Used car guide

1997 Ford Fiesta: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1997 Ford Fiestas, from 430 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 430 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

430MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 1997 cars: 67%)
2,000typical miles a year
4.3×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1997 Ford Fiestas than on all cars registered in 1997.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints4.3× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    20% All 1997 cars
    4.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 0.8% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.8× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    17.2% All 1997 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.4%, against 1.8% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings2.6× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    20.5% All 1997 cars
    8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 13.5%, against 4.3% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Flexible brake hoses3.1× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    16.3% All 1997 cars
    5.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

  • Number plates2.3× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    11.6% All 1997 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.6% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

By area

The share of 1997 Ford Fiesta MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    53% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    43% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    28% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Rust and bodywork
    19% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    18% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Looking at a Ford Fiesta?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20231,253Tyres 15%
202223,364Tyres 21%
202125,716Tyres 25%
202046,359Tyres 30%
201978,044Tyres 31%
201892,925Tyres 31%
201789,573Tyres 31%
2016112,893Suspension 34%
2015123,649Suspension 37%
2014120,179Suspension 42%
2013109,737Suspension 47%
201295,811Suspension 49%
201181,022Suspension 48%
201081,339Suspension 49%
200984,688Suspension 51%
200848,776Suspension 47%
200743,840Lights and electrics 48%
200634,565Suspension 49%
200520,046Suspension 51%
200416,219Suspension 50%
200312,089Brakes 49%
20025,742Suspension 46%
20012,014Suspension 54%
20001,174Suspension 55%
19991,179Suspension 54%
1998935Suspension 55%
1996256Suspension 42%
1995251Brakes 33%
1994163Suspension 39%
1993131Suspension 34%
1992172Brakes 25%
1991278Suspension 19%
1990174Lights and electrics 22%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1997 Ford Fiestas registered in 1997. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score