2016 Ford FIESTA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ford FIESTA has 253 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: 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 differen. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 10 crash reports 2 injuries

253

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

103 complaints

41%

• 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 DIFFEREN
• CAR SHUDDERS/SHAKES WHEN I START TO DRIVE AFTER A STOPLIGHT. USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE AND THE ENGINE IS HOT. TOOK CAR FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND NOTICED A LOT OF OIL DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR LATER THAT DAY (2 INCH DIAMETER SPOTS). TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY
• 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 S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“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 DIFFEREN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

34 complaints

13%

• 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
• 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 S
• HELLO, I JUST BOUGHT MY 2016 FORD FIESTA ST AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT OVERHEATING. PLEASE ADVISE. IT HAPPEN TO ME THREE TIMES NOW WHILE DRIVING.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

26 complaints

10%

• DAYLIGHT RUNNING LAMPS INOPERATIVE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. PAID FOR TX INSPECTION. DISCOVERED AFTER LEAVING DEALERSHIP.
• 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 NOTIFE
• 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. TRAN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“DAYLIGHT RUNNING LAMPS INOPERATIVE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. PAID FOR TX INSPECTION. DISCOVERED AFTER LEAVING DEALERSHIP.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

22 complaints

• MAYBE THIS IS AN OVERSITE ON MY PART, BUT I WAS TAKING SOMEONE HOME THEY WERE SEATED IN BACKSEAT, THE DOOR WAS LOCKED, THINKING THEY COULD UNLOCK DOOR FROM THE BACK, THEY WERE UNABLE TO, I HAD TO UNLOCK BACKDOOR FROM THE FRONT (WITH BUTTON NEAR FRON CONSOLE OF CAR). I SAT IN THE BACK AND COULD NOT
• I HAD THE HOOD ON MY FORD OPEN TODAY TO CLEAR OUT LEAVES THAT HAD GOTTEN STUCK AROUND THE VENTS UNDER THE HOOD. WHILE I HAD THE HOOD UP I NOTICED "TIN FOIL" AROUND THE WINDSHIELD WHERE IT MEETS THE FRAME OF FRONT WINDOWS.. I'M STRUCK BY THAT TIN FOIL & ON BOTH SIDES THE PASSENGER SIDE & THE DRIVER S
• TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE CAR JERKS AND STUTTERS AND RAMPS UP REALLY HIGH. DON'T FEEL VERY SAFE IN EVERY DAY TRAFFIC. I JUST PURCHASED THE 2016 BRAND NEW IN MAY 2017 AND HAVE HAD IT BACK FOR SERVICE THREE TIMES. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE EXPLANATION OF THE DUAL TRANSMISSION. HAD I KNOW IT HAD

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MAYBE THIS IS AN OVERSITE ON MY PART, BUT I WAS TAKING SOMEONE HOME THEY WERE SEATED IN BACKSEAT, THE DOOR WAS LOCKED, THINKING THEY COULD UNLOCK DOOR FROM THE BACK, THEY WERE UNABLE TO, I HAD TO UNLOCK BACKDOOR FROM THE FRONT (WITH BUTTON NEAR FRON CONSOLE OF CAR). I SAT IN THE BACK AND COULD NOT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

12 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FIESTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SPONTANEOUSLY AND STRUCK A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE
• MY CAR STALLS WHEN I COME TO A RED LIGHT ..ITS LIKE IT DONT WANA MOVE..SLOW ACCLER ATION
• LUNGES FORWARD ANY TIME IT WANTS, ANYPLACE IT WANTS TOO.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FIESTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SPONTANEOUSLY AND STRUCK A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 253 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: 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 DIFFEREN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: DAYLIGHT RUNNING LAMPS INOPERATIVE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. PAID FOR TX INSPECTION. DISCOVERED AFTER LEAVING DEALERSHIP.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: MAYBE THIS IS AN OVERSITE ON MY PART, BUT I WAS TAKING SOMEONE HOME THEY WERE SEATED IN BACKSEAT, THE DOOR WAS LOCKED, THINKING THEY COULD UNLOCK DOOR FROM THE BACK, THEY WERE UNABLE TO, I HAD TO UNLOCK BACKDOOR FROM THE FRONT (WITH BUTTON NEAR FRON CONSOLE OF CAR). I SAT IN THE BACK AND COULD NOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)