2013 Ford Fiesta: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Feb 16, 2026 · Lights · NY

My low beam heads both stopped working at the same time. Upon investigation I identified the problem came from corrosion of the relay in the battery junction box. This problem exactly matches a Ford recall for some 2013 Ford fiesta manufactured in Canada. My vehicle is not covered by this recall, but the problem and failure point is identical. The text of that recall is as follows: "Safety recall in certain Canadian provinces of select 2012-13 Ford Fiesta vehicles for potential battery junction-box corrosion Ford is issuing a safety recall for certain 2012-13 Ford Fiesta vehicles in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec. In affected vehicles, battery junction-box relay or fuse corrosion can lead to a loss of low-beam headlamps and daytime running lamps while driving. This action affects 13,564 vehicles in Canada. Affected vehicles were built at Cuautitlán Assembly Plant from June 25, 2011, through April 27, 2013. Dealers will clean the battery junction box, install foam sealing to the cover and replace any corroded fuses, terminals or relays. There will be no charge to the customer for these services. The Ford reference number for this recall is 19S28"

Filed Apr 17, 2025 · Electrical, Seat belts · IL

Static through speakers - possible cause, alternator, spark plugs, or faulty wiring. Passenger air bag light - comes on and off on its own randomly. Overheats - with fluids all topped off and car parked and running for 5 minutes it will start extremely overheating with visible smoke. Not sure why. Wire cover - plastic panel on ground towards front of door on driver side needs better coverage. Panel just keeps popping off showing wires. Not sure to what. If gets wet from getting in and out of car can shock you while your driving if touch it just right. Emergency break - don't work Warming indicator - says doors are open when they aren't. Headlights - work when they want to. Theft alarm - don't work Hood pop lever - the lever to pop your hood isn't connected well. The whole lever is just hanging under my steering wheel from the cords. Not latched into anything just kinda floating in the air, makes it hard to pop the hood, can be a distraction while driving with something hitting your knee. Belt buckles - when using seat belts, comes unclicked randomly while driving or won't buckle at all when first trying to put it on. Trunk - unlatches and opens randomly while driving or parked. Shocks? - not sure if it's shocks or what it is. But there is no comfortability while driving. You can feel every bump, pot whole, Crack, anything you drive across. Think it messed up my bearings because of it. But I'm not a mechanic so these are just examples of what's going on and what i think.

Filed Dec 13, 2021 · Electrical, Lights · 53,000 miles · VT

The contact's girlfriend owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights were inoperable. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that there was corrosion on both headlight relays after opening the fuse box. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with headlight relay corrosion. The headlight relays needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

Filed Aug 26, 2021 · Lights · 66,000 miles · VT

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at night the low-beam headlights would turn off and on and eventually remained permanently inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the headlight relay was faulty due to excessive corrosion. The relay was replaced, and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,000.

Filed Jan 5, 2021 · Lights · 100,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford fiesta. The contact stated the front driver's side low beam headlight failed to illuminate. The contact stated he assisted his friend and had the front driver's side low beam bulb replaced. The contact stated a week after, both front side low beam headlight failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and had both front side low beam bulb replaced. The contact stated shortly after the repairs the front passenger's side low beam headlight was inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Apr 22, 2020 · Airbags, Brakes · 175,000 miles · SC · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2013 ford fiesta. The contact stated that while driving about 45 MPH, the second vehicle in front slammed on their brakes causing the vehicle in front to abruptly stop as a result the contact rear end the vehicle in front. The brake was stiff and was unable to brake. There were no warning lights. The hood, headlight, radiator, and front bumper were destroyed but the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained muscle aches and pains and was taken to the emergency center. The contact mentioned that there was no broken bones but suffers from panic attacks. A police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled and was towed to a tow yard. The dealer was not called. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not offer any help. The contact also mentioned that in february of 2020 a deer jumped in front of the vehicle causing the contact to hit the deer. The air bags also failed to deploy on that occasion. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

Filed Mar 9, 2020 · Electrical, Lights · 108,000 miles · MA

Vehicle was parked while we ate dinner. When we started it, headlights would not come on. Drove home using high beams. Upon inspection discovered headlight relay was corroded. Research yielded a recall in atlantic canada for the same issue (19s28) but ford USA does not recognize the issue. When we took our vehicle to the dealership, the tech said he'd seen the issue before. Resolved by replacing the battery junction box at great expense.

Filed Feb 27, 2020 · Electrical, Lights · 90,000 miles · NY

While driving at night, the low beam headlights stopped working. It appears to be corrosion at the relay. The high beams still function. There is a recall in canada for this problem.

Filed Jan 21, 2020 · Electrical, Lights · 120,000 miles · MI

Due to lack of sealer preventing outside debris from enter the fuse box under the hood. Corrosion sets in and causes intermittent issue with day time driving lights while not effecting high beams. Unexpected scenarios showed this could happen at any time, with a higher likelihood during cold temperatures with freezing participation

Filed Jan 20, 2020 · Electrical · 120,000 miles · OH

Headlights on 2013 ford fiesta began working intermittently while driving at night. Upon further inspection, the low beam light relay was so badly corroded that it had broken off inside the fuse box, making the relay impossible to replace. The corrosion appears to be a result of a design flaw allowing moisture in the fuse box. Canada has a similar recall reference number 19s28 associated with this exact issue.

Filed Dec 30, 2019 · Lights · 90,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford fiesta. While operating the vehicle at night, the low beam headlights would not illuminate. The cause of the failure was not determined. Roush ford (5575 kein circle, columbus, oh) and the manufacturer were notified. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Oct 7, 2019 · Electrical · 142,000 miles · OH

Low lamp headlights on both sides went out at the same time, while parked in a parking lot at night. Took vehicle to get head lamps replaced, had to have diagnostic run and found that the fuse and fuse box were corroded to the point of needing replaced.