2016 Ford Fiesta transmission and drivetrain problems
103 of the 178 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Fiesta name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 20 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database5 of the 103 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 1 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 13 · 2020: 14 · 2021: 13 · 2022: 15 · 2023: 17 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 9
Half of the 71 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 45,000 and 97,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
178 complaints in all about the 2016 Ford Fiesta, 9 filed in 2025. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Fiesta transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Transmission acting up. When I test drove the car in march 2017 I actually questioned the salesperson because I did not feel it was shifting normally - his response was "no this is the new transmission Ford is putting in, the best one there is." unfortunately my problems did not start right away but after about 18 months.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while attempting to leave her place of residence, the gear shift lever was placed in drive however, the vehicle started to go backwards and struck the siding of the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled numerous times after a cold start. The clutch was applied at a low rate of speed, in most instances, when the failure occurred. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure was progressing to the point that the vehicle may not restart.
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
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
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications20 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SSM 54366 Service bulletinNov 12, 2025
- 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.
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0606 P0011 P0012 P0014 P0015 P0016 P0017 P0018
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Ford Fiesta names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Ford Fiesta?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 103 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (58% of everything owners filed about it), and 20 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Ford Fiesta?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Ford Fiesta?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 70,000 miles; half of them between 45,000 and 97,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.