Used car guide

2022 Ford Fiesta Active Edition Tdci: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2022 Ford Fiesta Active Edition Tdcis, from 130 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 130 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

130MOT tests in 2025
90%pass first time (all 2022 cars: 89%)
5,600typical miles a year
18%had tyres flagged

What gets flagged at MOT

The share of 2022 Ford Fiesta Active Edition Tdci MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    18% 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.

  • Brakes
    8% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    5% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    2% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Steering
    2% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Known faults

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Timing belt that runs in oil (1.0 EcoBoost)
    1.0 petrol (EcoBoost and non-turbo)

    Ford’s 1.0 three-cylinder petrol uses a timing belt that runs in the engine oil on most cars. If oil changes are late or the wrong oil is used, the belt breaks down and sheds rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some later cars have a timing chain instead: a Ford dealer can tell you from the VIN. Ford’s change interval is 10 years or 150,000 miles, and the belt isn’t covered by warranty.

    At the viewing: Ask for a full service history with the right oil, and when the belt was changed. An oil-pressure warning light, a rattle or a rough idle are warning signs.

    Source: Parkers: everything you need to know about the Ford wet belt

  • PowerShift automatic gearbox
    Automatic versions only

    Automatic Fiestas with the PowerShift gearbox can give jerky changes, hesitate, or in bad cases lose drive. Repairs can be expensive.

    At the viewing: If it’s an automatic, pull away gently from a standstill several times and drive in slow traffic. Any judder, clunk or hesitation is a warning sign.

    Source: Bumper: Ford Fiesta reliability guide

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Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2022 Ford Fiesta Active Edition Tdcis registered in 2022. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score