2016 Ford FOCUS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ford FOCUS has 1560 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 19.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (43% of all complaints), specifically: the transmission on this vehicle shudders, especially when cornering . this shudder has become more pronounced,. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 24 crash reports 12 injuries

1560

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

19.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

673 complaints

43%

• THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE SHUDDERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN CORNERING . THIS SHUDDER HAS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED,
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LUNGING, THE RPM WENT ABNORMALLY HIGH, AND THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AFTER AN INSECT FLEW INTO A WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT ABNORMAL AS THOUGH IT WAS LACKING POWER DURING TURNS AND THROUG
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE CHECKING ENGINE AND SERVICE CAR SOON WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER FOR A SECOND TIME. THE V

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 8 crashes

“THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE SHUDDERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN CORNERING . THIS SHUDDER HAS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED,”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

281 complaints

18%

• MY 2016 FORD FOCUS HAS 5500 MILES ON IT AND IT OVERHEATED LAST WEEK, FORD TOWED TO DEALER AND AFTER A FEW DAYS GOT A CALL STATING THERE WAS A ENGINE PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED IF THEY COULD JUST GIVE ME A NEW VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILLAGE AND I WAS TO NO BY DISTRICT SE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE CHECKING ENGINE AND SERVICE CAR SOON WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER FOR A SECOND TIME. THE V
• VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TWICE TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR ISSUE WITH THE COOLANT SENSOR AND ASSOCIATED WIRING HARNESS. FAULTY COOLANT SENSOR/WIRING HARNESS/OTHER CAUSES CEL TO ILLUMINATE. DURING NORMAL DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL GO IN TO 'FAILSAFE MODE' WHICH DRASTICALLY LOWERS POWER OUTPUT. THIS HAPPENS INTERM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“MY 2016 FORD FOCUS HAS 5500 MILES ON IT AND IT OVERHEATED LAST WEEK, FORD TOWED TO DEALER AND AFTER A FEW DAYS GOT A CALL STATING THERE WAS A ENGINE PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED IF THEY COULD JUST GIVE ME A NEW VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILLAGE AND I WAS TO NO BY DISTRICT SE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

228 complaints

15%

• BOUGHT THIS CAR THIS SPRING AND BEEN HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. IT FEELS LIKE A MISFIRE BUT IT THE ELECTRONIC SHIFTED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IF I KNEW THIS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I WOULD NOT HAVE.
• WHEN YOU STEP ON GAS PEDAL IT ISATATES AND RPM JUMPS UP AND IT SHAKES BEEN DOING IT SENSE I BOUGHT IT
• ENGINES STALLS OUT WHEN DE-ACCELERATING. ENGINE VERY HARD TO START AFTER REFUELING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“BOUGHT THIS CAR THIS SPRING AND BEEN HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. IT FEELS LIKE A MISFIRE BUT IT THE ELECTRONIC SHIFTED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IF I KNEW THIS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I WOULD NOT HAVE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

107 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 95 APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR SOUTHBOUND I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, I DID NOT FEEL ANY IMPACT ON THE AUTOMOBILE BUT BEGAN TO HEAR RATTLING ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF. WHEN I PULLED OVER, I SAW THAT SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED AND EXPLODED. THE SUNROOF COVER ON THE INSIDE OF THE V
• CAR WAS DRIVING FINE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY. ACCELERATOR WAS PUSH TO THE FLOOR, RPM'S WENT UP TO 6,000, CAR WAS JERKY. AT 6,000 RPM THE CAR WOULDN'T GO FASTER THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR. SPEED LIMIT WAS 50. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND NO DASH INDIC
• "TAKATA RECALL" WHEN I TAKE OFF MY CAR JERKS AND ALMOST JUMPS LIKE. IT ACTS LIKE ITS DOUBLE SHIFTING OR HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING. I HAD FORD LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THEY COULDNT HELP ME UNTIL IT GETS WORSE. I WILL BE REALLY UPSET IF SOMETHING GOES AFTER MY WARRANTY IS GONE. A BRAND NEW CAR SHOU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 95 APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR SOUTHBOUND I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, I DID NOT FEEL ANY IMPACT ON THE AUTOMOBILE BUT BEGAN TO HEAR RATTLING ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF. WHEN I PULLED OVER, I SAW THAT SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED AND EXPLODED. THE SUNROOF COVER ON THE INSIDE OF THE V”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

80 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LUNGING, THE RPM WENT ABNORMALLY HIGH, AND THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AFTER AN INSECT FLEW INTO A WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT ABNORMAL AS THOUGH IT WAS LACKING POWER DURING TURNS AND THROUG
• RODENTS CHEWED THROUGH WIRING BECAUSE THE WIRE IS MADE FROM SOYBEANS. POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. MAKES CAR INOPERABLE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR TO 2016. MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM BY SUBSTITUTING WIRING THAT DOES NOT ATTRACT RODENTS. MANUFACTURER (FORD) SHOUL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE DID NOT ILLUMINATE BRIGHT ENOUGH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188. UPDATED 06/28/17*LJ *CN

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LUNGING, THE RPM WENT ABNORMALLY HIGH, AND THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AFTER AN INSECT FLEW INTO A WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT ABNORMAL AS THOUGH IT WAS LACKING POWER DURING TURNS AND THROUG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1560 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE SHUDDERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN CORNERING . THIS SHUDDER HAS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: MY 2016 FORD FOCUS HAS 5500 MILES ON IT AND IT OVERHEATED LAST WEEK, FORD TOWED TO DEALER AND AFTER A FEW DAYS GOT A CALL STATING THERE WAS A ENGINE PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED IF THEY COULD JUST GIVE ME A NEW VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILLAGE AND I WAS TO NO BY DISTRICT SE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: BOUGHT THIS CAR THIS SPRING AND BEEN HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. IT FEELS LIKE A MISFIRE BUT IT THE ELECTRONIC SHIFTED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IF I KNEW THIS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I WOULD NOT HAVE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 95 APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR SOUTHBOUND I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, I DID NOT FEEL ANY IMPACT ON THE AUTOMOBILE BUT BEGAN TO HEAR RATTLING ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF. WHEN I PULLED OVER, I SAW THAT SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED AND EXPLODED. THE SUNROOF COVER ON THE INSIDE OF THE V
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)