YearToAvoid

2016 Ford Fiesta Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 42 engine complaints for the 2016 Ford Fiesta, 24% of all 178 complaints filed for the year. No related recalls are listed. Median mileage at failure is 45,693.5, and owners commonly report hesitation, stalling, and stalling-related loss of power.

Engine complaints
42
24% of 178
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
45,694 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe hesitation or delayed response when pressing the accelerator, followed by a sudden forward launch at low speeds.
  • Multiple reports describe the engine stalling or dropping RPM while idling at stop lights, during u-turns, or in slow city driving.
  • Some owners report the engine trying to shut off while driving on the freeway, described as sudden and unexpected.
  • One owner reported repeated overheating shortly after purchasing a 2016 Fiesta ST.
  • A check engine light tied to evap system codes was followed by stalling when refueling and reduced performance at high speed.
  • One report describes a fire between the battery and engine while driving at highway speed, though this was logged under the electrical system category.

When 2016 Ford Fiesta engine complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 9, 2017, latest Jul 24, 2025.

2016 Ford Fiesta engine complaints: complaints filed per month8Apr 2017Jun 2018Apr 2019Dec 2019Feb 2021Dec 2022Oct 2023Sep 2024
42 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2017 to Jul 2025; peak Jul 2019 (8).

Engine recalls for the 2016 Ford Fiesta

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Fiesta model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2011156 (21%)
  2. 201298 (16%)
  3. 2013136 (20%)
  4. 2014109 (22%)
  5. 201584 (33%)
  6. 201642 (24%)
  7. 201724 (32%)
  8. 20186 (17%)
  9. 201915 (15%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2016 Ford Fiesta have?
NHTSA lists 42 engine complaints for the 2016 Ford Fiesta, making up 24% of the 178 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Ford Fiesta engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area on the 2016 Ford Fiesta.
At what mileage do 2016 Ford Fiesta engine problems occur?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 45,693.5 miles.
What engine symptoms do 2016 Ford Fiesta owners report?
Owners report accelerator hesitation followed by sudden forward launch, stalling at idle or stop lights, the engine trying to shut off while driving, and one case of overheating.
Were there any crashes or fires linked to these engine complaints?
NHTSA data for this problem area lists 3 crashes and 1 fire among the 42 engine complaints, with 0 injuries reported.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.