Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Ford Fiesta body problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Ford Fiesta have filed 71 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 40,999 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
71
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Fiesta | 115 |
| 2012 Fiesta | 118 |
| 2013 Fiesta (this page) | 71 |
| 2014 Fiesta | 45 |
| 2015 Fiesta | 10 |
| 2016 Fiesta | 3 |
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 71 body complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 6 model years of Ford Fiesta in our records for body problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. Most modules on these affected vehicles are VIN/vehicle specific and hardware variations between modules do exist. Swapping a module from a vehicle or ordering a module using a different vehicle/VIN can cause ineffective repairs and additional vehicle down time. Make sure all appropriate Workshop Manual (WSM) procedures are followed when diagnosing the condition prior to all module replacements and only order modules using
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FORD: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A HOOD CABLE BUZZ NOISE LIKE AN EXHAUST TYPE OF NOISE, FROM DRIVERS SIDE EXTERIOR BULKHEAD DURING LIGHT/MEDIUM ACCELERATION AFTER COASTING IN 3RD GEAR. MODELS 2011-2013 FIESTA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Door latches on the 2013 Ford Fiesta fail to secure or open suddenly while driving, with incidents documented from 2014 through 2023. Failures occur on all four doors—front driver, front passenger, rear driver, and rear passenger—sometimes in rapid succession. Owners describe doors flying open at highway speeds during turns, or doors that will not latch closed even when parked. The plastic latch mechanism, which strikes a metal catch, breaks under normal use.
Ford issued a recall in 2015 (Recall #15S16/#15V246000) to replace all four door latches, often at no cost. However, owners report the replacement latches fail again within weeks to two years, sometimes affecting a different door shortly after the first one is repaired. Ford has refused to cover these second failures, claiming the warranty on recalled parts has expired. The replacement parts frequently remain on national backorder, delaying repairs by weeks or months.
When doors fail to latch, interior lights remain on continuously, draining batteries. Owners have had to secure doors with bungee cords, cargo straps, or tie-downs to drive safely to a dealership. Several owners report their children were nearly ejected or injured due to doors opening mid-turn. Dealerships have acknowledged the defect is widespread, yet Ford has not issued a comprehensive second recall or design fix. Repair costs for post-recall failures range from $150 to $500 per door, with owners bearing the full expense once initial recall coverage lapses.
Same Ford Fiesta body reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Door latch failure—opening during motion or at rest
Door latches fail to secure and doors open unexpectedly while driving or immediately after closing, affecting all four doors (front driver, front passenger, rear driver, rear passenger). Owners report doors flying open at speeds ranging from 0 to 45+ mph, often while turning. Once failed, doors will not latch closed, sometimes requiring the use of bungee cords, tie-downs, or cargo straps to secure them for safe transport to repair shops.
When: Most incidents reported between 2014–2019; some occurring months after recall repairs (2015–2018); mileage range 16 to 110,000 miles; failures may occur suddenly with no prior warning.
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not latch after closing attempt; bounces open or stays half-closed; Door opens suddenly while vehicle is in motion, particularly during turns; Multiple latches fail in succession (sometimes within days or weeks of each other); Interior cabin light remains on because door cannot be fully closed; Door handle pulls but latch does not engage; Difficulty closing door on first try; requires multiple attempts to latch
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite latch replacement costs ranging from $150 to $785; some repairs performed at dealer at no cost under initial recall (2015, Recall #15S16, #15V246000), but subsequent failures after recall often denied warranty coverage. Aftermarket replacement may cost $300–$500. Parts frequently on national backorder; repair availability delayed 2–8+ weeks. Dealerships sometimes refused to replace all four doors proactively, citing lack of recall authorization or parts availability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall #15S16 / #15V246000 (2015) for door latches; Recall #20V331000 (2020) for Latches/Locks/Linkages. Ford initially stated warranty on recalled latches elapsed after recall completion. Some dealers covered initial recall repairs at no cost. Subsequent failures denied coverage beyond 1-year warranty on replacement latches. Ford customer service stated cases closed without explanation or remedy. Parts shortages delayed repairs significantly; some dealers told customers they could not replace all doors unless they failed or a new recall was issued.
Recurrent or persistent latch defects after recall replacement
Owners report that latches replaced under the initial 2015 recall (#15S16/#15V246000) fail again within months to 2+ years. Dealerships claim all four latches were replaced during recall, but subsequent failures indicate either incomplete repair, defective replacement parts, or inherent design flaw in the replacement latches. Pattern suggests replacement latches are no more durable than originals.
When: Recalled latches replaced September 2015–May 2016; re-failures documented July 2016–April 2018 and beyond; intervals range from 2 weeks to 2+ years after recall repair.
Symptoms owners cite: Latch failure occurs after all four latches reportedly replaced under recall; Second or third door latch fails shortly after first failure repaired; Owners report replacement latches appear to be same quality or worse than original latches; Pattern of cascading failures affecting different doors in sequence
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite costs for post-recall failures: $150–$350 per latch replacement. Parts commonly on backorder. Some owners required to pay full repair cost out-of-pocket because failure occurred outside 1-year warranty on replacement part.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall #15S16/#15V246000 (2015) provided initial replacement; subsequent failures denied as warranty expired. Ford stated obligation ended after initial recall completion. No second recall issued for replacement latches despite multiple owner reports of re-failure. Ford offered no explanation for replacement latch durability or design improvements.
Plastic door-latch design weakness
Owners explicitly identify the door latches as plastic construction, which they describe as inherently prone to breaking under normal use. The plastic latch engages with a metal catch; owners note that repeated metal-on-plastic contact guarantees eventual plastic failure. This design is cited as a fundamental safety violation.
When: Design-related defect present from manufacture; failures begin within 1–3 years of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Plastic latch visibly broken or cracked; Latch will not catch or engage in latched position; Plastic latch found in open position and cannot be forced into closed/latched position
Repairs/costs cited: Latch replacement cost $150–$500 depending on dealer and repair timing. Owners note replacement latches also plastic, suggesting no design change.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No design modification acknowledged. Recall addressed defective latches but did not specify a change from plastic to stronger material or design revision.
Door latch failure exacerbated by cold weather
One owner reports door-latch failure occurs randomly during winter months; door will not close when cold, but becomes operable after 5 minutes of heat application. Suggests cold-weather binding or contraction issue with latch mechanism.
When: Recurrent during winter; owner reported approximately 20 incidents over 2-year ownership period.
Symptoms owners cite: Door latch fails to catch in cold weather; Door closes normally after vehicle is warmed for 5 minutes; Failure is intermittent and weather-dependent
Repairs/costs cited: One owner cited Ford investigating the vehicle; dealer requested $100 deductible for replacement despite vehicle being under warranty. Owner advised to retain receipt in case future recall issued.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford investigating at time of report; no resolution or design change noted in narratives.
Front passenger door opened during motion (secondary complaint)
One owner reports front passenger door opened inadvertently while driving at approximately 110,000 miles; noted as secondary to primary brake failure complaint but included under door latch recall notification.
When: Approximately 110,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger door opened while vehicle in motion
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; owner referred to NHTSA.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall #20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) notification received; manufacturer referred contact to NHTSA.
Trunk latch failure (related latch defect)
One owner reports trunk latch also failed, in addition to door latches, suggesting systemic latch-mechanism defect across vehicle. Trunk latch was replaced by Ford the prior winter; door latches subsequently failed.
When: March 2014 (trunk); door latches August 2014 and later.
Symptoms owners cite: Trunk latch will not stay closed
Repairs/costs cited: Trunk latch replaced by Ford (at no cost noted).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Trunk latch repaired under warranty; no recall mentioned for trunk.
Synthesized from 71 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford fiesta. The contact stated that the driver's side door failed to close. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage and VIN were not available.
Had body trouble with your 2013 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 body problem on the 2013 Ford Fiesta?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 71 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 61 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 19,900 and 52,261 miles, with the median around 40,999. A quarter of owners report trouble before 19,900; a quarter make it past 52,261. 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 $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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/2013/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.