Clutch · 2026
Ford Ka / Ka+ clutch cost
A clutch replacement on a Ford Ka / Ka+ typically costs £243–£693 fitted at a UK independent garage — or £345–£1011 if the dual-mass flywheel is replaced at the same time. The Ka is one of the cheapest clutch jobs going — solid flywheels on the petrols and, on the original Mk1, a simple cable clutch with no hydraulics at all. The Fiat-based Mk2 adds a known weak point: a plastic clutch-pipe coupler that leaks.
Does the Ford Ka / Ka+ have a dual-mass flywheel?
This is the biggest swing in any clutch quote — a dual-mass flywheel (DMF) adds several hundred pounds in parts if it needs replacing with the clutch. Here's how the common UK Ford Ka / Ka+ engines are built (always confirm against your exact engine):
| Engine | Flywheel | What that means |
|---|---|---|
1.3 petrol (Mk1, to 2008) | Solid flywheel | Simple cable-clutch small petrol — only conventional clutch kits and cables are catalogued. |
1.2 petrol (Mk2, Fiat 500 platform) | Solid flywheel | Shares clutch and flywheel parts with the Fiat 500 1.2 — conventional single-mass kits only. |
1.3 TDCi diesel (Mk2) | Dual-mass flywheel | Aftermarket dual-mass flywheel listings exist for the 1.3 MultiJet diesel — confirm on inspection. |
1.2 Ti-VCT petrol (Ka+) | Check your engine | Cheap conventional clutch kits are catalogued, consistent with a solid flywheel, but no explicit flywheel listing found — confirm by registration. |
UK Kas were effectively manual-only across all generations — no common automatic variant to worry about.
Ford Ka / Ka+ clutch replacement cost
A clutch kit (plate, pressure plate, release bearing) fitted at a UK independent garage typically costs £243–£693 for a Ford Ka / Ka+ — or £345–£1011 if the dual-mass flywheel is renewed at the same time. It's a gearbox-out job, so most of the bill is labour. The Mk1 (to 2008) uses a cable-operated clutch — no hydraulics to bleed. The Mk2 (2008–16) is hydraulic, sharing the Fiat 500 system, whose plastic clutch-pipe coupler is a documented failure point with dedicated repair kits sold for it.
Key things to know
- On the Mk2, the plastic clutch-pipe coupler between master and slave cylinder deteriorates and leaks — common enough that dedicated repair union kits are sold. Worth doing preventatively during a clutch job.
- Specialists recommend replacing the Mk2's clutch release fork and bushes during a clutch job — known wear items.
- The Mk1's cable clutch makes it about the cheapest clutch job on any car of its era — no hydraulics, small light gearbox.
- Ford's own online shop lists a genuine Ka Mk2 1.2 clutch kit under £280 — a useful genuine-parts price anchor.
Good question
Questions Okay gets asked a lot
How much does a clutch cost for a Ford Ka / Ka+?
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Expect £243–£693 fitted at a UK independent garage in 2026 for the clutch kit (plate, pressure plate and release bearing). If your engine has a dual-mass flywheel and it needs replacing at the same time — usually sensible, since the gearbox is already off — the total rises to £345–£1011. Most of the bill is labour: it's a gearbox-out job. Main dealers charge more; use our cost calculator to adjust for your region.
Does the Ford Ka / Ka+ have a dual-mass flywheel?
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It depends on the engine. 1.3 petrol (Mk1, to 2008): solid flywheel. 1.2 petrol (Mk2, Fiat 500 platform): solid flywheel. 1.3 TDCi diesel (Mk2): dual-mass flywheel. 1.2 Ti-VCT petrol (Ka+): check your engine. A dual-mass flywheel smooths out engine pulses but wears like a clutch component — if it's worn (rattle at idle, vibration), replacing it with the clutch avoids paying the gearbox-out labour twice.
Why did my Ford Ka suddenly lose its clutch pedal?
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On the 2008–2016 Ka the prime suspect is the plastic coupler in the clutch hydraulic pipe, shared with the Fiat 500 — it degrades with heat and age, then leaks fluid, and the pedal goes soft or straight to the floor. It's common enough that repair union kits are sold specifically for this failure, and the fix is far cheaper than a clutch. On the original Mk1 Ka the equivalent failure is a stretched or snapped clutch cable — cheaper still. Neither necessarily means the clutch itself is worn, so get the hydraulics checked before agreeing to a full clutch job.
What are the signs the clutch is going on a Ford Ka / Ka+?
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The classic signs are slipping (revs rise without the car accelerating, especially uphill or in high gears), a biting point that has crept towards the top of the pedal travel, judder pulling away, and a smell of hot friction material after hard use. A rattle at idle that disappears when you press the clutch pedal points at the dual-mass flywheel rather than the clutch itself. None of these get better on their own — a slipping clutch accelerates its own wear.
Get a price for your Ford Ka / Ka+
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