Common Ford Fiesta Faults
The Ford Fiesta is a beautiful car for the city, so make sure you are aware of the frequent problems that can occur. While most major failures always result in a recall, this guide can save you money and trouble identifying problems. Read on and find out the common Ford Fiesta faults .
Fiestas are often used around town, so you should be constantly checking carefully for scratches, scuffs, and parking dings, plus make sure to examine your alloy wheels for curbs and scuff marks.
How good is the Ford Fiesta?
Today, the Ford Fiesta remains one of the most popular cars on the road. Given the huge number of vehicles produced by this huge manufacturer, there will always be a small percentage that suffer from failures and breakdowns. However, don’t let this discourage you from choosing this vehicle as a very profitable small town car.
In a whatcar reliability survey the Fiesta finished 16th in the small and urban car class. This seems like a pretty average result, but the percentage score against rivals is strong. Plus, the Fiesta did much better than its archrival, the Corsa. Ford as a brand finished 18th out of 31 car brands.
Common Ford Fiesta Faults
It’s good to make sure you pay close attention to any details and minor changes to the car, such as shaky steering, repetitive strange noises in the wheel area, or other strange symptoms. From that you could detect a fault in time.
Well, enough to make you wait, here are the common faults of the Ford Fiesta :
1- Steering problems
There are two commonly reported steering problems with the Ford Fiesta . In 2006 the manufacturer had problems with a series of steering columns, which could lead to difficulties in controlling the car. However, this should have been resolved by a dealer recall.
The second problem is due to a failed power steering belt , which can become detached and fail, causing control problems with the power steering. Check the steering column for signs of damage, and if there is a problem then you need to replace the part.
2- Failures in the suspension
Is your 2011 Ford Fiesta driving rough and seems like you’re going over potholes? If so, there is a possibility that the rear axle mounting bolts do not meet the required specifications.
This is one of the common 2011 Ford Fiesta failures that should be checked by a mechanic. Also, the expert should be able to tell you if your vehicle has bad but operable bolts and it’s time to replace them.
3- Disadvantages with Airbags
One of the most reported faults on Ford Fiestas is an airbag problem on models produced between August 2001 and April 2004. On this car, a warning light shows if a fault is detected by the front collision detectors, which can fail to engage, without prior warning of the deployment of the airbag. This caused a factory recall, as the part needs proper attention from a skilled mechanic .
4- Rear axle problems
With Ford Fiestas produced mid 2002 there is a widely reported problem with the axle on many models in the range. This can often manifest as difficulties getting the car’s parking brake to work properly, due to a weld seam that secures the brake unit’s mounting plate to the car’s rear axle.
This is another of the common 2002 Ford Fiesta failures. If you have enough mechanical skill, you may be able to fix this by re-soldering the mounting plate.
5- Defective fuel pipe
Fiestas cars built between July 2004 and February 2005 had problems with the fuel lines, which were not built to the manufacturer’s usual standard and can therefore degrade quickly.
This is worth checking as your Fiesta having this problem can lead to fuel leaks and a roadside fire. Installing a new tube will fix the problem.
6- Defective water pump
Engine growling and whining on some Fiestas is a symptom of a faulty water pump. The sound is particularly common when the car is idling at a junction or in traffic and should alert you to this particular fault. Fortunately, this is another part that can be replaced outside of the auto shop.
7- Failure in the hydraulic clutch
This is one of the easier problems to fix on the list, it is an issue where the cylinder rod becomes disconnected from the clutch pedal. This is a very widespread failure and it even occurs on the Zetec range.
This will manifest itself in problems shifting gears and getting the clutch to engage responsively. You can repair this fault yourself by purchasing a simple connection clip to fix the problem.
8- Fault in the exhaust pipe
One of the common 2011 Ford Fiesta failures is that a blind plug was not tight enough. This could melt the cooling fan, causing exhaust gases to form in the car . This problem resulted in a factory recall and should have been fixed by a Ford mechanic and should not be an issue afterwards.
9- Defective filters
Do you find moisture stains in your car? If so, the origin of them could be a defective pollen filter . This piece has caused the entry of water into the driving compartment. However, it is an easy part to replace and it won’t cost you a lot of money to find a new or used part.
10- Servo brake fault
An internal failure in the brake booster of some vehicles manufactured between December 5 and December 20, 2017 could result in the loss of brake assist . If you suspect your car will be affected by this, a technician will need to verify the servo’s manufacturing date to determine if it needs to be replaced.
11- Cracked cylinder head – Fiesta ST
This applies to the sporty ST model that used the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, and specifically to models built between June 2, 2010, and December 20, 2014.
The engine cylinder head can crack and allow oil to seep onto hot engine components and start, potentially causing a fire. A technician will need to inspect the motor to determine if it needs to be replaced; It will also be necessary to install a coolant level sensor and carry out a software update to provide better audible and visual warnings to the driver if the engine overheats.
Tips
Since you have read our list of common Ford Fiesta failures, here are some recommendations:
