Is the 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC reliable?

The 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC has 9 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.2x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: excellent. Most common issue: ELECTRICAL problems.

What are common problems with the 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC?

Top problems: ELECTRICAL (4 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (2 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (1 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC?

Yes, there are 1 recall(s): POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to charge a 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC?

The 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC has an EPA rating of 105 MPGe. At the current US average residential electricity rate, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $732. State rates vary significantly — see the interactive calculator on this page.

How much does it cost to insure a 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC is approximately $1,817/year (ev-mainstream class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Does the 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC qualify for tax credits?

The federal EV tax credit (Section 30D) expired for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. If purchased before that date, the 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC may still qualify on the 2025 tax return. State-level incentives remain active in 13+ states — see the incentives section on this page for details.

2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC has 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 53. The most common issue is electrical problems (44% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2016 ford focus electric. while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the charger cable overheated and burned. the contact stated that there was a burn mark on the outlet. the contact stated that no sparks or flames were seen. there were no warning indicators illuminated. th. There is 1 recall issued for this model year. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 5)

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

44%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CHARGER CABLE OVERHEATED AND BURNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURN MARK ON THE OUTLET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO SPARKS OR FLAMES WERE SEEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. TH
• IT RAINED, AND CAR STOPPED. NO MOTIVE POWER. A RED WARNING, "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE ON DASH. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 20-2004 TO PUT ON A SPLASH SHIELD TO KEEP THE 318VOLT (HIGH!) CONNECTOR FROM BEING HIT BY WATER, BUT THE DEALERSHIP JUST PUT ON A BIG 350 AMP
• The Body Control Module controlling the lights, hatch, and door lock/unlock malfunctioned. Its a serious safety issue when the lights go out unexpectedly while driving.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CHARGER CABLE OVERHEATED AND BURNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURN MARK ON THE OUTLET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO SPARKS OR FLAMES WERE SEEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Recalls (1)

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT28/06/2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Ford Focus Electric vehicles manufactured August 20, 2015, through April 13, 2016. The transmission's differential pinion gear shaft may overheat and fracture.

Risk: A fractured pinion shaft could cause a loss of motive power and loss of the transmission park function, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission differential assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S28.

Charging Cost Calculator for 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local electricity price)

Per year

$725

Per month

$60

Per mile

6.0¢

kWh/mi

0.32

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,817

Full coverage / month

$151

Liability only / year

$679

vs US avg

+9%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (ev-mainstream)1.18x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1817

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2016 FOCUS ELECTRIC, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

EV Incentives for 2016 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC

Updated 2026-07

Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30

Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.

State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)

CaliforniaUp to $12,000

Clean Cars 4 All

ColoradoUp to $5,000

Innovative Motor Vehicle Credit

ConnecticutUp to $4,250

CHEAPR (Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate)

DelawareUp to $2,500

Clean Vehicle Rebate

IllinoisUp to $4,000

Illinois EV Rebate Program

MarylandUp to $3,000

Excise Tax Credit for Plug-in Electric Vehicles

MassachusettsUp to $3,500

MOR-EV

New JerseyUp to $4,000

Charge Up New Jersey

New YorkUp to $2,000

Drive Clean Rebate

OregonUp to $7,500

Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate

PennsylvaniaUp to $3,000

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Rebate Program

Rhode IslandUp to $2,500

DRIVEEV

TexasUp to $2,500

Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive

VermontUp to $5,000

Incentive Program for New Electric Vehicles

See full state-by-state EV incentive details

Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 9 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CHARGER CABLE OVERHEATED AND BURNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURN MARK ON THE OUTLET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO SPARKS OR FLAMES WERE SEEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: IT RAINED, AND CAR STOPPED. NO MOTIVE POWER. A RED WARNING, "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE ON DASH. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 20-2004 TO PUT ON A SPLASH SHIELD TO KEEP THE 318VOLT (HIGH!) CONNECTOR FROM BEING HIT BY WATER, BUT THE DEALERSHIP JUST PUT ON A BIG 350 AMP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW ON 3/17/17. A SAFTEY RECALL (16V479) HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ISSUED FOR THE VEHICLE BACK IN JUNE 2016. THE DEALER SOLD ME THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER A STOP-SALE RECALL IN VIOLATION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT. A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE DE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: The Body Control Module controlling the lights, hatch, and door lock/unlock malfunctioned. Its a serious safety issue when the lights go out unexpectedly while driving.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 1 recall have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)