The Ford Fiesta is a portable car that promises comfort and style to its passengers.
This supermini flaunts excellent handling and a hatchback body, perfect for drivers who like a touch of luxury on their car.
Do Ford Fiestas last long?
With adequate maintenance and conscientious use, a Ford Fiesta can push 200,000 miles before falling apart. However, most people rarely use the car past 150,000 miles before changing it.
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How Long Do Ford Fiestas Last?
Ford Fiestas can deliver peak performance for 100,000 miles.
At this stage, they rarely require repairs. At 140,000 miles, Fiesta owners have often done the servicing of their cars themselves.
Yet, the Ford Fiesta has needed no major repairs since purchase.
These owners are also proof that if you take adequate care of your car, you can extend its service life to 150,000 miles.
How Soon to Expect Rust on a Ford Fiesta
Rust will probably appear on your Ford Fiesta after 10 years of production.
Drivers claim rusting starts in places where metal layers are spot welded on the car, such as the inner wings.
Naturally, you would want to repaint the part that is rusting so you can keep using the car.
However, the cost of repainting can be rather high, especially when compared to the actual cost of the car.
An alternative to repainting is to spray the affected part with Hammerite paint. This will keep the rust from escalating or spreading to other parts of the vehicle.
How Long Do Ford Fiestas Last Compared to Similar Cars?
Compared to similar superminis, the durability of Ford Fiestas is only about average.
Let’s see how the Fiesta compares to the competition:
Ford Fiesta vs. Honda Fit (aka Jazz)
The Ford Fiesta and Honda Jazz last for the same time.
Chances are your Ford Fiesta will last for 150,000 miles if you maintain it regularly.
Likewise, Honda Jazz cars often last for 150,000 miles when their owners take proper care of them.
On both cars, it takes roughly the same time for rust to appear.
Users of the Jazz and Fiesta often claim they found rust on their vehicles about 10 years after their manufacture date.
Ford Fiesta vs. Audi A1
These two superminis will probably break down at the same time if they are provided with equal maintenance.
Just like the Ford Fiesta, Audi A1s often last for 150,000 miles before they quit.
If you drive the Fiesta and A1 on the same quantity of fuel, the A1 will likely last longer.
You can also read our article which explains about 3 Most-Common Problems With Ford Fiesta
Ford Fiesta vs. Volkswagen Polo
Reports from customers show that the level of durability the Ford Fiesta provides is equal to the Volkswagen Polos’.
With adequate visits to the mechanic’s workshop, both the Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo might last for 150,000 miles.
Ford cars have always been notorious for low fuel economy.
Apparently, the Fiesta belongs to this category, because even the Volkswagen Polo offers better fuel economy than Ford Fiestas. While Fiestas may not travel more than 30 miles on one gallon of fuel, Polos often last for 46 miles per gallon.
Even though Ford Fiestas are durable for a fairly long amount of time, they offer rather poor gas mileage.
Are Ford Fiestas Reliable?
Ford Fiestas have low reliability compared to competitors.
Take, for instance, J.D. Power’s 2019 reliability rating of the Ford Fiesta. The Fiesta only earned 2.5 out 5, a score even below the satisfactory mark for reliability.
In addition, Fiestas offer a gas mileage that is too low for a supermini. On average, they can only last 30 miles per gallon of fuel.
Ford Fiesta owners also complained about the vehicle’s cramped luggage space and uncomfortable seats. Even the interior design did not impress customers.
The only features of the Fiesta that got positive reviews were the stability and handling of the car.
The Best and Worst Years of the Ford Fiesta
As per reports from numerous vehicle complaint aggregation sites, 2011 was the worst year for the Ford Fiesta.
One hundred seventy-three customers gave negative reviews about the model year (see references below).
Most of these complaints were centered on the car’s transmission and engine:
Transmissions:
According to Fiesta drivers, their 2011 model often encountered shudders when they stomped on the brake pads.
To fix this fault, they had to replace their transmissions.
When they queried mechanics about the transmission, all they did was to advise the vehicle owners to adapt to the dysfunctional component.
Engine:
Users claimed their car engine suffered leakages.
At other times, the car dragged on the highway or even slowed down without the driver’s prompting.
In addition, a few drivers also gave reports about minor safety issues. These include insecure door latches, unsafe locks, and seatbelts that lacked sufficient support to restrain passengers.
The best model year for the Ford Fiesta is 2019. This model offers a more responsive steering and better handling than other model years.
However, the year still attracted a few complaints, which emphasized the car’s cramped interiors.
What About Recalls for these Models?
According to cars.com, there are currently nine recall actions related to different model years of the Ford Fiesta.
Ford recalled some 2011 Ford Fiestas to fix their door latches because they had insecure locks.
This problem may deceive occupants into believing that their doors are locked, therefore increasing their risk of injuries.
Some 2019 Ford Fiesta models were also recalled. These vehicles’ brake calipers were greased with inappropriate assembly fluids during production.
As a result, the brake calipers may overheat or suddenly lose function.
Fixing this problem will reduce the risk of accidents on the highway.
Ford Fiesta Model Year List:
Here is a list of the Ford Fiesta model years:
- 1976 Ford Fiesta
- 1977 Ford Fiesta
- 1978 Ford Fiesta
- 1979 Ford Fiesta
- 1980 Ford Fiesta
- 1981 Ford Fiesta
- 1982 Ford Fiesta
- 1983 Ford Fiesta
- 1984 Ford Fiesta
- 1985 Ford Fiesta
- 1986 Ford Fiesta
- 1987 Ford Fiesta
- 1988 Ford Fiesta
- 1989 Ford Fiesta
- 1990 Ford Fiesta
- 1991 Ford Fiesta
- 1992 Ford Fiesta
- 1993 Ford Fiesta
- 1994 Ford Fiesta
- 1995 Ford Fiesta
- 1996 Ford Fiesta
- 1997 Ford Fiesta
- 1998 Ford Fiesta
- 1999 Ford Fiesta
- 2000 Ford Fiesta
- 2001 Ford Fiesta
- 2002 Ford Fiesta
- 2003 Ford Fiesta
- 2004 Ford Fiesta
- 2005 Ford Fiesta
- 2006 Ford Fiesta
- 2007 Ford Fiesta
- 2008 Ford Fiesta
- 2009 Ford Fiesta
- 2010 Ford Fiesta
- 2011 Ford Fiesta
- 2012 Ford Fiesta
- 2013 Ford Fiesta
- 2014 Ford Fiesta
- 2015 Ford Fiesta
- 2016 Ford Fiesta
- 2017 Ford Fiesta
- 2018 Ford Fiesta
- 2019 Ford Fiesta
- 2020 Ford Fiesta
- 2021 Ford Fiesta
Are Ford Fiestas Expensive to Maintain?
No, they aren’t. Maintenance on Ford Fiestas costs about $552 when there is no need for repairs.
This is fair since a new Ford Fiesta will most likely cost $15,000.
Nevertheless, certain model years of the Ford Fiesta turn out to be expensive to maintain in the long run. Model years like 2011 often require a lot of repairs and replacements after their first 55,000 miles.
Usually, these fixes cost a fortune.
How Long Do Brakes Last?
If you drive carefully, your Ford Fiesta brakes will probably last for 50,000 miles.
That said, you can prolong the life of your brakes by going easy on the brake pads. Most brake pads will overheat when pressure is continuously exerted on them.
In the long run, that translates to shorter service life for them.
How Long Do Batteries Last?
The service life of Fiesta batteries varies between 5-9 years.
Drivers who charge their batteries regularly and use them daily will get the longest service life.
Even if you don’t use your car daily, starting the engine every 24 hours will make the battery last longer.
How Long Do Tires Last?
Usually, original Ford Fiesta tires can last as long as 52,000 miles.
Chances are your tires will last longer if you make your technician rotate them every time you pay him a visit.
How Long Do Transmissions Last?
Customer reviews suggest Ford Fiesta transmissions will probably last for 150,000-200,000 miles.
How Long Do Spark Plugs Last?
The average service life for Ford Fiesta spark plugs is 100,000 miles.
You have to change them around this time, or else you’ll lose a lot of fuel.
What Is the Insurance Cost of Ford Fiestas?
Yearly insurance often costs about $2,160.
However, your insurance may cost higher or lower than this amount, depending on the Ford Fiesta model you drive, your mileage, etc.
Tips to Prolong the Life of your Car
Here are tips to get more out of your Ford Fiesta:
- Drive carefully. Even though the Fiesta is built for improved handling and speed, there is only so much pressure it can take.
- Refill your transmission fluid after every 150,000 miles.
This is a lifetime fluid with this DPS6 transmission. It is manual with a gearbox that is automatically shifted for you. The fluid inside of it is meant to be lifetime which is why it’s sealed without a dipstick. However, if you take care of your vehicle, it surpasses 150,000 mi easily
- Park your car in a well-ventilated indoor garage when it is not in use. It will keep the car from rusting early.
- Start your car every day, even when you have no intention of using it.
- Your battery needs to run daily if it must last long.
References:
Ford Focus, Fiesta owners, deal with transmission repair nightmare – freep.com.
Ford Fiesta long-term test review – whatcar.com
What It’s Like to Drive 200,000 Miles Per Year