2016 Ford Focus Problems: Transmission / driveline (1,186 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2016 Ford Focus is Transmission / driveline (50% of 1,186 owner reports). There are 11 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 1,186 complaints · 11 recalls
What problems show up on the 2016 Ford Focus?
589 of 1,186 filings named Transmission / driveline (50% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Fuel system (170 reports).
There are 11 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Transmission / driveline, Body / frame, Fuel system, and Engine. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2015 has 1,033 reports on file; this year has 1,186. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Transmission / driveline 589 complaints · 49.7% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 27
- Fires 3
- Injuries 24
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 589 | 49.7% | 7 crashes · 0 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 170 | 14.3% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 161 | 13.6% | 4 crashes · 0 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 35 | 3.0% | 1 crashes · 1 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 28 | 2.4% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 25 | 2.1% | 0 crashes · 2 fires |
| Wheels (WHEELS) | 15 | 1.3% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 11 | 0.9% | 9 crashes · 0 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 9 | 0.8% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 245 | 20.7% | 5 crashes · 0 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 16V479000 was reported 48 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 16V698000 was reported 219 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 17V052000 was reported 198 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V169000 was reported 670 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V735000 was reported 755 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V845000 was reported 931 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 23V905000 was reported 2,705 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V011000 was reported 3,615 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V012000 was reported 3,615 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V369000 was reported 3,542 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V376000 was reported 3,681 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 19 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 15 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 21 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 33 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 35 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 82 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 60 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 36 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 25 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 38 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 21 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 24 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 27 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 22 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 39 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 31 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 53 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 46 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 36 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 42 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 49 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 55 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 45 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 36 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 33 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 31 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 32 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2026-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V479000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V698000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V052000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V169000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V735000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V845000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 23V905000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V011000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V012000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V369000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V376000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP22005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ23006 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE23015 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE25020 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA26004 |
Safety Recalls (11)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Transmission / driveline, Body / frame, Fuel system, and Engine.
-
Recall campaign 16V479000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- A fractured pinion shaft could cause a loss of motive power and loss of the transmission park function, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 16V698000
Safety recall 16V698000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 17V052000
Body / frame
- Report date
- Component:
- Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
- Consequence:
- 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 at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S03.
-
Recall campaign 18V169000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- 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 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.
-
Recall campaign 18V735000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 18V845000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- 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 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.
-
Recall campaign 23V905000
Engine
- Report date
- Component:
- Engine (ENGINE)
- Consequence:
- 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 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.
-
Recall campaign 26V011000
Safety recall 26V011000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- 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. 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.
-
Recall campaign 26V012000
Safety recall 26V012000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- 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. 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.
-
Recall campaign 26V369000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 26V376000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- 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:
- 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.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Showing 8 of 1,186 complaints · page 1 of 48
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The vehicle experienced a catastrophic failure of the canister purge valve (CPV), causing an excessive vacuum that violently deformed and collapsed the plastic fuel tank. The deformation was so severe that it breached the fuel system, causing raw gasoline to pour directly out of the filler area and onto the ground when fueling was attempted, presenting an immediate fire hazard. Furthermore, the structural collapse of the fuel tank pinched and shorted out the fuel pump electrical wiring harness. This short circuit caused a massive electrical spike that blew the high-amperage master mega-fuses located on the front of the battery box, causing a total loss of electrical power to the entire vehicle. The manufacturer's initial safety recall remedy (Recall 18S32) failed to prevent this dangerous recurrence, and the vehicle is currently at a dealership being evaluated under Customer Satisfaction Program 24N07.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 power. This happened suddenly going at highway speeds on the interstate. Replaced clutch actuators and TCM only to have the clutch adaptive learn procedure fail and after inspection by the dealer was told needs new transmission. These problems have been present at very low mileage and Ford now wants to charge a ridiculous amount to replace transmission that should have been fixed long ago. Several times the car stalled in traffic almost causing me to get in accidents.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while in active traffic. There was no warning light illuminated. Prior to visiting the dealer, the vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics and the vehicle was inspected. The contact was informed that the fuel tank had collapsed. The vehicle was subsequently taken to an authorized dealer for the repair. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a failed canister purge valve, but the fuel tank was not damaged. The dealer replaced the canister purge valve and EVAP parts. However, shortly after the repair, the vehicle stalled while driving in traffic. The vehicle was taken to another Ford dealer; however, the dealer experienced the same issue. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact back to the dealer for assistance. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); but the recall repair was already performed on the vehicle. The failure was not repaired. The vehicle had lost motive power and would not restart and had to be towed. The failure mileage was unknown.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I WAS DRIVING 75MPH DOWN I-10 AT 11:30PM AND MY FOCUS SUNDDENLY DIED, I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. INFORMATION FLASHED NOT IN PARK AND STARTED GHOSTLY TRYING TO START ON ITS OWN, I BELIEVE THE TCM FAILED. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stopped accelerating. The contact safely pulled into a parking lot and turned off the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was inoperable and was waiting to be towed. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The dealer was previously contacted about the recall but was informed that there was no part available for the recall repair. The dealer was not contacted after the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 front this has been going on with my car for over 2 years its setting in a driveway being paid on and cant even be drove
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The car would not accelerate when pressing accelerator, they said the clutch assembly malfunctioned, confirmed by documentation. Myself and others had our safety at risk because the car could not be controlled properly while on the road. The car was taken to the dealer and they confirmed the problem. The dealer's service center gave inspection, and confirmed the problem. The warning message did not appear until after the problem put myself and others' safety at risk.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Transmission is taking to change gears and when going up a hill it jerks with you the problem was worked on by dealership and it still does same thing after work on it was done and dealership kept making excuses It was a recall on it about 3 years ago and it wasn't fixed and still does the same
Ford Focus Powershift: What NHTSA Complaints Show
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2016 Ford Focus?
Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 589 of 1,186 reports (50%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2016 Ford Focus?
NHTSA lists 11 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Transmission / driveline, Body / frame, Fuel system, and Engine. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2016 Ford Focus?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.