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:
34,590 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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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).
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.
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.
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.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While the vehicle was at a complete stop, the engine stalled without warning when pressure was applied to the accelerator pedal. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 46,000.
Canister purge valve, engine stall recall. I have been having this issue since I recieved the car febuary 2017. The issues was when I would step on the gas to drive, it would stall slowly the speed from its original speed and can feel a pull and push from the car trying to speed up even when I step on the gas pedal; the car moves slow, its like its trying to go up a hill with effort but tireless when its not even going up a hill. Its makes a loud clank noise when it tries to speed up. It doesnt feel smooth when driving. I had call the manufacturer Ford since January 2019. They ask for my date of birth to supposely look for me in the system and make me wait for 12 minutes, then they hang up the call. I made an appointment at Ford January 2019, they canceled it the day before. I recalled Ford July 2019, they hang up on me again.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle hesitated with force and the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact also stated that she had to refuel the vehicle more than usual. The contact pulled over, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and was able to drive home. The contact called auffenberg Ford (1312 N keller dr, effingham, il 62401, (217) 342-3929) and was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall; therefore, the contact would have to pay for the repairs. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,061.
My car has severe hesitation when starting from a stop and or low speed. It has also stalled on two different occasions when pulling into a parking lot
Received a recall notice in December of 2018 for the engine, and it states in my letter that I do not need to do anything, except wait for a call/letter from my dealer saying they have the parts. Since it is going on 7 months, and I know someone else who has this car who got his fixed in February, I can only assume my dealer has decided to not service my safety recall, since they are probably upset from trying to take money from me in the past and getting reported to the better business bureau. I'd like an appointment to get my car serviced, and I would like it to not be at townsend Ford. There is a location in ayer I can get to. This is 7 months now that my engine recall has been ignored, and it states in the letter I do not have to take any action, yet here I am. Good looks townsend Ford.
Purchased vehicle in Aug 2018. Vehicle has stall on me 4 times since I had it also, went to the Ford homestead dealer for recall issues but car seem to still stall. Ended up taking the vehicle on 05/17/19 for an oil change and diagnostic due to the check engine came on and vehicle was taken to pep boys and was there all weekend. Now I thought the repair was fixed and the was returned to me on 05/19/19 which the check engine light came back on. So now the care continue to stall.
The contact owned a 2016 Ford Focus. While driving low speeds, the vehicle stalled and caused a front end collision with another vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The air bags deployed. The contact suffered injuries and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was totaled and towed to the insurance company lot. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 35,654.
Well we bought this 2016 Ford Focus SE and the transmission will not shift right and their a lot of people having the same trouble and it can not be fix.we pay a lot of money for this car and they should buy it back.their is all kind of law suite on this matter they should take care of this problem for us.
On November 4, 2018- while making a left-hand turn, the 2016 Ford Focus I was driving stalled out on the main road. On January 4, 2019 I filled out a complaint online with the NHTSA-( have been given a lot of problems) at first I was told that the complaint was lost because of a computer error, then I have been given a hard time every time I call up and ask about it.
I was notified that my car has been recalled. I waited a few months for the dealership to call me to let me know when I can bring my car in. I decided to take it upon myself to reach out to them and was told to bring it in. That being said, I had rescheduled my appointment several times (because life happens). I reached out again to reschedule and did not recieve a response. I reached out the lhm customer service, they said someone will be contacting me but never did. I feel like I am being ignored, and I want this car fixed or out of my lease. My car vibrates since I bought it, and now it kind of shakes when I do a turn.
My check engine came on and now my car lost all power and every time I put my foot on the gas it acts like it's about to stall out I'm worried for my safety because this is just the first day and my vehicle is already acting up I called my dealership no answer I'm very upset if I die because of you're company and dealership failure better believe my family will sue especially since I've tried to contact my dealer multiple times
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bradenton, FL, USA