Ford Fiesta Beeping? (9 Causes & Solutions)

The Fiesta is a hugely popular compact car that was sadly discontinued in 2019.

Like most cars, it uses beeps, chimes and noises to alert the driver’s attention.

If you’re bemused why your Fiesta keeps beeping, this article is here to help.

Here’s the short answer why your Ford Fiesta is Beeping:

The most common reason why your Ford Fiesta is beeping is due to the lights. If the headlight dial is in the ‘On’ or ‘Park’ position, then when the door is opened you will hear a chime or beeping noise. To fix this, simply set the dial for the lights to the ‘Automatic’ or ‘Off’ position and this should stop the chime.

Why is My Ford Fiesta Beeping?

If you have the dial set to the ‘On’ or ‘Park’ position, this will trigger the chime sound when you open the door.

For most Ford Fiesta models, once you park the car and have the dial in the ‘On’ position – this won’t drain the battery as the lights aren’t actually left on.

So, you can leave the dial in the ‘On’ position however you will have the mildly annoying beeping sound to put up with.

What do the symbols on the dial mean?:

  • The off position is the ‘O’ on the dial.
  • Automatic is an ‘A’ insight a lightbulb symbol
  • ‘Lights on’ is denoted by a headlamp with lightwaves coming from it
  • Parking lights are two back-to-back headlight symbols with lightwaves coming from them.

Ford Fiesta Beeps 5 Times

A common cause of beeping on a Ford Fiesta is due to a fault with the SRS (airbag system) and it often means the airbag warning lamp has blown in the instrument cluster and the problem is not necessarily related to the airbags themselves. This is a backup tone to indicate the warning light is not working.

This is a common feature across Ford models and there is a quick and easy way to check this:

  1. Turn the key to the ‘ON’ poistion.
  2. Observe the gauge cluster.
  3. All lamps should illuminate, including the airbag lamp.
  4. If it doesn’t you will hear the beeping noise, usually it is 5 beeps.

The gauge cluster refers to the collection of driving instruments behind the wheel and includes things such as speedometer, fuel gauge, warning lights and tachometer.

If there is no light for the airbag warning in the dash when you turn the key on, then you’ll need to replace the bulb.

By doing so, the beeping should stop, its also important to check for loose connections.

You will need to remove the instrument cluster, open it and in the back it will have all the little light bulbs.

If changing the faulty bulb didn’t do the trick or you’re not confident to change the bulb yourself, we recommend contacting your local Ford dealership.

From the Ford Fiesta Owners Manual:

NoteThe information below is related to the SRS which is the Supplementary Restraint System which is essentially the vehicle’s airbags.

A warning indicator light in the instrument cluster indicates the readiness of the safety system.

If this warning indicator light is not functioning and there is another fault within the system, the message cluster could display an airbag failure warning.

You could hear five tones (beeps) that repeat periodically until you repair the problem, the warning indicator light could illuminate or both.

Routine maintenance of the airbag is not required.

A difficulty with the [SRS] system is indicated by one or more of the following:

  • The indicator light will not illuminate immediately after the ignition is turned on.
  • The indicator light either flashes or stays illuminated.
  • You could hear five tones (beeps) that periodically repeat until the problem is repaired
  • A message could appear in the information display.

If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the supplemental restraint system serviced at an authorized dealer immediately.

Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a crash.

Related: Ford Fiesta Alarm Going Off? (9 Causes & Solutions)

Ford Fiesta Beeps Twice When Locking

If you hear a beep when locking your Ford Fiesta, this usually means one of the doors or the hatch is not closed properly. Alternatively it could mean there is a spare set of keys in the vehicle.

From the Ford Fiesta owners manual:

Locking the Doors

Press the (padlock) button to lock all the doors. The direction indicators will flash.

Press the button again within three seconds to confirm that all the doors are closed.

The doors will lock again, the direction indicators will flash and the horn will sound, if all the doors and the luggage compartment are closed.

Note: If locking was not successful or if any door or the liftgate is open, or if the hood is open on vehicles with a perimeter alarm or remote start, the horn will sound twice and the lamps will not flash.

Tip: You may have a latch that’s become stuck – in which case make sure to give all door mechanisms a good clean, ensure they are free from debris and lube them up with some WD-40.

Ford Fiesta Beeps When Starting

If you hear beeps when starting up your Ford Fiesta, this is most likely because the 12V battery is starting to die. Alternatively, there may be a problem with the transponder key.

You can always check the battery life with a voltmeter, by measuring the voltage across the battery’s terminals.

If it’s under 11V then this is causing the beeps and you’ll need to replace it.

If there’s a problem with the transponder key you’ll need to buy a replacement and program it.

Ford Fiesta Beeps When Turned Off

If your Ford Fiesta Beeps when turned off this could be caused by a faulty ignition switch as the car thinks the keys are left in the ignition.

If the door chime contact next to the ignition cylinder has fallen out of the slot that it belongs in, it can be glued back in place.

Ford Fiesta Beeping Causes

Faulty latches: If you’ve got a door latch that’s sticking this will trigger the door ajar alarm, try giving a good clean to all door mechanisms and lubricating with WD-40, otherwise the latch will need replacing.

Faulty ignition switch: If you have a faulty ignition switch, the car will think the key is still left in the ignition which can trigger a beeping sound.

Leave the key in: Try leaving the key in the ignition, open the driver’s door and then turn off your vehicle.

Door chime contact: If the door chime contact next to the ignition cylinder has fallen out of the slot it belongs in, it can be glued back in place.

Fob battery: Make sure your key fob battery has plenty of life left.

12V Battery: If the battery is dying or faulty this will trigger a beep.

Low temperature: Some models have a feature built in whereby when the temperature drops below 39.2°F (4°C ) the car will beep to warn you that there could be ice about and to drive carefully.

Seat belts, door ajar, lights on: These three are often the usual suspects.

Seat belt sensor: A faulty seatbelt sensor will trigger a beep. Also, if there is a weight on the passenger seat, like a bag of groceries or a pet, this can trigger a beep.

Alternative Suggestions

Check the Gauge Cluster

When the beeping occurs can you see any lights come on at the same time on the gauge cluster?

This can give a clue as to whats causing the beeping.

Take it to a Ford Dealership

If needed, take the car to a Ford dealership.

Tell them you are NOT paying for a check on what the problem might be.

Ask them if they will check it for free.

Most Ford Dealerships and other places do quick/initial diagnosis for no money as they plan to make money for the repair of your car.

Related: Ford Fiesta Tune-Up & Maintenance Costs? (Complete Guide)

Check for Recalls or TSBs:

By entering your car’s VIN number on Ford’s recall page you can determine whether or not there is a recall for your vehicle and if there is you’ll want to get it fixed.

Similarly, a quick google search will help you determine whether there is a Technical Service Bulletin for your car, these are less serious but may give a reason why your car is beeping.

Diagnosing Beeps With a Scanner

Another possible option if you’re hearing a beeping sound is to use an OBD2 diagnostic scanner tool.

These are fairly easy to use, you simply plug them into your car – there’s usually an OBD2 port under the steering wheel.

Once you have the scan codes you can research these online specifically for the Fiesta.

There are also OBD apps available so you can connect your car straight to your smartphone (either with a cable or Bluetooth) without even needing a scanner.

Related: 9 Best & Worst Ford Fiesta Years (With Facts & Stats)

Resources

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/Catalog/owner_information/2019-Ford-Fiesta-Owner-Manual-version-2_om_EN-US_11_2018.pdf

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/Catalog/owner_information/2019-Ford-Fiesta-Owner-Manual-version-2_om_EN-US_11_2018.pdf

Author:

  • Growing up with a father who was a mechanic I had an appreciation for cars and motorcycles from an early age. I shared my first bike with my brother that had little more than a 40cc engine but it opened up a world of excitement for me, I was hooked. As I grew older I progressed onto bigger bikes and...

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