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2019 Ford Fiesta Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2019 Ford Fiesta carries 3 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering caliper and camera. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Brake caliper lockup and ABS module failure.” Ford uses the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor (IOLM) to determine when oil changes are due based on actual driving load — not just mileage. Ford's published cap is 10,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first. The schedule below reflects Ford's Normal service intervals; F-Series trucks and Super Duty have additional towing-specific items.

3 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

Campaign #19V629000 · Aug 28, 2019

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Fiesta vehicles. The brake calipers may have been manufactured with the incorrect assembly fluid, which can cause the caliper's rubber seals to swell.

Risk: The swollen seals can cause the brakes to drag, potentially overheating the brakes and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush the brake fluid and replace the front brake calipers and brake hoses, free of charge. The recall began October 10, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S27.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Campaign #24V951000 · Dec 20, 2024

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Flex, Fiesta, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. The rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image.

Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the drivers view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed January 22, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated March 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S75.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Campaign #25V695000 · Oct 13, 2025

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2019 Ford Fiesta.

Reported to NHTSA

Brake caliper lockup and ABS module failure

SERVICE BRAKES

7 NHTSA complaints · 2019-12 → 2026-04

“Brakes started seizing up while driving. Became extremely dangerous as the car would rock at speed and also would not start moving if I came to a stop. Went immediately to a shop, when I arrived into the shop, inspection found that the caliper was locked onto the wheel”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11706724
“ABS Module failure. I had to leave the break lines direct, losing my ABS. I had to replace the brake pump because of that too. The car was only 80k ish”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11699544
“Upon stopping when applying the brakes they locked up. There were no warning lights on. It was diagnosed by an independent auto repair shop, not drivable I had it towed to the Ford Dealership. The ABS module, and calipers have failed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11622915

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rearview camera failure under back-over-prevention recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION

41 NHTSA complaints · 2025-04 → 2026-08

“The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fiesta. The contact received notice of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V951000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that on several occasions while in reverse (R), the rear view camera went blank and a "camera unavailable" message appeared on the”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11737394
“The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving in reverse the backup camera had malfunctioned and the vehicle crashed into an apartment building parking garage attachment. During the crash the vehicle sustained damage to the passenger side rear bumper”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11700809
“Due to my 2019 ford fiesta SE back up camera glitching in and out and sometimes doesn’t work at all. Today it finally worked as I was backing up out of food lion parking lot. A mother and child were walking behind me all of a sudden the camera glitched”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11654643

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Powershift automatic transmission shifting failure

POWER TRAIN

16 NHTSA complaints · 2019-05 → 2026-02

“Around 50,000 miles I noticed the car would jerk when trying to shift gears , this issue persisted and would only go on to get worse. It started taking forever to accelerate regardless of pressing on the gas, now at 70,000 miles it won’t shift out of 2nd gear when driving over”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11721105
“No warning lamps. Sealed transmission. Transmission stalls as u round a corner, or first take off, and when u come to Complete stop the transmission will jerk or stall with a jerk. It's dangerous because the cars behind me almost rearend me thinking I'm gonna be taking off”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11536680
“MY 2019 FORD FIESTA AUTOMATIC DOES NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY, MY CAR WOULD NOT REVERSE AND THEREFORE CAUSED A SMALL FENDER BENDER. IT HAS NO SPEED AND RUNS ROUGH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11399639

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in frontal or side impact

AIR BAGS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2019-08 → 2025-11

“The contact owned a 2019 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle was rear-ended by another driver. The damage was on the rear driver's side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained whiplash”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11551587
“The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, an oncoming vehicle crashed into the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11543362
“LOST CONTROL OF CAR. FIRST IMPACT WAS A TREE STUMP AS CAR WAS TURNING, HIT TREE STUMP. SHE WENT FORWARD AND HIT HEAD ON STIRRING WHEEL. AIR BAG AT STEERING WHEEL DID NOT INFLATE OR DEPLOY. ONLY SIDE DOOR ON LEFT SIDE FILLED WITH AIR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11245817

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine coolant loss and overheating

ENGINE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2022-07 → 2025-05

“Coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber of my 1.6L EcoBoost engine due to a suspected internal engine defect. This issue caused noticeable white smoke from the exhaust, engine misfires, and a loss of power while driving. The coolant loss was not visible externally”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11660208
“In SEP-2021, the engine overheating warning light came on. We stopped the car and realized that the coolant level in the overflow reservoir was very low. There was no obvious leak on the ground or on the engine. We purchased coolant and topped off the coolant reservoir to the”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11474375
“Catastrophic Engine Failure due to the manufacturer's recommendation and use of conventional motor oils in the form of Synthetic Blend Motor Oil or Super Premium Motor Oil, a specification WSS-M2C945-B1 , from the 2019 Ford Fiesta Owner Manual”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11497766

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 7,500 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic Motorcraft oil per the IOLM, or every 7,500-10,000 miles. EcoBoost engines require full synthetic; Coyote 5.0L V8 specifies SAE 5W-30.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 10,000 mi

Rotate tires every 10,000 miles, or with every other oil change. F-150 4x4 owners should rotate every 5,000-7,500 miles to even out drivetrain bias wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid level every 10,000 miles. Front pads on F-150 and Explorer typically last 40,000-60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Ford specifies brake fluid replacement on an inspection basis, but moisture testing every 3 years is recommended. Replace if reading exceeds 3% water content.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. EcoBoost turbocharged engines are sensitive to airflow restriction — don't extend.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 150,000 mi

Ford 6R80, 10R80, and 8F transmissions use Mercon LV fluid rated 150,000 miles under normal service. Severe service (towing, plowing) drops this to 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD models)

Every 60,000 mi

F-150 4x4 and Bronco 4x4: replace transfer case fluid every 60,000 miles. Use Motorcraft XL-12 — do not substitute generic transfer case fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 100,000 mi

F-Series and Expedition: replace rear axle fluid every 100,000 miles, or 50,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip rear ends require friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs on Coyote 5.0L, EcoBoost 2.7L/3.5L, and 2.3L are rated 100,000 miles. EcoBoost engines: never exceed the interval — gap erosion causes coil failure.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

Motorcraft Orange (Dex-Cool compatible) coolant: first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000. Older trucks with Yellow Motorcraft coolant: 50,000 miles throughout.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 20,000 miles. On F-150, located behind the glove box; on Escape and Explorer, accessed from the passenger footwell.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

58 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

13

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2019 Ford Fiesta reflects Ford's published service intervals and the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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