Used Ford Fiesta Hatchback 2008-2017 reliability review

What should I look for in a used Ford Fiesta?

Make sure you check carefully for any clutch problems. Smelly, slipping or otherwise faulty clutches seem to crop up fairly regularly, so make sure the clutch bites smoothly and you can change gear easily. You should also check that the turbo is working properly on examples with one fitted; you should feel a small but noticeable surge of power while accelerating when the turbo cuts in.

Fiestas are often used in town, so check carefully for scuffs, scrapes and parking dings, and make sure you examine alloy wheels for kerbing and scuff marks. Some early cars' alloy wheels have also been known to buckle easily, so be sure to pay close attention to their condition and walk away from any car with juddering steering, odd repetitive noises from the wheel area, or other strange symptoms.

Also, check to see if the service history is complete. Some ex-fleet and lease cars may have missed maintenance work.

Diesel versions of the Fiesta have been known to suffer from fuel injector issues which can be expensive to sort out, so keep this in mind if you decide you want one of these versions.

The plastics used for the dashboard and door cards mark easily, especially when children are regular passengers. Some owners have complained about the quality of the interior materials. Stereos are known to develop faults, and the heating and ventilation system can malfunction.

There have also been several reports of water leaks, resulting in damp front footwells – this can cause mould in cars that sit for long periods of time. Lift the mats and check carefully when inspecting a car.

Is a used Ford Fiesta reliable?

Out of 28 rivals, the Fiesta came 19th in the small and city car class of our most recent reliability survey. Ford as a brand finished in 27th place out of 32 car manufacturers.

If you would like to see the full reliability list for small cars, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.

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