2016 Ford FIESTA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
178 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
57,183 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 117 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 90 of 178 complaints (50.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 83 | 46.6% |
| Engine operation | 26 | 14.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 21 | 11.8% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 5.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 90 |
| Engine | 33 |
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Unknown Or Other | 22 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | 8 |
| Steering | 7 |
Power Train: 90; Engine: 33; Electrical System: 22; Unknown Or Other: 22; Fuel/Propulsion System: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm): 8; Steering: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 23 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 32 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 61 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 27 |
| 2020 | 24 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 29 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 14 |
2016: 3; 2017: 17; 2018: 8; 2019: 27; 2020: 24; 2021: 20; 2022: 29; 2023: 21; 2024: 15; 2025: 14
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 83 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 26 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 21 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10916676 · 2016-10-17 (October 17, 2016)
CLUNK NOISE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR... I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FROM THE DAY I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM THE DEALER ON 9/29/16 (45 MILES ON CAR THEN).. I THOUGHT AT FIRST I IMAGINED IT OR JUST NEEDED TO GET USED TO THIS CAR SINCE I HAD JUST TURNED IN A 2014 LEASE CAR BACK TO TOYOTA SO BIG DIFFERENCE IN THESE 2 CARS..
Owner-reported narrative. 45 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10971519 · 2017-04-09 (April 9, 2017)
MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE OCCASIONAL HESITATION UNDER LOAD WHEN MAINTAINING SPEED, ALL OBSERVED SPEEDS, ALL OBSERVED GEARS (ROUGHLY 30MPH TO 70MPH IN GEARS 3-5). VEHICLE HAS DONE IS SINCE NEW, (DECEMBER 26, 2016 TO PRESENT) LESS THAN 4,500 MILES ON IT AT PRESENT. BRINGING TO DEALER IN NEXT WEEK OR TWO FOR FIRST SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE, WILL HAVE THEM CHECK IT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10971519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10971559 · 2017-04-10 (April 10, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN AN INTERSECTION. THE FAILURE OCCURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10971559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11034598 · 2017-10-19 (October 19, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FIESTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE RPMS INCREASED, AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11034598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11021535 · 2017-09-05 (September 5, 2017)
CAR PARKED, BATTERY DEAD. JUMP STARTED CAR. CAR STARTED. ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT ON DASH. ONLINE SEARCH RECOMMENDED DRIVING CAR TO RESET THE PROGRAMS. DROVE CAR AROUND BLOCK, CAR LOST ACCELERATION. FELT AS THOUGH TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE GIVING GAS BUT WOULD NOT MOVE. TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,338 miles reported. Look up ODI 11021535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11100264 · 2018-06-06 (June 6, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 FORD FIESTA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE HOOD, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND IF THE VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11100264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11005106 · 2017-07-13 (July 13, 2017)
I PICKED UP THIS NEW FORD FIESTA 5DR (AUTO TRANSMISSION) 9/29/16 & THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 1979 MILES ON ODOMETER. I NOTICED THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE RIGHT AFTER I PICKED UP THE CAR & REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER. THE CAR/TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE A MIND OF IT'S OWN. THE DEALER AT THE TIME COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM & TOLD ME WHEN I COULD DUPLICATE IT TO RETURN & HAVE IT CHECKED; WELL THAT'S A LITTLE HARD SINCE THE ISSUE IS NOT PRE-DETERMINED. ON 7/12/2017 AS I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I REALIZED MY SIDE VISION WAS OBSCURED SLIGHTLY SO I …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,979 miles reported. Look up ODI 11005106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11103583 · 2018-06-23 (June 23, 2018)
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND I LET MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME. FROM A STOP, WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE AND USE THE ACCELERATOR THERE'S A HESITATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11103583 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10970525 · 2017-04-04 (April 4, 2017)
STEERING WHEEL PLASTIC COVER CATCHES FINGER AT 5 O'CLOCK AND 7 O'CLOCK WHEN TRYING TO TURN. PLACING FINGER AND TURNING STEERING WHEEL CATCHES FINGER AND COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. PLASTIC STICKS OUT FROM THE BLACK BACK PLASTIC THAT IT TOUCHES. IN MY CAR IT'S A GRAY ACCENT U SHAPED THAT STARTS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRBAG AND GOES DOWN AND AROUND TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRBAG. THE TOUGH PART OF THE U-SHAPED GOES FROM THE LEFT AND YOU HAVE THE TELEPHONE BUTTONS RADIO BUTTONS ON ONE SIDE AND THEN YOUR CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS ON THE OTHER IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 460 miles reported. Look up ODI 10970525 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10992000 · 2017-05-28 (May 28, 2017)
HAS A HESITATION WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL ALMOST LIKE TOO MUCH FUEL AT ONE TIME AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WILL LAUNCH FORWARD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS WHILE TURNING IT WILL CAUSE YOU TO REDIRECT YOUR STEERING QUICKLY OR YOU WILL END UP ON SOMEONE ELSE'S SIDE OF THE ROAD.AND WHEN PULLING OUT FROM STOP SIGNS OR SIGNAL LIGHTS IS VERY SCARY AND IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME.NOT HAVING POWER WHEN NEEDED IS VERY UNSAFE FOR ME AND THE OTHER SURROUNDING DRIVERS.
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11234317 · 2019-07-23 (July 23, 2019)
CAR STALLS, DOESN'T PICK UP SPEED, HESITATES TO START, ENGINE LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE THE GAS VALVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. GAS WARNING COMES ON WHEN HALF FULL. GAS SMELL THROUGHOUT CAR. HAS A LOAD HUMMING SOUND WHEN DRIVING OR IDLED. JUMPS WHEN ACCELERATE. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A DEALERSHIP IN SAINT LOUIS (RELOCATED RECENTLY) AND THEY WON'T TOUCH IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 11234317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11277391 · 2019-10-31 (October 31, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME FUEL WAS PLACED IN THE TANK, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED. ALSO, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VACUUM FUEL LINE WAS UNABLE TO BLEED UP THE FUEL TANK VACUUM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAG…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,298 miles reported. Look up ODI 11277391 at NHTSA ↗