2016 Ford Focus
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 1,192 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 19 Focus model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 27 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 24 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, manual transmissionJun 9, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will inspect Focus vehicles and replace the clutch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S43. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
Campaign 26V376000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, evaporative emissions, canisterJun 9, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
Campaign 26V369000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, electrical, engine block heaterJan 15, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.
Campaign 26V012000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, electrical, engine block heaterJan 15, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
Campaign 26V011000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, oil/lubrication, pumpDec 22, 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport vehicles. The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure.
A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the oil pump tensioner assembly and oil pump drive belt, free of charge. If engine failure occurs due to a damaged oil pump belt and/or oil pump belt tensioner, Ford has authorized dealers to replace the engine assembly as an interim repair before the availability of remedy parts for the final repair. This repair will be free of charge (parts and labor). Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S64.
Campaign 23V905000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, manual transmissionNov 28, 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L Fox GTDI engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip, and will replace the clutch, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S07. Note: This recall is an expansion of Recall 18V-169.
Campaign 18V845000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storageOct 22, 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.
Campaign 18V735000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, manual transmissionMar 12, 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Fusion vehicles equipped with a 1.6L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission and 2015-2016 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission. Also included are four 2017 Ford Focus vehicles that had clutch replacements with potentially affected parts. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Focus vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip, and will replace the clutch, as necessary, free of charge. Owners of Fusion vehicles will have their clutch assembly replaced free of charge. The recall began August 3, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S07.
Campaign 18V169000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, bodyJan 24, 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Focus and C-Max vehicles. The floor pan may have improperly welded left-hand apron joints.
Improperly welded apron joints may reduce the front-end structural integrity of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the apron joints, repairing the vehicle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S03.
Campaign 17V052000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, hatchback/liftgate, lockSep 28, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Ford Focus hatchback vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 26, 2016 and equipped with a manual transmission. The hatchback of the affected vehicles may be unlatched with a single press of the interior latch release button. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
With only a single press needed, the driver may accidently unlatch the hatchback, increasing the risk of injury to any unsecured passengers in the back.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C13.
Campaign 16V698000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
284 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 20, 2017
JUST FILLED MY GAS TANK UP THEN AS I LEFT THE GAS STATION GOT ABOUT 1 MILE UP THE ROAD THEN WHILE SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT I TURNED THE AC ON AND IDLE DIPPED, CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE(WHICH IT DID) THEN AS I TRIED TO RE-START, CEL CAME ON AND CAR WOULD NOT START. ABOUT 2 MORE TIMES AND IT FIRED UP ALONG WITH A SERVICE ENGINE SOON MESSAGE ... LUCKILY FOR ME I WAS A BLOCK AWAY FROM FUTURE FORD LINCOLN WHERE I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. 3 DAYS LATER I GOT A CALL SAYING MY VEHICLE WAS READY FOR PICK UP. I GET THERE AND THEY TELL ME THAT THE REASON WAS DUE TO I HAD A AFTERMARKET POWER WIRE ROUTED OVER ENGINE ASSEMBLY CAUSING ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE. SO THEY DISCONNECTED WHAT I PAYED A LOCAL PROFESSIONAL AUDIO SHOP $140 TO INSTALL 2 DAYS AFTER I GOT THE CAR. SO, LONG STORY SHORT, I GET IN THE VEHICLE ONLY TO SEE THAT MY FILL UP @ THE GAS STATION WAS GONE... THEY USED [XXX] NEAR 3/4 OF MY TANK OF GAS PUT OVER 100 MILES ON MY CAR AND I GET 2 BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE DEALER AND AT THE SAME LIGHT..... **** HAPPENS AGAIN!!!! TOOK IT RIGHT BACK TO THE DEALER. JUST GOT MY CAR BACK AFTER 13 DAYS IN THE SHOP AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PISSED! 4TH TIME I HAVE GONE TO PICK IT UP AFTER HEARING THAT THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM ONLY TO GET IN THE CAR, DRIVE IT, AND HAVE IT HAPPEN YET ANOTHER TIME! THEY EVEN TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS MY RIGHT FRONT AXLE CAUSING THE PROBLEM THIS TIME AROUND. ( I JUST HAD THE LEFT FRONT AXLE REPLACED 2 MONTHS BACK AT ANOTHER DEALER) THROWING GREASE ON A CRANK SENSOR CAUSING MY CEL WITH DTC "P0106, P0236, P0340, P0344,P0365, P051B, P0532, P06A7, P08A9, P08B9" ...BLA BLA BLA... THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT THEY KEEP WANTING TO TELL ME THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM! WHAT A WAIST OF BOTH OUR TIME. NOW THE CAR IS IN MY DRIVEWAY, WONT START, THROWING ABOUT 8 TO 12 CODES AND IM WAITING TO HEAR FROM FORD CUSTOMER CARE. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Power train, Engine, Oct 4, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE SHOOK, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND OIL FROM THE ENGINE WAS PRESENT UNDER THE HOOD. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP INTO THE NEXT GEAR AND A GRINDING TYPE NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ERRONEOUSLY SWITCH INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (GALPIN FORD IN VAN AYES, CA) WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 18, 2017
OUR FORD FOCUS STALLED AND COULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO START UP WITH NO PROBLEM, RUN FOR A FEW MINUTES BUT STALLED WHEN DRIVING. THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE CAR. CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN THE DAY BEFORE FOR WELL OVER AN HOUR WITHOUT ISSUE. NO ERROR CODE IS RETURNED TO THE TECHNICIAN WHEN RUNS A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE.
Engine, Apr 27, 2017
AFTER PURCHASING THIS CAR ON 3/7/2017 WITH 1,909 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED EXTENSIVE BODY DAMAGE THE NEXT MORNING WHICH WAS UNBEKNOWNST TO ME SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN THE EVENING TIME. I NOTIFIED MY DEALER ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT WERE AWARE OF THE PRE EXISTING DAMAGES! I WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO BRING IT IN FOR REPAIRS AND WAS EVEN CHARGED FOR THE COST OF THE RENTAL COVERAGE! MY VEHICLE BEGAN GIVING ME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON 4/19/2017, IT HESITATES TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN MOTION AND WHEN IT FINALLY GETS TO THE SPEED I DESIRE IT JERKS AT TAKE OFF. ALSO, WHEN I START THE ENGINE IT MAKES A LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM THE EXHAUST PIPES, I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE ON 4/24/17 AND ONCE IT WAS RELEASED TO ME IT WAS MAKING THE SAME NOISES THE VERY NEXT MORNING. A SERVICE ADVISOR FROM THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED TO ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 24, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE OVERHEATING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE ENTERED INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE, WHICH ALLOWED THE USE OF THE VEHICLE BUT NOT OVER 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ENGINE FAILURES AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCED HESITATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 08/29/17*LJ *CN
Power train, Engine, Apr 7, 2017
BOUGHT NEW ON 12/25/2015. STARTED HESITATING STARTING OFF, SKIPPING LIKE SPINNING TIRES.GOT WORSE AND LIKE GOING OVER STRIPS IN THE ROAD. AKIN REPLACED THE COMPUTER AND THE CLUTCH 9/2016. DID FINE THEN STARTED AGAIN. HAD IT CHECKED AND COULD NOT MAKE IT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (01/2017). JUST THIS WEEK (04/06/2017 IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN, AND QUICKLY INCREASED HAPPENING. 04/07/2017 WAS SO BAD IT WOULD NOT CHANGE FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND NOW HAS A SCRATCHING/RATTLING NOISE. CALLED DEALER AND SERVICE DEPT. SAYS TO CALL IN THE MORNING AND SET APPT. TO BRING IN. HAD HUSBAND RIDING THIS TIME AND IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO HAS A SLIGHT DROP OR HESITATION WHILE DRIVING AS IT SEEMS TO BE DROPPING BACK IN POWER AND THEN PICKS BACK UP. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. THIS HAPPENS STARTING OFF FROM A STOP, TURNING FROM STOP, GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I DID NOT HAVE THE AIR TURNED ON!
Engine, Nov 29, 2016
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 INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY. VEHICLE MUST BE RESTARTED FOR IT TO FUNCTION NORMALLY AGAIN. ONLY TO GO BACK IN TO 'FAILSAFE MODE' SHORTLY AFTER. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE DURING MERGING, PASSING, STEEP UPHILL DRIVING, AND ANY OTHER INSTANCE WHICH REQUIRES POWER TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH A MOVING VEHICLE AND/OR STATIONARY OBJECT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE IN 2 DAYS. I WAS MERGING ON TO THE HIGHWAY. I TRY TO MATCH THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC BUT IS UNABLE TO DUE TO THE 'FAILSAFE MODE' MY VEHICLE WAS IN. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. LUCKILY, THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH NOT TO HIT ME. AND FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLE BEHIND THEM. MY INABILITY TO MERGE SAFELY IN TO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY PRESENTS A HUGE SAFETY RISK FOR MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS. *TR
Power train, Engine, Aug 16, 2016
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 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE RECURRING FAILURE AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS INTENDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.
Engine, Jul 26, 2016
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 SERVICE MANAGER. LAST FORD I BUY