2017 Ford Fiesta problems
The 2017 Ford Fiesta has 73 NHTSA owner complaints and no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
The 2017 Ford Fiesta has 73 NHTSA owner complaints on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 21 complaints, typically surfacing around 65,406 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 Fiesta | 502 | 7 |
| 2015 Fiesta | 258 | 4 |
| 2016 Fiesta | 178 | 0 |
| 2017 Fiesta (this page) | 73 | 0 |
| 2018 Fiesta | 35 | 0 |
| 2019 Fiesta | 93 | 3 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2017 Ford Fiesta? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
- powertrain — 21 owner reports · tends to show around 65,406 mi · ~$2,500 to fix
- engine — 13 owner reports · tends to show around 71,776 mi · ~$3,100 to fix
- cruise control — 4 owner reports · tends to show around 2,200 mi · ~$600 to fix
- electrical — 4 owner reports · tends to show around 37,000 mi · ~$850 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: engine is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 71,776 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — no active recalls on this model right now, but confirm none were opened after this car was built.
Verdict for buyers: 8.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →Ask anything about your 2017 Ford Fiesta
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Stories from the shop
The DPS6 PowerShift was Ford’s dual-clutch automated manual transmission, fitted to the Focus and Fiesta from 2011 through the end of production. The unit shudders, slips, hesitates, and self-destructs at mileages where a normal automatic is barely broken in. Ford settled a class action in 2017 that was extended through 2020. Below are the model years ranked by NHTSA owner complaint volume in the ProblemsByVin database.
| # | Year | Make | Model | Complaints | Recalls | Slug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012 | Ford | Focus | 3,779 | 1 | DPS6 launch year, peak complaint volume |
| 2 | 2014 | Ford | Focus | 2,629 | 3 | DPS6 reflash era, complaints continued |
| 3 | 2013 | Ford | Focus | 2,099 | 3 | DPS6, multiple TSBs, clutch replacements |
| 4 | 2016 | Ford | Focus | 1,176 | 2 | DPS6 still in service, hardware not redesigned |
| 5 | 2015 | Ford | Focus | 1,007 | 1 | DPS6 mid-cycle, complaints persist |
| 6 | 2017 | Ford | Focus | 883 | 3 | DPS6 last common years, declining sales |
| 7 | 2018 | Ford | Focus | 811 | 2 | DPS6 final year on Focus |
| 8 | 2011 | Ford | Fiesta | 729 | 0 | DPS6 launch on Fiesta |
| 9 | 2013 | Ford | Fiesta | 666 | 1 | DPS6 reflash era, Fiesta |
| 10 | 2012 | Ford | Fiesta | 616 | 0 | DPS6 second model year, Fiesta |
| 11 | 2014 | Ford | Fiesta | 500 | 1 | DPS6 mid-cycle, Fiesta |
| 12 | 2015 | Ford | Fiesta | 256 | 0 | Volume dropping, complaints continuing |
| 13 | 2016 | Ford | Fiesta | 178 | 0 | DPS6 late, smaller fleet |
| 14 | 2011 | Ford | Focus | 112 | 0 | First year, lower fleet count |
| 15 | 2019 | Ford | Fiesta | 85 | 1 | Final year, low residual fleet |
What was actually wrong
The DPS6 was a dry dual-clutch unit with two clutch packs running on a common input shaft. Dry-clutch dual-clutch transmissions work in low-torque European applications where drivers shift smoothly and traffic is metered. They fail in American stop-and-go driving. The clutch packs overheat, glaze, and slip. Ford issued reflash after reflash trying to compensate in software. The hardware was the problem and was never redesigned.
The 2017 Ford Fiesta you are researching now sits at #9 in our database when paired across Focus and Fiesta complaint counts, with 666 owner complaints filed. Most are transmission-related. Ford’s class action settlement covered repairs and replacements through 2020. Many owners did not file claims and absorbed the cost out of pocket.
If you own one and the transmission has not been replaced under the settlement program, the dealer will quote $3,000 to $4,500 for a new clutch and TCM assembly. Independent shops can sometimes do it for $2,000 to $2,800 if you find one with the right scan tool. Most of these vehicles are now worth less than the repair.
Methodology
Recall and complaint counts pulled from the NHTSA recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle APIs. Filter: Ford Focus and Fiesta, model years 2011 through 2019 (the DPS6 production span). Sort: owner complaint count descending. The “0 recalls” rows reflect Ford’s preference for issuing TSBs and warranty extensions instead of formal NHTSA campaigns. The defect was real either way.
Run any specific VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup before purchase. Class action settlement claim deadlines have passed, but warranty extensions on certain DPS6 components may still apply depending on date of original sale.
Top trouble spots 7 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
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
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH with the cruise control engaged, the contact depressed the clutch to shift gear however, the clutch seized, and the contact was unable to shift into gear. The contact placed the vehicle into neutral and…
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the transmission downshifted intermittently. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. Additionally, the contact stated…
After and while gassing up car stalls and does not start up right way.. Sounds like EVAP sensor and canister issues and Ford does not want to know about it..and car only has 60000 miles
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2017 Ford Fiesta reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 73 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Ford Fiesta is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2017 Ford Fiesta?
The 2017 Ford Fiesta is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2017 Ford Fiesta?
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 21 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 65,406 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2017 Ford Fiesta a good used car to buy?
It scores 8.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 73 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 65,406 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2017 Ford Fiesta?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 21 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 65,406 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 22,500 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford Fiesta has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2017 Ford Fiesta?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 73 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.