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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 5 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #115

Oct 142021

Focus

  • miles

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

-??Car has problems upshifting/downshifting gears, especially going at high speeds. When braking it takes a while to downshift in result the car tries to maintain the speed resulting in a hard jerk in the car. -??since the car has a problem shifting gears especially braking could end up resulting in rear ending or being rear ended. -??A dealer has confirmed the transmission issue. -??UNKNOWN -??There weren-??t any warning lamps for the SE the problem appeared 3 weeks after I bought the vehicle. The dealer tried to charge me over $4000 for a new transmission.

- Indian Trail, NC, USA

problem #114

Jan 172022

Focus

  • miles
I have had this car since it was new, it has had 3 clutches installed and now needs another one, I am told the car has no extended warranty even with 3 clutches being replaced and dozens of trips to the dealership, the cost of a new one is $2700 and they say it is not covered. I'm wondering how a 2016 with all the trips to the dealership regarding the clutch and 3 clutches being put on this car, the car only having 35,000 miles, why is this not covered under the extended warranty? In my opinion these cars that were manufactured for 10 years KNOWING that they had faulty clutches/transmissions should be covered for the life of the car.

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #113

Apr 062021

Focus

  • 86,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was slipping. The contact was informed by his wife that while driving the vehicle stalled. While adding fuel the vehicle failed to start. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with the clutch actuator, purge valve canister, and purge valve failure which needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V845000 (Power Train). The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.

- Rockford, OH, USA

problem #112

Nov 042019

Focus

  • miles

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

Oil pump failure 2 times in a role within 75,000 miles. Had to have a brand new engine replacement each time.

- Wise, VA, USA

problem #111

Oct 202020

Focus

  • 82,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle shut off with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The contact had the engine replaced. A year later as her son was driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's son added antifreeze to the reservoir and drove the vehicle home. Once the vehicle was home, the vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure for a second time. The contact called the dealer and was informed that the engine would be covered under warranty. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

- Oskaloosa, IA, USA

problem #110

Jul 222021

Focus

  • miles
A stuck CPV is leading to excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor system, causing the plastic fuel tank to deform, resulting in an inaccurate or erratic fuel gauge indication, inaccurate distance to empty (DTE), and/or other drivability concerns. The vehicle also is exhibiting an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0420, P1450, P0443, P0452, P0456, P0460 and/or P2196

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #109

Jun 192021

Focus

  • miles

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

Engine recently came on, and the codes are saying factory recall

- Irving , TX, USA

problem #108

Jun 012021

Focus

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced due to a leaking gasket. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact learned that the repair was no longer covered under warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Buckingham, VA, USA

problem #107

May 192021

Focus

  • miles
My car idles up high often and the car will speed up on it's own. When at a complete stop it struggles to stay on. Sometimes it will cut off. It has shut off while driving as well. It jerks when taking off from a complete stop. After putting gas in the car it will not start immediately. I have to pump the gas pedal for a few seconds. It eventually starts. At Autozone I had a code test ran on it and it suggested EVAP system needed replacing. So, I took it to have it fixed. Precision Tune ran an additional test on my car, but there were no errors. They even checked for any recalls or repair issues posted online, but my car was not listed. They suggested I call the manufacturer. It still does it. I can also hear a scrubbing sound while backing up, but my brake pads are good. The brake light continues to pop on saying I need brake fluid. I had that checked and I do not need brake fluid. The engine light stays on. I get my car tuned on a regular basis. I've only had it for a soon to be year in June 2021. Also, there are times when the gas fumes are strong inside of the car while driving. I want to go on trips but i'm afraid it will shut off in the middle of the interstate.

- Aiken, SC, USA

problem #106

Apr 082021

Focus

  • 81,000 miles
Clutch needs to be replaced on automatic transmission after 81K miles

- Wildwood, MO, USA

problem #105

Jan 012021

Focus

  • 75,000 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 in stop and go traffic, the vehicle shuddered. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

- Spring Hill, TN, USA

problem #104

Oct 082020

Focus

  • miles
I have a 2016 Ford Focus hatchback, it jerks when accelerating, and makes an odd sound when I am reversing and turning. I cant afford to pay out of pocket for these repairs, but I can see Ford has had similar problems with focuses in the past, I have a 5 year old son. And I would love for this to be a recall due to the on going issues.

- Converse, TX, USA

problem #103

Jan 012019

Focus

  • 23,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to johnson Ford Lincoln Inc (694 East street, pittsfield, MA 01201) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the failure was similar to NHTSA campaign number: 18V169000 (power train). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,000.

- Peabody, MA, USA

problem #102

Apr 072020

Focus

  • miles
Motor mount & transmission. When cranking car the RPM verves to 300-400 rpms and stays until you pick the accelerator. When accelerating the gas the car jerks before taking off to change gears.

- Cumming, GA, USA

problem #101

Dec 282020

Focus

  • miles
The car wouldn't shift gears no reverse and when it finally did go into drive only 11 mph

- Gary, IN, USA

problem #100

Nov 012020

Focus

  • 7,000 miles
Motor locked up and strater.cut off why driving.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #99

Nov 192020

Focus

  • 37,500 miles
My 2016 Ford Focus St has severe stalling problems. I have not had this car for two months and this is the third time it stalled on me while driving on freeway at about 60mph.and would not start back up. I believe this is a very dangerous car to be driving in. Me or my loved ones could get killed. Hope someone will read this and help some kind of way. I have look up VIN on Ford data base and no recalls but I see every where that alot of people that have the same car has same issues...please lets try to get Ford to recall our cars so we dont die...

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #98

Oct 172020

Focus

  • 49,000 miles
I was driving my vehicle on a city street and the car stalled on the road and I had to coast onto a safe spot.the car would not turn back on for over an hour then it stalled once more and would not turn on. The dealership said they fixed the problem but it continues to stall while driving. We can not find the problem.

- Reading, PA, USA

problem #97

Oct 302020

Focus

  • miles
The vehicle was under half a tank pf fuel and begam to sputter and jolt amd dies. It started but cranked long and hard. This happens whenever the fuel is at half or below. I searched my VIN it says the fuel rscall isn't a issue bit its doing exactly that.

- Clarksville, IN, USA

problem #96

Oct 172020

Focus

  • 81,500 miles
Was driving down the interstate at roughly 80 miles per hour when the check engine light came on. Engine lost power and would not accelerate. Engine started making a loud noise. Car will still start but is not drivable and engine has no oil pressure and mechanic said it downshifted to 4th gear at 83 mph. Car has been serviced regularly and has given no indication of engine problems. Was quoted $4500 at first Ford dealership to repair car with a used motor with equal mileage. 2nd Ford dealership quoted $3700 with rebuilt motor. Has been looked over by 2 mechanics including Ford and other than reading diagnostics nobody can provide a reason the oil pressure dropped or why the car downshifted into 4th gear uping the RPM's causing engine problems. They said there is no other problems with the car at this point other than the engine. Very no smart to replace an engine without knowing the what caused the initial one to fail.

- Oskaloosa, IA, USA

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