Ford Fiesta Hatchback (2002 - 2008) review - Parkers

Ford Fiesta Mk5 known faults and common problems. 1. TIRED ENGINES. Early 1.3 cars used the ancient crossflow pushrod Valencia unit. Home Carreviews Ford Fiesta Hatchback2002-2008review SidebarLeft OtherFordFiesta(2002-2008)models: Fiesta (2002-2008) FiestaST (2005-2008) Thiscarhasbeensupersededbyanewermodel,clickheretogotothelatestFordFiestaHatchbackreview. 3.5outof53.5 Review OwnerReviews Specs ForSale UsedPrices Leasedeals Parkersoverallrating:3.5outof53.5 Popularsmallcarcanmakeagreatvalueusedcarbuy Enlarge 44photos Ataglance Newprice £8,090-£14,516 Usedprice £515-£4,745 Fueleconomy Nottestedtolateststandards Viewpre-2017economyspecs Roadtaxcost £30-£290 Insurancegroup 5-28 Howmuchisittoinsure? PROS Easytodrive Roomforfouradults Livelyengines CONS Dullinterior Notenoughluggagespaceforfouradults Lotsofnigglingissues FordFiestarivals Vauxhall CorsaHatchback 3outof53.0 Peugeot 206 3outof53.0 Volkswagen PoloHatchback 4outof54.0 Written by MikeHumble on 15November2021 Launchedin2002,thefifth-generationFordFiestawasamuchbolderevolutionthanthepreviousmodel.ItalsomarkedtheendofcarproductionatDagenhaminEssexwiththisallnewvehiclenowbeingassembledintheSpanishcityofValencia–Ford’sleadplantforsmallcars. AgreatdealofthemechanicalscarriedoverfromtheMk4,butattentionwaspaidtobuildquality,interiortrimandgeneralrefinement.TheFordmarketingmachinegotitsfiguresprettymuchspotonwiththecarbeinganinstantsuccessfrominitiallaunch.Thisversionhadasix-yearrunofproductionwhereasprinklingofnips,tucksandaminorfaceliftkepttheFiestafreshlookingandcompetitiveinsofaraspricingmattered. Therewasavasttrimlevelrange,aplethoraofengine/gearboxoptionsandaggressivearrayoffinanceoptionstokeepthecarintheprospectivecustomersminds-eyeandhighinthesaleschartTop10. FordFiestaMk5knownfaultsandcommonproblems 1.TIREDENGINES Early1.3carsusedtheancientcrossflowpushrodValenciaunit.Theseoldunitsbynowgenerallyrattleandtaplikeaboxofbrokencrockerybutarenigh-onunburstable.AlsonotetheZetecpetrolunitswillnottolerateignoredservicingfortoolong.Ifallowedtorunlowonoiltheyshredtheirbottomendbearings.Listenforarumblingordeepnotedclatterwhenonidle. 2.BENTORBROKENSTEERINGRACKS Ithasbeennotedthatcarsdrivenoverdeeppotholesatlowspeedorlaunchedupontohighkerbscaneasilybendthesteeringrackarmsandatworst,breakatoothoffthepinion.Checkforwaywardurbanhandlingand/oraclunkorknocknoiseasyouspoolthewheelfromfulllefttofullrightwhenstationary.  3.SMOKINGDIESELS Thethrifty1.4TDCiengineisknownforoilconsumptionwhentheyhaverattledafewmilesoff.Checkthedipstickforcorrectlevelandbeextraawareiftheoillookscleanifit’sinbetweenservicingintervals.Thistellsyouitsregularlybeingtoppedup.Also–keepanopeneyeforonelitretop-upbottlesdecoratingthebootorinthevendorsgarageifaprivatesale. 4.NOISYGEARBOXES Manualcarscansufferfromdriveshaftsealsgoinghardandleakingtransmissionoilontothefloor.Itdoesn’ttaketoomuchleakagebeforeitsacrificesthedifferentialbearingsandthegearboxmainshaftbearings.Ifthegearbox‘chatters’whenidlinginneutraloryoucanhearahummingnoisewhensharpturningorwhenonaroundaboutthegearboxisruined. 5.INCONSISTENTIDLING Zetecpetrolenginescanbeknownforidlingproblemsthatsomebackstreetgaragesstillseemtostruggletocure.InmanycasesitrequireslittlemorethananewICV(idlecontrolvalve)andasystemrebootviathediagnosticportwithsomeFordsoftware. 6.COOLANTLEAKS Leakingwaterpumpsonpetrolcarsseemstobethecurrenttrendonthesecars.However,alsohavealookwherethecoolantpipesgointothebulkheadtosupplytheheaterforsignsofdribbling.Theplasticheaterblendvalvecanage-weakenandcrackcausingeitherthetemperaturetorefusetobealteredoratworst,thestubpipestoshearoffcausinginstantfullcoolantloss.Caughtintimethoughit’sacheapandeasyfix–plusagoodbarteringpoint. 7.NON-WORKINGREARWASH-WIPER Thiscouldbenothingmorethanaburnt-outmotor(ablownfusewillconfirm)butonanoldercarlikethis,couldbeabrokenwiringharness.Havealookwheretheloomfeedsfromthebodyintothetailgateforsignsofpreviousattentionlikeinsulatingtape.AnautoelectriciancaneasilyfixthisbutitsfiddlytomakegoodagainandnotrecommendedDIYwiseunlessyouareskilledandconfident. 8.GENERALBODYCONDITION Paycloseattentiontotheedgesofthewheelarches,insidethefillercapareaandalongthebodysillsforrust.Ifcorrosionifevidenthereitmaywellbetakingholdinmoreworryingareaslikefloorpanjointsandseatbeltstrengtheningplatesandthefrontsubframe.Anythingshowingseriousrustjustisn’tworthbuying–evenatscrapvalue.Urbantoreadorcarswillalsoshowsignsofpoorrepairdamageandwonkypaintwork. 9.CLONKINGFRONTSUSPENSION Keepalookoutforbrokenorbadlyrustingfrontcoilspringsandlistenforthumpingnoisessignallingwornbottomballjoints.Ifthecargivesoffafaintpatteringsoundwhenrunningoversmoothroadsyoumayneedtobudgetforapairofanti-rollbardroplinks.Thankfullyalltheaforementionedareeasytofixandpartsarecheaptobuy. 10.ELECTRICALGREMLINS Ensureeverythingworksasitshouldandtestoutthechargingsystemifthecarhasaheatedwindscreen.Iftheinteriorlightpulsatesorfaintlyflickersonidlewiththeheatedscreenanddippedbeamswitchedon,youmaybelookingatanearthcablefaultorthealternatorshowingearlysignsofitsdeath. Enlarge0videoEnlarge44photo Today,theFordFiestaMk5offerslittlemorethanadistress-ledpurchaseowingtothecar’sage.However,asafirstcaroraninner-cityrunaboutthatyou’renotgoingtoworryaboutifitlosestheodddoormirrororpicksupaminordenthereandthere,adecentFiestacouldwelltopthebill.Generally,theyareidiotproofandeasytoown,butbewareofsometrulyknackeredwrecksouttheretoo. SkiptoourverdictpagetoseeifwerecommendtheFordFiestaMk5asagoodusedcar. Practicality 1 Introduction Youarecurrentlyreading 2 Practicality 3 Interior 4 Runningcosts 5 Engines 6 Verdict Clicktoexpandnavigation Taptoexpandnavigation Introduction 1of6 FordFiestarivals Vauxhall CorsaHatchback 3outof53.0 Peugeot 206 3outof53.0 Volkswagen PoloHatchback 4outof54.0 Model Close OtherFordFiesta(2002-2008)models: Fiesta(2002-2008) FiestaST(2005-2008) Fiesta (2002-2008) FiestaST (2005-2008) Advertisement Howmuchisittoinsure? 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