Ford Fiesta
Registered from 1990 to 2024.
About this model
The Ford Fiesta is a supermini car that was marketed by Ford from 1976 to 2023 over seven generations. Over the years, the Fiesta has mainly been developed and manufactured by Ford's European operations, and had been positioned below the Escort.
From the Wikipedia article Ford Fiesta, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2016 1.0 petrol. 14,400 of 77,447 tests failed, 19%.
Better than 15% of 2016 cars. The typical one fails 13%, across 899 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 48% | 6,891 |
| Lights and electrics | 33% | 4,685 |
| Tyres and wheels | 30% | 4,261 |
| Brakes | 11% | 1,583 |
| Steering | 11% | 1,539 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 10% | 1,369 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
Where it stands out against its peers
- Suspension: failed more often than 92% of 2016 cars — 48% of its 14,400 failed tests, where an ordinary 2016 car has 21%.
- Steering: failed more often than 92% of 2016 cars — 11% of its 14,400 failed tests, where an ordinary 2016 car has 2%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 48% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A stub axle swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn
- Tyres and wheels — 30% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Brakes — 11% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Steering — 11% of its failures
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
- Exhaust and emissions — 10% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 33% of its failures
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
When it starts failing
At 140–160k miles this one fails 26% of its inspections, against the 19% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 8% | 6% | 5,690 | |
| 20–40k miles | 15% | 10% | 24,902 | |
| 40–60k miles | 20% | 13% | 27,951 | |
| 60–80k miles | 23% | 16% | 14,032 | |
| 80–100k miles | 26% | 18% | 3,760 | |
| 100–120k miles | 26% | 19% | 763 | |
| 120–140k miles | 24% | 19% | 163 | |
| 140–160k miles | 26% | 19% | 31 |
77,292 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 40k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 1.0 petrol · 113 hp · 1201 kg · 2493 mm wheelbase · 5.2 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 1.0 petrol · 99 hp · 1182 kg · 2493 mm wheelbase · 4.9 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 1.0 petrol · 1169 kg · 2493 mm wheelbase · 5.3 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 1.0 petrol · 99 hp · 1230 kg · 2493 mm wheelbase · 6.1 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 1.0 petrol · 1220 kg · 2493 mm wheelbase · 6.3 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 1.0 petrol · 99 hp · 1124 kg · 2489 mm wheelbase · 4.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 1.0 petrol · 101 hp · 1110 kg · 2489 mm wheelbase · 4.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 1.0 petrol · 1100 kg · 2489 mm wheelbase · 4.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 1.0 petrol · 1097 kg · 2490 mm wheelbase · 4.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 1.0 petrol · 1119 kg · 2489 mm wheelbase · 4.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 1.2 petrol · 1096 kg · 2489 mm wheelbase · 5.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2011 | 1.2 petrol · 1112 kg · 2490 mm wheelbase · 5.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00018/20
The steering column may rattle due to an incorrect tolerance. After prolonged use, the steering column may fail, leading to a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of accident.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00050/20
An insufficient torque might have been applied to the bolts of the rear seat latches and centre seat belt retractor. Consequently, in the event of an accident these elements might detach, increasing the risk of injuries.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00942/23
Oil can leak onto or under the engine, increasing the risk of skidding for other road users, and/or fire in the engine compartment. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0104/15
The rear seat belt buckle (latch) could be defective. In the event of a frontal impact a defective buckle could fail causing the rear seat occupant to be unrestrained by the seat belt.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01768/23
The screw/nut of the front suspension lower ball joint is not correctly tightened. This can cause the swivel joint to loosen and can thus result in steering failure, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0422/18
The brake booster may have a faulty diaphragm plate. This could lead to a loss of vacuum and result in reduced braking assistance.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1403/16
Inadequate welding on one of the rear axle side arm bush housings can lead to the separation of the twist beam from the vehicle.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1426/16
The right hand side front seat belt top anchor bolt may not have been correctly tightened during assembly. This could increase the likelihood of occupant injury in the event of a collision.
Recall of the product from end users
2 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.