2017 Ford Fiesta Safety Report
2017 Ford Fiesta Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2017 Ford Fiesta
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2017 Ford Fiesta. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Low (0) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (72) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 8 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Power Train | Compare power train issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2018 | Compare against the 2018 Ford Fiesta with 35 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Ford Fiesta before buying across this generation. |
Ford Fiesta Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Ford Fiesta years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Ford Fiesta | 35 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Ford Fiesta | 178 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Ford Fiesta | 82 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Ford Fiesta | 253 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2017 Ford Fiesta Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2017 Ford Fiesta, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Power Train
15 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Ford onlyEngine
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Ford onlyFuel/Propulsion System
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Ford onlyUnknown Or Other
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Ford onlyWheels
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Wheels issues Ford onlyEngine And Engine Cooling
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine And Engine Cooling issues Ford onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2017 Ford Fiesta
Reliability Score
The 2017 Ford Fiesta receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2017 Ford Fiesta
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2017 Ford Fiesta
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2017 Ford Fiesta:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Overheating The engine has overheated due to a loss of coolant, which can lead to severe damage if not addressed promptly. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Transmission Failure The transmission has failed, causing the check engine light to illuminate and the vehicle to overheat, posing a significant safety risk. |
High | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Clutch Issues The clutch has stuck in the engaged position, leading to power loss and dashboard lights indicating a hot transmission. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Check Engine Light The check engine light has come on multiple times, indicating potential issues with the fuel system and electrical system. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2017 Ford Fiesta:
Issues with hard shifts and jerking during driving.
Engine has overheated and check engine light has come on.
Fuel system issues have caused the check engine light to illuminate.
Electrical system issues have caused the check engine light to illuminate.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2017 Ford Fiesta
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2017 Ford Fiesta with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2 complaints involved crashes. 3 reported injuries or fatalities.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and experienced hard shifts from first to second gear and from second to third gear. The contact stated that the RPM were significantly high prior to shifting gear, then decreased before the vehicle accelerated as intended. The contact stated that the transmission had failed to shift to reve...
I have this car since 2019 with 8000 miles and this is the 3rd time the code came up for the evap system to be repaired. P0456. The first time it was replaced was at mileage 47084 at winner Ford dealership. On June 11th 2021. The second time it was replaced was at Winter Ford dealership on March 17th 2022 with mileage 59,678. The light just came on today and the code came up again. PO456. ...
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact was uncertain if any warning lights were illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was discovered that the engine oil pump belt needed to be rep...
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with a purge valve solenoid. The contact was informed that the purge valve solenoid was stuck in the open position. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that t...
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
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was jumpstarted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted after refueling. The contact stated that a bystander assisted with restarting the vehicle, by depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the canister pur...
Alarm system going off for no reason. Battery drained and engine wouldn't start. I had battery tested at auto repair shop and it had burnt out cell inside battery. I purchased new battery last week. The automatic transmission is sluggish at times, feels like it hesitates to get into the next gear. Unknown reasons for cause of issues.
I believe oil pump has malfunctioned. I had a significant loss of power while driving, that could cause sudden accident, had I not been proactive. After the loss of power, I heard a knocking from the engine, then the oil light came on and alerted me. I believe it can be inspected, but have not been able to have it towed to the dealership.
Transmission failed. Yellow wrench light on with Transmission overheating message with an indication to pull over immediately. Took the vehicle to a shop and this was their conclusion: Firestone: Code. "P2701 Description, Transmission Friction Element "B" Apply Time Range/Performance". TECH ROAD TESTED AND FOUND TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BADLY, REFER TO TRANS SHOP OR DEALER FOR OVERHAUL/REPLACEMENT...
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and making a left turn, The vehicle that was behind her vehicle simultaneously made a left turn into the lane the contact was turning into. The contact stated that the front driver's side tire of the vehicle collided with the front passenger's side tire of the other vehicle, causing the vehicle to roll over, and the vehic...
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated due to a loss of coolant. The vehicle went into Limp Mode. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to be driven to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine oil pump was faulty, and the engine needed ...
I was driving down a very busy highway about 60 mph when my oil light started flashing on my dash and my check engine light came on and when I tried to push my brake pedal to stop my car I couldn't push it in. My brakes were very hard, I had to pull my emergency brake to stop my car and coast into a gas station so I didn't hit anyone. I have done a lot of research online and this same issue is alr...
I was driving down [XXX] headed to Columbia and as I was approaching a stop light and getting ready to press my break my oil light on my dash started flashing, and when I attempted to push my brake pedal I couldnt. My brake pedal was hard as a rock and wouldn't press in at all. The highway I was traveling on is a very busy 4 lane highway, I was traveling about 60mph and had to pull my emergency br...
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that upon attempting to reverse the vehicle, the vehicle failed to reverse as intended. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified ...
Clutch "A" stuck engaged...loses power and if driven for a while dash lights up saying "transmission is hot wait 5 minutes " In addition to the previous issue, the car will not will not start right away. If you turn the key forward and pull the car down into last gear and back up into park, the car will start most times, otherwise I will have to jump start it.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the transmission downshifted intermittently. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that the message "Transmission Hot - Wait 5 minutes" was displayed while driving. The contact stated that she pulled to the ...
Drivers door since purchasing the car in 2017 when it's cold out "winter time" by drivers door once open, will not latch back and close- takes it warming up before my drivers door will latch and shut . Temps 30 or under , the mechanism freezes and will not allow the door to latch shut
My name is [XXX] (phone [XXX] , email: [XXX] ) I bought a Ford Fiesta 2017 VIN # [XXX] in Feb 2021. The car with 25K. Currently, at 59K Cylinder 1 and Cylinder 3 misfire because coolant gets in both cylinders, diagnosed by a local car mechanic! When driven, the car is a fire hazard!!! I’ve submitted a claim to Ford Motor Company [XXX], and they replied they don’t have a program that can help me...
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fiesta. The contact state that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated. A message displayed on the instrument panel “Transmission Failure - Service Now”. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that each t...
As of date in July, starting in february the car had transmission error service now, got a new TCM under warranty. A week later the error came back and was told it was just an error code. A week later it came back and stalled out on the road but was not given help. A week later error code came back took to service a few days after they said they reprogrammed the TCM and it was ready to be picked u...
Showing 20 of 72 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2017 Ford Fiesta
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
Opened 2025-12-18
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 44 complaints alleging loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2015-2017 Ford Fiesta and MY 2015-2018 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. These vehicles are equipped with a 1.0L engine and manual transmission. Some consumers report a low engine oil pressure warning lamp immediately preceding a complete loss or reduction of motive power while the vehicle is in motion. Based on a preliminary review of data currently availab...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2017 Ford Fiesta
Has the 2017 FORD FIESTA been recalled?
No, the 2017 FORD FIESTA has no recalls on record with NHTSA as of our latest data update.
How many complaints does the 2017 FORD FIESTA have?
The 2017 FORD FIESTA has 72 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 7 involved crashes. 12 injuries and 1 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2017 FORD FIESTA?
The 2017 FORD FIESTA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 FORD FIESTA?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2017 FORD FIESTA involve power train (15 complaints), engine (8 complaints), fuel/propulsion system (7 complaints). Other affected components include unknown or other, wheels, engine and engine cooling.
How many crash reports does the 2017 FORD FIESTA have?
There are 7 crash reports associated with the 2017 FORD FIESTA out of 72 total complaints (9.7% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2017 FORD FIESTA have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2017 FORD FIESTA out of 72 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2017 FORD FIESTA?
Yes, 1 death has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 FORD FIESTA. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.
How many injuries are reported for the 2017 FORD FIESTA?
12 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 FORD FIESTA. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2017 FORD FIESTA?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 FORD FIESTA is acceptable with caveats. It has 72 complaints, 0 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Note: 1 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2017 FORD FIESTA?
The components with the most failures on the 2017 FORD FIESTA are: 1. POWER TRAIN (15 complaints), 2. ENGINE (8 complaints), 3. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (7 complaints), 4. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (5 complaints), 5. WHEELS (3 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 15 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2017 FORD FIESTA?
Be cautious of the 2017 Ford Fiesta's potential issues with engine overheating, transmission failure, and check engine light. Regular maintenance is crucial. The 2017 FORD FIESTA has 72 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2017 FORD FIESTA?
The 2017 FORD FIESTA receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 72 owner complaints, 0 recalls, and 8 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Overheating and Transmission Failure.
What are the known issues with the 2017 FORD FIESTA?
Known issues with the 2017 FORD FIESTA include: Engine Overheating, Transmission Failure, Clutch Issues, Check Engine Light. These are based on patterns found across 72 NHTSA complaints.
What are the most common issues with the 2017 Ford Fiesta?
Common issues include engine overheating, transmission failure, and check engine light illumination.
Can the clutch issues in the 2017 Ford Fiesta cause accidents?
Yes, the clutch sticking can lead to power loss and dashboard lights indicating a hot transmission, increasing the risk of accidents.
What should I do if the check engine light comes on in my 2017 Ford Fiesta?
Have the vehicle inspected by a professional to identify and address the underlying issue.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of the 2017 Ford Fiesta's potential issues with engine overheating, transmission failure, and check engine light. Regular maintenance is crucial.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2017 Ford Fiesta
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2017 Ford Fiesta. The data includes 72 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 0 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 7 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 12 reported injuries, and 1 fatalities associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2017 Ford Fiesta an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-15