2016 Ford Focus: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Ford Focus: 10 recalls, 1182 owner complaints and up to 34 mpg combined.
Recalls
10 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Latches & locks, Body & structure Vehicle recall #16V698000 · 2016 · 64,038 vehicles
What's wrong: The hatchback of the affected vehicles May be unlatched with a single press of the interior latch release button. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 206, "door locks and door retention components."
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2017.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #17V052000 · 2017 · 17 vehicles
What's wrong: The floor pan May have improperly welded left-hand apron joints.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #18V169000 · 2018 · 5,361 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 focus vehicles that had clutch replacements with potentially affected parts. The clutch May fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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,…
Fuel system, Fuel system Vehicle recall #18V735000 · 2018 · 1,282,596 vehicles
What's wrong: 0l gdi or 2.0l gtdi engine. The canister purge valve (cpv) May malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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…
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #18V845000 · 2018 · 2,828 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #23V905000 · 2023 · 139,730 vehicles
What's wrong: The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner May fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure.
Why it matters: A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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…
Equipment Vehicle recall #26V012000 · 2026 · 2,403 vehicles
What's wrong: The engine block heater May crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Why it matters: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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.…
Equipment Vehicle recall #26V011000 · 2026 · 116,672 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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…
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #26V376000 · 2026 · 5,252 vehicles
What's wrong: The clutch May fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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…
Fuel system Vehicle recall #26V369000 · 2026 · 257,868 vehicles
What's wrong: The canister purge valve (cpv) May malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
Why it matters: An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 24 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (673): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (397), warning light on (235), stalls / loses power (125).
- Engine (233): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (100), warning light on (88).
- Fuel & propulsion (166): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (94), warning light on (48).
- Other / unknown (105): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (34), noise or vibration (16).
The 2016 Ford Focus has 1182 owner complaints, ranking #6 of 20 Focus model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 1105). Complaints peaked in 2019 (196 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 61,017 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (1021 complaints, 9 recalls), 2017 (898 complaints, 10 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 L 3-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 41 | 34 | Regular |
| 1.0 L 3-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 39 | 32 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AM6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 39 | 31 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AM6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 39 | 31 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 37 | 30 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 37 | 30 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 36 | 29 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 36 | 29 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Ford Focus.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 Ford Focus have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 10 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Ford Focus. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Ford Focus problems?
Owners have filed 1182 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (673), engine (233), fuel & propulsion (166).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Ford Focus get?
EPA ratings run up to 34 mpg combined (1.0 L, Manual 6-spd), across 8 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Ford Focus repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.