Ford Fiesta 2017

Ford Fiesta 2017 Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Ford Fiesta here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

• Is it safe to drive my 2012 Ford Fiesta if the malfunction indicator lamp is on?

  The broad rule is that if the indicator light is a yellow or orange one (check-engine light, low-fuel warning) you should be okay to get the car to a mechanic to have it scanned to see what the problem is. Or to get it to the nearest service-station to put more petrol in it.

  But, if the light is a red one (temperature, oil pressure, charging system etc) then you need to stop driving the car right now or risk doing further, permanent damage to it. Pull over somewhere safe and call the cavalry. Continuing to drive with a red warning light on the dashboard is almost a guarantee to damage or destroy something expensive, including the engine.

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• My 2011 Ford Fiesta Zetec is jerking on take off

  Unfortunately, it sounds like you have one of the dreaded Powershift dual-clutch transmissions in your car. If that's the case, then this type of transmission behaviour is all too common and, we're sorry to tell you, is a sign that the gearbox is about to die.

  Ford was hauled over the coals by the ACCC back in 2017 for 'unconscionable behaviour' regarding this transmission and its approach to dealing with consumer complaints about it. We'd be talking to Ford Australia's customer service department as it will have a standard procedure now for dealing with such problems.

  All that said, your car is well and truly out of warranty now, but Ford knew years ago that it had a major problem with this transmission, so it's worth asking about compensation or help with repairs. The other piece of advice is to not sink too much money into the car, as the trade and consumers know it's a ticking time bomb and, as a result, this model is worth very little as a trade-in.

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• Is there a fix for the Ford Fiesta dual clutch automatic transmission?

  After being hauled over the coals for its handling of this transmission-failure fiasco (and fined millions of dollars by the ACCC) Ford Australia is taking subsequent cases of Powershift transmission failure on a case-by-case basis. Consideration will be given to the kilometres the vehicle has travelled and whether there was an extended warranty with it, among other things.

  The best advice in your case is to sidestep the dealer and go straight to Ford's customer service department and spell out the situation. You might find there's some redress after all. There are no guarantees, of course, but Ford Australia is painfully aware of its responsibilities in this area, so it's definitely worth a shot.

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• Ford Fiesta 2012: What are the replacement intervals for the timing belt?

  There’s no difference between the petrol engines in the 2011 Fiesta compared with the 2012 model. So, yes, they both require the same timing-belt changes. And yes, the interval is determined by which comes first, the 160,000km or the eight years.

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