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

The Ford Fiesta was a popular, low-gas-mileage model that was on sale from 2011 to 2019.

In this article we’ll give you the full rundown of its maintenance, tune-up and running costs.

Here is the short answer to are Ford Fiesta expensive to maintain:

The Ford Fiesta has very reasonable maintenance costs. It would cost you around $552 to maintain a Fiesta every year, which is slightly more than the average of $456 annually for subcompact cars. A tune-up will be around $233, including the replacement of spark plugs.

Are Ford Fiestas Expensive to Maintain?

The Ford Fiesta is a great value car and it is very affordable to maintain.

When looking to buy a new vehicle it’s important to assess maintenance costs to ensure you’re able to properly look after it.

Failing to stay on top of routine servicing and repairs will lead to poor reliability and shorten the lifespan of your car.

Below you’ll find a complete price breakdown for some of the most common costs for the Fiesta, all data is from RepairPal:

Fiesta MaintenanceCost
Average annual repairs and maintenance$552
Tune-Up costs$233
Alternator replacement $389 – 408
Oil change$112 – 127
Wiper blade replacement$92 – $99
Air filter replacement$48 – $62
Battery replacement$161 – $168
New brakes$143 – $172
Coolant change$125 – $157
New tires (set of 4)$281 – $292
New tire (one only)$71 – $73
New spark plugs$101 – $113
Tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance$79 – $100
New transmission$1800 – $3400
Tune-up$233
Insurance$1124 / year (average)

How Much is a Tune-Up on a Fiesta?

This will vary greatly depending on where you take your car and you’ll likely have to pay more at a Ford dealership than your local mechanic.

Ford recommends having a tune-up every 5,000 miles or every six months, whichever comes first.

You can expect to pay in the region of $233 for a fairly comprehensive Fiesta tune-up that includes, but is not limited to:

  • Replacement of plugs, wires and other parts in the ignition system
  • Thorough inspection of engine components
  • Thorough inspection of belts and hoses
  • Filters changed e.g. oil, fuel, air, and cabin.
  • Fluids changed where needed e.g. engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid.

Whilst your car is under warranty it is advised have it serviced at a registered Ford dealership.

Regular tune-ups are highly recommended because:

  • They can bring more power back to your engine.
  • Helps your engine run efficiently and start smoothly, which equates to lower emissions and better fuel economy.
  • Ensures long-term engine health and performance

Related: 4 Most Common Ford Fiesta Problems (Explained)

Alternator Replacement Cost?

A new alternator on a Fiesta will set you back between $389 – $408 for a replacement which should last around 80,000 to 150,000 miles or 5 – 10 years

While the battery is used for starting your car when the engines off, the alternator keeps your car alive when the engine is running. 

The alternator powers most electronic components while you’re driving around or idling and is also responsible for charging the battery of your car while driving.

Oil Change Cost?

A Ford Fiesta oil change should cost between $112 to $127, this includes parts and labor, however does not include taxes and fees. An oil change is one of the most meaningful and vital services for your car.

An oil change should be performed on the Fiesta every 3,000 – 5,000 miles for conventional oil. 

Synthetic oil typically should be changed every 7,500 – 10,000 miles.

At most, oil change intervals should not exceed 10,000 miles, twelve months, or 350 hours of engine run time (whichever comes first)

Wiper Blade Replacement Cost?

This is a relatively simple and quick fix, and you can easily save yourself a few bucks by buying your own wiper blades and installing them yourself, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials on this. 

Most Ford Fiestas use a 26″ wiper blade on the driver side and a 16″ on the passenger side but be sure to double-check first.

Wiper blades for the Ford Fiesta can be picked up for around $30, and installed by yourself for free. 

However, if you want a professional to fit them for you then you can expect to pay in the region of $92 to $99 for parts and labor with taxes and fees on top.

Air Filter Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, air filter replacement cost on a Ford Fiesta is between $48 to $62, not including taxes and fees.

The good news is this task, which should be performed annually or whenever the filter is clogged or dirty, is another fairly straightforward DIY.

Simply open the hood, locate and open the air filter’s housing, remove the old one, insert the new one and replace the housing cover. 

This will help both your car and your bank account breathe a little easier, lots of tutorials on YouTube for this one also. 

Battery Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, the cost of a battery replacement for a Ford Fiesta should cost between $161 and $168.

Whilst there are no specific mileage recommendations for when a battery needs to be replaced, they do eventually die.

In general, it’s a good idea to replace your battery once every 4-5 years.

A vehicle’s battery life varies depending on many different factors such as climate, driving habits, and battery type, among many others.

To help your battery last longer:

  1. Keep your battery tightly fastened: The vibrations of your car can loosen the connections, potentially resulting in short circuits and internal damage.
  2. Limit short rides: Short rides prevent the battery from fully charging.
  3. Control Corrosion: Clean the terminals (toothbrush dipped in baking soda and water mixture) and keep them free from build-up.

New Brakes Cost?

The average cost to replace your Fiesta brake pads, according to RepairPal, is between $143 and $172.

Ford Fiesta brake pads can last anywhere between 30,000 to 60,000 miles and necessary brake work isn’t a cost you can afford to neglect.

Brake pads will wear out at different rates depending on factors such as climate and your style of driving.

Pro tip: To prolong the life of your brakes – Keep your speed low in heavy traffic and avoid any sudden braking.

Cost to Change Coolant?

If it’s just a top-up your car requires then this is a simple task you can perform yourself. 

You can pick up coolant at any gas station for a few bucks and top up to the level required.

If on the other hand, you require a coolant change, which simply involves draining the coolant from the base of the radiator and then replenishing with fresh fluids, this is going to cost you a bit more.

According to RepairPal, the average cost of a Ford Fiesta coolant change is between $125 and $157 (excluding taxes and fees).

How Much Does a New Transmissions Cost?

Transmissions on the Ford Fiesta typically last 10 – 14 years or around 150,000 to 200,000 miles, depending on how well they are maintained and how the car is driven.

The average cost for an aftermarket or rebuilt transmission for a Fiesta is anywhere from $1800 – $3400. This range may vary depending on the model year.

You may also be interested in our article: Ford Fiesta Beeping? (9 Causes & Solutions)

Tire & Wheel Assembly, Rotate & Balance Cost

According to RepairPal, the average cost for a Ford Fiesta tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance is between $79 and $100 – this does not include taxes and fees.

Tire rotate ensures each tire gets worn evenly whilst balancing ensures they roll smoothly and there’s no vibration (this also helps improve your fuel economy).

How much Insurance Cost?

According to insruaviz.com, the average cost of Ford Fiesta insurance is $94 / month or $1124 / year (compared to the subcompact class average cost of $1419).

These figures can vary greatly depending on a number of factors such as your age, driving record and state requirements etc. 

It’s always best to shop around and get at least 3 quotes, make sure the company you choose is reputable.

Toyota Yaris Repair Costs Compared to Similar Cars

ModelAvg. Annual
Repair Cost
Frequency of
Unscheduled Repairs
Probability of
Severe Repairs
Toyota Yaris$3330.46%
Toyota Prius C$3830.367%
Mazda2$4490.37%
Honda Fit$3900.48%
Hyundai Accent$4440.28%
Kia Rio$4340.29%
Mitsubishi Mirage$4570.19%
Mazda MX-5 Miata$4290.310%
Nissan Versa$4560.411%
Chevrolet Spark$4340.311%
Chevrolet Sonic$5360.411%
Chevrolet Aveo$6160.211%
Ford Fiesta$5520.411%
Fiat 500$5220.217%
Mini Cooper
Countryman
$6520.5911%
Mini Cooper$8460.6213%
Avg. Subcompact Car$4560.311%

How Reliable is the Ford Fiesta Compared to Other Cars?

According to data from Repair Pal, the Ford Fiesta has a good reliability score although there are more reliable cars in the segment.

ModelReliability
Toyota Yaris4.5/5.0
Toyota Prius C4.5/5.0
Mazda24.5/5.0
Honda Fit4.5/5.0
Hyundai Accent4.5/5.0
Kia Rio4.5/5.0
Mitsubishi Mirage4.5/5.0
Mazda MX-5 Miata4.0/5.0
Nissan Versa4.0/5.0
Chevrolet Spark4.0/5.0
Chevrolet Sonic4.0/5.0
Chevrolet Aveo4.0/5.0
Ford Fiesta4.0/5.0
Fiat 5003.5/5.0
Mini Cooper
Countryman
3.5/5.0
Mini Cooper3.0/5.0
Avg. Subcompact Car4.0/5.0

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

Resources

Author:

  • Ian Sawyer

    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...