AI Damage2017 Ford Fiesta: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Ford Fiesta filed 74 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and engine. The maker issued 54 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 74
- involving a crash
- 7
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 54
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 30% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 26% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 16% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 9% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 5% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 22 complaints (30% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Engine: 19 complaints (26% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 12 complaints (16% of all).
- Electrical system: 7 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 27.
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (7% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1 L · petrol · turbo · 3 cyl
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- dual-clutch (DCT), 6-speed
- manual, 5-speednamed in 2 complaints
- manual, 6-speednamed in 2 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 74 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 22 | 0 | 8 |
| Engine | 19 | 2 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 7 | 0 | 27 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Air bags | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt failed to unbuckle, and bystanders assisted the contact out of the vehicle by wiggling the seat belt until the seat belt was unbuckled.
9/21/2022 during the accident my 2017 ford fiesta suffered considerable damage(which I was ticketed for, they said wreckless driving.. I wasn't speeding and I have police reports to back this up). The car did its job and no one was substantially hurt.
My airbag deployed after an accident burnt my left hand and then caught on fire and was burning and then deployed after it burned. I was driving the car when I had the accident
He's uncertain what caused the sudden acceleration. The car was totaled and my son has a severely broken foot.
Turning a curvature on a mountain road steering locked and brakes failed car went over the mountain as a result passangers three were injured and one fatality.
The contact noticed smoke coming through the air vents. The contact was unable to open the doors and had to exit through the passenger window. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the cvc joint under the vehicle was fractured.
When I moved gearshift from park to drive, car accelerated violently. I do not believe I accidentally used the accelerator, this occured in parking lot.after moving about 20 feet I hit a heavy gate with enough force to do extensive damage to car including bent chassis.
Check engine light illuminated. Dealer retrieved DTC P0457 for an EVAP leak. Dealer performed EVAP diagnostic testing and determined that the canister purge valve was leaking. Purge valve was replaced at owner expense. After replacement, EVAP leak verification passed and DTC was resolved.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 708 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Fiesta has 98 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 74, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Customer Satisfaction Program 26L02 Certain 2014-2021 Model Year Various Vehicles 1.0L Fox Classic Engine…
Customer Satisfaction Program 26L02 Certain 2014-2021 Model Year Various Vehicles 1.0L Fox Classic Engine Timing Belt and Oil Pump Belt Interval Change
- Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines…
Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
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NHTSA lists 54 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ford Fiesta?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, engine, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 74. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (28%), stalls while driving (15%), won't start (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Ford Fiesta?
NHTSA lists 54 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Ford Fiesta from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.