The Lemon Index2016 Ford Focus.
The 2016 Ford Focus is worse than average by owner complaints: 351 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 195, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, and it has 10 recalls. The best Ford Focus year is 2011.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2012–2018 Ford Focus, 34.5M views. The 2016 is the same generation.
- Infotainment, battery & electrical2.3M views
2012-2015 Ford Focus Battery ReplacementNoneMechanic101 · 623K views · 9 videos - Transmission & shifter1.2M views
How to Reset Transmission ford focus 2013YTLIFE · 531K views · 4 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring748K views
How To: Change the Tail Lights on a 2011-2018 Ford FocusO'Reilly Auto Parts · 259K views · 4 videos - No-start: theft light, key & ignition651K views
2013 Ford Focus No Start/ Wont Start Issue SOLVED!Alek Timmons · 651K views
Show 4 more
- Intake, EGR & engine sensors400K views
Do I REGRET buying a 2017 Ford Focus RS? 15 month UPDATERaiti's Rides · 400K views - Oil changes & service370K views
HOW TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL ON FORD FOCUS 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Auto Repair Guys · 238K views · 2 videos - Steering & suspension323K views
How to Replace Front Lower Control Arm 2012-2020 Ford FocusTRQ · 211K views · 2 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank268K views
2014 Ford Focus Low Fuel Pressure P0087 FixedL8R-HP · 268K views
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Ford Focus Hatchback 2012-2020 3rd Generation1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 850K views
Ford Focus ST 2015-2019 in-depth review - CarbuyerCarbuyer · 311K views
Ford Focus Estate 2015-2019 review - CarbuyerCarbuyer · 271K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 1,194 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Focus year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 30K to 89K miles on the car (782 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 27K–93K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 32K–81K miles
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 40K–76K miles
Recalls 10
- fuel system, gasoline 2026
The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
- transmission & drivetrain 2026
The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
- equipment 2026
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Show all 10 recalls
- equipment 2026
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
- engine 2023
The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure.
- transmission & drivetrain 2018
The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
- fuel system, gasoline 2018
The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
- transmission & drivetrain 2018
Also included are four 2017 Ford Focus vehicles that had clutch replacements with potentially affected parts.
- body structure 2017
The floor pan may have improperly welded left-hand apron joints.
- latches/locks/linkages 2016
The hatchback of the affected vehicles may be unlatched with a single press of the interior latch release button.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 200 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Dps6 - no start and/or transmission engagement or loss of power with dtcs u0100, u0101, u1013,…
- Some 2011-2015 fiesta vehicles built on or before 10/15/2014 and 2012-2016 focus vehicles…
- Turbocharger
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenTiming belt failure2026
- ClosedTiming belt failure2025–2026
- ClosedOil pump failure2023–2024
- ClosedLoss of motive power2023–2024
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus 5 HB FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Focus 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Focus Bev 5 HB FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $700–3600 a year in electricity (EPA estimate).
In owners' words
Transmission shudders upon take off , and funny noise on bottom end of vehicle. Seems to have no acceleration between 1st & 2nd gear.
2016 Ford Focus owner · NHTSA complaint 10929775
More owner reports
Shudder and power loss on acceleration when automatic transmission shifts. Was told is normal by dealership however it is not as it jerks heavily.
NHTSA complaint 11231064
Transmission slipping and rattling when shifting between lower gears
NHTSA complaint 11121181
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Ford Focus reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.9× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 195; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Focus year by this measure is 2011.
What are the most common 2016 Ford Focus problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (52%), engine (21%) and fuel or ev drive system (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Focus have?
10 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2016 Ford Focus safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2016 Ford Focus problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 30,000 and 89,000 miles. The middle report was at 61,000 miles, from 782 complaints.
Does the 2016 Ford Focus have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 52% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Ford Focus cost in fuel a year?
About $700 to $3600 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What Ford Focus year is better than the 2016?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2010 and 2015.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works