2016 Ford Fiesta

178 complaints on file, page 1 of 9.

1. Filed Nov 12, 2025Failure Nov 10, 2025Bethpage, TN, TNPower train

   The transmission started slipping in 1st and 2nd gear.

   NHTSA complaint 11698961
2. Filed Oct 28, 2025Failure Oct 23, 2025Poulsbo, WAPower train, Unknown or other

   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 as it would need further diagnosis. Clutch hydraulic fluids appear to be well sealed and clean. The design flaw with this system should be relatively obvious to a major automobile manufacturer such as Ford. The excessive temperatures caused by the transmission can and will affect any hydraulic systems severely. There are no avenues in which the temperatures can escape due to the bell housing of the transmission encasing the slave cylinder. In my experience as a prior automotive technician, most manual transmission automobiles place the cylinder in a more reasonable location, for example, beside the break booster in a 1991 Dodge Stealth. When observing the firewall in this location on this model of vehicle I can confidently say there is enough room to place a clutch slave cylinder in this location. The current placement appears to be for no other reason then planned obsolescence. Vehicle has stalled in traffic multiple times, cannot complete shifts due to clutch pedal sticking to floor. Inability to properly operate transmission as expected per mileage with a manual vehicle is a safety hazard. This is a safety concern due to limited ability to engage warning lights being that the shifter needs to be operated as well as the vehicle needing to be steered. Inability to depress the clutch to mechanical certainty limits the drivers ability to confidently navigate to a safe area to assess the vehicle's possible malfunctions. This limits the ability to warn other motorists on the roadways, which can cause accidents that may also cause injury/fatality depending on the speeds driven.

   NHTSA complaint 11696112
3. Filed Sep 22, 2025Failure Sep 22, 2025190,000 milesDenver, COSpeedometer/odometer

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 11688825
4. Filed Aug 1, 2025Failure Aug 15, 202470,000 milesTopsham, MEPower train

   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 was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was 70,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11677819
5. Filed Jul 24, 2025Failure Aug 5, 2019130,000 milesOrlando, FLCoil, Engine, Power train

   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 who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the ignition coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the TCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 14M02 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11675917
6. Filed Jul 16, 2025Failure Jun 16, 2025Charlotte, NCElectrical system, Vehicle speed control

   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 contact that it was possibly the battery and the key fob battery that had caused the issues. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where the key fob battery was replaced. The contact replaced the battery independently. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

   NHTSA complaint 11674129
7. Filed Jul 2, 2025Failure Jun 26, 2025Concord, NCElectrical system, Engine

   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 the fuse box in the process and causing the vehicle to overheat and cause permanent severe engine damage. Remnants of the melted relay show the part number, which matches the obsolete part number. Visual comparison of the faulty relay matches the obsolete part as well, and differs from the correct superseded part number relay outlined in the 16B11 bulletin. Ford Motor Company insists my vehicle was not a part of this program and any repairs will not be covered. The build date, make/model/engine, assembly plant and most importantly, part number of the relay and mode of failure exactly match the 16B11 CSP bulletin. Ford denies that there is any issue with my vehicle. Local Ford dealers refer me to Ford Motor Company to escalate this problem, but Ford refuses to investigate. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

   NHTSA complaint 11670906
8. Filed Jun 17, 2025Failure Jun 10, 2025Baltimore, MDPower train

   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 eligibility criteria: reported before June 30, 2025; vehicle is less than 10 years old; vehicle has fewer than 150,000 miles. By virtue of the symptoms, warning lights and meeting Ford's other criteria strongly suggest our VIN should be included in the recall.

   NHTSA complaint 11667538
9. Filed Jun 9, 2025Failure Jun 9, 202485,000 milesHoliday, FLPower train

   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 that the vehicle failed to restart intermittently. The contact stated that DTC: PO606 was displayed; indicating a failure with the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the PCM had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact found information about the Technical Service Bulletin: 16/0129 with the NHTSA ID Number: 10109047 (Power Train) and the Customer Service Program: 14M02 with NHTSA ID Number: 10057231 (Power Train); however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer transferred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11665739
10. Filed May 15, 2025Failure Jun 19, 202274,000 milesIndianapolis, INEngine and engine cooling

    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 notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11661252
11. Filed Apr 21, 2025Failure Mar 5, 2025Phenix City, ALPower train

    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 really did not fix the problem. The vehicle was taken to a Ford dealership in Wisconsin and they confirmed all this information to me. And eight hundred dollars was paid to fix a problem that is on a recall for most models except the 2016, because they supposedly fixed the problem.

    NHTSA complaint 11655971
12. Filed Feb 26, 2025Failure Feb 26, 2025128,000 milesBunnlevel, NCPower train

    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 approximately 128,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11645151
13. Filed Jan 29, 2025Failure Jan 24, 202537,000 milesWestlake, OHControl module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

    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 to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission control module failure. The contact was informed that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall however, the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11639291
14. Filed Jan 16, 2025Failure Jan 14, 2025Fargo, NDElectrical system, Body

    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? There needs to be a recall, because some people are having them pop open while driving at night, and all of a sudden the interior lights come on, safety hazard!!! Some will pop open and kill the battery because the dome light comes on when the trunk opens. Then you're standing in subzero temperatures trying to jump start the car. That in and of itself is a safety issue. No warning lights are associated with this.

    NHTSA complaint 11636370
15. Filed Dec 6, 2024Failure Nov 6, 202471,600 milesColumbia, TNClutch assembly

    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 stated that the transmission was slipping while driving and making right turns. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer determined that the failure was related to an undisclosed recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that no assistance could be provided unless the VIN was added to the unknown recall. The failure mileage was approximately 71,600.

    NHTSA complaint 11629185
16. Filed Oct 24, 2024Failure Feb 24, 202484,000 milesHitchcock, TXPower train

    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. Additionally, the contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, a diagnostic test was not performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact was advised to bring the vehicle back later. In addition, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under recall or warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11621791
17. Filed Sep 27, 2024Failure May 27, 202480,100 milesPoplar Bluff, MO12v/24v/48v battery, Power train

    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 dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact also stated that the battery had been replaced by a friend approximately 7 times, and once by an O' Riley’s within the past 2 years. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 80,100

    NHTSA complaint 11616912
18. Filed Sep 18, 2024Failure Sep 6, 2023Pawtucket, RIEngine

    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 station to perform that which the recall describes, as a recall notice did not happen, but the service foreman stated it cannot be successfully repaired, as the oiling system was completely compromised, causing catastrophic damage to the valves, cylinders, turbo system, and vacuum pump.

    NHTSA complaint 11615180
19. Filed Aug 21, 2024Failure Feb 15, 202445,000 milesBryan, TXStructure

    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 45,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11610046
20. Filed Aug 16, 2024Failure Aug 2, 2024135,000 milesMinneapolis, MNPower train

    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 coming from the axle bearings. The transmission had failed due to the transmission gear due to the axle failure. The contact was aware of Technical Service Bulletin: 16-0129; NHTSA ID Number: 10109047 (Power Train) and Customer Satisfaction Program: 14M02 regarding the DTS transmission for rough shifting and the differential gears failing. The contact spoke with a dealer where it was confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the TSB or the Customer Satisfaction Program. The customer was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the TSB or Customer Satisfaction Program. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11608914