2016 FORD FOCUS Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Ford Focus. This model year has 1,176 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2016 Ford Focus Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Engine Problems
Fuel/Propulsion System
Considering a 2016 Ford Focus?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Ford Focus. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 667 | 8 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 280 | 6 | 1 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 162 | 2 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 105 | 3 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 82 | — | 2 | — | |
| Fuel System | 63 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 60 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 45 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 36 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 15 | 11 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 15 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 14 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| Brake System | 12 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 12 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Diesel | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Ford Focus. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 1,176 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
The powertrain/transmission in my 2016 Ford Focus is malfunctioning. Specifically, the vehicle shudders and hesitates when accelerating in low gears, causing delayed engagement and unpredictable power delivery. This issue occurs at low speeds, such as when entering traffic or mov…
The car shakes when I turn the car on. I always thought it was normal until they told me it wasn't. Also ive smelled like a burn oil smell... Ive gotten stuck on intersection, guessing its the transmission.. i had to put the car it park and put it drive to see if it moved. When i…
The transmission in this model is horrible they already have recall for the 1.0L mine of course is the 2.0L its 2016 Ford Focus it has last than 165,000 miles. I already replaced put new transmission in it last year and here I am again transmission is out. And of course no repair…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle shuddered unexpectedly. No warning lights were illumi…
My car is showing signs of recalls but it’s stating that it doesn’t have any recalls. There is a recall of the transmission failing because of the clutch and causing the car to just randomly cut off while driving putting risk of a crash to me and my kids There is a recall on …
NHTSA Recall Number23V905 Recall Status recall Incomplete Ford performed an interim engine repair in 2024. Due to the unavailability of parts when the recall was initiated, it took approximately 8 months for the interim engine and repair to be completed. I received my car back i…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While operating the vehicle, the vehicle was shaking abnormally while idling, while low on fuel, while driving long distances, or while driving uphill. The vehicle shut off unexpectedly intermittently. On several occasions, the RPM increased; h…
The vehicle experienced failure of the DPS6 dual-clutch automatic transmission. The transmission began slipping during acceleration, hesitating between gear engagement, and triggering a “Transmission Overheat” warning. Eventually, the vehicle lost the ability to reliably shift be…
I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding an ongoing mechanical issue with my 2016 Ford Focus. Although my vehicle currently shows zero active recalls, I have experienced a recurring and concerning problem. Each time I turn on the air conditioning and the air begins to b…
Transmission is slipping. Check engine light is on. Code P07A5 (3/3) Permanent Transmission Friction Element B Stuck on.
When driving my car all of a sudden it loses power almost like it’s struggling to go but the RPM revs up and makes a loud noise and my car kind of got stuck for a minute and there were cars behind me then it started going but every couple minutes it would do that again rev up rea…
This vehicle been having problems with heater
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled with the message "Transmission Overheating" displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Th…
Fuel purge valve is malfunctioning. Vehicle loses power and is sluggish. Idles very rough and sometimes has a loss of power. My car has been at Ford twice in the last six months and problem still isn't fixed. Complete engine was replaced about a year and a half ago due to recall …
Having fuel problems with this ford se. Adding gas after starting the car it doesn't run right. It misses n doesn't have power. Plus Transmission went out two times again. First time it went out. It was about a year ago. Now the second time [XXX]. First time was about…
Something wrong with the transmission the one that Ford extended warranty on and my car is a 2016 and Ford extended it 10 years and they said it ended a few months ago as well as the TCM replacement I didn't know about because I just purchased the vehicle a little over a year ago…
The car is stalling randomly with no engine lights coming on
Lee County was working on the road and were replacing a section of Lazy D Farm Road and there was a section cut out and try to get across the section the transmission over heating light came on
In the Ford 3 cylinder 1.0L Ecoboost engines there is a terrible wet belt system, there is a recall on the automatic models but nothing for the manual models, regardless of the fact that the manual models are designed far more poorly than the automatic models in the sense that th…
The transistor arm or tensioning arm for the wet belt, which drives the oil pump in the oil pan failed, leading to oil starvation to the engine, causing total catastrophic engine failure, and temporary loss of power steering, while driving, fortunately, I was moving at a slow pac…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2016 Ford Focus.
Recalls for 2016 Ford Focus
8 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford Focus. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2016 Ford Focus — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2016 Ford Focus reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2016 Ford Focus has 1,176 NHTSA owner complaints, 26 crash-related, and 8 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (667 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford Focus?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (667 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (280 complaints). #3: Fuel/Propulsion System (162 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Ford Focus?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2016 Ford Focus?▾
The 2016 Ford Focus has 26 crash-related complaints and 3 fire reports out of 1,176 total NHTSA complaints. 23 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2016 Ford Focus have any recalls?▾
Yes — 8 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2016 Ford Focus. The largest issue: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2016 Ford Focus?▾
The 2016 Ford Focus has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ford Focus reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2016 Ford Focus
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.