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Ford Fiesta overheating problems

68 of the 3,179 owner complaints about the Ford Fiesta describe engine overheating, most of them for the 2014 model year.

owner complaints
68
worst model year
2014
typical repair cost reported
$2,000
typical mileage
77,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

Often reported together

Engine failure 12Stalling 11Check engine light 10Slipping 6Won't start 5Shudder 5Loss of power 5Won't shift 4

Trouble codes mentioned

P1299 2P2701 1P2557 1P0303 1

What owners say

Filed Feb 16, 2026 · Acceleration, Transmission · OH

The transmission does not shift properly.\n And causes it to overheat, this has been a known problem with Ford motor company. I have called and can get no help with them. The repair cost way more than my vehicle is worth. I can't find a transmission company to even do it. There have been buybacks and extended warranties for this very issue. However, my car has more miles. Than the extended more, she allows and Had I had known about this before the end of June of last year. They would have covered it, and I think this is unfair. I'm a [XXX] veteran that's disabled, and as far as the back up camera, it's been out Within a year of me purchasing the car and I have trouble with my neck and I needed the backup camera that's one of the reasons I bought the car and now they have waited so long that the transmission is having issues. And if I can't get that help, then they will waited until it won't even be necessary to work on the backup camera they've outlasted the car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 22, 2025 · Engine · AL

In 2020, Documents were subpoened proving that Ford falsified doors and used a dangerous faulty transmission in Ford Fiesta and Focus Moodels from 2011-2015. There were so many lawsuits, they settled through arbitration. The judicial system only required an extended waranty- no recall or redesign. These vehicles are dangerous, and when transmission overheats, the cars stop in the middle of the road. Many will not go in Reverse. Ford is recouping their arbitration settlement money by continuing to sell these cars on the Used Car Market with the same DPS6 Transmissions which they knew were faulty and dangerous, and falsified documents about, with Clean Car Faxes, often low mileage- because heat starts transmission failure, and that is not fair. The pledge does not say...."WitH liberty and justice for ALL WHO CAN AFFORD IT!" I HAVE AMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED TWICE, because car stops when Trans gets hot. One driver of a 4'4 truck, speeding around a blind spot, swerved into oncoming lane, rolled down his window, pointed a pistol at me, cursing because I ALMOST made HIM WRECK! although my safety flashers were on. There are no shoulders on these rural roads. This car is DANGEROUS! WHY WAS FORD ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS? Falsification of documents about a cars safety is fraud. There are tens of thousands with Clean Car Faxes still being sold unfairly to unknowing victims with modest incomes who TRUST CAR FAX DOCUMENTATION.

Filed Jul 22, 2025 · Engine · CA

In May, my 2015 Ford Fiesta SE went into "limp mode" before reaching the speed limit of 25mph. Immediately afterwards it was taken into a local shop, Mobile Mechanic, where no codes were active and coolant level was between min and max level. Next day, car experienced misfiring check engine light and overheating before being looked at by a mechanic. Mechanic replaced spark plugs due to code reading misfiring in cylinder 3. Car still continued to misfire and due to slight lower level of coolant, Engine overheated and cracked a cylinder block in the 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engine. This car is used to travel with two children under [XXX] and [XXX]. The beginning of June the car overheated on a hot day traveling home with the two kids and myself. We had to sit in the heat for close to an hour before temperature gauge returned to normal, I checked the coolant and it was still between min and max levels. On the same trip, it was on the verge of overheating again due to climbing the hill before our house. After finding out the cylinder block was cracked by my mechanic we discovered there has been a recall issue with the same engine, Recall 17S09, that began in January 2018, a month before I purchased my car from Redwood Ford in Ukiah California ([XXX]). I called W. C. Sanderson Ford in Healdsburg, California on July, 15th, 2025 to see if it would be possible to see if this recall was actually fixed on my vehicle, which they responded that the recall has nothing to do with my car and they can't do anything about my car. The representative specifically said that due to my car being 10 years old it has been disqualified of the recall and is no longer attached to my VIN. I have taken this car to the same local mechanic 4 times since the ending of May, 2025 for the same issues before we discovered the cracked cylinder block, mechanic took pictures of fluid and water inside cylinder 3. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 7, 2025 · Engine · MI

There is a recall (Recall no. 17V209000) that my VIN should have been included in but is not. My vehicle was not equipped with a coolant level sensor from the factory and does not alert to low coolant levels in the vehicle, which can lead to overheating, engine damage, and potential engine fire. The recall fix is a new updated coolant tank design, the inclusion of a coolant level sensor, and a software update for the function of said sensor.

Filed Jul 2, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NC

Customer satisfaction program 16B11 covers a faulty high speed cooling fan relay. This bulletin was issued on April 5, 2016. I purchased the vehicle on [XXX]. An incorrect relay was installed at the factory, and the program should have replaced the relay with the correct part. This was not performed on my vehicle before I purchased it from Sheehy Ford of Ashland. The faulty relay failed, melting the fuse box in the process and causing the vehicle to overheat and cause permanent severe engine damage. Remnants of the melted relay show the part number, which matches the obsolete part number. Visual comparison of the faulty relay matches the obsolete part as well, and differs from the correct superseded part number relay outlined in the 16B11 bulletin. Ford Motor Company insists my vehicle was not a part of this program and any repairs will not be covered. The build date, make/model/engine, assembly plant and most importantly, part number of the relay and mode of failure exactly match the 16B11 CSP bulletin. Ford denies that there is any issue with my vehicle. Local Ford dealers refer me to Ford Motor Company to escalate this problem, but Ford refuses to investigate. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 12, 2025 · Brakes · 64,000 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the contact became aware that the braking system had overheated. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the ABS module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000.

Filed May 10, 2025 · Engine · VA

•Make: Ford •Model: Fiesta ST •Model Year: 2019 •Engine: 1.6L EcoBoost •Mileage at Incident: 95000 Component Affected: Engine / Cooling System Summary of Problem: Coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber of my 1.6L EcoBoost engine due to a suspected internal engine defect. This issue caused noticeable white smoke from the exhaust, engine misfires, and a loss of power while driving. The coolant loss was not visible externally, indicating internal leakage. After diagnostic testing at a Ford dealership, I was informed the engine block or cylinder head is compromised, allowing coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The dealer quoted approximately $12,000 for a full engine replacement and confirmed that this is a known issue with Ford EcoBoost engines. Safety Concerns: The vehicle became unreliable and unsafe to drive, especially at highway speeds, due to the misfiring and sudden power loss. If this failure had occurred during certain driving conditions, it could have led to an accident. Furthermore, the cost of repair is unreasonably high for a systemic engine defect not caused by consumer neglect. Request for Investigation: This appears to be part of a broader, well-documented problem with various EcoBoost engines across Ford’s lineup ( TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 19-2346 2.0L EcoBoost - Coolant In Cylinders, White Exhaust Smoke And/Or Illuminated MIL). I am submitting this complaint in hopes that the federal safety agency will investigate the safety implications of this engine defect and push for accountability from Ford through recalls or reimbursement programs.

Filed Apr 17, 2025 · Electrical, Seat belts · IL

Static through speakers - possible cause, alternator, spark plugs, or faulty wiring. Passenger air bag light - comes on and off on its own randomly. Overheats - with fluids all topped off and car parked and running for 5 minutes it will start extremely overheating with visible smoke. Not sure why. Wire cover - plastic panel on ground towards front of door on driver side needs better coverage. Panel just keeps popping off showing wires. Not sure to what. If gets wet from getting in and out of car can shock you while your driving if touch it just right. Emergency break - don't work Warming indicator - says doors are open when they aren't. Headlights - work when they want to. Theft alarm - don't work Hood pop lever - the lever to pop your hood isn't connected well. The whole lever is just hanging under my steering wheel from the cords. Not latched into anything just kinda floating in the air, makes it hard to pop the hood, can be a distraction while driving with something hitting your knee. Belt buckles - when using seat belts, comes unclicked randomly while driving or won't buckle at all when first trying to put it on. Trunk - unlatches and opens randomly while driving or parked. Shocks? - not sure if it's shocks or what it is. But there is no comfortability while driving. You can feel every bump, pot whole, Crack, anything you drive across. Think it messed up my bearings because of it. But I'm not a mechanic so these are just examples of what's going on and what i think.

Filed Mar 12, 2025 · Engine · OK

On the coldest night of the winter the engine overheated. Pulled over immediately; , , now car will not start believe lit cracked the head or head gasket

Filed Feb 26, 2025 · Engine · CA

Overheating issue still occurred on Cylinder 2, previous recall did not assist in repairing the problem due to poor cooling design from factory. Refer to Recall 17S09 (17V209000) from April 21, 2017.

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: engineReported March 27, 2017 · 208,584 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Escape, 2014-2015 Fiesta ST, 2013-2014 Fusion and 2013-2015 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI engines. If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil.
Risk
If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a coolant level sensor and the supporting hardware and software, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 21, 2017. The recall began on January 5, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S09.

Recall number 17V209000 · Recall details

Questions about the Ford Fiesta overheating

Which Ford Fiesta years have engine overheating problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2014 (25 complaints), 2015 (13 complaints) and 2013 (9 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix engine overheating on the Ford Fiesta?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,000 (median of 5 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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