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Ford Fiesta: 1.0 EcoBoost degas hose failure and rapid coolant loss

1.0 EcoBoost degas hose failure and rapid coolant loss is a common cooling fault on the Ford Fiesta on the 2013–2022 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $200 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 16 documented faults on the Ford Fiesta.

Vehicle
Ford Fiesta
Engine
1.0L
Years
2013–2022
Fuel
petrol
System
Cooling

This page covers the Ford Fiesta as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Ford Fiesta faults16 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The 1.0 EcoBoost's plastic coolant degas hose (and other nylon coolant fittings) becomes brittle with heat cycles and can split without warning, dumping coolant quickly. Because the engine is tiny and highly stressed, it overheats fast, and a driver who presses on can warp or crack the head within minutes. The hose itself is cheap; it is the overheat damage from ignoring it that writes off engines. Applies to both Mk7 (from 2013) and Mk8 1.0 EcoBoost Fiestas.

What you would notice

  • Sudden coolant smell and steam from under the bonnet
  • Coolant warning light or rising temperature gauge
  • Repeated coolant top-ups between services
  • Dried pink/white coolant residue on hoses and around the expansion tank

How to check it

Where to look. Small plastic coolant hoses between the expansion tank, thermostat housing and radiator, passenger side of the engine bay

  1. Open the bonnet and trace the small plastic coolant hoses around the expansion tank and thermostat housing — look for staining, weeping or a hose that has obviously been replaced (a good sign).

  2. Check the coolant level cold.

  3. Ask whether the degas hose has been replaced with the updated part.

What it costs to put right

$200 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the degas hose or thermostat housing ever been replaced?”
  • “Has the engine ever overheated?”
  • “Does it use coolant between services?”

Now check the Ford Fiesta you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

  • FordMasterX — Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost problems
  • FordFiesta.org 1.0 cooling problem threads
  • ClickMechanic — common Ford EcoBoost engine problems

Ford Fiesta buyer questions

Is 1.0 ecoboost degas hose failure and rapid coolant loss serious on a Ford Fiesta?

We rate it major and common on the Ford Fiesta. The 1.0 EcoBoost's plastic coolant degas hose (and other nylon coolant fittings) becomes brittle with heat cycles and can split without warning, dumping coolant quickly. Because the engine is tiny and highly stressed, it overheats fast, and a driver who presses on can warp or crack the head within minutes. The hose itself is cheap; it is the overheat damage from ignoring it that writes off engines. Applies to both Mk7 (from 2013) and Mk8 1.0 EcoBoost Fiestas.

How much does it cost to fix on a Ford Fiesta?

$200 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Ford Fiesta years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2013–2022 Ford Fiesta. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Open the bonnet and trace the small plastic coolant hoses around the expansion tank and thermostat housing — look for staining, weeping or a hose that has obviously been replaced (a good sign). Check the coolant level cold. Ask whether the degas hose has been replaced with the updated part. Look here: Small plastic coolant hoses between the expansion tank, thermostat housing and radiator, passenger side of the engine bay