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Before you buy a used Ford Fiesta (VI).

2008–2017 · Petrol / Diesel · 4 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Ford Fiesta (VI), real photo of this generation
M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

1.25 / 1.4 / 1.6 Duratec Ti-VCT

Petrol

1.0 EcoBoost

Petrol

These also apply, described above: Judder on the PowerShift dry dual-clutch gearbox (DPS6)

1.6 EcoBoost ST

Petrol

These also apply, described above: Judder on the PowerShift dry dual-clutch gearbox (DPS6)

1.4 / 1.5 / 1.6 TDCi

Diesel

  • 1.6 TDCi turbo starved of oilInjection / turbo
    Period mentioned
    Approx. 2004–2018
    Mileage mentioned
    The sheet does not mention a mileage.

    Applies if: Only the 1.6 TDCi.

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Ford Fiesta (VI)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
1.25 / 1.4 / 1.6 Duratec Ti-VCTPetrolFewest documented11 with conditions5
1.0 EcoBoostPetrol31 with conditions5
1.6 EcoBoost STPetrol22 with conditions5
1.4 / 1.5 / 1.6 TDCiDieselFewest documented11 with conditions5

According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.25 / 1.4 / 1.6 Duratec Ti-VCT (Petrol), 1.4 / 1.5 / 1.6 TDCi (Diesel).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Diesel.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Ford dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Ford airbag and seat-belt recalls (2001–2026)Airbags and seat belts

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Ford brake recalls (2001–2026)Brakes

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Ford wheel, axle and suspension recalls (2001–2026)Suspension and steering

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Ford engine, transmission and software recalls (2000–2026)Powertrain and engine management

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Ford electrical, lighting and electronics recalls (2002–2026)Electrical and electronic systems

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry

On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 5 checked

Engine

  • Look out for: Low oil-pressure warning just before a loss of power; sometimes the engine seizes without warning. With no oil pressure the vacuum pump that assists braking can also stop working.

    Ask them to check: With the oil-pressure warning, stop and do not restart. At the garage, check the belt and tensioner and look for debris in the sump and pump screen; use the exact oil Ford specifies and do not stretch the change intervals.

Cooling

  • Look out for: Coolant loss, overheating and, if you keep driving, serious cylinder-head or engine damage.

    Ask them to check: Check with Ford by VIN that the service action was done; watch the coolant level and stop at the temperature warning.

  • Look out for: The temperature rises, coolant is lost and, in extreme cases, oil sprays under pressure from a crack in the head with a risk of fire in the engine bay.

    Ask them to check: Check with Ford by VIN that the recall was done; watch the coolant level and stop at the temperature warning.

Automatic gearbox

  • Look out for: Shudder or judder when pulling away, especially in traffic; gearbox-module faults that can stop the car starting.

    Ask them to check: Read codes (e.g. P0900, clutch actuator), update the gearbox software and run the relearn drive cycle; if the shudder remains, replace the clutch. Ask Ford about campaigns or warranty extensions for the VIN.

Injection / turbo

  • Look out for: Hissing from the engine, diesel smell in the cabin, very dark oil between changes and, eventually, a failing turbo with smoke and loss of power.

    Ask them to check: Check the injector washers and the turbo oil-feed filter. If the turbo is replaced, also clean the sump, intercooler and feed pipe, or the new turbo can fail again. Use low-SAPS oil.

OBD codes worth looking for

If they let you read the fault memory with an OBD reader, these are the codes mentioned in this model's sheets:

P0900

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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