Before you buy a used Ford Fiesta (VII).
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.

The essentials.
- 2 documented, sourced faults across its 5 engines.
- That is not much data: if no other faults show up here, it does not mean it has none.
- They all depend on the equipment or the production date: ask what this car has.
- 7 official recalls on record: ask for the chassis number (VIN) and confirm they have been done.
- According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.1 Ti-VCT (Petrol), 1.5 EcoBoost ST (Petrol), 1.5 TDCi / EcoBlue (Diesel).
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.
All versions
Sheets the catalogue links to all 5 of its engines.
- Period mentioned
- 2017–2023
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Weak points of this model from inspections, breakdown statistics and recalls; anything specific to one engine is stated in the sheet.
1.1 Ti-VCT · 1.5 EcoBoost ST · 1.5 TDCi / EcoBlue
1.1 Ti-VCT (Petrol) · 1.5 EcoBoost ST (Petrol) · 1.5 TDCi / EcoBlue (Diesel)
We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.
1.0 EcoBoost · 1.0 EcoBoost mHEV
1.0 EcoBoost (Petrol) · 1.0 EcoBoost mHEV (Hybrid)
- Period mentioned
- Approx. 2014–2021
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Same engine as the models NHTSA is investigating (Fiesta, Focus, EcoSport); have the belt checked at the garage.
Applies if: Same three-cylinder 1.0 EcoBoost with an oil-bathed belt, here with a 48 V mild-hybrid system.
Which engine has the fewest documented faults?
| Engine | Documented faults | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Ti-VCTPetrolFewest documented | 11 with conditions | 7 |
| 1.0 EcoBoostPetrol | 22 with conditions | 7 |
| 1.0 EcoBoost mHEVHybrid | 22 with conditions | 7 |
| 1.5 EcoBoost STPetrolFewest documented | 11 with conditions | 7 |
| 1.5 TDCi / EcoBlueDieselFewest documented | 11 with conditions | 7 |
According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.1 Ti-VCT (Petrol), 1.5 EcoBoost ST (Petrol), 1.5 TDCi / EcoBlue (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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 entryFord 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 entryFord steering recalls (2003–2026)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 entryFord fuel-system recalls (2002–2026)Fuel system
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 entryFord 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 entryFord 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 entryFord 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 entryOn 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 2 checked
Known weak points
Look out for: Coolant loss from the thermostat housing (often damaging the head gasket); engine failure from the oil-pump belt on 1.0 EcoBoost built up to early 2018; rust where paint chips at the hinges; creaking steering and interior rattles.
Ask them to check: Watch the coolant; on the 1.0 EcoBoost, use exactly the oil Ford specifies; check every campaign by VIN.
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.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.
- 1.0 EcoBoost oil-pump belt, thermostat and campaigns on the Fiesta (from 2017)
- 1.0 EcoBoost wet belt: blocked oil pump
- Ford airbag and seat-belt recalls (2001–2026)
- Ford brake recalls (2001–2026)
- Ford steering recalls (2003–2026)
- Ford fuel-system recalls (2002–2026)
- Ford wheel, axle and suspension recalls (2001–2026)
- Ford engine, transmission and software recalls (2000–2026)
- Ford electrical, lighting and electronics recalls (2002–2026)
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