2016 Ford Fiesta Problems, Recalls & Reliability
253 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Ford Fiesta, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 26/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 70,000 miles.
Typical
Where 2016 sits among all Fiesta years
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Fiesta
“The tcm light comes on when car is started. While the car is moving it seem to slip out of gear. This happens while driving on a straight road or turning or slowing down. The rpm revs up but the car is slowing down. This happens when driving 30 mph or 50 mph.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Fiesta
“Daylight running lamps inoperative at time of purchase. Paid for tx inspection. Discovered after leaving dealership.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Fiesta
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 152 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 59,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 39,000 and 85,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for the 2016 Ford Fiesta.
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
On December 18, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE25020 to investigate instances of timing belt failure in model year (MY) 2015-2017 Ford Fiesta and MY 2015-2018 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford), equipped with a 1.0L engine and manual transmission…
Technical service bulletins
109 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2016 Ford Fiesta. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2016 Fiesta TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2016 Ford Fiesta reliable?
The 2016 Ford Fiesta drew 253 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 26/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).
What are the most common 2016 Ford Fiesta problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Ford Fiesta are transmission & drivetrain (103 complaints), engine (34), and electrical (28).
At what mileage do 2016 Ford Fiesta problems show up?
Owners most often report 2016 Ford Fiesta problems around 59,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 39,000 and 85,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Ford Fiesta have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2016 Ford Fiesta. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.