Associated with speed sensor failure between axle and transmission, which also affects odometer, tripometer, and keyless remote.
When: Beyond 3-year bumper-to-bumper warranty (noted as 2 weeks outside coverage)
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control stops working; Odometer stops functioning; Tripometer stops functioning; Keyless remote stops working
Repairs/costs cited: Speed sensor replacement needed (cost not stated). Repair not covered due to warranty expiration.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Factory denied warranty coverage due to vehicle being 2 weeks past 3-year bumper-to-bumper warranty.
Traction control over-engagement in snow
Traction control system cuts power to wheels during snow start from complete stop, immobilizing vehicle. Creates dangerous situation if vehicle becomes stuck in intersection.
When: In 1 inch or more of snow
Symptoms owners cite: Traction control cuts power during snow acceleration; Vehicle unable to move from complete stop in snow; Vehicle becomes stuck in intersection
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford added ability to disable traction control in later model years, but this model year (2011) remains problematic in snow.
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2011 Ford Fiesta?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2011 Ford Fiesta?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 26,150 and 70,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 26,150; a quarter make it past 70,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Ford/Fiesta.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.