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EnginePart report

2016 Ford Focus Engine Problems

Complaints
234about this part
Share
20%of 1,183 total for the year
Median mileage
53,000miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 234 complaints about the engine of the 2016 Ford Focus, 20% of the 1,183 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 53,000 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“My car continually shuts off while driving, Ford acknowledges the recall but refuses to provide any assistance claiming the part isn't ready. The car will turn off in the middle of a highway, or at a light with no warning. Ford is telling us that they can't help us but it isn't safe to drive our car and nobody has helped us. This started in august and continues to nearly daily”

NHTSA complaint #11366662, filed 2020-10, 90,000 miles

“I was driving my vehicle on a city street and the car stalled on the road and I had to coast onto a safe spot.the car would not turn back on for over an hour then it stalled once more and would not turn on. The dealership said they fixed the problem but it continues to stall while driving. We can not find the problem.”

NHTSA complaint #11373220, filed 2020-11, 49,000 miles

“Check engine light is on and when checked at autozone it comes back as the pvc which is a know issue with focuses. Also, on one occassion, the transmission fault light came on and that is also a know issue with focuses. My vehicle often stalls at intersection when I have to slow down or stop and is difficult to restart in most cases.”

NHTSA complaint #11280324, filed 2019-11, 36,600 miles

“On november 4, 2018- while making a left-hand turn, the 2016 Ford Focus I was driving stalled out on the main road. On january 4, 2019 I filled out a complaint online with the NHTSA-( have been given a lot of problems) at first I was told that the complaint was lost because of a computer error, then I have been given a hard time every time I call up and ask about it.”

NHTSA complaint #11208046, filed 2019-05, 30,000 miles

“The vehicle turned off as we were driving down the road at 2pm on friday 1/12. We called two different Ford dealahips to get the car serviced. Both made an appt for the following week but neither told us not to drive the car. Later that day if happened again and the brakes would not work to stop the car so another vehicle was hit and sup sequentaly totaled my vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #11064917, filed 2018-01, 32,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201823228%
201723026%
201623420%
201517317%
201444217%
201334416%
201247513%
201133%
20104215%
2009167%
2008146%
200762%
200621%
2005112%
2004133%
2003182%
2002162%
2001322%
2000160%

Other parts of the 2016 Ford Focus

Transmission and drivetrain
674 complaintsFuel system
230 complaintsOther or unknown
105 complaintsElectrical system
82 complaintsEngine cooling
50 complaintsSteering
45 complaintsVehicle speed control
36 complaintsAir bags
15 complaintsWheels
15 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsElectronic stability control
12 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Ford Focus

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology