"How reliable is the 2016 Ford Focus?"

"Based on 1542 NHTSA complaints, the 2016 Ford Focus has a median complaint mileage of 60000 miles. The most common issue is Power Train."

"What are common problems with the 2016 Ford Focus?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Ford Focus is Power Train, accounting for a significant portion of the 1542 total complaints filed."

2016 Ford Focus: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1542 complaints

1542

Total Complaints

60,000mi

Median Mileage

Power Train

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

32,020 25th Percentile

60,000 Median Mileage

87,615 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Power Train

612

Engine

227

Fuel/Propulsion System

161

Unknown Or Other

103

Electrical System

Fuel System, Gasoline

Engine And Engine Cooling

Steering

Vehicle Speed Control

Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 95 APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR SOUTHBOUND I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, I DID NOT FEEL ANY IMPACT ON THE AUTOMOBILE BUT BEGAN TO HEAR RATTLING ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF. WHEN I PULLED OVER, I SAW THAT SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED AND EXPLODED. THE SUNROOF COVER ON THE INSIDE OF THE V..."

"TIRE SEPARATED ON BOTH SIDES WALLS AT THE TIME THE TIRE MADE A BOOM NOISE. MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN MOTION ON JOB IN JACKSONVILLE."

"THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE SHUDDERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN CORNERING . THIS SHUDDER HAS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED,"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Power Train 612 complaints

25th: 26,000 mi Median: 61,000 mi 75th: 90,000 mi

Engine 227 complaints

25th: 34,500 mi Median: 53,000 mi 75th: 81,000 mi

Fuel/Propulsion System 161 complaints

25th: 40,000 mi Median: 56,611 mi 75th: 76,061 mi

Unknown Or Other 103 complaints

25th: 13,102 mi Median: 43,000 mi 75th: 72,016 mi

Electrical System 76 complaints

25th: 23,625 mi Median: 51,800 mi 75th: 75,045 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 143 TX: 114 FL: 106 OH: 100 NC: 88 MI: 79 NY: 64 VA: 64 GA: 60 IL: 51

Who Files Complaints?

1.6%

Original Owners

98.4%

Second+ Owners

Ford Focus — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
2000	5149	60,000	Ignition	358
2001	2359	57,000	Ignition	227
2002	1198	47,700	Ignition	107
2003	1224	55,000	Ignition	70
2004	497	50,000	Ignition	43
2005	599	62,000	Electrical System	60
2006	270	62,000	Air Bags	35
2007	524	55,423	Air Bags	86
2008	333	64,000	Electrical System	25
2009	321	46,450	Electrical System	37
2010	408	49,000	Vehicle Speed Control	28
2011	156	49,000	Electrical System	15
2012	4953	65,000	Power Train	179
2013	2903	52,141	Power Train	80
2014	3580	48,000	Power Train	140
2015	1299	60,000	Power Train	42
2017	1156	52,800	Power Train	28
2018	1075	54,500	Power Train	24

Active Recalls (8)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Storage

Campaign 18V735000 | 22/10/2018

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.

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

Manual Transmission

Campaign 18V845000 | 28/11/2018

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.

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.

Body

Campaign 17V052000 | 24/01/2017

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.

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.

Manual Transmission

Campaign 18V169000 | 12/03/2018

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.

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

Lock

Campaign 16V698000 | 28/09/2016

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.

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.

Pump

Campaign 23V905000 | 22/12/2023

A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

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 par

Engine Block Heater

Campaign 26V011000 | 15/01/2026

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

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 lett

Engine Block Heater

Campaign 26V012000 | 15/01/2026

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

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 mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipa

Extend Your Transmission Life

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Change transmission fluid at manufacturer intervals — not 'lifetime' fluid
Come to a full stop before shifting from reverse to drive
Don't ride the brakes on hills — use a lower gear
Check transmission fluid level and color monthly — dark fluid needs changing
Address slipping, hard shifts, or delayed engagement immediately

Vehicle Rankings

Most complained Worst transmissions Worst engines Worst brakes Most crashes Compare vehicles

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28