Skip to content
KLUNK
KLUNK

2016 Ford Focus

The Verdict

5 Total Klunk

The 2016 Ford Focus has 1,185 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are transmission (568 complaints) and engine (444 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 5/100, it earns a "Total Klunk" rating. If you're shopping for a Ford Focus, consider the 2011 model year which has 90% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2011 has 90% fewer complaints

View the 2011 Ford Focus dashboard →

5

Klunk Score: Total Klunk

Among the most complained-about vehicle years on record. Strongly consider alternatives.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 4

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

26V012000 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

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 ...

Risk

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were...

Reported Apr 10, 2026

23V905000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP

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 oi...

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.

Remedy

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 autho...

Reported Apr 10, 2026

17V052000 STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

Remedy

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 a...

Reported Apr 10, 2026

18V845000 POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

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...

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.

Remedy

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...

Reported Apr 10, 2026

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2016 Ford Focus. No spam, no marketing.

Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200010293361419853174
200142916558955068
20023626633019166
2003254545619749
200494342004712
2005172281465143
20067513802412
2007119171813340
200811912752519
20091028563726
20101315497131
201156427719
20121562312387511200
201351716122556891
2014441171317351314
2015200344302469
2016124247444568
201781424413363
201876517465244

Investigations 10

NHTSA defect investigations for this vehicle.

DP26003 Open Defect Petition

Fuel smell and loss of motive power

Opened Mar 30, 2026

EA26002 Open Engineering Analysis

FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

Opened Mar 18, 2026

DP26001 Open Defect Petition

All wheel drive allegation

Opened Mar 6, 2026

DP26002 Open Defect Petition

Redundant wheel fastener locking mechanism

Opened Mar 4, 2026

PE26002 Open Preliminary Evaluation

Loss of Power Steering Assist

Opened Mar 2, 2026

EA26001 Open Engineering Analysis

Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up

Opened Jan 30, 2026

PE26001 Open Preliminary Evaluation

Waymo AV striking a child in the area of a school.

Opened Jan 29, 2026

RQ26002 Open RQ

Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy

Opened Jan 26, 2026

RQ26001 Open RQ

Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy

Opened Jan 16, 2026

DP25002 Open Defect Petition

Emergency egress controls are not readily accessible and clearly identifiable.

Opened Dec 23, 2025

By Category

Transmission
568
Engine
444
Body
124
Electrical
47
Brakes
2

By Severity

1
596
2
557
3
2
4
30

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 1

Transmission overheated. Transmission fluid leaked but the computer in the car didn't let me know there was a leak. Couldn't move my car into reverse so I had to get a tow to Ford. They said it was a Transmission leak which caused the overheating. But once the car received Transmission fluid the car did not go into reverse. Clutch failed.

11d ago
Transmission 1

While driving at highway speed, the transmission slipped, skipping gears. Very difficult to drive care safely. Could not accelerate vehicle safely. Had to stay in right lane with hazard lights on. Basically, using only gears 1, 3 & 5. Later discovered intermittently no reverse. DTC P090C Clutch Actuator B - Circuit Low.

1mo ago
Engine 1

When I bought the car it stuttered it ended up being the clutch then my transmission went out The bolt in my engine mount broke and my engine was basically on the ground

1mo ago
Engine 1

So I had check engine light I took it to the mechanic the code was p1450 the mechanic told me it’s the purge valve and it’s recall with ford book and appointment from the website witch is I did after I checked my vin I found out that’s this purge valve has recall and it’s free of charge I went to dealer they denied and said they have to do their diagnostic that will cost 190$ and they did not accept the car

1mo ago
Engine 1

We bought this vehicle from Carvana in February 2023. Since very early on owning this vehicle, the engine hesitated and stuttered when trying to shift from first to second gear, and would lunge forward slightly. In December 2024, I received a letter from Ford Motor Company about a customer satisfaction program, Campaign 24N07. The letter addressed the symptoms my vehicle exhibited, including engine hesitation, engine running rough, and engine stalling at low speeds, though the check engine light was not on. The letter states that Ford Motor Company provides a one-time replacement of the canister purge valve, given these symptoms and the check engine light being on. When I called all the local Ford dealerships, they refused to do it because the check engine light was not on, and that Ford Motor Company issued this as a customer satisfaction program, rather than a safety recall.Everything that was listed in Campaign 24N07 is MOST DEFINITELY a safety issue, and should not be taken lightly. It is highly concerning that Ford Motor Company didn’t think to consider ENGINE ISSUES a safety recall. The class action lawsuit Vargas et al v. Ford Motor Company had a deadline of November 4, 2020, which was 2 years and 3 months prior to us buying the vehicle, so any vehicles of the affected years and models should have been either repaired, or not allowed to be sold unless the repairs were done by an authorized Ford dealership. This information was not told to us when we bought the vehicle.On May 25, 2026, while driving, the engine fault and steering assist fault warnings came on, as well as the check engine light. When we were able to safely park the car, we discovered the entire power train is non operational. The engine no longer turns over, and we are now having to buy a new car.

1mo ago
Transmission 2

My car Transmission dual clutch went out in 2024. Car makes a loud winding noise car hesitate when stops Yes,confirmed by dealership and Coleman's transmission. Yes, by the manufacturer. No warning lamps or messages.

1mo ago
Engine 4

[XXX] driving her 2016 ford focus hit me [XXX] she claims her btakes did not work hitting multiple times she hit me so hard her car flew many feet back. I believe her car was defective it was alittle snowy but nothing bad. [XXX] said her brakes did not work at all. Me and multiple cars were able to come to complete stop with no skidding i have toyota rav4. I think her car might have been told my car needed repairs. I was severely injured severe permanent concussion brain neck back shoulder arm hand chest back muscle nerve damage. Dunno if [XXX] was also injured INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1mo ago
Transmission 1

Transmission is slipping. Dealer reported cluthes going out. This is a known issue with all of these cars.

2mo ago
Engine 1

Ford Motor issued two safety recalls regarding this, but has since closed them without providing a safe resolution for consumers. July 8 2019 Ford issued Ford Safety Recall program 19S22 (following 18S32) for stuck open canister purge valve (CPV). This can result in a failure to bleed the vacuum from the gas tank, and deforms the gas tank upon failure. This has been confirmed, reproduced, and recalled by Ford before, but continues to happen nationwide to Ford Focus ST owners as a small subset of their vehicles. A stuck open CPV can result in a number of codes. In my case, I got a P1450, Ford-Specific check engine light on the MIL. This can cause inability to start, along with rough idle and stalling while driving. Ford reports closing these safety recalls and provides no further support for the issue.

2mo ago
Transmission 1

The powertrain/transmission in my 2016 Ford Focus is malfunctioning. Specifically, the vehicle shudders and hesitates when accelerating in low gears, causing delayed engagement and unpredictable power delivery. This issue occurs at low speeds, such as when entering traffic or moving through intersections, creating a potential safety risk for myself and other drivers. The problem has been officially diagnosed by a Ford dealership as a transmission/clutch issue, with a repair estimate of approximately $3,700. The issue has been reproduced consistently and confirmed by the dealer. No warning lights appeared prior to the malfunction, but the shuddering and hesitation are noticeable during normal driving. The vehicle currently has approximately 26,000 miles, which is very low for transmission failure, and the manufacturer has denied goodwill assistance despite the early and confirmed failure.

3mo ago
Transmission 2

The car shakes when I turn the car on. I always thought it was normal until they told me it wasn't. Also ive smelled like a burn oil smell... Ive gotten stuck on intersection, guessing its the transmission.. i had to put the car it park and put it drive to see if it moved. When it did moved the whole front car shook while doing the turn. That happened like 2x. Both times I've parked afterwards and I tried to put it in reverse and nothing. It did not reverse. And that was the last of it moving.

3mo ago
Transmission 1

The transmission in this model is horrible they already have recall for the 1.0L mine of course is the 2.0L its 2016 Ford Focus it has last than 165,000 miles. I already replaced put new transmission in it last year and here I am again transmission is out. And of course no repair shops will touch my car deal this known issues

3mo ago
Transmission 2

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle shuddered unexpectedly. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with dual clutch failure. The contact was informed that the dual clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V169000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

4mo ago
Engine 1

My car is showing signs of recalls but it’s stating that it doesn’t have any recalls. There is a recall of the transmission failing because of the clutch and causing the car to just randomly cut off while driving putting risk of a crash to me and my kids There is a recall on the fuel pump being messed up causing the car to cut off randomly while driving because of the vapors and that’s what my car has been doing also putting danger to me and my kids while driving.

4mo ago
Engine 2

NHTSA Recall Number23V905 Recall Status recall Incomplete Ford performed an interim engine repair in 2024. Due to the unavailability of parts when the recall was initiated, it took approximately 8 months for the interim engine and repair to be completed. I received my car back in August 2024 and then a supplement to the recall was placed. After getting the car back, my check engine light came on but Ford advised that it didn't have anything to do with the engine replacement and associated parts. Then I began experiencing symptoms of a valve purge issue and received an EVAP code. I attempted to address this at the dealership during routine maintenance but it was not checked or repaired. In January 2026, my engine failed again with similar symptoms. It was towed to the same dealership where they informed me that I was out of warranty on the engine and my new issue had to do with coolant intrusion. When I checked my service records, they had noted that a coolant hose was broken and replaced during recall repairs. Additionally there is a recall for other 2016 Ford Focus coolant intrusions caused by a heater block. This leads me to believe that the repair may have been faulty. Additionally, the 23V905 recall is still open with a supplement to the original.

5mo ago
Engine 1

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While operating the vehicle, the vehicle was shaking abnormally while idling, while low on fuel, while driving long distances, or while driving uphill. The vehicle shut off unexpectedly intermittently. On several occasions, the RPM increased; however, the vehicle failed to respond, and the vehicle eventually stalled. The accelerator pedal was depressed to the floorboard, but the vehicle failed to respond. The brake pedal became firm. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped and restarted several times or shut down unintendedly. After refueling, the contact had to wait for approximately 2 to 10 minutes before the vehicle responded as needed. Occasionally, the contact had to wait for over an hour before the vehicle was restarted. The check engine warning light illuminated intermittently and later turned off. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine revved excessively without the vehicle responding as needed. An abnormal sound was coming from the vehicle. The Oxygen sensor error code was displayed. The failure persisted over time. The vehicle was previously repaired at an unknown dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). Additionally, the high-pressure fuel pump was replaced. The local dealer was not contacted regarding the current failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

5mo ago
Transmission 1

The vehicle experienced failure of the DPS6 dual-clutch automatic transmission. The transmission began slipping during acceleration, hesitating between gear engagement, and triggering a “Transmission Overheat” warning. Eventually, the vehicle lost the ability to reliably shift between Drive and Reverse and would not consistently engage gears. The vehicle can start and move forward but cannot reliably switch directions within the same ignition cycle. The vehicle is available for inspection. The transmission malfunction created safety concerns due to delayed or failed acceleration when entering traffic. The vehicle hesitated and slipped under throttle input, which could prevent timely acceleration when merging or crossing intersections. Additionally, the inability to reliably shift between Drive and Reverse could create hazardous situations in parking lots or emergency maneuvering scenarios. The sudden transmission overheat warning and gear disengagement could result in loss of power in traffic. The issue has been confirmed by an independent mechanic who diagnosed transmission failure. The vehicle has a known history of prior clutch replacement under similar symptoms. The transmission malfunction is consistent with documented DPS6 transmission failures in 2016 Ford Focus models. The vehicle has been inspected by an independent service center. The manufacturer has not inspected the vehicle. Prior to failure, the vehicle exhibited shuddering during acceleration from a stop, particularly at low speeds. This condition has been intermittently present for several years following a prior clutch replacement. In the days leading up to failure, the vehicle experienced difficulty accelerating and hesitation under throttle. A “Transmission Overheat” warning message appeared while driving. After cooling, the vehicle temporarily resumed operation but subsequently lost reliable gear engagement.

5mo ago
Engine 1

I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding an ongoing mechanical issue with my 2016 Ford Focus. Although my vehicle currently shows zero active recalls, I have experienced a recurring and concerning problem. Each time I turn on the air conditioning and the air begins to blow cold, my engine temperature rises significantly and causes the vehicle to overheat. This issue occurs consistently and makes it unsafe to operate the vehicle while using the air conditioning. Overheating poses a serious safety risk and may lead to engine damage or sudden breakdowns. Given that this problem appears to be directly connected to the operation of the air conditioning system, I am concerned that this may be a known defect or design issue that has not been addressed through a recall. I am requesting that this issue be formally documented, investigated, and addressed. I would appreciate guidance on next steps, including inspection, repair options, or whether this issue has been reported by other 2016 Ford Focus owners. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.

5mo ago
Transmission 1

Transmission is slipping. Check engine light is on. Code P07A5 (3/3) Permanent Transmission Friction Element B Stuck on.

5mo ago
Transmission 1

When driving my car all of a sudden it loses power almost like it’s struggling to go but the RPM revs up and makes a loud noise and my car kind of got stuck for a minute and there were cars behind me then it started going but every couple minutes it would do that again rev up really loud even when I barely push the gas and lose power and then go I have no idea why it was doing that I took it to get it looked at, but there was no light on then a light finally came on and it came up with P07A3. Transmission friction element A stuck on. It starts end doing that with no notice. Light came on later after I tried to get it scanned. There seems to be extended warranty satisfaction things offered on vehicles at the same time mine was made. Same vehicle. But my number is not on the vin recall. But it exhibits same symptoms. The ford customer satisfaction program 14m02 covers same issues but my vin is not listed. This is a driving hazard unsafe that I feel is issues from their manufacturing.

5mo ago

1185 total

1/ 60
Report a Klunk