2016 Ford Fiesta Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Power Train (50.6% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Power Train complaints here are 6.5× the median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
An open NHTSA investigation (PE25020, opened Dec 2025) covers Engine, but no recall has been issued for it yet.
1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 90 · 50.6% | No official action | — |
| Engine | 33 · 18.5% | Under investigation | PE25020 |
| Electrical System | 22 · 12.4% | No official action | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 · 6.2% | No official action | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 11 · 6.2% | No official action | — |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 8 · 4.5% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 178 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for this vehicle. New recalls can be issued at any time — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contactâs son stated that the vehicle was unable to shift into reverse. The contact stated no warning…”NHTSA complaint 11434252 — filed 09/24/2021 · POWER TRAIN
“There is a problem with certain module of the transmission, whenever you change/replace the battery, once you start the car again, it shows a system…”NHTSA complaint 11420520 — filed 06/11/2021 · POWER TRAIN
“MY 2016 VEHICLE WAS NOT ON A RECALL LIST AND I HAVE NOT (NEVER) MISSED A FORD MAINTAINENCE SERVICE OR OIL CHANGE ETC. ON THIS…”NHTSA complaint 11407370 — filed 04/10/2021 · POWER TRAIN
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford Fiesta?
Power train issues are the most-reported category, cited in 90 of 178 NHTSA complaints (50.6%), followed by engine (33), unspecified/other issues (22), electrical system (22). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2016 Ford Fiesta have?
178 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 10 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, and 10 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.
Does the 2016 Ford Fiesta have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for this vehicle. New recalls can be issued at any time — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2016 Ford Fiesta's reported problems?
1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. NHTSA has an open investigation (PE25020) into engine that has not led to a recall. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
