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.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact took the vehicle to sam galloway Ford Lincoln (1800 boy scout dr, fort myers, fl 33907, (888) 699-0916) due to engine failure. The dealer refused to repair the vehicle because it was nine miles over the warranty coverage mileage limit. The dealer suggested a complete replacement of the engine at the contact's expense. The manufacturer was not contacted. An independent mechanic replaced the engine, which only lasted one week. The mechanic replaced the engine with another one, which lasted several months before failing again. The contact stated that the vehicle was currently stranded in another state. The failure mileage was unknown.
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.
I bought this 1996 Ford Focus SE a year ago and the transmmison slips on cold morning and than it slips all the time now and it only has 60000 miles on
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The driver coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted and was able to drive normally. The driver drove the vehicle home. The following day, the vehicle was taken to Santa Fe Ford (located at 16330 nw us hwy 441, alachua, fl 32615, (866) 371-2255) where it was diagnosed that the purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to rountree moore Ford (located at 2588 w us hwy 90, lake city, fl 32055, (386) 269-9093) regarding NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The dealer stated that a faulty code was not found and no further action was needed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was no longer included in the recall. No further assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 27,965.
More than 3 months ago I received initial notification of the following recall by mail: NHTSA recall number: 18V735 recall date: October 22, 2018 manufacturer recall number: 18S32. I have yet to receive a follow up with a remedy for this issue, and I feel like I've waited long enough. Especially being that this is an engine vehicle, I don't feel safe driving my vehicle, although I have to in order to get back and forth from work. Nothing specific has happened to my vehicle yet, I am simply just unhappy that there is still no fix for this issue, which I've been told I am within my rights to do. Thank you.
- Minot, ND, USA
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I purchase a 2016 Ford Focus today and there's one open recall on my vehicle. The takata recall and I would like for this issue to be fixed because it sounds dangerous from the research I did on the recall. Plus I have my 1st car wreck a couple months ago and my car was totaled out. I want to be safe behind the wheel and I have a little boy; who will be a passenger in the vehicle I don't want my car to stop in the middle of the street and cause a accident and my son get hurt. Please contact me at: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Inaccurate fuel gauge. First issue - my car would be reading that I had (example) 15 miles until empty and really I had 0 miles until empty. Ran out of gas twice because of this issue. Second issue - my car will stall out in the middle of driving/accelerating at any given time. Much worse when I have less than a half/quarter tank. My car will still stall even when I do have more than a half tank of gas. Most times, my car will not restart after the stall. This issue is more likely to happen as soon as I turn the car on, at a dead stop then about to accelerate, in stop and go traffic. I bought the car in June of 2018 and started to notice the fuel tank issue pretty quickly. The stalling out issue started to happen shortly after. I did receive a recall notice from Ford.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the transmission was malfunctioning. The dealer (kearny pearson Ford, 7303 clairemont mesa blvd, san diego, ca 92111, (858) 560-5544) repaired the transmission control module back in October of 2018, but the vehicle stalled in the middle of the road. The contact was able to slowly pull the vehicle over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline) after the vehicle was repaired in October. The failure mileage was 97,000.
There are class action suits over the transmission/clutch recalls for the Focus. Ford dealers chapman Ford, horsham and hoffman Ford, harrisburg, pa, are refusing to repair the Ford Focus 2016 clutch that is slipping (about 48,000 miles) with their reason being that the car has a branded title. The car was in a minor accident that only affected the side opposite the transmission, and any dealer can clearly see that all the transmission and surrounding areas are not damaged and are original Ford parts. It was really a small amount of body work on the opposing side. If a clutch 'blows up', the driver can have serious leg damage, and also this is a safety issue and crash possibility. Since the transmission was not affected at all in the branded title, Ford should repair it for free. The transmission/clutch issues are all over the internet and since Ford has quit making the Focus, it is evident that Ford knows they have created the clutch issue. This and the canister purge valve recall are very dangerous.you would not want your daughter driving this car, and it needs repaired this week. Ford needs to take care of the situation they knowingly created. The branded title has nothing to do at all with the transmission issues. Even the dealers have admitted that. Chapman Ford, horsham has diagnosed a slipping clutch. I have paperwork.
When it's driving up a hill it's makes a sound where as the speed stays the same and do want increase. I believe it's the clutch is scraping when it runs. When driving same level does the same but sometimes unexpected.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While driving between 5-20 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact had to turn off the engine, restart the vehicle, and drive slowly. In addition, the transmission indicator illuminated and "warning car is to hot" appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle had to be pushed back to the contact's home during the last failure. The vehicle was taken to tasca Ford (250 webster square rd, berlin, ct 06037, (860) 828-3546), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer refused to assist and stated that the contact caused the failure. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was 76,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. In December of 2018, the contact took the vehicle to an unknown dealer to be repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (engine); however, the repair did not correct the failure. When the contact attempted to start the engine, the vehicle stalled without warning. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While driving 25 mph, the vehicle shook and stalled. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and attempted to restart the vehicle. The dealer (norm reeves Ford Lincoln, 18900 studebaker rd, cerritos, ca 90703, (562) 991-6696) stated that the warranty expired after 36,000 miles and scheduled a diagnostic appointment. The dealer stated that the failure was not due to NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 54,000.
When accelerating from a stop, transmission/engine stutters making the car shudder at low speeds. Delayed and inconsistent acceleration noted during shuddering episodes. This happens every acceleration under normal driving conditions. If accelerator is advanced more rapidly, shuddering not noted. Car only has 49,000 miles on it. I have taken the vehicle to the Ford dealer for this issue. A transmission part was already replaced once which seemed to solve the problem at first. The problem reappeared approximately 2 months after repair.
When going from 1st gear to 2nd gear the engine/transmission struggles to change gear. Leaving you with a delay to accelerate which can cause injury & somewhat of a stall out while attempting to turn into traffic. It sounds as if the engine/transmission is going to drop out of the front of the vehicle. It feels as if someone is playing tug of war & can't hold onto the rope when it is shifting gears; so it feels like it will fall out of or not change gears. I was told that is what they are supposed to do by the seller at david irwin Ford in tyler, tx.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While driving 50 mph, the check engine indicator illuminated and the engine seized. The vehicle was taken to crown Ford (256 swain street, skibo rd, fayetteville, nc 28303, 910-920-9614) where it was diagnosed that the spark plugs failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer stated that they were aware of the failure and it was up to the contact to replace the spark plugs. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 65 mph and attempting to slow down, the rpms decreased and the engine shut off. In addition, the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle would shut off while attempting to accelerate from a stop. The failures recurred several times. The contact called coughlin Ford of pataskala at 740-967-2085 (located at 9800 worthington rd, pataskala, oh 43062) and a diagnostic test was recommended, but not performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and advised the contact that the vehicle was safe to drive if the check engine indicator was blinking. The contact was also informed that someone would call back. The contact was not called back and he stated that the check engine indicator did not blink. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while stationary and driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check battery, check oil and check engine light illuminated directly after the vehicle stalled. In the drive position, there was a sudden loss of acceleration. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to start when the vehicle's fuel level was below a 1/2 tank. Ourisman Ford & Lincoln (6129 richmond highway, alexandria, Virginia 22303 (703) 660-9000) was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fort Myers, FL, USA