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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 7 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #75

Jan 022020

Focus

  • 96,000 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 driving at 70 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact put on his hazard lights placed the vehicle in neutral, veered to the shoulder of the road, turned the vehicle off and back on and the vehicle operated as intended. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The contact was informed by an independent mechanic that vehicle may be subjected to NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximation 96,000.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #74

Dec 232019

Focus

  • 55,000 miles
Engine light came on with "engine fault service now" message. The vehicle went into limp mode and finally car shut down. I took into a Ford dealership and they said the turbo and engine were not getting fuel on the highway pumped into them and would both need replaced.

- Defiance, OH, USA

problem #73

Oct 222018

Focus 4-cyl

  • 96,476 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the parts for the recall repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle would suddenly stall at various times; however, the failure occurred most often when coming to a complete stop and accelerating uphill. The vehicle would also shudder when attempting to accelerate. The contact called autonation Ford corpus christi (located at 6250 South padre island drive, corpus christi, tx 78412, 361-444-0125) and was informed that the repair for the recall was unavailable. The dealer also calibrated the cpu on the vehicle, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 96,476.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #72

Nov 112019

Focus

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While at an intersection, the rpms fluctuated from high to low and the vehicle stalled. In addition, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to century Ford of mt. Airy (302 century dr, mt airy, md, (301) 829-2801), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Woodbine, MD, USA

problem #71

Oct 012019

Focus

  • 36,600 miles
Check engine light is on and when checked at autozone it comes back as the pvc which is a know issue with focuses. Also, on one occassion, the transmission fault light came on and that is also a know issue with focuses. My vehicle often stalls at intersection when I have to slow down or stop and is difficult to restart in most cases.

- Rio Rancho, NM, USA

problem #70

Feb 262017

Focus

  • miles
When I first bought the car it started making noise when I drove it I took it in they said they fixed the problems it was still under warranty. After a couple of weeks it started making the same noises so when I had time a couple of months later I took it in again and they told me it was the transmission and that my warranty was not active anymore. It made the same noises the first time I took it in and they never said it was the transmission it was a wheel problem. I'm asking for help on what to do thanks.

- Palm Desert, CA, USA

problem #69

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 #68

Oct 102019

Focus

  • 59,000 miles
While driving within city limits on a daily basis, my vehicle shutters from the start and at acceleration, sometimes stalls as I start to eccelerate from red lights and stop signs, creating potential hazardous conditions. Engine light has come on and want go off, and smells of fuel while vehicle is being driven.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #67

Nov 032019

Focus

  • 72,573 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 50-65 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the purge solenoid seized in the open or closed position, which caused the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the vehicle experienced a shudder in the transmission and hard shift between gears while being driven. The contact also stated that, intermittently, the vehicle failed to shift into reverse after the clutch was replaced. The failure to shift into reverse was a new symptom that occurred only after the clutch was replaced. The dealer and manufacturer were not informed of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 72,573.

- Rockwall, TX, USA

problem #66

Sep 022019

Focus

  • 62,500 miles
The vehicle shudders when accelerating and does not slow down properly when decelerating. This condition becomes worse on hotter days and when the engine is hot. Also, when taking off from a complete stop the car shudders the worse. The car also feels unsafe when trying to slow down. It feels as if the car is staying in a higher gear when letting off the accelerator pedal and not downshifting properly.

- Martinsburg, WV, USA

problem #65

Sep 012017

Focus

  • 18,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shuddered and failed to properly accelerate. The failure occurred several times while attempting to merge into traffic at highway speeds. The vehicle was taken to chapman Ford (6744 black horse pike, egg harbor township, NJ) where it was diagnosed that the dual clutch transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The clutch was replaced at 18,000 miles, but the failure recurred and the clutch was replaced a second time at 53,000 miles. Recently, the failure recurred at 79,000 miles. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. In addition, after receiving a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system), the check engine indicator illuminated prior to the engine stalling. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where the purge valve was replaced. The failure was remedied. The failure mileage was 18,000.

- Galloway, NJ, USA

problem #64

Oct 112019

Focus

  • 35,000 miles
At highway speed, vehicle went into limp mode restricting throttle response with no dash indicators. Unable to accelerate. No check engine light, no messages, all gauges in normal range. Unsafe condition when vehicle responds very slowly with no indicator for driver. Vehicle is the 1.0 L ecoboost with 6mt transmission.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #63

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 #62

Sep 202018

Focus

  • 51,490 miles
Engine misfire, steam from tailpipe, rough idle, numerous engine repairs cylinder 3, metal shavings in oil pan. In motion highway stalled out.

- Soddy Daisy, TN, USA

problem #61

Oct 012019

Focus

  • 32,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While driving 30-55 mph, the gear shifted into neutral and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. In addition, the "engine too hot" message was displayed and the vehicle failed to accelerate and/or start. The vehicle was taken to cavalier Ford greenbrier (1515 S military hwy, chesapeake, va 23320, (757) 424-1111), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 32,000.

- Cheaspeake, VA, USA

problem #60

Aug 032019

Focus

  • miles
The vehicle stalled during a left turn into the right lane of oncoming traffic and was hit as a result. The vehicle was declared a total loss. The vehicle had been taken to Ford previously due to concerns of stalling/sluggish acceleration at which time the dealer disclosed an issue was known that was most likely the cause. The dealership kept the car and performed repairs. The acceleration seemed a little better but still not right based on decades of driving experience. I think the cpv issue (18S32/18V-735) may have caused the car to stall and be hit when it would not have been hit otherwise.

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #59

Aug 182019

Focus 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
On 8/18/19 sent from yahoo mail on android ----- forwarded message ----- from: "[xxx] to: [xxx] sent: Mon, Aug 19, 2019 at 10:58 am subject: VIN #[xxx] to whom it may concern, yesterday I was driving on hwy 17 in Washington state and the transmission issues of my 2016 Ford Focus almost cost me my life. Hwy 17 is a 60 mph, two lane highway surrounded by farmland. While driving on that highway, I maneuvered to pass a semi-truck that was travelling at 50mph. There was more than enough distance from on-coming traffic to pass safely; well, that is if as I pulled alongside the semi-truck I hadn't lost all power even though I was pressing the accelerator. The RPM's went up to "the red" 7-8, I started losing speed and pacing beside the semi- truck. I could hope my acceleration ability came back, or I was going to try to brake and go back when I saw another car behind me in the passing lane, making me a sitting duck. For a few seconds of panic, I considered my options- mostly to go off in the ditch to the left. Luckily, the acceleration came back after the needle on the RPM's went haywire and I slowly was able to get in front of the semi-truck before oncoming traffic hit me. The car behind me sped past me as I got over, with a look that I interpreted as he thought I was trying to kill him. At 47K miles the first transmission faults began to appear. I have attached copies of the Ford services and tickets opened due to the multiple, ongoing problems. I am not part of the class legal action for the transmission issues of 11-16 Focus and fiestas. Respectfully, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Yakima, WA, USA

problem #58

Aug 162019

Focus 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact took the vehicle to hall Ford elizabeth city (1310 N road St, elizabeth city, nc 27909, (877) 475-0723) for routine maintenance. The contact was informed of an unknown recall regarding the evap purge valve. The dealer reprogrammed the computer system in January of 2019, but the recall was not remedied. The manufacturer initially denied the claim and was investigating to see if they could assist with the repair costs. The contact also stated that the check engine indicator illuminated and the vehicle shut off while being driven. Also, after refilling the fuel tank, it took four or five times to restart the vehicle. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Elizabeth City, NC, USA

problem #57

Aug 222019

Focus

  • 36,300 miles
Takata recall the car has a really rough iddle, stalls at random and check engine light comes on for different reasons every time I have replaced the 02 fillter twice and it has been in the shop 5 times in the last month I had read reports that other Ford Focus cars had simmilar problems and replacing the purge iddle valve had solved them, but at the moment Ford is only acknowledging focuses from one paticular plant.

- Union, OH, USA

problem #56

Dec 012017

Focus

  • miles
I've bought a used 2016 Focus SE at a Ford dealership about a year or 2 ago. The car already at 50,000 miles on it, I had it for a couple of weeks before the engine started stuttering very badly during shifts so I contacted Ford and they had my clutch replaced. The car is currently at 72,000 miles and the stuttering during shifts started up again.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

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