Check a VIN

2011 Ford Fiesta airbags problems

23 complaints (3% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 46,000. 16 crashes reported.

owner complaints
23
of this car's complaints
3%
typical mileage
46,000
crashes
16
recalls
1

Which part fails

  • Frontal
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Ford Fiesta airbags problems in other years

201120122013201420152016201720182019

Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 Ford Fiesta airbags

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

No deployment 6Airbag light 5

Related recalls

Air bagsReported October 5, 2012 · 154,471 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Fiesta vehicles, manufactured from November 3, 2009 through September 21, 2012. The vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." The passenger side curtain air bag will not deploy in the event of a side impact collision when the front passenger seat is empty. Although the side curtain air bag system was designed to suppress the side curtain air bag under this scenario, that information is not explained in the owner's guide for these vehicles as required by FMVSS No. 208.
Risk
An occupant in the right rear seating position will not have coverage from the side curtain air bag in a side impact collision when the front passenger seat is empty, increasing the risk of injury to the right rear occupant.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners and dealers will reprogram the vehicle's software free of charge so that it no longer suppresses the passenger side curtain air bag when the front passenger seat is empty, and consistent with the description in the owner's guide. The safety recall began on October 26, 2012. Owner's may contact Ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332.

Recall number 12V488000 · Recall details

What 2011 Ford Fiesta owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 11, 2020 · Airbags, Body · 180,000 miles · MI · crash · 1 injury

On august 5 I fell asleep and ran into the back of a truck stopped at a light. My knee air bag deployed but the steering wheel bag did not and the shoulder belt did not deploy causing me to hit the steering wheel very hard bruising my sternum and causing surrounding muscle inflammation that is still sore today.

Filed Mar 2, 2020 · Airbags, Body · 14,259 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford fiesta. The contact stated all four door handles detached from the vehicle. The contact also stated that the air bags warning light illuminated on and off intermittently. The vehicle was taken to paris ford lincoln, inc. Located at (2020 ne loop 286, paris, tx 75460) but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,259.

Filed Jul 25, 2019 · Airbags · 109,000 miles · NJ

I purchased this car as a private sale for $4,000 dollars, I had the car less than a year and suddenly the car stopped on the highway. Come to find out the transmission is no good. Doing some prior research before there was a recall on the 2011 ford focus and fiestas about the transmission being no good. Prior before the car stopped working all together I was dealing with a lot of hesitation the car shutting off in slow down traffic and bucking. I also did car fax and found out that there was indeed a recall for the transmission. Also finding out recently that the latches for the door was recalled and as well as the air bags that hasn't been fixed.

Filed Oct 22, 2018 · Airbags · 67,900 miles · MD · crash · 1 injury

I was in an accident with my 2011 ford fiesta and I was hit on the driver side of the back of the car. The car slammed into me and caused my car to spin and then the car flipped and rolled. The car landed upright into a muddy, grassy field. The air-bags did not open upon impact. I was traveling on the interstate going 60 MPH. The car that hit me must have been going 85 MPH.

Filed Oct 22, 2018 · Airbags · 67,900 miles · MD · crash · 1 injury

I was in a car accident on 10/13/2018. I was struck on the drivers side, back of my 2011 ford fiesta. My car spun around and flipped and rolled. During this time the air bags did not open. I was traveling on the interstate when I was struck going 60 -65 MPH. The car that struck me was going much faster, 80-85 MPH. I am wondering why my air bags did not open. Are there any other reports like mine? My car landed upright in a grassy muddy field. I am still being seen for medical treatments and waiting to hear if my car is a total loss or repairable.

Filed Sep 10, 2018 · Airbags · 55,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford fiesta. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated and remained lit, which was a safety concern. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Filed Sep 22, 2017 · Airbags · 55,000 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2011 ford fiesta. While driving 20 MPH in traffic, the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle. The driver side air bag deployed, ripped at the seams, and expelled dust. There were no warning indicators illuminated prior to the collision. The contact sustained injuries and a severe cut to the left hand that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed destroyed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed by an independent mechanic or dealer for the air bag failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 55,000.

Filed Jun 1, 2016 · Airbags · 41,000 miles · UT · crash · 1 injury

Takata inflators. My husband was in a fender bender when the airbag went off and hit him in the face causing multiple facial fractures and a broken arm and his fingers shattered.

Filed Feb 1, 2016 · Acceleration, Airbags · 70,000 miles · WV

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford fiesta. The contact received a manufacturers recall on the door. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 MPH, when the driver's side air bag deployed without warning or impact. The contact cut the air bag off and drove the vehicle to the residence. There were no injuries reported. The contact stated that the horn, the air bag, and cruise control were no longer operable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70, 000.

Filed Jan 23, 2016 · Airbags · 60,000 miles · IL · crash · 2 injuries

My car was not part of the airbag recall, so I did not worry about it. A few days ago I was in an accident, the damage was significant and the car totaled, there were several hits as the car was being bounced from one vehicle to another at highway speed, one of those vehicles being a semi. Not a single airbag deployed and as a result all those in the fiesta got injured, one had to be taken to the er/icu and remains in a bad condition.

Questions about the 2011 Ford Fiesta airbags

Does the 2011 Ford Fiesta have airbags problems?

Owners have filed 23 complaints about the airbags of the 2011 Ford Fiesta, 3% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2011 Ford Fiesta airbags problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 46,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2011 Ford Fiesta airbags?

Yes, 1 recall: 12V488000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Ford Fiesta have bad airbags?

The Ford Fiesta model years with the most airbags complaints are 2011 (23 complaints), 2014 (18 complaints) and 2012 (15 complaints).

Other 2011 Ford Fiesta problems

Transmission 366Body 125Engine 118Electrical 96Acceleration 57Locks 41Fuel system 26Steering 26Driver assistance 23Brakes 17Lights 12Seat belts 9Seats 9Suspension 9Visibility 7Wheels 3Tires 1

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2011 Ford Fiesta?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history