2016 Ford Fiesta
The 2016 Ford Fiesta is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Fiesta SFE FWD, is EPA-rated at 35 mpg combined. NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year so far (Safety Signal A). Owners have filed 179 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.
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Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiesta SFE FWD | Gas | FWD | 1.0L 3-cyl turbo | 31 | 41 | 35 | $1,900 |
| Fiesta FWD | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 27 | 36 | 30 | $2,250 |
| Fiesta FWD | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 27 | 35 | 30 | $2,250 |
| Fiesta ST FWD | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 26 | 32 | 29 | $2,300 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36718, 36716, 36717, 36736.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiesta FWD, Fiesta SFE FWD, Fiesta ST FWD | 6 / 10 | Bin 4 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Sedan/Saloon |
| Doors | 4 |
| GVWR class | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement | 1.6 L |
| Engine configuration | In-Line |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 197 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) |
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: S, SE, ST, Titanium). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 159.8–173.2 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 67.7 in |
| Height | 57.1–58.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 98.0 in |
| Track, front | 57.5–57.9 in |
| Track, rear | 57.1 in |
| Curb weight | 2,538–2,743 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 59/41 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: 4-door Hatch S/Se/Titanium, 4-door Sedan S/Se/Titanium, ST 4-door Hatchback. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2016 Ford Fiesta is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (0)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseNo NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for the 2016 Ford Fiesta. New campaigns appear here within a week of NHTSA posting them.
These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
NHTSA defect investigations
Engine — Timing Belt Failure open
On December 18, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE25020 to investigate instances of timing belt failure in model year (MY) 2015-2017 Ford Fiesta and MY 2015-2018 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford), equipped with a 1.0L engine and manual transmission (subject vehicles). Additionally, MY 2018-2021 Ford EcoSport and MY 2016-2018 Focus vehicles with a 1.0L engine and automatic transmission were analyzed as peer vehicles because they utilize a wet timing belt comprised of similar material as the timing belt in the subject vehicles. Through the PE, ODI investigated a potential failure/degradation of the timing belt that may affect oil pump function
Opened Jul 31, 2026 · action EA26004 · the investigation’s page →
Engine — Timing Belt Failure closed
On December 18, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE25020 to investigate instances of timing belt failure in model year (MY) 2015-2017 Ford Fiesta and MY 2015-2018 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford), equipped with a 1.0L engine and manual transmission (subject vehicles). Additionally, MY 2018-2021 Ford EcoSport and MY 2016-2018 Focus vehicles with a 1.0L engine and automatic transmission were analyzed as peer vehicles because they utilize a wet timing belt comprised of similar material as the timing belt in the subject vehicles. Through the PE, ODI investigated a potential failure/degradation of the timing belt that may affect oil pump function
Opened Dec 18, 2025 · closed Jul 31, 2026 · action PE25020 · the investigation’s page →
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Ford Fiesta, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2016 Ford Fiesta
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this Fiesta →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database10 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 10 injuries · 1 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2016: 3 · 2017: 17 · 2018: 8 · 2019: 27 · 2020: 24 · 2021: 20 · 2022: 29 · 2023: 21 · 2024: 15 · 2025: 14 · 2026: 1
Most-cited components
In depth: transmission and drivetrain problems →
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
My airbag light keeps coming on. Also tire low light is coming on I also hear a banging noise when I use the heat or air., this happens whether driving or parked
The car will not start properly after refueling. You have to press on the gas several times and then the brake to start it. When it does start, you need to rev the engine a couple times to make sure it won't die again. The transmission is now slipping and drops to neutral while driving at any given time.
While idling at stop lights or city driving the car will drop rpm's or stall out on it's own. Has happened while making a u-turn, turning, and idling. It happens randomly and Ford will not take the issue seriously
My car has less than 50000 miles and already been to the shop due to not starting. It was determined that the battery had a bad cell. Got the battery replaced and all worked fine. 2 months later the same issues are happening again. Will go to the shop this week. Hopefully they van find out what's wrong
The car jerks and shutters when the gas is first pressed from a stop. The transmission has been "fixed" 3 times and still has issues
I have reported this problem before.. The lever for the engage/disengage for the tilt telescopic wheel is very hard for me to engage i'm 76 & it takes a lot of hand strength to move it up & down.
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by Ford itself: 4 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 6 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every Fiesta model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 111 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 40,000 and 85,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.
Median mileage by component
| Component | Reports | Median miles | Vs same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 71 | 70,000 | 1.35× |
| Engine | 19 | 59,000 | 0.95× |
| Electrical System | 14 | 59,000 | 1.31× |
| Unspecified | 12 | 45,000 | — |
Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2016-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.
Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 14% |
| 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 14% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsMost often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Power Train, Unknown Or Other.
- 26L02 Other2026-08-25 · Unknown Or Other
- Customer Satisfaction Program 26L02 Certain 2014-2021 Model Year Various Vehicles 1.0L Fox Classic Engine Timing Belt and Oil Pump Belt Interval Change
- 25N17 Other2026-03-25 · Back Over Prevention — Rearview System Braking
- Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
- SSM 54601 Service bulletin2026-02-24 · Electrical System
- Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). Th
- TSB 25-2570 Service bulletin2025-11-26 · Electrical System
- This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice recognition concerns Phone connection issues Dropped phone connections Applink related performance Travel Link not present
- SSM 54366 Service bulletin2025-11-12 · Power Train
- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
- TSB 24-2165 Service bulletin2024-05-27 · Unknown Or Other
- This article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F-150/Focus/C-MAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019 Escape/MKC/Flex/MKT/Taurus/Transit/Expedition/F-Super Duty, and 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience various SYNC performance relat
- SSM 52476 Service bulletin2024-04-24 · Equipment
- All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicles owner during initial delivery. Unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad, the accessory keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool.
- SSM 52335 Service bulletin2024-03-06 · Engine And Engine Cooling
- For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 for oil leak inspection and testing methods. Ford has evaluated turbochargers replaced for oil leak symptoms and although oil may collect on the external surface of a turbocharger, it is extremely rare for a turbocharger assembly to b
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
Diagnostic trouble codes on file
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaintsCodes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| P0606 | An internal processor fault in the engine control module. | Power Train | 3 bulletins · 3 owner reports |
| P0011 P0011 on Ford → | Camshaft timing on bank 1 is more advanced than commanded. | Power Train | 4 bulletins |
| P0012 P0012 on Ford → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 4 bulletins |
| P0014 P0014 on Ford → | The second camshaft on bank 1 is timed further advanced than commanded. | Power Train | 4 bulletins |
| P0015 P0015 on Ford → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 4 bulletins |
| P0016 P0016 on Ford → | The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser. | Power Train | 4 bulletins |
| P0017 P0017 on Ford → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 4 bulletins |
| P0018 P0018 on Ford → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 4 bulletins |
| P0019 P0019 on Ford → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 4 bulletins |
| P0021 P0021 on Ford → | Camshaft timing on bank 2 is more advanced than commanded. | Power Train | 4 bulletins |
| P0022 P0022 on Ford → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 4 bulletins |
| P0024 P0024 on Ford → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 4 bulletins |
Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Ford Fiesta failed the emissions check on 4.8% of first inspections — close to the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.1% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%).
failed emissions
962 initial inspections of 935 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2016 Fiesta | Every 2016 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 4.8% | 4.2% | 959 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 2.1% | 2.2% | 962 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.21% | 0.27% | 962 |
| Miles driven a year | 8,989 | 10,028 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 92,289 | 103,109 | odometer at inspection |
New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
Fiesta by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2016 Fiesta
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2016 Ford Fiesta have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for the 2016 Ford Fiesta. New campaigns appear here within a week of NHTSA posting them, and a clean sheet on a recent model year often just means the vehicle is new.
How safe is the 2016 Ford Fiesta?
NHTSA gave the 2016 Ford Fiesta 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it A (100/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Ford Fiesta?
Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Ford Fiesta, the best EPA combined figure is 35 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2016 Ford Fiesta?
Transport Canada measured it at 159.8–173.2 in long, 67.7 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.1–58.3 in tall, on a 98.0 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,538–2,743 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2016 Ford Fiesta?
Owners have filed 179 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Fiesta, most often about power train, engine, electrical system. Of those, 10 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 10 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2016 Ford Fiesta?
The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Ford Fiesta is 6 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. The certificate names the standard as Bin 4.
Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Ford Fiesta?
The manufacturer has filed 110 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Ford Fiesta, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-08-25. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2016 Ford Fiesta do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Ford Fiesta failed the emissions check on 4.8% of first inspections — close to the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.1% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 4 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 4 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | none | NHTSA recall campaigns | No campaign has been filed. Because the register is complete, an empty row here means there is nothing to find — not that we are missing it. |
| Owner complaints | 179 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 2 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 110 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 2 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 8 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.