2016 Ford Fiesta
The 2016 Ford Fiesta is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car 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 178 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.
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 | $1,800 |
| Fiesta FWD | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 27 | 36 | 30 | $2,100 |
| Fiesta FWD | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 27 | 35 | 30 | $2,100 |
| Fiesta ST FWD | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 26 | 32 | 29 | $2,150 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36718, 36716, 36717, 36736.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2016 Ford Fiesta is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
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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.
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 functio
Opened Jul 31, 2026 · action EA26004
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 functio
Opened Dec 18, 2025 · closed Jul 31, 2026 · action PE25020
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
Most-cited components
What owners describe
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.
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.
Other Fiesta model years
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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.