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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:
6 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,572 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 2 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #175

Feb 072024

Focus

  • miles

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

Purge canister valve system failure. Car sputters and wont start when gas is put into the car. Car jerks. Check engine light stays on.

- Lyburn, WV, USA

problem #174

Feb 242024

Focus

  • miles
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.

- Cupertino, CA, USA

problem #173

Dec 212021

Focus

  • miles
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.

- Leicester, NC, USA

problem #172

Jan 312024

Focus

  • miles

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

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.

- Ruther Glen , VA, USA

problem #171

Dec 092023

Focus

  • miles
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.

- Monticello, IN, USA

problem #170

Feb 022024

Focus

  • miles
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.

- Kent, WA, USA

problem #169

Jan 172024

Focus

  • 115,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. 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 115,000.

- Auburn, NY, USA

problem #168

May 032022

Focus

  • miles
Two weeks after an oil change (not by Ford) my 2016 Ford Focus 5dr EcoSport engine lost power climbing a hill outside my home. On inspection two mechanics told me it needed a new engine. $8000 for me to pay. The local Ford dealer replaced the engine and gave me a 3yr unlimited mileage warranty. No symptoms prior to the failure, now that is a recall (Campaign/NHTSA#23S64/23V905) I would like Ford to reimburse all of us who are out of pocket.

- Smyrna, GA, USA

problem #167

Jul 262021

Focus

  • miles
while driving on the freeway the engine became noisy. I pulled to the shoulder, the brakes hardly worked. I talked to a friend who advised me to drive home. At home I noticed that the oil warning light was on, engine running. Oil level was checked, was full. Engine was replaced at a ford dealership and returned to service on 23sep2021 at great expense to me.

- Auburn, CA, USA

problem #166

Dec 242023

Focus

  • miles
[XXX] daughter was driving her car on I87 in Albany NY when oil pressure light went on and car speed dropped from 65 to less than 30 while in middle lane of interstate forcing her to cross over lanes onto shoulder roadway and exit ramp where it lost all power. Have learned that the oil belt system failed without any warning or notice causing incident. Have since learned that vehicle motor has been damaged beyond repair and needs replacement. Contact with 4 separate representatives of FORD Customer Service has resulted in FORD denying our requests for assistance to replace the motor. Car is a 2016 Ford Focus SE with the 1.0 liter motor with 81,000 miles. Well maintained with records as needed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Porter Corners , NY, USA

problem #165

Dec 032023

Focus

  • 82,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to shift gear while losing motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the transmission friction element "A" was stuck in the on position and failed to keep the fork engaged. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who had not diagnosed the failure. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 14M02. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 82,000.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #164

Nov 062023

Focus

  • miles
-??Oil pump failed to send oil to the engine causing the brakes to go out. While trying to pull out into traffic, the engine made a pop sound, and lost the ability to accelerate. Engine and oil light turned on, was then unable to accelerate past 20mph and engine sounded horrible. -?? Our mechanic looked at the car and said the oil vacuum pump was obliterated inside the engine. He replaced the vacuum pump and said that the timing belt is inside the engine which is causing all the issues. -?? No warning lamps or messages appeared before this. Had just had an oil change a month before and there were no issues.

- Las Vegas , NV, USA

problem #163

Nov 252023

Focus

  • miles
Bought brand new off stevens creek ford frontier, after just 45,000 miles it showed serious transmission issues. At first it would stall and pop up a transmission overheat warning and it would jolt when just trying to step on gas lightly. I brought it in to the dealer service and they said it needed a new clutch and once I got it back it doesn-??t start unless I have it in neutral and doesn-??t backup. The car is extremely unsafe and stalls on the freeway in front of other cars

- Cupertino, CA, USA

problem #162

Nov 062023

Focus

  • miles
Clutch and actuator a&b

- Beaumont, TX, USA

problem #161

Dec 142018

Focus

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at 5 MPH, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

- Lebanon, TN, USA

problem #160

Nov 062023

Focus

  • miles
2016 Ford Focus with 53,000 miles, driven less than 150 miles per week on average just getting back and forth to work and running errands. Check engine light came on on November 2, 2023. I got a P0344 code from my mechanic who is 5 minutes away from when the check engine light came on. He advised me not to drive the vehicle until he could get my car in on November 7. When I started the car to take it to the mechanic on the evening of November 6 for him to look at the next day, the oil light came on. It was a 5 minute drive from my home to the auto shop. He immediately said Oh, Oh, that's the bad oil light not the low oil light. I have routinely kept up with the recommended maintenance schedule and the car was last serviced on June 7, 2023 with no problems. I was told on the morning of November 7 after he had looked at the car that the engine was shot and the car would need a brand new engine. One of the employees at the shop is a former employee of a Ford dealership and was not at all surprised as he began running down a list of all the times that he had seen this problem. "It always happens right after the warranty expires' were his exact words. I now have to wait for a new engine, which is on back order for up to 2-3 months, which is an indication of how rampant this problem is with this Ford engine, and I will have to figure out how I'm going to get to work as we head into the winter months. One of the last things that the mechanic said to me before I signed the $5400 work order, was how lucky I was that the car didn't die on the road leaving me stranded. I can only attribute that to the short distances that I drive. Please do something for those of us that purchased this vehicle in good faith and are now being told that there is nothing that Ford can do for us because the warranty is expired.

- Spokane Valley, WA, USA

problem #159

Jul 312023

Focus

  • 71,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that an unknown software needed to be updated. The software was updated but the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

- Canal Winchester, OH, USA

problem #158

Oct 252023

Focus

  • miles
Have been dealing with error codes for cpv, something about fuel, and air intake. The vehicle continuously stalls. Difficult to get it to start after fueling up. Sputters at various different speeds from 5mph to about 50mph. The vehicle will totally shut down on me out of gas even at over a quarter tank to half tank full according to the gauge. I dont have dates for the incidents because they are consistent at this point.

- Supply, NC, USA

problem #157

Oct 072023

Focus

  • miles
I was in the left lane of an interstate highway accelerating to pass, going about 75 mph. My car made a bang and all power was lost. I was able to coast to the right lane and fortunately was at an exit. Smoke was coming from under the hood. We pushed the car to a vacant parking lot. From there it was towed to our mechanic who identified a hole in the engine block caused by a piston rupturing through the block. The car had 69,000 miles on the engine and was well maintained.

- Denton, TX, USA

problem #156

Sep 282023

Focus

  • miles
the car shut off doing 60mph it was very scary took it to mechanic it had 2 codes the check engine light was on they cleaned the throttle body it ran but was struggling and rough idling drove to work and it wanted to stall multiple times put it in neutral to get idle up at a light then it stalled at a light drove home very afraid that it would shut off again took to the same mechanic to explain what happened have appt for estimate to fix. i need this car for work and am very scared to drive it as is never know when it will shut off called the dealer that sold me the car and all they said was theres no recalls and bring it in. i had an extended warranty but they said i was over by 1000 miles so no warranty i wont drive it there its a long drive. driving for many years i have never felt unsafe in a vehicle before this is very dangerous and needs to be resolved asap. also still have a loan for this car that i cant drive along with the repair costs my wife called ford directly and they said theres no recall and werent helpful at all

- Summitville, NY, USA

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