2016 Ford Focus: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 1,189 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, engine, and fuel system. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2016- Owner complaints
- 1,189
- Recalls
- 11
- Crashes reported
- 27
- 24 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2016 Ford Focus: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/4
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Focus is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2016 Ford Focus. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0L 3-cylGas | FWD | 34 mpg |
| 2.0L 4-cylGas | FWD | 31 mpg |
| 2.3L 4-cylGas | AWD | 22 mpg |
| Electric | FWD | 76 mi range |
| 2.0L 4-cylFlex fuel | FWD | 31 mpg |
- The 2016 Ford Focus was sold in five versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- With a full charge, the range estimate on the dash should land near the EPA figure of 76 miles. A much lower number on a mild day can mean a worn battery; ask for a battery health report.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Power steering assist failure
24,300–29,000 miles
Clutch slipping and replacement
45,000–60,000 miles
Engine failure and oil damage
62,000–75,000 miles
Purge valve stalling
68,000–102,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Ford Focus, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Transmission6578 crashes
Shuddering, slipping and hesitation from a stop dominate these reports. Drivers describe jerky or delayed engagement when pulling into traffic or climbing hills. Some cars won't go into drive or reverse, slip into neutral, or downshift without warning at highway speed, and several crashes followed. Repeat clutch replacements are common, sometimes two or three on one car, starting as early as 22,000 miles. Dealer repair quotes run from $3,000 to over $4,000. Some owners also report transmission overheating warnings and shift error codes.
Engine1552 crashes
Sudden stalling and loss of power while driving lead these reports, sometimes at highway speed and with no warning light. A recurring pattern is an oil pump belt that fails and shreds, cutting off oil and destroying the engine. Some owners report replacing the engine twice. Other reports describe coolant in the cylinders, metal shavings in the oil, and a piston breaking through the block. Replacement engines cost owners over $7,000 and close to $9,000. Two stalls ended in crashes with injuries.
Most reports here describe owners waiting on a recall repair that dealers cannot perform because parts are unavailable. The failures include sudden loss of power and stalling at highway speed, oil pump belt or tensioner failure that ruins the engine, engine seizure, and coolant leaking into the cylinders with heavy white exhaust smoke. Several cars needed a full engine replacement, often past 96,000 miles. Water pump and serpentine belt failure also appear.
Fuel system1411 crash
Stalling is the main complaint, while driving or stopped and often when the tank is low. Cars shut off in traffic and refuse to restart at the pump. The fuel gauge shows miles left when the tank is actually empty. Several reports describe a deformed or collapsed fuel tank, a failed fuel pump, and check engine code P1450 tied to the canister purge valve. Some owners say a dealer handled a recall inspection but the warning light stayed on or the stalling continued.
Canister purge valve failure is the central issue. Symptoms include stalling at speed, rough idle, loss of power, a check engine light, an inaccurate fuel gauge, and a long wait before the car will restart after refueling. Some reports also mention a deformed fuel tank. Failures cluster between roughly 68,000 and 102,000 miles. Many owners say dealers told them their car was not covered by the related recall campaign, so they paid for the valve or left it unrepaired. Some say stalling returned after the valve was replaced.
Electrical451 crash
Problems are spread across several systems. The most serious reports describe a "Pull Car Over Safely" or "Stop safely now" warning followed by the engine shutting off while driving. Another repeat problem is a radio that blasts loud popping or screeching through the speakers, with the audio module part quoted at $800. Other reports cover a rear hatch opening by itself, wipers stopping in the driver's view, overheating with the air conditioning on, a fire under the car, and an overheated charging cable on the Focus Electric.
Steering451 crash
The main failure is a sudden loss of power steering assist. A "steering assist fault" message appears, often at startup or after refueling, and the wheel becomes very hard to turn or locks. Several cases surface at low mileage, between about 24,300 and 29,000 miles, and one dealer replaced the steering rack. A wheel that seized during a slow turn led to an injury crash. Some reports filed here actually describe clutch slipping and sluggish acceleration, and one describes an engine fire after service.
Acceleration and cruise control141 crash
The car lunges or creeps forward unexpectedly, idles high, surges, or stalls at stops and at speed, including one shutdown at 60 mph. A crash followed one report of a stopped car moving forward on its own. Other cases involve throttle body replacement, a failed transmission control module that cut all propulsion on the highway, rough shifts from 1st to 2nd gear, and cruise control switching on by itself. Dealers often could not reproduce the problem.
Airbags139 crashes
In most reports the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, and nearly every report here involves a collision with injuries. Several describe only the driver knee air bag deploying while the steering wheel air bag stayed put, in both frontal and angled impacts. Other reports cover an air bag warning light that returns after repair, and a failed restraint control module that triggers multiple dash warnings. One owner waited two months while the dealer could not find the replacement part.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Focus owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
At 85000 miles the dual clutch failed. At 88,219 miles the transmission failed. The car had started to shudder when it shifted when the dealership told me the clutched need to be replaced. The transmission died with no warning on a sub-zero night. I'm lucky that it died in my driveway rather than someplace out of the way. The failure of the transmission was confirmed by an independent service center. The clutch was replaced by a Ford dealership
Filed with NHTSA, April 2023
Transmision gets hot and i have to pull over right away, otherwise I might cause an accident. Once is get hot it won't move at all. Obd code p2872 and p2872dp. Clutch A stack engaged. My car only has 75400 miles. I took it to ford liner. And they told me the car has no recalls at all. They charge 196 dollars to inspect the car. They also told me that they need to change the couch A because is stuck but want to charge me 4,650$
Filed with NHTSA, March 2025
The engine went limp and lost all strength as I was driving on the street. Smoke started coming out. Had an independent mechanic tell me it was the fuel pump that lead to the engine dying. My car will not start and I have been carless. Dealers will not help the situation because although my car has issues related to the recalls specifications, my VIN does not apply. Engine died at 107k miles (mostly highway miles)
Filed with NHTSA, August 2024
Went to refuel my car with gas. Got into my car and it didn’t start right away. When it finally did the check engine light came on. I took to go check it out and was told the fuel tank/canister purge valve was faulty. I tried contacting ford to see if under warranty and or recalled. But nothing has come out of it. My 2016 Ford Focus only has 67k miles on it
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
Fuel pump went out and caused car to stall and leave me stranded on the side of the road when dash indicator showed 23 miles left to travel. I had this fixed through the dealership Drive Time sent me to mechanic shop as was still under dealership warranty.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2025
When on freeway car suddenly displays an alert saying Stop safely now And will shut off , while driving makes it impossible to properly control the car . It has done this on multiple occasions, On the freeway , on residential streets and also when starting from park and proceeding to drive car has suddenly stopped and unable to restart right away
Filed with NHTSA, July 2024
How the 2016 compares with other Focus years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2016 ranks third for owner complaints among 6 Focus years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Transmission657773
- Engine155147
- Fuel system141125
- Electrical4584
- Steering45129
- Acceleration and cruise control1425
Where the 2016 fits in the Focus's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2016 is the sixth model year of the Focus's third generation (2011–2018).
It includes the 2014 update.
What changed for 2014
- Minor exterior updates
- Enhanced technology integration
Recalls to confirm (11)
Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
26V376000TransmissionJun 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
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.
Fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will inspect Focus vehicles and replace the clutch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S43. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
26V369000Fuel systemJun 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
Risk: An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
26V012000EquipmentJan 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.
26V011000EquipmentJan 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
23V905000EngineDec 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport vehicles. The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure.
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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the oil pump tensioner assembly and oil pump drive belt, free of charge. If engine failure occurs due to a damaged oil pump belt and/or oil pump belt tensioner, Ford has authorized dealers to replace the engine assembly as an interim repair before the availability of remedy parts for the final repair. This repair will be free of charge (parts and labor). Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S64.
18V845000TransmissionNov 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L Fox GTDI engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
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.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip, and will replace the clutch, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S07. Note: This recall is an expansion of Recall 18V-169.
18V735000Fuel systemOct 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
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 crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.
18V169000TransmissionMar 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Fusion vehicles equipped with a 1.6L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission and 2015-2016 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission. Also included are four 2017 Ford Focus vehicles that had clutch replacements with potentially affected parts. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
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.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Focus vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip, and will replace the clutch, as necessary, free of charge. Owners of Fusion vehicles will have their clutch assembly replaced free of charge. The recall began August 3, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S07.
17V052000Body and structureJan 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Focus and C-Max vehicles. The floor pan may have improperly welded left-hand apron joints.
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.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the apron joints, repairing the vehicle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S03.
16V698000Door latches and locksSep 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Ford Focus hatchback vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 26, 2016 and equipped with a manual transmission. The hatchback of the affected vehicles may be unlatched with a single press of the interior latch release button. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components.".
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.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C13.
16V479000TransmissionJun 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Ford Focus Electric vehicles manufactured August 20, 2015, through April 13, 2016. The transmission's differential pinion gear shaft may overheat and fracture.
Risk: A fractured pinion shaft could cause a loss of motive power and loss of the transmission park function, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission differential assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S28.
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