IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2013 Ford Fiesta Mk7 facelift (B299)

The facelift brought the Aston-style nose and made the 1.0 EcoBoost a core engine choice, which is why 2013-on cars need a different buying checklist from the earlier B299s.

What changed for 2013

  • •Major front-end facelift
  • •1.0 EcoBoost becomes a mainstream UK engine option

Common MOT watch-outs

  • !Rear coil springs
  • !Front suspension arm bushes
4
Known Issues
3
Serious
0
Moderate
1
Minor

All Known Issues

1.0 EcoBoost Wet Belt Failure

SeriousEngine

The oil-bath timing belt is extremely sensitive to skipped servicing or the wrong oil. Once it sheds material, rubber debris clogs the oil pickup strainer, causing oil starvation and total engine failure.

Est. Repair Cost: £1,200–£4,000
Warning Signs:

Low oil pressure warning, Engine rattle, Total engine failure

What to Inspect:
  • Check for correct-spec oil history and sensible service intervals
  • Look for belt debris in oil-service paperwork or recent sump-cleaning invoices
  • Ask if the belt has been replaced (Ford interval is 10 years, but 6-8 is safer)
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

1.0 EcoBoost Cooling ("Ecoboom")

SeriousCooling System

Early facelift EcoBoost cars used a brittle nylon degas hose (Recall 14S06) that could split without warning. Later models can still leak from the degas bottle (expansion tank) seams or the revised hose connections.

Est. Repair Cost: £100 (Hose) to £3,000 (Engine)
Warning Signs:

Sudden loss of coolant, Temperature gauge rises rapidly, Steam from engine bay

What to Inspect:
  • Confirm the upgraded braided rubber hose has been fitted
  • Inspect the bottom of the coolant expansion tank for "crazing" or micro-cracks
  • Look for the revised coolant cap (FINIS 5193938)
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

Powershift Transmission Judder

SeriousGearbox & Transmission

The same dry-clutch Powershift risk carried into the facelift years, where shunting urban use and missed maintenance accelerate clutch and mechatronic failures.

Est. Repair Cost: £800–£2,500
Warning Signs:

Judder when pulling away, Hesitation on gear changes, Transmission malfunction warning

What to Inspect:
  • Drive in heavy traffic and on an incline
  • Make sure the car selects reverse promptly and cleanly
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

Water Ingress (Boot)

MinorBodywork & Rust

Rear light seals and roof-seam sealing can still allow water into the boot, leading to damp carpets, corrosion and a stale-smelling cabin.

Est. Repair Cost: £50–£150
Warning Signs:

Damp boot carpet, Condensation on windows, Musty smell

What to Inspect:
  • Lift the boot carpet and check the spare-wheel well
  • Look for water staining around the rear lamp apertures
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

Buying Tips for 2013 Ford Fiesta Mk7 facelift (B299)

  • A facelift car is only the better buy if its EcoBoost servicing and coolant-update history are genuinely watertight.
2014
Check a 2013 Ford Fiesta Mk7 facelift (B299) by Registration