2017 Ford B-Max problems

• 1.0 EcoBoost 100/125 (Fox, 2012-2017)

  100–125 hp · SFJA, SFJB, SFJC, SFJD

  This is the version with the most documented cases of degradation of the belts running in oil and of coolant leak reports in early units; only recommended with the belts checked or replaced and no oil temperature or pressure warning lights.^[2][3][4]

  With caution

• 1.0 EcoBoost 100/125/140 with cylinder deactivation (from ~2017)

  100–140 hp · M1JC, M1JJ, M1JU

  Ford's 2023 recall in the US over the oil pump belt tensioner covers cars of this generation (Focus up to 2018 and EcoSport up to 2022), so the risk of seizure from this belt did not disappear with cylinder deactivation.^[5][6]

  With caution

Faults that affect 2017 cars

• Critical severityFrequency: CommonTimingDegradation of the timing belt running in oilYes: the 1.0 EcoBoost's timing belt runs in oil and can degrade over the years, shedding bits of rubber that block the oil pump and seize the engine without warning. The NHTSA is investigating the case in the United States and Ford has shortened the recommended replacement interval.Repair (garage): €800–€1,200
• Critical severityFrequency: CommonLubricationOil pump belt and tensioner failureYes. In addition to the timing belt, the 1.0 EcoBoost has a second belt, also running in oil, that drives the oil pump. If the tensioner breaks, the belt loses teeth and can cut off oil pressure; in the US Ford has recalled more than 100,000 Ford Focus and EcoSport vehicles for this reason.
• Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalCoolingCoolant leaks and overheating from the turbo hoseThere are documented cases of turbo hoses that crack and drain the coolant without warning, which can overheat the engine and even seize it. We have not found a Ford campaign for the 1.0 EcoBoost in Spain; Ford's best-known fire recall concerns a different engine, the 1.6 EcoBoost.

• PowerShift DPS6 dry clutch, revised clutch (2016-2023)

  · DPS6, 6DCT250

  It improves the clutch's thermal behaviour compared with the first generation, but Auto Express still warns of vibrations and that the clutch can fail in the Fiesta VIII; do the same road test and check the gearbox history before buying.^[8]

  With caution

Faults that affect 2017 cars

• High severityFrequency: Very frequentClutchJuddering, hesitation and slipping of the dry clutch (DPS6)Yes: the dry-clutch DPS6 judders, hesitates when pulling away and slips in a very large number of cars. Ford revised the clutch and software at least six times without fully solving it, and in the US a 2020 court settlement covered close to 600,000 Ford Fiesta and Focus cars.
• High severityFrequency: Very frequentClutchClutch pressure plate breakage (2018 and 2019 recalls on the Focus and C-MAX)Ford recalled the Focus III and C-MAX II with the Powershift gearbox over the risk of the clutch pressure plate breaking, in two successive campaigns (2018 and 2019) covering vehicles built between August 2012 and May 2018.
• Medium severityFrequency: CommonElectronicsCold hesitation and electronic faults in the control module (TCM)Both the DPS6 and the 6DCT450 depend on a control module (TCM) that manages the clutches; there is cold hesitation, resonance at idle and occasional electronic failures, and Ford has revised the software several times without a single fix.

• 1.6 HDi / e-HDi 92/95 8V (DV6D, 2009-2016)

  92–95 hp · DV6D, DV6DTED, 9HP

  According to the testimonies collected by Fiches-Auto, the 92 hp is clearly more reliable than the other outputs; with correct maintenance and the belt up to date it has no specific serious faults documented.^[10][11]

  Buy

Faults that affect 2017 cars

• Medium severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlAdditive-fed particulate filter (Eolys cerine): depleted additive and cloggingThe DPF on the 1.6 HDi and BlueHDi works with an additive (cerine) that runs out at 80,000-120,000 km and has to be topped up for around €100-120 (price in Spain). With a lot of town use the filter clogs and the warning appears; if it is left, a new DPF costs around €1,500.Repair (garage): €100–€1,500Appears at around 80,000 km
• Medium severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlDirty EGR valve and EGR cooler leaksThe 1.6 HDi EGR valve gets dirty easily, especially in town use, and causes jerking and stalling at idle. On the 8V engines the EGR cooler also fails, consuming coolant with no visible leaks.

• 1.4 Ti-VCT 90/96/97 hp

  90–97 hp

  On the Fiesta, fiches-auto.fr documents testimonials of excessive oil and coolant consumption, including coolant in the spark plug wells; on the B-Max, by contrast, no equivalent complaints have been found for the 1.4.^[12][13]

  With caution

• 1.6 Ti-VCT 85/105/120/125 hp (revised actuator)

  85–125 hp

  Gebrauchtwagenberater expressly confirms that the variable valve timing actuator problem, present in the Focus II, «did not reach» the B-Max, and that on the Focus III and C-Max II that reputation improved «thanks to the absence of faults».^[12][14][15]

  Buy

Faults that affect 2017 cars

• Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalLubricationHigher-than-expected oil consumptionThere are documented testimonials of higher-than-expected oil consumption in the Ford Fiesta, both on the 1.25 (with oil reaching the air filter through the crankcase ventilation) and on the 1.4, where it is combined with coolant consumption.Appears at around 40,000 km
• Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCoolingThermostat, water pump and coolant lossYes: there are testimonials of coolant consumption and loss in the Ford Fiesta, including one case of coolant in the spark plug wells of the 1.4, as well as thermostat and water pump failures documented across the Ti-VCT range.
• Low severityFrequency: OccasionalIgnitionMisfires from coils or spark plugsThere are documented cases of ignition coils replaced several times on the Ford Focus II (1.6 Ti-VCT) and of spark plugs changed at 60,000 km on the Ford Fiesta 1.25, which points to earlier-than-expected ignition system wear on some units.Appears at around 60,000 km

• High severityFrequency: CommonGearbox and clutchClutch wear and gearbox faults, including the Powershift automaticfiches-auto.fr records 13 cases of gearbox failure and 11 of clutch failure among 127 Ford B-Max owner testimonials, concentrated mainly in the 1.6 Duratec 105 hp and 1.0 EcoBoost 125 hp versions; Auto Express adds that the Powershift automatic gearbox can suffer persistent judder.
• Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBrakesABS failure caused by the hydraulic unit and premature wear of the brake discsfiches-auto.fr documents 7 cases of ABS failure among 127 Ford B-Max owner testimonials, caused by a hydraulic unit that no longer modulates braking pressure properly, along with complaints of brake discs wearing out sooner than expected.
• Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBodywork and interiorPoor durability of the mechanism, locks and wiring of the rear sliding doorsfiches-auto.fr notes that the mechanism, locks and wiring of the B-Max's rear sliding doors may not be durable enough; Auto Express adds that, because the doors are heavy, they can close by themselves if the car is parked on a steep slope.
• Low severityFrequency: OccasionalElectrical systemElectric window faults and minor sensor or electronics faultsAuto Express flags electrical problems as the most common on the Ford B-Max in the Driver Power owner survey; fiches-auto.fr gives specifics: 4 cases of window or wiper failure and 4 more of sensors or minor electronics among 127 testimonials.