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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:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,520 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2016 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 2 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #74

Jan 012019

Focus

  • 20,000 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 various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating, vibrating, and driving rough. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on multiple occasions however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated that no repairs were performed. The contact stated that the failure became more frequent and included improper acceleration. The contact stated that the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 20,000.

- Wilmington, OH, USA

problem #73

Jul 302022

Focus

  • miles
My TCM stopped working and now my vehicle won't go into reverse 2nd 4th gear. My dad noticed it when he tried to back it into the garage to do some maintenance on it. I have been told it will be months to fix because of a backorder. I know this is a common issue for Focus but my vehicles Vin doesn't have a recall listed.

- Pulaski, VA, USA

problem #72

Jun 102022

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
The vehicle was purchased used on June 4, 2022 from Next car imports (984) 989 5000. June 10th 2022 approximately 8 pm, while stopped at a light, the car shut off. I turned the key. The car crank back up. This occurred after putting gas into the car. Being the dealership added a warranty, I called the customer service and dealership. I called the dealership and spoke with [XXX] of (next car import, Clayton, nc) agreed to take the car and have their mechanic look at. Calling the dealership was the instruction from [XXX], of First Automotive (warranty). Next Car Import kept the car from June 13th thru June 15th. Stated they drove the car tested the car and no issue. The evening of June 15th several hours after retrieving the car, I drove 1 mile from my home to get gas and the car stopped in the middle of the road, a very busy road. Someone push the car using another car the rest of the way to the gas station. I filled the car up and it still wouldn't start, it took at least 10 minutes before cranking up. The car has shut off several more times since then. Including the scariest of all being on a busy interstate June 19, 2022 while heading home from work. Barely 2 weeks owning this car, the dealership isn't willing to take it back. I'm experiencing anxiety every time I have to get in my car. I need options INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #71

Jan 092017

Focus

  • miles

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

Ever since I first purchased this car I have had issues with the automatic transmission. It feels like the gears are slipping whenever you speed up and the car also vibrates when speeding up and you can feel and hear the gears slipping. I took my car to Hagerstown Ford a little after I bought this car and told them about this and they just told me that they hooked it up to their "machine" and it told them that the transmission was fine but yet it still to this day, over 5 years later, is still doing the same thing but now it's also making a strange noise when going in faster speeds, anywhere from 50mph to 80mph, and really has me worried that the transmission is now failing. I have heard that many, many people have had issues with ford focus/fiesta's automatic transmissions around the same year as my car, a 2016.

- Falling Waters, WV, USA

problem #70

Dec 122021

Focus

  • 62,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle began to experience loss of speed, the contact would depress the accelerator and the vehicle hesitated and jerked. The contact heard a grinding metal sound coming the floorboards. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to an auto parts store where the failure was diagnosed as the "transmission friction element A frozen in the on position." The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutches needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred and the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed that the Transmission Control Module (TCM) needed to be replaced. The contact purchased a non-OEM TCM and the vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred and the contact purchased another non-OEM TCM which was re-installed. The failure reoccurred and the vehicle was returned to the same dealer and had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #69

Mar 312022

Focus

  • miles
Car died and would not accelerate after slowing down to turn; no warning or dashboard lights on before incident; no overheating; started back up afterwards but stalled before engine turn over. Happened 3 times within 30 minutes

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #68

Feb 102022

Focus

  • miles

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

My drivers side door latch went on my 2016 Ford Focus with just 36,000 miles although there are prior recalls for these to be replaced on these vehicles my vin was not one so I am being forced to pay over $600 for an original part failing on a car with 36,000 miles

- East Syracuse , NY, USA

problem #67

Aug 312021

Focus

  • miles
A code of P0086 Fuel Rails System Pressure too low appears when starting a warm engine and the car stalls while accelerating. The check engine light doesn-??t come on until after multiple attempts of starting the engine. The rear passenger seatbelt starts to fray and the buckle cuts into it.

- Rome, GA, USA

problem #66

Nov 192021

Focus

  • miles
The car would shake and jump when starting from a stop or going up hills, also feels like it-??s slipping when shifting gears will not shift when going up large hills or when on Highway and passing if it needed to change gears it would slip.I called Ford dealer told them same info they said my car is not under recall, well it needed to be, I took the car to trans shop he pulled a code of Transmission Friction element a stuck on. (Tans needs repair most likely clutches, He said take it to ford, I called ford they were backed up months in advance, and acted like they had never heard of this.I called Ford Motor company told them about issue, same response never heard of it and no recalls. Took the vehicle back to dealer I purchased it from and traded it for a different brand car, just wanted you to know Ford that-??s wrong! I panicked and took the car to be traded in.I hope they don-??t try to sell that car like that, I was not about to let my child drive that car one more day so I took it to the thieves that sold it to me and gifted it back to them.if you have a 2016 Ford Focus and it gets 80k miles like mine was your just screwed!Ford needs to fix these cars I-??ll never trust Ford again.

- Birmingham , AL, USA

problem #65

Nov 192021

Focus

  • miles
I have been having nothing but problems with my Ford Focus transmission. And it-??s 2016. I-??ve only had it for about 4 years and it-??s not working again. Ford said it was the clutch.

- Fostoria, OH, USA

problem #64

Nov 132021

Focus

  • miles

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

I believe it was the fuel system that failed. The safety of myself, my child, and other drivers was at risk. The Ford dealer I spoke to said my vehichle is not affected by the recall that causes this issue (18S32). The auto center I took the car to could not reproduce the incident. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance. The check engine light was on at the time of the incident. I was at a stop at an intersection. When I was ready to proceed, I pressed the accelerator and the engine died. Pressing the gas did nothing. I was partially through the intersection where cross traffic does not stop when this happened. I turned the car off and back on and was able to get the car moving. This happened twice that night. The auto shop checked for error codes and found the following: P1450 No DTC definition found, P2195 O2 sensor signal biased, and P0507 Idle air control system revolutions per minute higher than expected. The auto center suggested I take the car back to the dealer for inspection as they can not diagnose. I fear for my family's safety while driving. I feel this problem is caused by the excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system (Recall 18S32).

- Bourbonnais, IL, USA

problem #63

Nov 112021

Focus

  • miles
UNKNOWN, The car stalls and the engine misfires. The check engine light comes on after that. While driving, the car suddenly stalls without warning. This has happen on multiple occasions.

- Rome, GA, USA

problem #62

Sep 082021

Focus

  • 36,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled and shut off. The contact stated that after waiting for several minutes the contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000.

- Lake County, FL, USA

problem #61

Oct 012020

Focus

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The failure usually occurred whenever there was less than half a tank of fuel. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was available. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

- New Port Richie, FL, USA

problem #60

Sep 242021

Focus

  • miles
My 2016 Ford Focus shakes when accelerating from a stop. From the 2nd to 3rd Rpm, it stalls and vibrates and sometimes jerks backwards. I have taken it to the dealership and they won't look at since its out of warranty. This has been happening for a couple of months.

- Burlington, VT, USA

problem #59

Aug 022021

Focus

  • miles
I was driving down the interstate and the car died with no warning. I was able to get to side of road and checked to see what was going on. Nothing looked weird. I started the ignition and the car started right back up. I took it to mechanic but could not find anything. It happened a again a few weeks later. No check engine light or any warning lights ever came on.

- Liberty , MO, USA

problem #58

Jun 162021

Focus

  • miles
The transmission slips and jerks at 4000 rpm's from acceleration and transmission does not go into reverse sometimes and over heats after 2 minutes of driving. It's available to be looked at. The car would not accelerate in the middle of driving on the highway. Just revs over 5000 rpm's. I took it to a transmission shop and they said it was the clutch which was going to be $3,000 to fix. My husband and my children have to experience the whiplash it gives you from the hard shifting. Also have to push it backward in neutral just to go anywhere because it has no reverse most of the time. There is a warning message on the dash that says transmission overheating wait 5 minutes and the check engine light is always on. They first appeared at 87,000 miles and it is horrible on gas I need to pay 20 dollars every 2 days just to go to work and back which I'm only work 15 minutes away. I have called my dealer no call back. I have called ford no call back. I even called the warranty place cause they sent me a notice and they said to call my dealer but they never called back

- Longmont, CO, USA

problem #57

Jul 072021

Focus

  • 92,493 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to shudder, loss motive power, and stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as an adaptive system software issue. The local dealer performed a software update on the vehicle however, the failure continued. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,493.

- Amarillo, TX, USA

problem #56

Jun 192021

Focus

  • miles
Engine recently came on, and the codes are saying factory recall

- Irving , TX, USA

problem #55

Oct 012020

Focus

  • 78,066 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 mph the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 78,066.

- Bowie, MD, USA

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