2016 Ford Fiesta: engine stalls while driving

Filed Oct 28, 2025 · Transmission · WA

I have come to find that this vehicle suffers from premature slave cylinder failure, there are roughly 62,000 miles on the vehicle. Typical failure is reported to Ford between 70,000 and 80,000 miles. First symptoms appeared at roughly 58,000 miles. As I am a single father and a full time communications worker, I was not able to address this issue immediately upon discovering the initial symptoms as it would need further diagnosis. Clutch hydraulic fluids appear to be well sealed and clean. The design flaw with this system should be relatively obvious to a major automobile manufacturer such as Ford. The excessive temperatures caused by the transmission can and will affect any hydraulic systems severely. There are no avenues in which the temperatures can escape due to the bell housing of the transmission encasing the slave cylinder. In my experience as a prior automotive technician, most manual transmission automobiles place the cylinder in a more reasonable location, for example, beside the break booster in a 1991 Dodge Stealth. When observing the firewall in this location on this model of vehicle I can confidently say there is enough room to place a clutch slave cylinder in this location. The current placement appears to be for no other reason then planned obsolescence. Vehicle has stalled in traffic multiple times, cannot complete shifts due to clutch pedal sticking to floor. Inability to properly operate transmission as expected per mileage with a manual vehicle is a safety hazard. This is a safety concern due to limited ability to engage warning lights being that the shifter needs to be operated as well as the vehicle needing to be steered. Inability to depress the clutch to mechanical certainty limits the drivers ability to confidently navigate to a safe area to assess the vehicle's possible malfunctions. This limits the ability to warn other motorists on the roadways, which can cause accidents that may also cause injury/fatality depending on the speeds driven.

Filed Jun 17, 2025 · Transmission · MD

Symptoms: No-start condition (wouldn't crank w/o jump); delayed or harsh shifting; lost power (stalled going up tiny hill). Warning lights: transmission malfunction - service now; check engine light. Our symptoms and warning lights are consistent with Ford's Fiesta Transmission Control Module recall, however the VIN for our car is not part of the original recall. We meet all of Ford's recall eligibility criteria: reported before June 30, 2025; vehicle is less than 10 years old; vehicle has fewer than 150,000 miles. By virtue of the symptoms, warning lights and meeting Ford's other criteria strongly suggest our VIN should be included in the recall.

Filed Jun 9, 2025 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping, causing the vehicle to lost motive power or stall. The contact was able to coast over to the side of the road and waited approximately 10 minutes before restarting the vehicle. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart intermittently. The contact stated that DTC: PO606 was displayed; indicating a failure with the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the PCM had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact found information about the Technical Service Bulletin: 16/0129 with the federal safety agency ID Number: 10109047 (Power Train) and the Customer Service Program: 14M02 with the federal safety agency ID Number: 10057231 (Power Train); however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer transferred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.

Filed Apr 21, 2025 · Transmission · AL

The TCM was defective. It has been known that the TCM, transmission control modules are defective for Ford Fiestas and Focus. My daughter was driving the car and it stalled. If she was in heavy traffic are making a turn when this happened she could have been seriously injured. Ford said that they fixed this issue in the 2015 editions, that's why they stop the recall for 2016 models, but they really did not fix the problem. The vehicle was taken to a Ford dealership in Wisconsin and they confirmed all this information to me. And eight hundred dollars was paid to fix a problem that is on a recall for most models except the 2016, because they supposedly fixed the problem.

Filed Dec 6, 2024 · Transmission · 71,600 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering as if it would stall, and the vehicle made an abnormal whining sound. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while driving over a speed bump. The contact had noticed that the failure mostly occurred while driving at low speeds and while the RPMs were low. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission was slipping while driving and making right turns. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer determined that the failure was related to an undisclosed recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that no assistance could be provided unless the VIN was added to the unknown recall. The failure mileage was approximately 71,600.

Filed Dec 12, 2023 · Transmission · 69,000 miles · CO

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting into drive(D), the vehicle rolled but failed to respond as needed with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle then stalled. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular failure. The “Service Transmission” warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission control module (TCM) and the contact was informed that the TCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 69,000.

Filed Nov 3, 2022 · Transmission · NC

In September 2022, my vehicle wouldn’t shift. I took it to Leith Ford in Wendell, NC, who stated it was a faulty Transmission Control Module, and that part is backordered, up to a year! I was told I could park it next to the others who had the same problem. I took the car to my home rather than leaving it at the company for a year, and it stalled out twice while driving. Now it will have to be towed when the part comes in.

Filed Sep 12, 2022 · Transmission · 94,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle was stalling and was difficult to depress the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle sounded as if it would independently accelerate. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the power train needed to be repaired. The power train was repaired at the dealer; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while stopped on an incline, the Hill Start Assist warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission control module (TCM) needed to be replaced. The contact stated the vehicle was at the dealer awaiting the parts for the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was referred by the manufacturer to file a complaint with the federal safety agency Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.

Filed Mar 3, 2021 · Fuel system · 70,000 miles · WI

When fuel is added to the vehicle, it will not start for 5-20 minutes after fuel is added and requires 3-5 attempts to start. Additionally, there have been times where once it starts and begins operating, it will lose power and shut off. This power loss has occurred multiple times after leaving the gas station parking loss, leading to being stalled while in motion on a roadway. This is a incredibly scary experience.

Filed Mar 3, 2021 · Transmission · 87,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 ford fiesta. The contact stated that the vehicle would stall upon depression of the accelerator without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to two separate independent mechanics who both stated that the dual clutch system had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact called perry ford of national city (2050 national city blvd, national city, ca 91950) where he was informed that the vehicle was not under recall. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The vehicle had was not repaired. The failure mileage was 87,000.

Filed Feb 4, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 76,902 miles · FL

I have a 2016 ford fiesta this model car does not come with a gas cap. I've noticed after I filled my car up with gas my car stutters and stalls out and sometimes doesn't start right away this goes away after 3 or 4 times is starting the car back up I took it to the dealership and they told me that my purge valve for the ford fiesta was defective I've already had this repaired and believe this repair has fixed the problem I've read of other people of the same year make and model having similar issues apparently because the has a capless gas tank this creates air pockets in the fuel tank which messes up the purge valve over time.

Filed Jun 20, 2020 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · TX

On friday june 19th, my son and I were making a right turn onto a main street from a parking lot. The car hesitated, then stalled in the middle of traffic. I could have the car idle up. But it wouldn't move. Myself and another guy helped me push the car back into the strip mall parking lot. We almost got hit twice trying to push the car. I had the car towed home. I called my ford dealership and was told that my car's VIN number was eligible for the 100,000 mile extended warranty. I have less than 100, 000 miles.