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2017 Ford Fiesta Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2017 Ford Fiesta has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Wheel and lug nut failure.” Ford uses the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor (IOLM) to determine when oil changes are due based on actual driving load — not just mileage. Ford's published cap is 10,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first. The schedule below reflects Ford's Normal service intervals; F-Series trucks and Super Duty have additional towing-specific items.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2017 Ford Fiesta.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

  • Timing Belt Failure

    Action #EA26004 · opened Jul 31, 2026

    On December 18, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE25020 to investigate instances of timing belt failure in model year (MY) 2015-2017 Ford Fiesta and MY 2015-2018 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford), equipped with a 1.0L engine and…

    View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

Wheel and lug nut failure

WHEELS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2019-05 → 2022-09

“The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, she noticed that the rear driver's side tire was flat”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11484610
“In addition, the contact stated while having maintenance repairs on the vehicle, the mechanic informed her that the lug nuts were swollen on all four wheels and needed to be replaced”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11454687
“WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE WHEEL TO MY CAR SPLIT IN TWO. IT WAS NOT CAUSED FROM HITTING ANYTHING, THERE WAS NO POTHOLES, ETC IN THE ROAD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11207704

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission and clutch failure with hard shifting

POWER TRAIN

22 NHTSA complaints · 2019-01 → 2025-06

“The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and experienced hard shifts from first to second gear and from second to third gear”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11669409
“Transmission failed. Yellow wrench light on with Transmission overheating message with an indication to pull over immediately”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11600800
“ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED ABNORMALLY AND STALLED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11164590

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Stalling and no-start after refueling

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

15 NHTSA complaints · 2019-12 → 2025-05

“I have this car since 2019 with 8000 miles and this is the 3rd time the code came up for the evap system to be repaired. P0456”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11661557
“The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle failed to restart”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11644795
“EVERY TIME I GET GAS, MY CAR WILL NOT START FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11306490

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Oil pump failure and engine overheating

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

8 NHTSA complaints · 2022-10 → 2025-05

“The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle started to lose motive power”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11659244
“I believe oil pump has malfunctioned. I had a significant loss of power while driving, that could cause sudden accident, had I not been proactive”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11611003
“The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated due to a loss of coolant”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11575505

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unintended acceleration and RPM surge

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

4 NHTSA complaints · 2017-07 → 2019-07

“WHEN I MOVED GEARSHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, CAR ACCELERATED VIOLENTLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11091300
“ON JULY 15TH 2019, MY SON WAS GOING AROUND A SHARP RIGHT CORNER WHEN THE CAR SPED UP OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE HEAD ON”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11232774
“I STOPPED TWICE ON AN INTERSECTION AND A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO 3000 TO 4000 RPM INVOLUNTARILY FROM BETWEEN 500 AND 1000 RPM AND I HAD TO STEP HARD ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER NOT TO HAVE THE VIBRATING CAR MOVE FORWARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11019072

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 7,500 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic Motorcraft oil per the IOLM, or every 7,500-10,000 miles. EcoBoost engines require full synthetic; Coyote 5.0L V8 specifies SAE 5W-30.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 10,000 mi

Rotate tires every 10,000 miles, or with every other oil change. F-150 4x4 owners should rotate every 5,000-7,500 miles to even out drivetrain bias wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid level every 10,000 miles. Front pads on F-150 and Explorer typically last 40,000-60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Ford specifies brake fluid replacement on an inspection basis, but moisture testing every 3 years is recommended. Replace if reading exceeds 3% water content.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. EcoBoost turbocharged engines are sensitive to airflow restriction — don't extend.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 150,000 mi

Ford 6R80, 10R80, and 8F transmissions use Mercon LV fluid rated 150,000 miles under normal service. Severe service (towing, plowing) drops this to 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD models)

Every 60,000 mi

On 4x4 models, replace transfer case fluid every 60,000 miles. Use Motorcraft XL-12 — do not substitute generic transfer case fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 100,000 mi

F-Series and Expedition: replace rear axle fluid every 100,000 miles, or 50,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip rear ends require friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs on Coyote 5.0L, EcoBoost 2.7L/3.5L, and 2.3L are rated 100,000 miles. EcoBoost engines: never exceed the interval — gap erosion causes coil failure.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

Motorcraft Orange (Dex-Cool compatible) coolant: first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000. Older trucks with Yellow Motorcraft coolant: 50,000 miles throughout.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 20,000 miles. On F-150, located behind the glove box; on Escape and Explorer, accessed from the passenger footwell.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

53 crashes 1990–2024

How the 53 occupant deaths break down

42

driver deaths

11

passenger deaths

53

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2017 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

7

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2017 Ford Fiesta reflects Ford's published service intervals and the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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