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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2016 Ford Focus & its "Powershift" transmission has a defect trend where the car shudders when accelerating, especially when starting uphill.

Most owners have reported their Ford Focus remains driveable while the vehicle is still at low mileage, but the shuddering is annoying & unpleasant & may reduce the resale value of the vehicle.

However, owners of higher-mileage vehicles from earlier 3rd generation Focus model years report transmission failure & a host of other major & expensive transmission-related problems. Potential buyers beware.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,453 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Ford Focus brakes problems

brakes problem

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2016 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #12

May 152020

Focus 3-cyl

  • 40,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Lost power when accelerating. Code said turbo charge boost; gave # to dealer. They want to charge me another $150 to diagnose & get the ame code as my mechanic! I have been calling to check on a recall color a kit that been recalled at least on the last 2 year's models! they looked at my car 1 month after purchase in Jan. 2019 but could find no problem (car was still under full warranty then). When I took car to dealer today, 1st question was whether I had an extended warranty! could not find info by googling it! this site recommended by my mechanic. He has 40 years experience @ a dealer! #128124;#128149;#128099; as I tried to accelerated, I was almost hit from behind by a semi on the highway doing 70 mph! risk pulling out onto highway & interstate with no power to accelerate fast enough!!! dangerous!!! #128124;#128149; consumer stated she did not fill out this report and does not know who did. Valve cannister kit for 2016 model not recalled as of yet. Turbo charger has been replaced.

- Belleville, IL, USA

problem #11

Jan 172020

Focus

  • 76,600 miles
For the last couple years, my transmission in my 2016 Ford Focus has stalled upon nearly all attempts to accelerate from a stop. On January, 17 2020 I returned to my car from the library in irvine, ca to discover that upon turning the ignition, the car did not start. I tried a couple more times and my windshield wipers went on one time and stopped, the lights on my dashboard lit up, the media screen lit up and the interior car lights came on. I called aaa, my insurance carrier, despite it not appearing to be a battery issue. The representative stayed on the phone with me after I explained the issue and tried to schedule roadside assistance. I tried the ignition one more time and the car started. A notification on the dash screen appeared reading "transmission service required" and remained on the screen for a second before disappearing. Usually if a dash notification appears, the small icon light will remain lit while I operate the vehicle, this icon light did not remain on. My insurance representative explained that an issue with a transmission would need a tow and it may be unsafe to operate my vehicle on the road. I sat in my car for a minute and noticed my average mpg had changed from 33.3 to 0.0. I drove the car home as I needed to leave the location to tend to other parts of my day. I arrived safely to my destination. The following day, the exact same situation occurred when I attempted to start my car and leave for the day. Turning the ignition several times did not work, the windshield wipers came on once, the transmission notice appeared and disappeared and the average mpg was at 0.0 again. This time, the car notified my that I had 0 miles until empty, despite the gas tank containing well over a quarter fill. The gas notification disappeared and the miles to empty section changed back to 175 miles until empty. I have not driven my vehicle since this occurred

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #10

Dec 212019

Focus

  • 105,040 miles
Car was on cruise ctl, then just when increasing speed, was going 30 then when tto 80 before I cancel it, was driving 60 car auto when to 30, transmission service comes up now and ten

- Wf, TX, USA

problem #9

Nov 082019

Focus

  • 32,200 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine caught fire 2 weeks after service dept at vic bailey Ford replaced. Incident report. Total loss and lawsuit coming if not compensated for property damage and emotional distress. Engine ignited with me in vehicle! service bay released car to me 2 weeks ago. Told them was not fixed for 2 weeks waited on appt. Oil light came on after dropping of daughter to school. Multiple witnesses and videos of fire under car and then blew due to heat source which was all supposedly fixed. I was driving the car and pulled over as soon as oil light came on and I smelled smoke. Turned into nearest parking lot off highway 221, spartanburg SC. Roebuck fire dept responded. Will not driver a vehicle from Ford ever again!

- Spartanburg, SC, USA

problem #8

Oct 152019

Focus

  • 53,000 miles
My 2016 Ford Focus SE has stalled while driving on the freeway twice in the past two weeks. In addition, the transmission is very jerky and the engine studders and makes loud noises when shifting into 2nd and 3rd gears. The car only has 53,000 miles on it, yet the transmission is defective.

- Kirkland, WA, USA

problem #7

Jun 212019

Focus

  • miles
My vehicle makes a grinding sound like tge floor is going to fall out, my gas tell me im 50 miles untill empty and I run out also when I turn my car makes a like a screch sound and also shakes at the same time. My car is getting do hot its melting thr plastic and tire covers to where its rubbing on my tires. My vehicle does not want to catch spped seems like it wants to die.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #6

Mar 132019

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchase a 2016 Ford Focus today and there's one open recall on my vehicle. The takata recall and I would like for this issue to be fixed because it sounds dangerous from the research I did on the recall. Plus I have my 1st car wreck a couple months ago and my car was totaled out. I want to be safe behind the wheel and I have a little boy; who will be a passenger in the vehicle I don't want my car to stop in the middle of the street and cause a accident and my son get hurt. Please contact me at: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Bossier City, LA, USA

problem #5

Nov 072018

Focus

  • miles
Overheating

- San Fernando, CA, USA

problem #4

Oct 022018

Focus

  • 52,000 miles
Steering assist fault. Hard to move the steering wheel. Fortunately it was when starting it this morning

- Auburn, NY, USA

problem #3

Aug 212018

Focus

  • 70,000 miles
My vehicle started shaking during acceleration jump during deceleration. Check engine light came on and also transmission failed warning. Vehicle stopped changing into final gear and prolonged other shifting so to 3500rnpir more.these actions occurred on regular streets and highway as well.

- Goldsboro, NC, USA

problem #2

Jun 212018

Focus

  • 55,000 miles
When I cut off the car and hen got back in everything was dead nothing would come on would not even come out of park it would no do anythimg

- Gaylesville, AL, USA

problem #1

Jul 222016

Focus

  • 1,600 miles
When the car starts, it displays several dashboard warning messages and chimes, indicating malfunctioning air bags, seat belts, traction control, and hill start assist (manual transmission). Dealership diagnosed a faulty restraint control module (rcm) and said the car was unsafe to drive until the module is replaced. That was two months ago, and the dealership still hasn't found the replacement part.

- Davis, CA, USA

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