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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.

2.0

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
78,145 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 1 of 3)

problem #41

Jan 012025

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 upon starting the vehicle, there was heavy white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test showed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was given an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 96,000.

- Van Buren, AR, USA

problem #40

Sep 152023

Focus

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at 30-50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, and the engine seized. The contact stated that the engine fault message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed; however, the contact then decided to tow the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with turbo module failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred twice. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Livingston Manor, NY, USA

problem #39

Jan 122025

Focus

  • 102,987 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his wife was driving on the expressway at approximately 70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The driver turned on the hazard lights. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the oil pump belt had failed. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer was contacted, opened a case, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 102,987.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

problem #38

Dec 312024

Focus

  • 150,000 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 her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the oil pump tensioner assembly and oil pump drive belt, resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Greenville, NC, USA

problem #37

Dec 312023

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available

- Medina, OH, USA

problem #36

Nov 222024

Focus

  • 136,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud bagging sound that became worse while the brake pedal was depressed. In addition, the contact stated that white smoke was coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with water pump and serpentine belt failure. The contact was informed that the serpentine belt and the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

- Westland, MI, USA

problem #35

Nov 072020

Focus

  • 47,000 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 approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and the vehicle was coasted to the side of the road, and then towed to a certified mechanic. The contact believed that the mechanic had diagnosed a failure within the transmission and had completed a repair to the transmission; however, the contact was unaware of what parts were replaced. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired, the vehicle started hesitating and there was an abnormal revving noise coming from the engine compartment while accelerating. The contact would depress the accelerator a second time to accelerate as intended. The failure was intermittent. The message that the engine was overheating was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined that the fuel pump had failed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The recall repair was completed, and the fuel pump was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed a failure with the water pump and the water pump was replaced. The mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the transmission failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer had referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 47,000.

- Martinsburg, WV, USA

problem #34

Sep 182024

Focus

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle failed to accelerate upon depression of the accelerator pedal. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the failure was related to the recall. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Broomfield, CO, USA

problem #33

Jul 012017

Focus

  • 10,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while accelerating from a stationary position, the vehicle experienced severe jerking, vibrations, and hesitation. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the transmission clutch but later the failure reoccurred. Additionally, the engine overheated and the vehicle stalled. Upon inspection, it was discovered that there was no coolant inside the coolant reservoir. The contact stated that no visual evidence of a coolant leak could be found. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 10,000.

- Blackwood, NJ, USA

problem #32

May 152022

Focus

  • 83,790 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the engine seized. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was an oil pump and engine failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 83,790.

- Carver, MN, USA

problem #31

Sep 232024

Focus

  • 84,000 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 wife was driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The blank warning light was illuminated. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also stated that the engine was not original to the vehicle, because the original engine had previously been replaced. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000.

- Sun Lakes, AZ, USA

problem #30

Jul 022024

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at approximately 45 MPH. The vehicle was steered to a parking lot. The vehicle was not able to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the lower half of the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

- Grove, OK, USA

problem #29

Jan 012023

Focus

  • 51,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle was slow to respond. The contact stated that the gears were lagging while shifting. While driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle shut down. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact noticed that the coolant reservoir was empty. The contact added coolant. There was no indication of a coolant leak. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Castroville, CA, USA

problem #28

Jul 302024

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Visalia, CA, USA

problem #27

Oct 152023

Focus

  • 2,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined on three occasions that the turbo charger and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The dealer informed the contact that the oil level was low. The vehicle was taken to the same local dealer, where the oil was changed. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Larry H. Miller Ford Draper (11442 Lone Peak Pkwy., Draper, UT 84020), where it was diagnosed and determined that the turbo charger needed to be replaced. The contact was notified by the Insurance Provider about NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was towed back to the local dealer for an oil consumption test, but the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.

- Bluffdale, UT, USA

problem #26

Feb 012024

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was made aware of the issue and an appointment was scheduled to bring the vehicle in to have the vehicle worked on for an extended period. The contact called back to plan for transportation while the vehicle was in the dealer's possession and was informed that unless there was a knocking noise coming from the engine; the dealer would not be able to service the vehicle until the first quarter of 2025. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

problem #25

Jun 262024

Focus

  • 101,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that when the vehicle was started, there was a loud beeping sound and the -??Engine Power Reduced-?? warning light was illuminated and the vehicle failed to respond as needed after the warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Bellflower, CA, USA

problem #24

Jun 012024

Focus

  • 109,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal clicking noise coming from the engine. The engine lost oil pressure. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle was slow to respond, and the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the tensioner arm was fractured, and the fuel pump was not providing power to the engine. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to another local dealer, Schicker Ford of St. Louis (3300 S. Kingshighway Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63139), who informed the contact that all the parts were not in the vehicle. The contact called the original local dealer, who informed the contact to pick up the parts. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the local dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

- Fenton, MO, USA

problem #23

Mar 012024

Focus

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the oil pump drive belt had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 89,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #22

Mar 292023

Focus

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the oil pump resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The VIN was included, but parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 85,000.

- Wanaque, NJ, USA

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