The Lemon Index2017 Ford Fiesta.
The 2017 Ford Fiesta is better than average by owner complaints: 31 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 63, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 0 recalls, and it gets 29 to 35 mpg combined. The best Ford Fiesta year is 2018.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 74 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Fiesta year. 2017 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 30K to 77K miles on the car (52 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 30K–96K miles
Recalls 0
No safety recalls on record.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 93 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Turbocharger
- To help differentiate engine oil leaks from other possible sources, a new white-colored…
- Some 2016-2017 Ford and Lincoln vehicles with SYNC 3 may intermittently display an overhead image
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenTiming belt failure2026
- ClosedTiming belt failure2025–2026
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fiesta 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Fiesta 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1850–2200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.0L 3-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
The car jerks and shutters when pressing on the gas. The car loses power and will not go over 40-50 miles a hours, which is very dangerous when driving on the interstate. The car is not changing gear properly.
2017 Ford Fiesta owner · NHTSA complaint 11170576
More owner reports
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.
NHTSA complaint 11202706
Car refuses to start while in p (park). Will start in n (neutral) with difficulty.
NHTSA complaint 11265737
Quick answers
Is the 2017 Ford Fiesta reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.6× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 63; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Fiesta year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2017 Ford Fiesta problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (35%), engine (19%) and fuel or ev drive system (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 Ford Fiesta have?
None: NHTSA has no safety recalls on record for it.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Ford Fiesta get?
29 to 35 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2017 Ford Fiesta safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2017 Ford Fiesta problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 30,300 and 77,700 miles. The middle report was at 51,500 miles, from 52 complaints.
Does the 2017 Ford Fiesta have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 35% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2017 Ford Fiesta cost in fuel a year?
About $1850 to $2200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2017 Ford Fiesta have?
1.0L 3-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl.
What Ford Fiesta year is better than the 2017?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2019 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works