2015 Ford Fiesta diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2015 Ford Fiesta diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2015 Ford Fiesta diesel than on all cars registered in 2015.

• Steering swivel joints18× usual
  Ford Fiesta

  9% All 2015 cars

  0.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.1% of all 2015 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.

• Ball joint3.6× usual
  Ford Fiesta

  10.7% All 2015 cars

  3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, against 1.7% of all 2015 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.

• Brake lights4.6× usual
  Ford Fiesta

  9.2% All 2015 cars

  2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 9%, against 1.6% of all 2015 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.

• Diesel smoke emissions23.7× usual
  Ford Fiesta

  7.1% All 2015 cars

  0.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.9%, against 0.3% of all 2015 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.

• Tyre pressure monitoring system4.3× usual
  Ford Fiesta

  5.1% All 2015 cars

  1.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 1.2% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.

Common 2015 Ford Fiesta diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2015 Ford Fiesta diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  37% 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
  36% 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
  24% 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
  18% 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
  11% 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
  7% 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 2015 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 2015 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 steering swivel joints? (Flagged at MOT 18× as often on the 2015 Ford Fiesta diesel as on other cars the same age.)
2. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the 2015 Ford Fiesta diesel as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the brake lights? (Flagged at MOT 4.6× as often on the 2015 Ford Fiesta diesel as on other cars the same age.)
4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?