2013 Ford Fiesta petrol: common problems and MOT failures

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

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

• Ball joint3.4× usual
  Ford Fiesta

  15.5% All 2013 cars

  4.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 9.6%, 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 joints11× usual
  Ford Fiesta

  7.7% All 2013 cars

  0.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, 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.

• Brake lights2.6× usual
  Ford Fiesta

  8.8% All 2013 cars

  3.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 8.4%, 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.

• Coil springs1.7× usual
  Ford Fiesta

  12.5% All 2013 cars

  7.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 3.7% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

• Track rod ends1.7× usual
  Ford Fiesta

  7.5% All 2013 cars

  4.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4%, 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.

Common 2013 Ford Fiesta petrol MOT failures and advisories

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

• Suspension
  43% 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
  34% 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
  21% 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
  21% 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
  7% 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 an engine warning light.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  6% 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 petrol

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.

• Coolant pipe that can split (early 1.0 EcoBoost)

  Early 1.0 EcoBoost petrol

  On early 1.0 EcoBoost engines a small plastic coolant pipe could split. The leak can overheat the engine badly. Ford issued a fix.

  At the viewing: Ask whether the coolant pipe fix was done, and check the coolant level is between the marks.

  Source: Parkers: Ford Focus Mk3 buying guide

• Timing belt that runs in oil (1.0 EcoBoost)

  1.0 petrol (EcoBoost and non-turbo)

  Ford’s 1.0 three-cylinder petrol uses a timing belt that runs in the engine oil on most cars. If oil changes are late or the wrong oil is used, the belt breaks down and sheds rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some later cars have a timing chain instead: a Ford dealer can tell you from the VIN. Ford’s change interval is 10 years or 150,000 miles, and the belt isn’t covered by warranty.

  At the viewing: Ask for a full service history with the right oil, and when the belt was changed. An oil-pressure warning light, a rattle or a rough idle are warning signs.

  Source: Parkers: everything you need to know about the Ford wet belt

• 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 petrol

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

1. Has the Ford fix for the coolant pipe on the 1.0 EcoBoost been done?
2. Has the timing belt been changed, and is there a full service history with the right oil?
3. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the 2013 Ford Fiesta petrol as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the steering swivel joints? (Flagged at MOT 11× as often on the 2013 Ford Fiesta petrol as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the brake lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2013 Ford Fiesta petrol as on other cars the same age.)
6. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?