Used Ford Fiesta buying guide: common problems and what to check
The Fiesta was Britain’s default small car for years, so there are plenty to choose from. That also means plenty of tired ones. Most of the problems below are about how a car has been driven and serviced, so the service history matters more than the badge on the boot. Ford stopped building the Fiesta in 2023; the last generation (Mk8) was sold from 2017.
By CarKept · Sources checked
What Ford Fiesta MOT results show
73.9% of 2,049,443 Ford Fiesta MOT tests passed in 2024, across every generation of the model. Pass rate drops sharply with age: the Ford Fiesta tested at 0–3 years pass 94.1% of the time, compared with just 63.1% at 15+ years.
The biggest drop in pass rate for the Ford Fiesta comes between 3–6 years and 6–10 years old, from 90.5% to 78.7%. If you are looking at one in or just past that range, read its MOT history closely.
The areas it most often fails on:
- Lights and electrics: in 58.9% of failed tests. 32.0% of tests at 15+ years failed on lights and electrics, against 8.5% at 0–3 years.
- Suspension: in 43.4% of failed tests. Rare on young cars, but 24.4% of tests at 15+ years failed on suspension.
- Tyres: in 24.5% of failed tests. 9.7% of tests at 10–15 years failed on tyres, against 3.2% at 0–3 years.
- Brakes: in 21.5% of failed tests. 18.9% of tests at 15+ years failed on brakes, against 1.0% at 0–3 years.
- Windscreen and wipers: in 13.6% of failed tests. 8.5% of tests at 15+ years failed on windscreen and wipers, against 1.3% at 0–3 years.
The 1.0 EcoBoost wet belt
Many 1.0 EcoBoost engines use a timing belt that runs in the engine oil, known as a wet belt. As the belt ages it can shed pieces of rubber into the oil, which can block the oil supply and, in the worst case, wreck the engine. Parkers lists the Fiesta among the affected cars and reports that Ford moved to a timing chain around 2018, so the earliest Mk8 cars may still have the belt.
Ford’s official interval for replacing the belt is 10 years or 150,000 miles, but Parkers suggests changing it well before that, at around five years or 50,000 miles. Ask whether the belt has been changed and see the invoice. If you are unsure whether a particular car has a belt or a chain, a Ford dealer can check from the VIN.
Coolant, oil and the service history
Parkers warns that running an EcoBoost low on coolant can be fatal to the engine. Check the coolant level with the engine cold before your test drive, and look around the engine bay for oil leaks, which it says are more of a problem on earlier cars.
Regular oil changes with the correct oil are what keep these engines healthy. That makes invoices showing when, and at what mileage, the oil was changed worth more than stamps alone.
Source: Parkers: Ford Fiesta used review
Diesels, clutches and batteries
Parkers advises against a diesel Fiesta if the car will mostly do short trips. The diesel particulate filter (DPF) can clog when it never gets hot enough to clean itself. If you do look at a diesel, check for warning lights and ask how it has been used.
Clutch wear is common on cars that have lived in town. A biting point near the top of the pedal, or revs rising without the car speeding up, means a clutch is due. Parkers also reports widespread battery problems, particularly on mild-hybrid (mHEV) cars used for short journeys.
Source: Parkers: Ford Fiesta used review
Suspension, leaks and recalls
Speed bumps and potholes take their toll: listen for knocks and squeaks, and look for oily shock absorbers. Check the carpets for damp, as failed door seals can let water in.
The Mk8 has had recalls covering several systems. Enter the registration on GOV.UK’s recall checker and ask the seller for proof that any outstanding recall work has been done.
Before you buy any Ford Fiesta
Check its MOT history. Enter the registration below to see every past test, including failures, advisories and the mileage recorded each time. Repeated advisories for the same thing, or a mileage that goes backwards, are worth asking about.
Check for open recalls on GOV.UK, and ask for proof the work was done.
Ask for the service history, with invoices. Most of the problems above are made worse by missed or late servicing. How to check Ford service history.
Looking at a Ford Fiesta?
Enter its registration for the full MOT history: every test, failure, advisory and recorded mileage.
Have service invoices? Upload and keep them with your car’s history →
Frequently asked questions
- Which Ford Fiesta engines have a wet belt?
- Parkers lists the 1.0 EcoBoost Fiesta among Ford’s wet-belt cars and reports Ford moved that engine to a timing chain around 2018. Early Mk8 cars may still have the belt, so ask a Ford dealer to confirm from the VIN and look for an invoice showing when the belt was last changed.
- Is a used Ford Fiesta reliable?
- It depends on the car more than the model. A Fiesta with regular oil changes, a documented belt change where it needs one and a clean MOT history is a sensible buy; one with gaps in its servicing is where most of the expensive problems come from.
- Should I buy a diesel Fiesta?
- Only if it will regularly do longer runs. Parkers warns that diesel Fiestas used mainly for short trips are prone to clogged diesel particulate filters.