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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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
30,997 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 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2016 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 7 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #32

Jul 182018

Focus

  • 50,000 miles

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

My car has had transmission problems since 20K & has run out of gas on me twice & left me stranded on the side of the road. Clutch & several sylenoids have been replaced several times. I have reatained a lawyer for help with my issues with this car.

- Sherman, TX, USA

problem #31

Jul 102019

Focus

  • 45,061 miles
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.

- Granite City, IL, USA

problem #30

Jul 012017

Focus

  • 1,400 miles
My car sometimes refuses to accelerate when taking off. I received a recall letter from Ford but the dealer refuses to repair my vehicle. Claims it is not included on the recall list.

- Tallulah, LA, USA

problem #29

Jul 012019

Focus

  • 65,000 miles

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

After the original recall to repair the stuck canister purge valve my vehicles fuel gauge is not accurate I run out of gas at 1/4 tank or 135 miles to empty. When filling up on fuel my vehicle will not start properly when attempting to start the vehicle after refilling the fuel tank to full. This is not a one time issue this is a ongoing issue that happens many times a month. Transmission is jerking and makes noise and the dealer tells me this is normal when I know it is not. Ford has told the dealerships to tell owners of this vehicle it is normal so they are force to lie per company instructions. This vehicle and all other like it should be sent to the dealers for buy back.

- Petaluma, CA, USA

problem #28

May 012017

Focus

  • 2,000 miles
At times when starting off there is a severe hesitation. We have to keep the fuel tank more than half full at all times. We received a recall notice from Ford but they stated our VIN wasn't listed on the recall so they would not fix it.

- Tallulah, LA, USA

problem #27

Jun 042018

Focus

  • 45,000 miles
This is in regards to the recall on the stuck canister purge valve (cpv) within the fuel vapor system (manufacturer recall number18S32 NHTSA recall number18V735). There is still no resolution and my car has stall multiple times while driving. It is only a matter of time before an accident occurs.

- Ankeny, IA, USA

problem #26

Oct 222018

Focus

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The contact stated that she did not receive a second notice regarding part availability. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #25

Dec 102018

Focus

  • miles
Notified of recall (NHTSA recall 18V-735) by Ford on Dec. 10, 2018, that parts would be available in first quarter of 2019, but I have yet to be notified that the parts are available, and so I am still driving an apparently dangerous car.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #24

May 242019

Focus

  • 38,000 miles
Since I purchased my 2016 Ford Focus SE the automatic transmission has been slipping, stuttering and high rpms during gear changes but will not accelerate properly. I was attempting to merge from an on-ramp onto a major highway and upon attempting to accelerate to merge the rpms were very high but the car would not accelerate. At this point I am on the highway with traffic gaining at an alarming rate which caused another vehicle to swerve to avoid hitting me from behind. This is not my first encounter with this issue but the first time I actually felt I was in a life threatening situation. This also affects my fuel economy which is a nominal issue as compared to the fact I no longer feel safe with my two children in the vehicle. Step up Ford before there are major accidents due to this issue.

- Taylors, SC, USA

problem #23

May 172019

Focus

  • 202 miles
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.

- Homestead, FL, USA

problem #22

Apr 262019

Focus

  • 63,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 18V350000 (fuel system, gasoline). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. While driving at low speeds, the vehicle stalled and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to parks Ford Lincoln of gainesville (3333 N main St, gainesville, fl 32609, (352) 372-4251) where the contact was informed that the failure was related to the recall and that the parts were not available to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no loaner vehicle option. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #21

Apr 182019

Focus

  • miles
The fuel line that connects to the gas tank is leaking and I cant get the the car to start even thought it's at 5 mile last time I was able to turn my car on when I was parked in my barracks parking lot

- Fort Bliss, TX, USA

problem #20

Jul 012018

Focus

  • miles
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.

- Murray, UT, USA

problem #19

Apr 162019

Focus

  • 45,000 miles
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

- Charter Township Of Clinton, MI, USA

problem #18

Dec 012018

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Peru Ford (800 N broadway, peru, in 46970, (765) 472-3673) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Peru, IN, USA

problem #17

Apr 082019

Focus

  • 46 miles
Takata recall. When you press the gas pedal the engine stalls & starts to shake. It happens in the street every time you press the gas pedal after you break on a red light or stop sign.

- Cicero, IL, USA

problem #16

Mar 312019

Focus

  • 18,131 miles
The vehicle shuts down, while coming to a stop. The message in the window reads, put the car in park in restart the vehicle. This has happened on four occasions. Most recently three weeks after servicing for the same problem. On this most recent occasion, Sunday, March 31st., I stopped to put the car in reverse to park and begin to move the vehicle shut down. I was in front of my home parking.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #15

Apr 012018

Focus

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. When the vehicle was started, the fuel mileage displayed 50 miles when the tank was halfway filled. The contact also mentioned that the speedometer and fuel gauge needles were rapidly fluctuating. Also, while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle would not accelerate. The contact turned the vehicle off and heard an abnormal ticking noise when the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 30,000.

- Peyton, CO, USA

problem #14

Aug 012018

Focus

  • 52,000 miles
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.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #13

Feb 032019

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The parts were not available for the repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. A dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Manteca, CA, USA

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