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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:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,949 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 body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2016 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #13

Jun 142023

Focus

  • miles

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

New clutch failing after 20000 miles about 1.5 years after factory change. Car shutters when trying to change gear. Dealership has been able to reproduce issue but doesn't want to cover it. Transmission randomly goes into neutral when driving on highway at speed. This has caused issues with maintaining control as engine power is not going to propel car while surrounded by other vehicles on highway. Dealer has not reproduced issue. Driver side door when ambient air temperature exceed 85 or 90 degrees, door not easily opened. Occurred for dealership personnel too. In none of these instances, warning lights appeared. My safety and others is at risk if the clutches fail prematurely, transmission randomly goes into neutral while in Drive at speed around others on the highway, and if the driver door is sticking closed when temperatures get hot. Car is available for inspection.

- Cameron Park , CA, USA

problem #12

Aug 272022

Focus

  • miles
While driving on the highway my 2016 ford focus stalled without warning and would not start until after having it towed. When I go to the gas station after filling the gas tank my vehicle is either hard to start or doesn't start until after waiting a while. This happens often. My check engine light stays on and it smells like gas from the outside. The front-end apron of my vehicle has recently fallen off without warning and for no reason. I took my vehicle to San Tan Ford in Gilbert, Arizona where I purchased my 2016 Ford Focus in May of 2016. The technicians' diagnosis was engine light ml on 2pcm code p1450 p0507 fuel tank leaking replace leaking fuel tank and recommend new fuel pump possible damaged from excessive vacuum applied to tank code p1450 replace canister purge valve for code p1450 stuck open & retest. Dealership and Ford Motor Company is refusing to do repairs stating that my VIN number does not have any recalls and refused to check my front-end apron joints for recall 17S03 although my front-end apron has unattached for no reason. the technician also included that the front-end motor mount is collapsed and recommend replacing mount. Water Pump Replacement inspection found leaking recommend replacing water pump. Also, the degas bottle cracked and leaking coolant and Damaged from excessive Vacuum applied to tank The Canister Purge Valve malfunction causing excessive vacuum in the vapor management system. Stuck canister purge valves cause it to stall. If the CPV is replaced, dealers should inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. Bearing failed as the result of a sudden overload caused by vibration or imbalance compounded by rapid engine acceleration. This overloads the bearing generating a great deal of heat. Amplified through rapid acceleration and high RPM operation.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #11

Jan 212022

Focus

  • miles
wheels such as automatic and manual transmissions, transfer cases, fluid cooling/management systems and related hoses and pipes, electronic control units and software, shift lever/gear control and indicator devices, clutches and torque convertors, drive axles, hubs, i have my service system report from the diagnostic. I've called the manufacturer they said they could not do anything.i have to go get my police report again i lost it mam ive gotnmy other paper work until then thank you i have been having problems with these people please help me god bless

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #10

Feb 112021

Focus

  • 40,000 miles

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

The rear quarter glass seals have both started leaking within 2 months of each other. Water enters through the seal leak and enters the hatch and under rear seats. I have verified this is the leak by spraying a water hose on the outside and watching it leak pretty heavily in the inside of the vehicle.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #9

Oct 142020

Focus

  • 78,000 miles
Car was hesitant to go and skipping and makes awful noise on the passenger side front when on highway road noise. Dealer replaced clutch and seals and did a transmission service. Nothing was done about the awful road noise

- Kings Mountain, NC, USA

problem #8

Apr 062020

Focus

  • 143,336 miles
I was involved in a spin out due to rainy weather on Monday April 6th, 2020. The car ended up hitting the concrete divider in the center of the freeway in access of 55 mph and the airbags did not deploy, even though the vehicle had frontal/ side impacts. I was unharmed in the event, but it is concerning to me, as my car was totaled and the frame warped around the engine.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #7

May 102019

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

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

" takata recall" I was driving to work when my car started smelling hot. I literally just left my house I was about 5 miles from home. It smelled like how you use the heater for the first time during cold weather. I checked the gauges to make sure I was not over heating. I had no warning lights pop on and my temp gauge was normal. I than started seeing smoke coming from the side of the hood. I pulled over on the side of the road and got out. The entire car under neath was on fire. I immediately got away from the car and waited for the fire department and police to come.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #6

Dec 192018

Focus

  • 50,000 miles
As I was on my way to work driving on the freeway going 67mph on cruise control I was in the 2nd lane in from the right. I felt something bumpy underneath my feet and as I lowered my radio I heard a scraping sound and then it felt like something went underneath my tires and I heard when it pulled and broke the front grill made me swerve thank god no accident. As I was pulling to the right it felt like I was dragging the panel and parts of my bumper. Sure enough the underneath panel came off and that's what created the whole body damage.

- El Cajon, CA, USA

problem #5

Jul 122018

Focus

  • 12,100 miles
The passanger rear door handle assembly has come apart, there is only 12 thousand miles on this vehicle, the vehicle was parked, went to open rear door and the small piece in the back came completely off and then rest of the handle is very loose but still attached

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #4

May 072018

Focus

  • 20,000 miles
The trunk opens on its own well driving the back up camera doesn't work and the car jerkswell shifting well driving on highway and street

- Laughlin, NV, USA

problem #3

May 262017

Focus

  • 11,000 miles

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

Both hatch struts failed within 1 year of purchasing the car new from dealer. Struts failed without warning and hatch dropped on head. After strut failure, the hatch was a serious safety hazard as it would slam shut in a way that would easily take off a finger or a hand.

- Pasadena Hills, MO, USA

problem #2

Feb 082017

Focus

  • 4,900 miles
I have a 2016 Ford Focus hatchback. As I was traveling 65 mpr on the interstate with no traffic around at that time. All of a sudden I hear a loud pop. It sounded like I had a blow out and then I hear glass so I pulled over safely only to get out and see that my sunroof was busted. Not only was it busted but the glass chipped my paint. It was a very scary moment. It sounded like pressure was built up when it busted. The glass was pointed upwards like it busted from the inside out.

- Satsuma, AL, USA

problem #1

Mar 082016

Focus

  • 6,000 miles
My son wrecked our brand new Ford, over 6,000 dangero. Most of the damage was front end. None of the air bags deployed. Not a good safety feature if they don't work.

- Fort Covinghton, NY, USA

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