10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,801 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Ford Focus:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #184

Jan 202020

Focus

  • 67,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While driving at low speeds the accelerate pedal was depressed however the vehicle hesitated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to automax Ford (3301 E central Texas expy, killeen, tx 76543 (254) 699-2629) where it was diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted who referred contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 67,000.

- Coppers Cove, TX, USA

problem #183

Jan 302020

Focus

  • 31,000 miles
My 2016 Ford Focus SE gives me great concern when driving as the transmission consistently skips/jerks while accelerating. There were 2 separate instances where I have driven on the freeway and my car has skipped gears, causing change of speeds and nearly had 2 accidents on the freeway. My most recent one was right before I decided to file a complaint. I have been to the Ford service center right before my warranty closed and requested they fix, however was told there is nothing wrong and it operates properly.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #182

Aug 012018

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While driving at an undisclosed speed the vehicle started to vibrate abnormally while accelerating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to (dunning Ford 1051 southgate pkwy, cambridge, oh 43725 (740) 439-7767) and also to (dutro Ford-Lincoln 132 S 5th St, zanesville, oh 43701(740) 452-6334) where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.

- Pleasant City, OH, USA

problem #181

Dec 182018

Focus

  • 45,000 miles
Hi, I notice shuddering in my vehicle when I accelerate form completer stop. I had this problem since I bought the vehicle 3 years ago at 24000 miles. I assumed its because of sudden acceleration that the wheels are slipping. But after reading the news about transmission problems in other Ford Focus, I believe the problem is transmission related. I consulted a mechanic on this and the associated Ford dealer informed me that the there was a warranty extensions for vehicles built till Nov 5th of 2015. My vehicle was built on Dec 21st of 2015. I already drove the vehicle for 85000 miles. I donot want to be burdened with expensive repairs once Ford decides later to extent the warranty to 100000 mile and I donot qualify. Hope someone can help me in this matter. The shuddering happens at random and I am at a loss to explain why. Under rainy conditions shuddering at the 4 way intersection was also noticed and can be dangerous if it happens again.

- Crofton, MD, USA

problem #180

Jan 252020

Focus

  • 45,000 miles
The cvt transmission will occasionally shutter during acceleration from both a dead stop and low speed roll. The most common times when this will occur is when the outside temperature is above thirty degrees faherenheit. This issue will cause slow acceleration as the computer attempts to decipher which gear to shift into.

- Brookline Station, MO, USA

problem #179

Jan 182020

Focus

  • 75,000 miles
Although it's an automatic gearbox, feels like it's acting like a manual with slipping clutch when accelerating at low speeds. Ie 0 to 45mph. Intermittently judders, high revs low power or lack of power at times when pulling off from stationary position clutch intermittently when accelerating

- Richmond, TX, USA

problem #178

Dec 232019

Focus

  • 55,000 miles
Engine light came on with "engine fault service now" message. The vehicle went into limp mode and finally car shut down. I took into a Ford dealership and they said the turbo and engine were not getting fuel on the highway pumped into them and would both need replaced.

- Defiance, OH, USA

problem #177

Jan 122016

Focus

  • miles
Shakes shutters since new have had in twice. Said both times not shaking or shuttering enough yet. Um im 52 I am a mechanic. We all know this is lemon I have owned numerous Ford and would like this resolved

- New Lenox, IL, USA

problem #176

Nov 302019

Focus

  • 110,319 miles
Car has been vibrating whenever accelerating since the first 6 months after it was purchased. Car was purchased in 2016. Started stalling a few months ago after any stops. Thought maybe transmission oil was low or dirty so I had it changed. Right after oil change check engine light came on and car began driving as it would get stuck. Had the car coded and it came back that the clutch was getting jammed. When I contacted Ford they said this was a known problem and that they would fix it as long as I was under 100K. I am an uber driver full time and my car is over 100K. Called Ford recall office and they told me I was never notified of this extended warranty because my car didn't fall under the year of the clutch issues. Ford has been trying to buy back my car 4months since I drove off the lot and I should of knew that was a red flag. I am currently spending 55 dollar a day on a rental so that I may continue doing uber which is how I earn my income. I do not want to pay money to get this car fixed and then another issue arises.

- Fort Washington, MD, USA

problem #175

Sep 012019

Focus

  • 66,000 miles
The 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has a well-documented shudder when beginning to accelerate- jerky motion, no or delayed motion, extreme shaking of the front of the car. It happens repeatedly. Ford has repaired this problem once, but the repair process was faulty, as the problem has returned. In 8/2019, Ford extended the warranty on the car to 7 years or 100,000 miles, for focuses built between July 4, 2013, to Nov. 5, 2015. My 2016 Focus was built after this date, so Ford is not making the repair. They claim changes were made to subsequent models to alleviate the need for repairs-- but my 2016 Focus is problematic for the second time, shooting down that assertion.

- Palm Springs, GU, USA

problem #174

Dec 012019

Focus

  • 12,000 miles
I bought the car at a Ford dealer in March of this year and was steered into it without any mention of the tranny and clutch problems. Sure enough the clutch is slipping at only 12000 miles! we have been waiting for a clutch to come in for 10 days so far. I contacted Ford and they just said they would keep fixing it. I can`T believe that they were allowed to keep selling these cars knowing the problems that they had! we told them we were buying a car to get back and forth to the city when my bf gets his kidney transplant and this is what we are stuck paying for for over 5 more years and they say there is no permanent fix! we are scared to even drive it! it jerks into gear from low to 2 and sometimes hesitates. If it does this at the wrong time, it could get us killed!

- Batavia, NY, USA

problem #173

Dec 132019

Focus

  • 95,000 miles
Transmission module was going 60 car when to 30 mph, car can go in rev was informed by dealer. Car wont start on cold or warm days not battery, clicks after trying to start and turn off.

- Wf, TX, USA

problem #172

Dec 042019

Focus

  • 21,000 miles
I was driving to work and noticed a hitch in the automatic transmission's gear shifting. It felt like it was slowing down at moments while I accelerated. It would kick back in during those moments and start to work as normal. When I left work at a later date my car did not accelerate properly as I was merging onto a highway ramp from another ramp. A car that was coming down the blvd almost hit me but I rode off to the shoulder beyond the first ramp onto the second entrance. As I drove home I noticed a worse loss of power to the point of a feel of almost shutting down as I drove home. As I was parking I noticed my car was not working in drive. It felt like it was in neutral. I had to put it in park then back to drive to get it to go forward. One thing I notice about a year ago was that the low gear was far slower than other cars I had in the past. I mentioned it to a person at the desk at Ford's repair department and they said that the low gear was just slower than it is on other cars.

- Middle River, MD, USA

problem #171

Dec 072019

Focus

  • miles
I've gotten my vehicle's transmission serviced twice in the last year under warranty for the same problem. The transmission's clutches were replaced to supposedly fix problems with the vehicle lacking acceleration and rough shifting. Even after getting the transmission serviced, the vehicle still suffered the same symptoms. The most extreme problem/concern is that the vehicle sometimes goes into neutral although it's in 'drive'.vehicle currently has 78,000 miles.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #170

Nov 232019

Focus

  • 94,000 miles
While driving 70mph on the highway - the car immediately shifted into neutral and then after a short period, slammed into a lower gear. This could have been bad if there was any traffic as the car immediately slowed down.

- Lake Ozark, MO, USA

problem #169

Nov 012019

Focus

  • 67,000 miles
I bought this 2016 Focus in hopes on giving it to my daughter but I will not, it is not a safe gave to drive. Out of nowhere it was struggling to go into drive gear and the reverse gear and then I was jerking really bad where my daughters heads we're hurting because of itso I took it to a Ford dealership in riverside California and they are trying to charge me now $3,000 and they had it for more than a month now and I am about to lose my job because of the situation with this car Ford is saying that they would pay for my rental but it's still being charged to my card which I am being overdraft for and I'm coming in more in-depth and debt because of this car I am a single mother trying to provide for my children all on my ownthis is unacceptable of Ford and this situation has caused me to go into an accident and I end up hitting another carthis transmission issue should not be an expense I should be paying for or becoming in debt for fortune be fully liable for the situation

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

problem #168

May 012017

Focus

  • 20,000 miles
My vehicle shutters and lurches when accelerating from a stop, and has issues while the automatic transmission shifts. This has been ongoing for several years. It has not "failed", but looking online, there are several blogs and reports on this same issue. When sending a complaint to Ford and the local dealership, I keep getting told that there are no known issues with the production of the Ford Focus and its transmission. I just got done reading an article I found on fox new, where it states that there is an investigation by government agencies into the issue of Ford knowing about the possibility of a defective or problematic transmission.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #167

Nov 262019

Focus

  • 21,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle jerked and lost power without warning. The contact veered to the shoulder of the road, shifted into park, and turned the vehicle off and back on; however, the failure continued. The vehicle was towed by the police to the impound lot where roadside assistance was contacted. The vehicle was then towed to koons falls church Ford (1051 E broad St, falls church, va 22044) where it currently remained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 16V479000 (power train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #166

Nov 022019

Focus 4-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after a stop, the vehicle slowed down and stopped. At some point during the failure, the check engine indicator illuminated and then turned off. The failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to autonation Ford sanford (407-680-0781, located at 4911 wayside drive, sanford, fl 32771) where it was diagnosed that there was a faulty purge valve. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. The consumer stated the vehicle was tested for the recall repair but, was not needed. Six (6) months later the recall repair was needed. The manufacturer declined to honor the recall.

- Lake Mary, FL, USA

problem #165

Mar 152019

Focus

  • 26,000 miles
I was not told about the known defect at the time of sale. Shortly after driving the car after purchase, I called in to have it serviced. The car has trouble accelerating most times going up hill but also on flat. I was told then that this is a known issue and will be an going problem. When asked why I wasn't told prior to buying I was told by the head of service that this is business. I've tried to get it fixed three times, each time has been unsuccessful. I have another service appointment Dec 4. I have children and worry about their safety. My car has also stalled three times when the car wasn't on E. I was parked each time it stalled. There are times when driving it feels like it's going to stall.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »