Ford Fiesta Exhaust Replacement Cost

Quick answer – around £900 if you need the whole system replacing. Between around £160 and £600 for individual parts of the exhaust system, depending on what needs to be replaced.

You may have noticed recently when driving your car that there is a change in the way it sounds, smells or feels. It could be that all or part of your exhaust system needs replacing. It’s very important to repair your exhaust when necessary, as failing to do so can cause health implications with poisonous gasses leaking into the cabin.

Of course, it can also cause damage to your car and affect your car’s performance. But how much does it cost to get your exhaust replaced? If you suspect your Ford Fiesta exhaust might need some attention, we’ve produced a run down of what you might expect to pay to have the exhaust replaced at your local garage.

Table of Contents

• What does an exhaust do?
• Why might an exhaust need replacing?
• Ford Fiesta Exhaust Replacement Cost
  • Ford Fiesta Exhaust Manifold/Catalytic Converter Replacement
  • Ford Fiesta Downpipe Replacement
  • Ford Fiesta DPF Replacement
  • Ford Fiesta Exhaust Centre Section Replacement
  • Ford Fiesta Tailpipe/Back Box Replacement
  • Ford Fiesta Full Exhaust Replacement
• Can I replace an exhaust myself?
• Can you drive a Ford Fiesta without an exhaust?
• Is a blown exhaust an MOT failure?
• How often do exhausts need replacing on the Ford Fiesta?

What does an exhaust do?

An exhaust consists of several different parts. Essentially all it does is take harmful gasses produced by the engine, filters them out into less harmful gasses and expels them into the air. It also serves to direct these harmful gasses or fumes away from passengers in the cabin – exhaust fumes are toxic and can kill you if inhaled in significant quantities.

An exhaust also controls noise – if you’ve ever driven a car with a blown exhaust you’ll know exactly what I mean. The exhaust muffler contains a series of small tubes which serve to deflect the sound waves produced by the engine so that they’re cancelled out. If a hole forms in the muffler, this doesn’t work any more and makes considerable noise.

Why might an exhaust need replacing?

Firstly it’s worth saying that it’s very, very rare that an entire exhaust system would need replacing in one go. The whole exhaust system includes the manifold, downpipe, centre pipes, back box and tailpipe, and for all of these parts to fail at once indicates you’ve probably been in some kind of accident and your car has been written off.

However, individual parts of the exhaust can and do fail. The DPF on diesel cars for example can become clogged, preventing the engine from starting. Catalytic converters may be stolen for their precious metal value. A back box could rust away and leave you with a blown exhaust. As the exhaust is on the bottom of the car you may hit something that damages it. Your exhaust hangers could rust away and leave the exhaust trailing on the floor as you’re driving.

There’s a multitude of reasons that your exhaust may fail – and most are down to good old wear and tear. However, if you’re a performance car enthusiast, you may also be replacing a stock exhaust for performance or for auditory reasons so that the car sounds throatier.

Ford Fiesta Exhaust Replacement Cost

So because it’s rare that you might need the entire exhaust system to be replaced on your car, we have broken down the cost to replace individual parts of the exhaust system. This should give you some idea of how many hours need to go into this job, so that if you need multiple parts of the exhaust system replaced, you can work out how much you might expect to pay.

Of course, for those occasions where you do need the whole exhaust replacing, I’ve worked out the cost for this too. I’ve budgeted £50 per hour for labour – you may pay more or less depending on where you take your car and where you live.

Our example car is a 2014 1.25 Zetec Ford Fiesta for everything except the DPF replacement, and a 2016 1.5 TDCi Ford Fiesta Diesel for the DPF replacement.

Ford Fiesta Exhaust Manifold/Catalytic Converter Replacement

On the Fiesta the exhaust manifold and catalytic converter are usually bought new as a set – so it may be that your mechanic needs to replace both.

Cost for parts: £328.90 (onlinecarparts.co.uk)

Time to fit: 5 hours at £50 per hour + VAT

Total cost to replace Ford Fiesta exhaust manifold and catalytic converter: £578.90 + VAT

Ford Fiesta Downpipe Replacement

Cost for parts: £49.50 (Ford main dealer)

Time to fit: 3 hours at £50 per hour + VAT

Total cost to replace Ford Fiesta downpipe: £199.50 + VAT

Ford Fiesta DPF Replacement

This only applies to diesel models of the Fiesta. It’s rare the DPF would need replacing, unless it is fully clogged up with soot and ash. Even then it’s possible to get a DPF cleaned out, so you should explore this as it will likely be much cheaper.

Cost for parts: £367.89 (bestpartstore.co.uk)

Time to fit: 3 hours at £50 per hour + VAT

Total cost to replace Ford Fiesta diesel particulate filter: £517.89 + VAT

Ford Fiesta Exhaust Centre Section Replacement

Cost for parts: £61.27 (onlineautomotive.co.uk)

Time to fit: 2 hours at £50 per hour + VAT 

Total cost to replace Ford Fiesta exhaust centre section: £161.27 + VAT

Ford Fiesta Tailpipe/Back Box Replacement

Cost for parts: £79.99 (Ford main dealer)

Time to fit: 2 hours at £50 per hour + VAT 

Total cost to replace Ford Fiesta tailpipe/back box: £179.99 + VAT

Ford Fiesta Full Exhaust Replacement

Cost for parts: £679.99

Time to fit: 4 hours at £50 per hour + VAT

Total cost to replace Ford Fiesta full exhaust system: £879.99 + VAT

Can I replace an exhaust myself?

Yes, theoretically with the correct tools this is a job you could do at home on your driveway. You need to be absolutely sure you know what you’re doing, however, as if you make a mistake and part of your exhaust is leaking or otherwise hasn’t been bolted on properly you could be exposing yourself to harmful fumes. If you’re in any way unsure, you should be having this work done by your local mechanic.

Can you drive a Ford Fiesta without an exhaust?

Technically you can, but it’s both illegal and dangerous. For starters your car will be far less fuel efficient with a broken or missing exhaust. It will also be very, very loud – to the point where people will stare at you in the street. 

Dangerous fumes containing carbon monoxide will also be released and they will make their way into the cabin, potentially causing dizziness and nausea to you and your passengers. And when the police stop you, which they will due to the racket you will be making, you’ll get a fine.

Is a blown exhaust an MOT failure?

A car will only fail an MOT if there’s a major exhaust leak, or if the emissions the car is producing are considered unsafe. If you had minor corrosion on your exhaust back box that was causing excessive noise, it’s likely you would just get an advisory. As long as there isn’t a significant leak of exhaust gasses, and the DPF and catalytic converter are still present and operational, you should pass your MOT.

However, if your exhaust has a hole in it, it will require replacement soon and you should budget for it – as you will probably find your car fails its next MOT. 

How often do exhausts need replacing on the Ford Fiesta?

Modern exhausts are made from chrome or stainless steel, and should theoretically last the life of the car. Of course this doesn’t account for whether they get damaged through impact with another object or whether parts of them get stolen. 

You may find that parts of the exhaust succumb to rust after around ten years or so, but an exhaust isn’t a wear item like brake pads or a clutch – it’s more like a gearbox in that it only needs replacing if it breaks, and as long as you drive your car sensibly it should be thousands of miles before you need to worry about replacing it.

Check out some more of our maintenance articles on the Ford Fiesta!