Part of the Ford Fiesta Mk7 (2008–2017) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2013 Ford Fiesta diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Ford Fiesta first registered in 2013 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 52,864 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

52,864MOTs of 2013 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
55%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 67%)
9,000typical miles a year
3.9×the usual rate for ball joint

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2013 Ford Fiesta diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2013 Ford Fiesta diesel than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Ball joint3.9× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    18.1% All 2013 cars
    4.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.4%, against 2.6% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Steering swivel joints12.3× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    8.6% All 2013 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.1% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Diesel smoke emissions20× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    8% All 2013 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.7%, against 0.4% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Brake lights2.8× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    9.4% All 2013 cars
    3.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.1%, against 2.7% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Track rod ends2.4× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    10.2% All 2013 cars
    4.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 2.2% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 3.8% here, against 7.7% of all 2013 cars. Number plate lights: 1.8% here, against 5.6% of all 2013 cars.

Common 2013 Ford Fiesta diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2013 Ford Fiesta diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    49% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    37% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    27% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    22% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    14% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2013 Ford Fiesta diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • PowerShift automatic gearbox

    Automatic versions only

    Automatic Fiestas with the PowerShift gearbox can give jerky changes, hesitate, or in bad cases lose drive. Repairs can be expensive.

    At the viewing: If it’s an automatic, pull away gently from a standstill several times and drive in slow traffic. Any judder, clunk or hesitation is a warning sign.

    Source: Bumper: Ford Fiesta reliability guide

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2013 Ford Fiesta diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 3.9× as often on the 2013 Ford Fiesta diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the steering swivel joints? (Flagged at MOT 12.3× as often on the 2013 Ford Fiesta diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the diesel smoke emissions? (Flagged at MOT 20× as often on the 2013 Ford Fiesta diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Ford Fiesta?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Ford Fiesta compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
20231,279Tyres 15%
202224,194Tyres 21%
202153,077Tyres 23%
2020138,826Tyres 26%
2019231,452Tyres 30%
2018275,560Tyres 31%
2017268,449Tyres 31%
2016339,835Tyres 32%
2015373,591Tyres 33%
2014364,190Suspension 38%
2012293,149Suspension 46%
2011251,360Suspension 45%
2010256,215Suspension 46%
2009271,995Suspension 48%
2008166,878Lights and electrics 44%
2007154,032Lights and electrics 46%
2006125,159Suspension 47%
200574,517Suspension 49%
200461,285Suspension 48%
200346,363Brakes 48%
200222,152Suspension 44%
20018,018Suspension 54%
20004,564Suspension 53%
19994,618Suspension 53%
19983,710Suspension 53%
19971,676Suspension 52%
1996937Suspension 46%
1995805Brakes 36%
1994562Suspension 39%
1993423Suspension 32%
1992508Suspension 24%
1991881Suspension 18%
1990511Suspension 21%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests
1978–Too few tests
1977–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Ford Fiesta cars first registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score