Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Ford Fiesta.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
With 1,338,498 currently licensed in the UK, the Ford Fiesta is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Fiesta 5 stars in 2017, with 97% adult occupant and 84% child protection scores.
It has a 78.2% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, lighting, brakes.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,697 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £225/month or 34p/mile.
Theft risk is rated low at 4.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2017
MOT Pass Rate
78.2%
1,250,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£225
est. annual total
New From
£20,000
Euro NCAP tested the Fiesta in 2017 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
97%
Child Occupant
84%
Pedestrian
64%
Safety Assist
60%
There are 32 known DVSA recalls affecting the Ford Fiesta. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/359
On affected vehicles a software problem may result in issues with the rear-view camera that reduce the driver’s view or with it remaining on after a reversing event.
Build dates: 2019-03-08 to 2019-03-08
R/2025/359
On affected vehicles a software problem may result in issues with the rear-view camera that reduce the driver’s view or with it remaining on after a reversing event.
Build dates: 2019-04-30 to 2019-05-29
R/2025/359
On affected vehicles a software problem may result in issues with the rear-view camera that reduce the driver’s view or with it remaining on after a reversing event.
Build dates: 2020-01-14 to 2020-01-14
R/2025/084
Affected vehicles may experience chafing between the fuel line support shield and the fuel line which could result in damage to the fuel line.
Build dates: 2021-12-22 to 2023-07-11
R/2023/274
On the affected vehicles an incorrect Instrument Cluster has been fitted. This results in the speedometer not correctly displaying the maximum vehicle speed.�
Build dates: 2022-08-15 to 2023-06-07
+ 27 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 1,250,000 MOT tests, the Fiesta has a first-time pass rate of 78.2% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Fiesta is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Ford Fiesta are estimated at around £2,697 per year, or £225 per month.
Fuel
£1,289
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£808
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Fiesta achieves a combined fuel economy of around 40.9 mpg (48.7 mpg urban, 48.7 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIESTA | PETROL | 40.9 mpg | 1.2L |
| FIESTA | PETROL | 40.9 mpg | 1.3L |
| FIESTA | PETROL | 39.2 mpg | 1.4L |
| FIESTA | PETROL | 38.7 mpg | 1.6L |
| FIESTA | DIESEL | 53.3 mpg | 1.8L |
| FIESTA , MODEL YEAR PRE 2015� | DIESEL | 76.3 mpg | 1.5L |
| FIESTA , MODEL YEAR PRE 2015� | DIESEL | 78.5 mpg | 1.6L |
| FIESTA 2004� MODEL YEAR ONWARDS | PETROL | 45.6 mpg | 1.2L |
Starting from £20,000 new, a Ford Fiesta typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £15,000 | −£5,000 |
| 2 years | 64% | £12,750 | −£7,250 |
| 3 years | 56% | £11,200 | −£8,800 |
| 4 years | 50% | £10,100 | −£9,900 |
| 5 years | 46% | £9,300 | −£10,700 |
| 6 years | 43% | £8,650 | −£11,350 |
| 7 years | 41% | £8,100 | −£11,900 |
| 8 years | 39% | £7,700 | −£12,300 |
| 9 years | 37% | £7,350 | −£12,650 |
| 10 years | 35% | £6,950 | −£13,050 |
The Fiesta has a theft rate of 4.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 1,338,498 licensed and 118,463 SORN Fiestas in the UK (1,456,961 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Fiesta has a 78.2% first-time MOT pass rate based on 1,250,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Fiesta 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2017. It scored 97% for adult occupant protection, 84% for child occupant protection, 64% for vulnerable road users, and 60% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Fiesta are estimated at around £2,697 per year (£225/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 32 known safety recalls affecting the Fiesta. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The Fiesta has a theft rate of 4.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new Fiesta starts from around £20,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
Ford Ecosport
Reliability, safety & running costs
Ford Focus
Reliability, safety & running costs
Ford Kuga
Reliability, safety & running costs
Ford Mondeo
Reliability, safety & running costs
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Reliability, safety & running costs
Ford Puma
Reliability, safety & running costs
Ford Ranger
Reliability, safety & running costs
Free MOT History Check
See every test result, advisory and failure since 2005.
Free Car Valuation
Estimate what a vehicle is worth based on age, mileage and condition.
Safety Recall Check
Check if a vehicle has any outstanding safety recalls.
ULEZ Compliance Check
Check if a vehicle meets London ULEZ emission standards.
Free Plate Check © 2026. All rights reserved.
Your MOT could be due soon — Set a free reminder(up to £1,000 fine for driving without)