Home · 2016 · Ford
2016 Ford Fiesta
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
178 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 17, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (57% of complaints, typically reported near 74k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2016 Ford Fiesta 5 HB FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 14%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2016 Ford Fiesta, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (26) · Speed control (11) · Fuel system (11) · Body & structure (8)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Transmission & drivetrain
57%101 complaints · typically near 74k mi · 14 in the last 2 years
“The transmission started slipping in 1st and 2nd gear.”
Engine
19%33 complaints · typically near 48k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“Vehicle was traveling on an interstate highway when the oil indicator lamp lit, and the car immediately lost power, putting it in danger of being rear-ended. I researc…”
Electrical system
15%26 complaints · 6 in the last 2 years
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a priv…”
Speed control
6%11 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Defected transmissions were installed on these cars. Ford recalled the least number with the least loss, but they kept the rest with their defected transmissions which…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Ford FIESTA beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every Fiesta model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Ford Fiesta against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.