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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2016 Ford Fiesta
Common Problems

Ranked from 68 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

2
High severity
6
Medium
1
Low

9 Common Problems

Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.

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  1. 1

    Transmission hesitation and shifting issues

    28complaints
    Medium severityTransmission

    The transmission hesitates to shift gears and does not always move smoothly between gears.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  2. 2

    Transmission Control Module Failure

    15complaints
    High severityTransmission

    The transmission control module (TCM) fails, leading to erratic shifting and transmission malfunction.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  3. 3

    Transmission Issues Causing Jerking and Shuddering

    9complaints
    High severityTransmission

    The transmission causes the car to jerk, shudder, and ramp up suddenly, leading to unsafe driving conditions.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  4. 4

    Electrical System Issues

    6complaints
    Low severityElectrical

    Issues with the electrical system, such as faulty relays or sensors, led to intermittent failures and warning lights.

  5. 5

    Transmission Slipping

    6complaints
    Medium severityTransmission

    The transmission began to slip, especially in lower gears, causing the vehicle to lose power or stall.

    $2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  6. 6

    Battery issues leading to starting problems

    4complaints
    Medium severityFuel system

    The battery frequently dies, requiring recharging or replacement, and sometimes causes the transmission malfunction warning light to appear.

  7. 7

    Clutch pedal sticking or malfunction

    2complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    The clutch pedal gets stuck in an unusual position, causing difficulty in changing gears and accelerating.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  8. 8

    Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure

    2complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    The engine stalls or drops RPMs while idling or city driving, causing the car to stall out randomly.

    $150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  9. 9

    Power Steering Failure on Startup

    2complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    The power steering fails when starting the car, making it difficult to steer, especially in cold weather.

    $200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

Other years & sources

2015 Ford Fiesta2019 Ford FiestaAll NHTSA complaints for this vehicle →

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.