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
1,192 reports, newest first.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while his wife was driving 50-55 MPH, the vehicle started shaking and lost motive power. The contact’s wife pulled to the side of the road. The contact’s wife was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine had seized due to the oil pump drive belt failure. The vehicle was repaired, and the engine was replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,320.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while at a stoplight, the light turned green, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the RPM revved up, the vehicle lunged forward but did not properly move forward. The general fault light was illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the vehicle fell under the guidelines of the recall and was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V9050000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test and stated that the vehicle failed the oil pressure test and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Mar 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his niece was driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle began to shudder, prompting her to reduce speeds. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed a shudder test and determined that the vehicle had a clutch shudder at 3100 RPM and recommended a replacement clutch. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V845000 (Power Train), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 109,000.
Power train, Mar 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to shift gears as intended. The failure occurred on several occasions. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was previously repaired under an unknown recall for the dual-clutch in the transmission; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated the vehicle was no longer under warranty and was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The service engine soon message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the vehicle lost oil pressure, and the drive belt went into the timing chain. The engine was replaced. The failure recurred and was taken back to the independent mechanic, who replaced the engine. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 82,000.
Power train, Feb 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and vibrated abnormally while accelerating from a stop and the vehicle was moving from left to right. Additionally, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the clutch assembly was repaired four times in the past; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and suggested that the contact seek assistance from the dealer. The contact was also referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 87,820.
Power train, Feb 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal failed to function as intended. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond, and the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the service transmission warning light was illuminated. The contact was advised that the failure could not be diagnosed without the check engine warning light being illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 24, 2024
I tried taking out the car and It completely stalled and went into neutral when driving . Ford has a recall for ford focus 2014-2016 but apparently mines not one.
Power train, Feb 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle hesitated, and jolted while responding. The message "Service Transmission” was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at slow speeds, the transmission was slipping out of gear, and the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound. A relative, who was a mechanic, diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist because the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Engine, Feb 20, 2024
In December of 2021, my Ford Focus experienced engine failure due to the oil pump belt snapping and the car stalled in the middle of the interstate while my husband was driving it down the road. At the time we spent close to $9,000 replacing the engine. The part that failed has since been recalled but Ford is refusing to reimburse us for any of the costs directly related to this recalled component. Last week my engine filled again on the road while my husband was driving home from work. He was going around 50 miles an hour at the time. This time the car began running rough before the light came on and he immediately pulled off the road and shut it down and left it on the shoulder until a tow truck could arrive.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed oil pump and that the oil pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact was informed that the failure of the oil pump caused significant damages to the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and was advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Power train, Feb 20, 2024
The transmission has a problem with shifting shaking, slipping, grinding
Power train, Feb 20, 2024
Driving down the Highway, a Warning Message came up that my Transmission had a failure. My Steering wheel started to shake, and then my car shut off. In the middle of the Highway. Not Safe.
Power train, Feb 14, 2024
My 2016 Ford Focus has encountered repeated transmission and clutch problems associated with the DPS6 recall. My car has experienced sudden losses of power, inability to randomly start the car, and even though my car can be put into reverse, it will not back up. Going down the highway, my car will have reluctance to shift and when it does, it shudders severely. These issues have caused myself to feel uncomfortable being on any public roads due to fears the car or clutch will completely fail. Especially when I have my child with me. My car has now officially given out and had to be towed to Ford for evaluation. During evaluation they reported the clutch has gone bad. Even though I had the entire clutch system replaced in 2019. Meaning the transmission has caused two full clutch replacements in 7 years. During inspections and replacements under previous warranties, Ford refuses to address the transmission portion of the problem and will and would only correct the by-product which was the clutch itself. My car has the DPS6 transmission from the Michigan plant, but my manufacture date was a few weeks after the deadline. The car had the check engine light come on when experiencing power issues. It has been through two complete evaluations through Ford, who only will charge me for clutch replacements. The TCM also had to be recalibrated in 2019 when the clutch was replaced, but they did not replace the TCM itself.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 13, 2024
My ford focus had experienced a clutch slipping and is stuck in 2 gear. The car also had antifreeze leak during this event. This occurred on January 31,2023. My Ford dealership is quoted a $3,240 repair cost for clutch system on an automatic transmission. Ford case number CXH01481389.
Power train, Feb 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle was started; however, after the vehicle started, the vehicle was shifted into reverse but failed to respond. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 8, 2024
After receiving a routine oil change in December 2023, my vehicle began malfunctioning. The oil, engine, and battery lights came on abruptly. I returned to the Valvoline location (approx. 1 mile from my home) and they redid the oil change and noted that there were no signs of a leak and advised that I send the car to get a diagnostic done. My car stalled twice as I was driving it home. I then had the car towed to the dealership I purchased it from (Hyundai owned). They advised that an oil tensioner belt near the engine had shredded and pieces had lodged in the engine. Shortly after, the recall was released. Since then Ford has been zero help. I understand that the parts for the new belt are needed, however I need a new engine now due to their negligence. I've contacted Ford directly on numerous occasions as well as my local dealership and they won't release any information because it is in advance notice. I'm expected to wait until April or May for repairs. That will put me at almost six months or more without a vehicle and no viable options. That is not a timely fix for such a dangerous issue.
Power train, Feb 7, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle briefly hesitated and shuddered before returning to normal functionality. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission control module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Engine, Feb 7, 2024
The vehicle went into limp mode while driving. The mechanic says engine needs to be totally replaced at 68,300 original miles. The mechanic originally said it was related to the recall on the 1.0 liter engines and the oil pump. Now they say the head gasket is blown and entire engine needs to be replaced due to overheating. Ford says this failure is not related to the recall and the recall does not affect our car. Our safety was at risk with a catastrophic engine failure while driving. We have only taken it to an independent mechanic. We have to two it to Ford to have them verify and they want to charge to diagnose the issue. There were no warnings prior the malfunction.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 7, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle sputtered, and the power steering function was inoperable. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated, along with the battery warning light. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the nearest gas station. The contact parked the vehicle and turned the vehicle off. The contact stated that for a while the vehicle would not restart. The contact charged the battery and the vehicle started with an abnormal sound. The contact turned the vehicle off. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed oil pump tensioner. The vehicle was then towed to a second independent mechanic for a second opinion where the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed oil pump tensioner. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
Power train, Feb 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was slipping. Additionally, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of transmission fluid. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed clutch kit. The contact was informed that the clutch kit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Power train, Feb 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes failed to function as intended. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the contact stated that when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed clutch pack and that the clutch pack needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the failure was not eligible to be covered under warranty because the failure was not severe. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that if the repair was paid for out of pocket, to keep the receipt to be eligible for reimbursement later. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Power train, Feb 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle started shuddering and hesitated to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact exited the highway and drove to a relative's residence. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond when shifting into reverse (R). The contact also stated that while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the vehicle was significantly sluggish. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch had failed. The dealer determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V845000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.
Power train, Feb 4, 2024
Vehicle shudders or jerks when accelerating from a stopped position. Issue seems to be gradually getting worse over the past year or so. Car had well under 50,000 miles when issue commenced and is well maintained and responsibly driven. Ford dealer advises that clutch assembly is likely failing but represents that issue is not under warranty, recall or safety advisory, or customer satisfaction program. I am concerned that the clutch will fail when accelerating from a stopped position in traffic or while shifting at a high speed and cause an accident. There are no warning or other message lights. Thank you.
Power train, Jan 31, 2024
Was driving my car and all of a sudden it wouldn’t pull itself wouldn’t takeoff from a stop sign jumps from 3rd to 4th when gearing down it go from 4th to 1st Gear Bucks and jumps in it never dies however, you press on the gas and the engine just revs up