Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Ford Fiesta owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the front passenger door swung open when it was leaned on by the passenger. The door ajar warning light illuminated. The contact mentioned that the door crashed into an electrical pole, a mail box, and storm drain marker. The VIN was included in the NHTSA campaign number: 15V246000 (latches/locks/linkages). The contact mentioned that the vehicle was taken to the dealer prior to the failure and was told by the dealer that the vehicle would not be repaired until the failure was experienced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and wanted the contact to sign an agreement form that would require the contact to release Ford from any claims and actions, present or in the future from any issues, suspected or unsuspected, before repairing the vehicle. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while reversing, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering gear failed but the vehicle was drivable. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. In addition, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V246000 (latches/locks/linkages) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 31,800. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Update 01/15/16 ma updated 2/4/16 the consumer states the transmission will not go forward or reverse.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that the front passenger side door latch fractured without warning and would not close. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who replaced the latch and the failure recurred on another door. The contact stated that months later, upon movement near the door, the rear passenger side door latch fractured. The vehicle was to be taken back to the authorized dealer to replace a second latch. The contact was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 15V246000 (latches/locks/linkages). The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 39,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V246000 (latches/locks/linkages) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact contacted the dealer, moses auto group (1433 maccorkle ave, st albans, wv 25177, [phone]) where it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the rear driver's side door failed to latch and was unable to close securely. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that the front driver's side door did not latch. The contact called white Ford at [phone] (located at 4120 highway 15, winnsboro, la 71295) where the rear passenger side door latch was replaced in 2015 per NHTSA campaign number: 15V246000 (latches/locks/linkages). The technician informed the contact that all the doors should have been repaired at the same time in 2015. The contact was informed to call the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
In August of 2013 both front and rear door latches on the passenger side stopped latching within one day of each other. Our car was kept at the dealership for several weeks and we were charged half of the repair costs after writing letters to Ford that this was obviously a manufacturing defect. They would not accept responsibility or pay for the full cost of repairs. On jan 19, 2014, the rear passenger door latch which had been replaced again failed to latch and is currently held closed with a bungee cord. We have not taken the car back to the dealership yet.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While driving at 45 MPH, the door opened without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the latches needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number:15V246000 (latches/locks/linkages). The parts needed for the recall repair were not available. The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.
Incident happened while the vehicle (2011 Ford Fiesta) was parked in austin, tx. After opening the rear passenger door, it would not close. The latch assembly for the door appears to be broken. We took the vehicle to a Ford dealership and they indicated that it would cost ~$500 for the new latch assembly and installation. We have opted to hold the door together by using a bungee cord and rope on the inside of the vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While the vehicle was parked, the rear passenger side door was opened. When the door was closed, it would not latch. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the latch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. While driving at 10 MPH, the rear driver side door opened and the door ajar warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the door latch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Related recalls
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.
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.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on April 23, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured July 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, and 2012-2014 Fiesta vehicles manufactured February 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches with an improved part, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed to owners on June 5, 2015. The recall began on December 18, 2015.
NHTSA investigations
Door Latch Failures
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.
Door Latch Failure
On September 11, 2014 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE14-028) to investigate claims of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2011-2013 Ford Fiesta vehicles. ODI has received 207 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with sixty-five claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion.
Door Latch Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2011-2013 Ford Fiesta, MY 2013 Ford Fusion and MY 2013 Lincoln MKZ vehicles.
Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Fiesta years
Frequently asked questions
How common are door lock & latch problems on the 2011 Ford Fiesta?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the locks & latches of the 2011 Ford Fiesta, 6% of the model year's 730 complaints. The component named most often is doors › latch (21 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Ford Fiesta door lock & latch problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-331 (latch, Jun 8, 2020); NHTSA recall 15V-246 (latch, Apr 24, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Ford Fiesta door lock & latch problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.