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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.

2.3

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,125 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 transmission problems

transmission problem

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2016 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #12

Sep 082022

Focus

  • 82,000 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 attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact stated that the dealer declined to repair the vehicle because the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was transferred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

- Elverta, CA, USA

problem #11

Oct 102021

Focus

  • 190,000 miles
The contact called on behalf of a friend who owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after the driver refueled the vehicle, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact stated while driving 3 MPH, the transmission was slipping. The contact stated that the check engine and transmission warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.

- Westbrook, ME, USA

problem #10

Mar 242019

Focus 4-cyl

  • 67,500 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked more violently while accelerating. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the purge valve failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure persisted and the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the clutch actuator needed to be replaced. On another occasion, the contact was unable to start the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an unauthorized dealer and the contact was informed that the clutch assembly, transmission control module, and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The contact was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 67,500.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #9

May 222021

Focus

  • 58,000 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 25 MPH and accelerating, the vehicle started stalling and rumbling inadvertently. After several minutes of driving rough the vehicle returned to normal operation. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clutch assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #8

Feb 012022

Focus 4-cyl

  • 79,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while at a traffic light and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle started shuddering while shifting gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the DPS6 clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 79,000.

- Somerset, MA, USA

problem #7

Nov 082021

Focus

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while her daughter was either stopped at a traffic light or traffic sign and attempting to move off, the vehicle would inadvertently lunge forward. Additionally, the vehicle would shift with a loud thumping noise. The contact stated her daughter did not notice any warning lights illuminated. The vehicle had been taken to a dealer but had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

- Sumrall, MS, USA

problem #6

Jul 302021

Focus

  • miles

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

Driving down the road when the transmission clutch suddenly stopped shifting, and it felt like it slammed on the brakes, when it didn't shift. Took it to ford they said their is a recall on that part but not for my vehicle. I contacted ford.com and they said the same thing.

- Purvis, MS, USA

problem #5

Aug 252021

Focus

  • miles
my car has 47,000 miles and the transmission went bad. the transmission does not shift to the first gear or 3 gear. according to local mechanic

- Cliffside Park, NJ, USA

problem #4

Aug 022021

Focus

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph, the contact noticed that the transmission was not operating smoothly causing the vehicle to lunge forward while shifting gears. The service transmission now warning light was illuminated. The clutch eventually failed. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer who diagnosed that the clutch and shift release forks needed to be replaced. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Victor, NY, USA

problem #3

Jun 012021

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle would fail to reverse with the gear shifter placed in the reverse position. The contact also stated that the vehicle would jerk and stall upon acceleration with several warning lights and messages on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who informed her that transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer and the manufacturer were both notified of the failure and informed her that the Vin was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V845000 (Power Train). Both the dealer and the manufacturer referred her to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000.

- Bartow, FL, USA

problem #2

Jul 232021

Focus

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 mph, the accelerator pedal was difficult to depress. In addition, the contact noticed that there was an error message warning stating that the transmission was hot. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was pushed to be moved however, the steering wheel and brake pedal had ceased operating. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

- Antelope, CA, USA

problem #1

Jul 032021

Focus

  • miles
I'm the very last owner of this car/vin. It is black ford focus 2016 SE. I had purchased this vehicle on November 23rd, 2020. I didn't have the car for a whole year. just recently the car(SAT July 3rd,2021)transmission light came on after I got an oil change. next day the car started to jerk as you accelerate, That same day the transmission started to over heat. Now mind you the dashboard informed me about it, but also says to pull over for exactly 5 mins for to cool down. I had to travel across town to get home, mind you it takes 15 to 20 mins, it literally took me 45 to get home. Since Day one I've kept up with my car. Even my mechanic (who also work at Koons Ford) told me this would be on going problem and get rid of it. I tried to search for other options as well. I only work from this car and go home.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

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