Used Ford Fiesta ST 2013-2017 reliability

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

The ST will have been driven hard by some owners, so as well as taking care to do proper visual checks on the car when you’re buying it, it’s vital to check for obvious signs of misuse and carelessness.

Look at any smoke coming from the exhaust, for one – this shouldn’t be too dark – and check the oil on the engine dipstick and the quality of the coolant. Check for leaks underneath the car, if possible, and also for worn tyres that might need expensive replacement.

It's always advisable to insist on a full service history, preferably with a Ford main dealer.

Cylinder head might crack

There has been a recall issued for some of the earlier 1.6-litre engines fitted to Fiesta STs built before 20 December 2014. The problem is that the cylinder head might crack if the engine overheats and could in extreme circumstances catch fire. If your car is affected, it will need to be inspected at a Ford dealership to check the condition of the engine and cooling system, followed by the addition of a coolant level sensor and some software to provide the driver with an audible and visual warning if the temperature gets too high. If you'd like further information about this issue, read our news story here.

Click here for more information. Contact your local Ford dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.

Reported problems are few, and owners on the whole tend to have good things to say about the ST.

The ST didn't specifically feature in our What Car? Reliability Survey and the Fiesta generation it's based on was absent as well. As a car brand, Ford came 17th out of 32 manufacturers, with a reliability score of 91.4%. Based on that alone, the Fiesta ST is a reliable car.