The Lemon Index2016 Ford Fiesta.
The 2016 Ford Fiesta is about average by owner complaints: 55 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 102, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 0 recalls, and it gets 29 to 35 mpg combined. The best Ford Fiesta year is 2018.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 178 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Fiesta year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 29K to 85K miles on the car (117 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 40K–95K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 23K–112K miles
Recalls 0
No safety recalls on record.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 110 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Dps6 - no start and/or transmission engagement or loss of power with dtcs u0100, u0101, u1013,…
- Certain 2016 Model Year Fiesta ST and 1.0L EcoBoost Vehicles High Speed Cooling Fan Relay…
- Clunk noise shifting from 1st to 2nd gear
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenTiming belt failure2026
- ClosedTiming belt failure2025–2026
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fiesta 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Fiesta 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1850–2200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.0L 3-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Engine cooling reservoir is cracked (leaking antifreeze fluid)
2016 Ford Fiesta owner · NHTSA complaint 11045550
More owner reports
Recently at 48,000 miles my check engine light came on for a code p1450 and p0456 which is for the evap system. My vehicle now stalls when gas is filled up and even loses performance at high speeds.
NHTSA complaint 11197278
My car stalls when I come to a red light ..its like it dont wana move..slow accler ation
NHTSA complaint 11232239
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Ford Fiesta reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 102; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Fiesta year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2016 Ford Fiesta problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (45%), engine (29%) and electrical (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Fiesta have?
None: NHTSA has no safety recalls on record for it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Ford Fiesta get?
29 to 35 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Ford Fiesta safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2016 Ford Fiesta problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 29,200 and 85,000 miles. The middle report was at 57,200 miles, from 117 complaints.
Does the 2016 Ford Fiesta have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 45% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Ford Fiesta cost in fuel a year?
About $1850 to $2200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Ford Fiesta have?
1.0L 3-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl.
What Ford Fiesta year is better than the 2016?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2019 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works