2016 Ford Focus: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 1,187 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 10 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
1,187
Complaints
10
Recalls
27
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
24
Injuries
26.8
Severity index
Severity index 26.8 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 140 2016 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2016 Ford Focus ranks 123 of 140 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 12% of its model-year peers. See the full 2016 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 675 | 56.9% |
| ENGINE | 236 | 19.9% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 165 | 13.9% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 106 | 8.9% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 85 | 7.2% |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 63 | 5.3% |
| GASOLINE | 60 | 5.1% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 49 | 4.1% |
The single most-reported system is POWER TRAIN, cited in 675 of 1,187 complaints (56.9%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 59 |
| 2018 | 80 |
| 2019 | 197 |
| 2020 | 133 |
| 2021 | 94 |
| 2022 | 169 |
| 2023 | 157 |
| 2024 | 169 |
| 2025 | 89 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 25 |
Complaint volume is broadly steady year over year.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18V735000 | 22/10/2018 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE | 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. |
| 18V845000 | 28/11/2018 | 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 the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak. |
| 17V052000 | 24/01/2017 | 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. |
| 18V169000 | 12/03/2018 | POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 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 Foc |
| 16V698000 | 28/09/2016 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK | 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 interi |
| 23V905000 | 22/12/2023 | 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 oil pressure. |
| 26V011000 | 15/01/2026 | EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER | 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. |
| 26V012000 | 15/01/2026 | 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 when the block heater is plugged in. |
| 26V369000 | 09/06/2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER | 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. |
| 26V376000 | 09/06/2026 | POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 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. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.