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Ford Fiesta reliability by build year

Coverage 2002-20233 named generationssuperminiHatchbackDIESEL / PETROL / HYBRID ELECTRIC
At a glance

Ford Fiesta built around 2018: about average at the MOT

Ford Fiestas built around 2018 fail their MOT about as often as similar cars the same age.

Check a Ford Fiesta by number plate

Key figure

16% of MOT tests on Ford Fiestas built around 2018 ended in a fail (retests included), against 18% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Ford Fiestas built around 2018 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Ford Fiesta's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Fiesta's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

Fiesta Mk7

Mk7 (2017-2023)

Average
DIESELPETROLHYBRID ELECTRIC

16.4% fail rate, built around 2018 (7 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

From 105,722 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Fiesta Mk6

Mk6 (2008-2016)

Poor
DIESELPETROL

25.3% fail rate, built around 2016 (9 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 5 MOTs, 20.8%)

From 156,543 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Fiesta Mk5

Mk5 (2002-2007)

Too close to call between ratings
DIESELPETROL

33.3% fail rate, built around 2007 (18 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 31.3%)

From 57,038 MOT tests at this ageView details →

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the Ford Fiesta.

See every build year for the Ford Fiesta

Side-by-side

Ford Fiesta generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
Mk7 (2017-2023)
Average
Average16.4%built around 2018 (7 years old)from 105,722 MOT tests at this age
Mk6 (2008-2016)
Poor
Poor25.3%built around 2016 (9 years old)from 156,543 MOT tests at this age
Mk5 (2002-2007)
No ratingToo close to call between ratings
No ratingToo close to call between ratings33.3%built around 2007 (18 years old)from 57,038 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Fiesta, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

Ford Fiesta fail rate by age

This chart combines every Ford Fiesta ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
27,2018.6%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
42,43011.2%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
67,43912.7%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
96,53913.8%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
105,72216.4%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
131,06822.8%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
156,54325.3%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
167,71226.8%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
162,75628.1%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
142,99729.0%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
128,23530.1%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
113,16930.7%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
122,26531.9%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
98,28332.8%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
64,51333.2%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
57,03833.3%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
39,46733.6%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
25,10233.1%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
20,54833.0%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
13,15632.0%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
5,24032.1%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
2,00133.4%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
7,42728.2%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 19 years old.

Where it ranks

Where the Ford Fiesta stacks up

Three ways to compare the same cars, built around 2018 (7 years old). The fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests, and 1st has the lowest fail rate. Only models with at least 500 MOT tests at this age are ranked. How we count fail rates

Against other Ford models

7th of 17

7th lowest fail rate of 17 Ford models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the middle third

Against other hatchbacks

40th of 84

40th lowest fail rate of 84 hatchbacks with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the middle third

Against the UK average

16.4%

The share of this model's MOT tests at this age that ended in a fail.

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 7-year-old Ford Fiestas

These issues come from 7-year-old Ford Fiestas, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    18.8%
    Advisory: 27,822Fail: 2,516 (8% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    12.8%
    Advisory: 18,783Fail: 2,204 (11% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    10.9%
    Advisory: 12,174Fail: 1,882 (13% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    7.8%
    Advisory: 10,715Fail: 147 (1% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, but not excessively

    3.1%
    Advisory: 3,812Fail: 409 (10% of the times it was found)

Based on 105,722 MOT tests on 7-year-old Ford Fiestas, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 7-year-old Ford Fiestas notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Brakes + Tyres37%
  2. Other + Tyres22%
  3. Lighting + Tyres14%
  4. Brakes + Other14%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 25,191 MOT tests on Ford Fiesta cars built around 2018 (7 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

92%of this model's cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later

UK average for cars first registered in 2014 to 2015: 92% · The same

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0124).

Recall context

41 recalls in all

30 of the 41 Ford Fiesta recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 4 Critical
  • 26 more

Top concerns

  • Fire may occur
  • Relay may overheat and catch fire
  • Possible risk of fire

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks to compare

  1. 1

    Volkswagen up!

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    14.2%
    Still registered at 10 years
    96.7%

    Lower fail rate: 14.2%, against 16.4% for the Ford Fiesta, both built around 2018.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate, share still registered and recalls only.

    15,657 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  2. 2

    Suzuki Celerio

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    13.9%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.5%
    Dangerous
    2.4%
    Still registered at 10 years
    93.5%

    Lower fail rate: 13.9%, against 16.4% for the Ford Fiesta, both built around 2018.

    5,662 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  3. 3

    DS 3

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    24.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    90.9%

    No clear edge over the Ford Fiesta on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate, share still registered and recalls only.

    6,861 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  4. 4

    Toyota Aygo

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    13%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.2%
    Dangerous
    4.6%
    Still registered at 10 years
    96%

    Lower fail rate: 13.0%, against 16.4% for the Ford Fiesta, both built around 2018.

    25,028 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2018 (7 years old), the Ford Fiesta across all generations combined fails MOTs at about the rate typical for this age. It has the 7th lowest fail rate of 17 Ford models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age. This is based on 105,722 7-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Ford Fiesta ever sold: 1,796,851 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2018 (7 years old): 105,722 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.