2016 Ford Fiesta Safety Report
2016 Ford Fiesta Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Ford Fiesta
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Ford Fiesta. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Low (0) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (178) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 11 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Power Train | Compare power train issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2018 | Compare against the 2018 Ford Fiesta with 35 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Ford Fiesta before buying across this generation. |
Ford Fiesta Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Ford Fiesta years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Ford Fiesta | 72 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Ford Fiesta | 253 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Ford Fiesta | 35 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Ford Fiesta | 82 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Ford Fiesta Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Ford Fiesta, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Power Train
69 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Ford onlyEngine
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Ford onlyUnknown Or Other
10 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Ford onlyPower Train,Engine
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Engine issues Ford onlyElectrical System
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Ford onlyWheels
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Wheels issues Ford onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Ford Fiesta
Reliability Score
The 2016 Ford Fiesta receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Ford Fiesta
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Ford Fiesta
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Ford Fiesta:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission Control Module Defect The TCM has been known to be defective, causing transmission issues such as unexpected downshifts and loss of power. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Faulty High-Speed Cooling Fan Relay Customer satisfaction program 16B11 covers this issue, which can lead to a no-start condition and delayed shifting. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Premature Slave Cylinder Failure This issue has been reported in vehicles with around 62,000 miles, causing the vehicle to lose power and potentially stall. |
Medium | Occasional | 62k miles |
| Odometer Fraud A mileage discrepancy was discovered in a purchased vehicle, indicating potential odometer fraud. |
Low | Common | varies miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Ford Fiesta:
Transmission issues are a common problem, including slipping and unexpected downshifts.
Electrical system problems, such as a faulty high-speed cooling fan relay, are also frequent.
Engine issues, including no-start conditions and delayed shifting, are reported.
Steering issues, such as a continuous swishing sound, have been reported.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Ford Fiesta
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Ford Fiesta with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The transmission started slipping in 1st and 2nd gear.
I have come to find that this vehicle suffers from premature slave cylinder failure, there are roughly 62,000 miles on the vehicle. Typical failure is reported to Ford between 70,000 and 80,000 miles. First symptoms appeared at roughly 58,000 miles. As I am a single father and a full time communications worker, I was not able to address this issue immediately upon discovering the initial symptoms ...
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 110,000. It was later discovered that the actual mileage was 190,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended and hesitated to respond. Additionally, the vehicle failed to reverse as intended. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle ...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle was losing motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed and it was determined that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer ...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. The mechanic informed the...
Customer satisfaction program 16B11 covers a faulty high speed cooling fan relay. This bulletin was issued on April 5, 2016. I purchased the vehicle on [XXX]. An incorrect relay was installed at the factory, and the program should have replaced the relay with the correct part. This was not performed on my vehicle before I purchased it from Sheehy Ford of Ashland. The faulty relay failed, melting ...
Symptoms: No-start condition (wouldn't crank w/o jump); delayed or harsh shifting; lost power (stalled going up tiny hill). Warning lights: transmission malfunction - service now; check engine light. Our symptoms and warning lights are consistent with Ford's Fiesta Transmission Control Module recall, however the VIN for our car is not part of the original recall. We meet all of Ford's recall eligi...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping, causing the vehicle to lost motive power or stall. The contact was able to coast over to the side of the road and waited approximately 10 minutes before restarting the vehicle. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. The contact stated th...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a continuous swishing sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the local independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the water pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The water pump was replaced. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notif...
The TCM was defective. It has been known that the TCM, transmission control modules are defective for Ford Fiestas and Focus. My daughter was driving the car and it stalled. If she was in heavy traffic are making a turn when this happened she could have been seriously injured. Ford said that they fixed this issue in the 2015 editions, that's why they stop the recall for 2016 models, but they real...
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 failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximate...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 MPH. The contact stated that the transmission warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that when the gear shifter was shifted into drive, the vehicle quickly lunged forward. The vehicle was taken...
Trunk latch releases randomly. Like so many other people with this generation of Ford Fiesta. They have taken them in for the same issue and told they don't by the shop that they don't know what the problem is. The problem is random so getting to to happen while at the shop is next to impossible. If the problem can't be reproduced by a garage mechanic, how would Insurance, or police have any luck...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering as if it would stall, and the vehicle made an abnormal whining sound. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while driving over a speed bump. The contact had noticed that the failure mostly occurred while driving at low speeds and while the RPMs were low. Additionally, the contact...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle was jumpstarted. The contact stated that the transmission malfunction warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that after the vehicle started while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission started slipping...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, while the transmission was shifting between 1st and 2nd gear, the vehicle was shaking until the transmission had shifted to the higher gears. The contact stated that occasionally the vehicle failed to start intermittently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle had not been taken to the de...
Vehicle was traveling on an interstate highway when the oil indicator lamp lit, and the car immediately lost power, putting it in danger of being rear-ended. I researched any recalls and found "Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-905", which only covers two different models, the Focus and the Eco Sport, with precisely the same EcoBoost 1.0 Liter engine. I recently sent it to an independent service s...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that upon inspection, it was discovered that there was rust on the roof of the vehicle around the base of the antenna. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the VIN not being included in an unidentified recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately ...
The contact called on behalf of a customer who owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated the owner had brought the vehicle in complaining about a metal sound coming from underneath the vehicle as if metal was dragging. The sound was most prominent when turning the vehicle to the left or right. The contact stated that after inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that the sound was comin...
Showing 20 of 178 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Ford Fiesta
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
Opened 2025-12-18
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 44 complaints alleging loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2015-2017 Ford Fiesta and MY 2015-2018 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. These vehicles are equipped with a 1.0L engine and manual transmission. Some consumers report a low engine oil pressure warning lamp immediately preceding a complete loss or reduction of motive power while the vehicle is in motion. Based on a preliminary review of data currently availab...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Ford Fiesta
Has the 2016 FORD FIESTA been recalled?
No, the 2016 FORD FIESTA has no recalls on record with NHTSA as of our latest data update.
How many complaints does the 2016 FORD FIESTA have?
The 2016 FORD FIESTA has 178 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 10 involved crashes. 10 injuries and 1 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 FORD FIESTA?
The 2016 FORD FIESTA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 FORD FIESTA?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 FORD FIESTA involve power train (69 complaints), engine (11 complaints), unknown or other (10 complaints). Other affected components include power train,engine, electrical system, wheels.
How many crash reports does the 2016 FORD FIESTA have?
There are 10 crash reports associated with the 2016 FORD FIESTA out of 178 total complaints (5.6% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 FORD FIESTA have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2016 FORD FIESTA out of 178 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 FORD FIESTA?
Yes, 1 death has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 FORD FIESTA. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 FORD FIESTA?
10 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 FORD FIESTA. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 FORD FIESTA?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 FORD FIESTA is acceptable with caveats. It has 178 complaints, 0 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Note: 1 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 FORD FIESTA?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 FORD FIESTA are: 1. POWER TRAIN (69 complaints), 2. ENGINE (11 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (10 complaints), 4. POWER TRAIN,ENGINE (7 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (6 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 69 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 FORD FIESTA?
Be cautious of transmission and electrical system issues, as they are common in this model. Check for any mileage discrepancies and consider a thorough inspection. The 2016 FORD FIESTA has 178 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2016 FORD FIESTA?
The 2016 FORD FIESTA receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 178 owner complaints, 0 recalls, and 11 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Transmission Control Module Defect and Faulty High-Speed Cooling Fan Relay.
What are the known issues with the 2016 FORD FIESTA?
Known issues with the 2016 FORD FIESTA include: Transmission Control Module Defect, Faulty High-Speed Cooling Fan Relay, Premature Slave Cylinder Failure, Odometer Fraud. These are based on patterns found across 178 NHTSA complaints.
What are the most common transmission issues in the 2016 Ford Fiesta?
The most common transmission issues include slipping in 1st and 2nd gear and unexpected downshifts.
Are there any known electrical system problems with the 2016 Ford Fiesta?
Yes, a faulty high-speed cooling fan relay and no-start conditions are reported.
What should I look out for when inspecting a 2016 Ford Fiesta?
Check for transmission issues, electrical system problems, and any signs of odometer fraud.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of transmission and electrical system issues, as they are common in this model. Check for any mileage discrepancies and consider a thorough inspection.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Ford Fiesta
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Ford Fiesta. The data includes 178 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 0 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 10 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 10 reported injuries, and 1 fatalities associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Ford Fiesta an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-15