no report yet
Power train: manual transmission
NewRisk. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
2016 Ford FocusProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,185 owner complaints about the 2016 Ford Focus, most often about the power train. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-905 the manufacturer reports only 54% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 3, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Ford Focus has problems
1,185 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
674Power train8 crash/fire/injury
234Engine8 crash/fire/injury
168Fuel/propulsion system2 crash/fire/injury
83Electrical system
61Fuel system, gasoline
50Engine and engine cooling
45Steering
36Vehicle speed control
15Wheels
10016 other systems22 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 674 | 8 |
| Engine | 234 | 8 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 168 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 83 | 2 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 61 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 50 | 0 |
| Steering | 45 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 36 | 1 |
| Wheels | 15 | 0 |
| 16 other systems | 100 | 22 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
10 recalls
2016 Ford Focus recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Evaporative emissions: canister
NewRisk. An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Electrical: engine block heater
NewRisk. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
no report yet
Electrical: engine block heater
NewRisk. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Show 6 more recalls
repaired · 2026 Q3
Oil/lubrication: pump
Risk. A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Power train: manual transmission
Risk. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
Risk. The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a…
repaired · 2019 Q4
Power train: manual transmission
Risk. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Structure: body
Risk. Improperly welded apron joints may reduce the front-end structural integrity of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
repaired · 2018 Q1
Hatchback/liftgate: lock
Risk. With only a single press needed, the driver may accidently unlatch the hatchback, increasing the risk of injury to any unsecured passengers in the back.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
64kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 473 power train complaints. 79% were reported before 100,000 miles.
120under 30k miles375under 100k miles98100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
16 owners mentioned a cost$2,381median
Middle half: $522 – $3,000
Engine
8 owners mentioned a cost$4,200median
Middle half: $3,105 – $6,050
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other Focus year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Focus median. How we score
'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Ford Focus safety ratings
2016 Ford Focus 5 HB FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (11.6% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: Optional
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Ford Focus, and the recalls they led to.
- Timing Belt FailureOpen
- Oil Pump FailureLed to recall 23V-905
- Timing Belt FailureNo recall
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
In owners' words
What Focus owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The vehicle is subject to NHTSA Safety Recall Campaign 18V-735 (Ford Recall 18S32) regarding a defective Canister Purge Valve (CPV) that causes fuel vapor saturation, excessive fuel tank vacuum, fuel tank deformation, and engine stalling.The vehicle presented with an active check engine light for…
The DPS6 transmission started out shuddering in low gears even after clutch replacement early on. This made pulling out into traffic slower than it should be. Received “transmission overheating” message “pull over for 5 minutes” in heavy traffic. Prior to the message car would shudder and lose…
My duel clutch transmission started acting up took it to a mechanic they said it needed the TCM and Actuators and possibly transmission replaced that they should be recalled tried taking it to Thirnhill Ford because I received a letter for this to be changed and they refused without me paying up…
Own a 2016 Focus?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.