2016 FORD FOCUS Engine Problems

NHTSA Recall Number23V905 Recall Status recall Incomplete Ford performed an interim engine repair in 2024. Due to the unavailability of parts when the recall was initiated, it took approximately 8 months for the interim engine and repair to be completed. I received my car back in August 2024 and then a supplement to the recall was placed. After getting the car back, my check engine light came on but Ford advised that it didn't have anything to do with the engine replacement and associated parts. Then I began experiencing symptoms of a valve purge issue and received an EVAP code. I attempted to address this at the dealership during routine maintenance but it was not checked or repaired. In January 2026, my engine failed again with similar symptoms. It was towed to the same dealership where they informed me that I was out of warranty on the engine and my...

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While operating the vehicle, the vehicle was shaking abnormally while idling, while low on fuel, while driving long distances, or while driving uphill. The vehicle shut off unexpectedly intermittently. On several occasions, the RPM increased; however, the vehicle failed to respond, and the vehicle eventually stalled. The accelerator pedal was depressed to the floorboard, but the vehicle failed to respond. The brake pedal became firm. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped and restarted several times or shut down unintendedly. After refueling, the contact had to wait for approximately 2 to 10 minutes before the vehicle responded as needed. Occasionally, the contact had to wait for over an hour before the vehicle was restarted. The check engine warning light illuminated intermittently and later turned off. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine revved excessively without the vehicle responding as needed. An abnormal sound...

I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding an ongoing mechanical issue with my 2016 Ford Focus. Although my vehicle currently shows zero active recalls, I have experienced a recurring and concerning problem. Each time I turn on the air conditioning and the air begins to blow cold, my engine temperature rises significantly and causes the vehicle to overheat. This issue occurs consistently and makes it unsafe to operate the vehicle while using the air conditioning. Overheating poses a serious safety risk and may lead to engine damage or sudden breakdowns. Given that this problem appears to be directly connected to the operation of the air conditioning system, I am concerned that this may be a known defect or design issue that has not been addressed through a recall. I am requesting that this issue be formally documented, investigated, and addressed. I would appreciate guidance on next steps, including...

This vehicle been having problems with heater

Fuel purge valve is malfunctioning. Vehicle loses power and is sluggish. Idles very rough and sometimes has a loss of power. My car has been at Ford twice in the last six months and problem still isn't fixed. Complete engine was replaced about a year and a half ago due to recall issue which I don't want happening again. I do not feel safe driving this car. I made an appointment with Ford a month ago for tomorrow for same stalling issue. I went to drop off and explain I wanted the repairs done for the recall to see if that fixed the problem. I filled up my gas tank on Sunday. The car wouldn't start and engine light came on saying engine failure service now. I let it sit for about ten minutes and it hesitantly cranked and engine light went off but accelerates slower with loss of power....

In the Ford 3 cylinder 1.0L Ecoboost engines there is a terrible wet belt system, there is a recall on the automatic models but nothing for the manual models, regardless of the fact that the manual models are designed far more poorly than the automatic models in the sense that the manual models have no tensioners and rely solely on the factory tension of the screws, keeping in mind that the belt is both rubber and sitting in hot oil when in use, if not a money grab, my best guess is that they hoped the wet rubber belt would simply not not stretch in good faith. 4 days after getting basic maintenance, the wet belt failed, clogging the oil pickup causing engine failure, and temporary loss of power steering, after the engine was given time to warm up, luckily the road was nearly empty, and i was driving at...

The transistor arm or tensioning arm for the wet belt, which drives the oil pump in the oil pan failed, leading to oil starvation to the engine, causing total catastrophic engine failure, and temporary loss of power steering, while driving, fortunately, I was moving at a slow pace in minimal traffic, however, this is a known fail point in Ford 1.0 L ecoboost 3 cyl engines, that Ford claims my vehicle does not have, and refuses to cover, regardless of the fact that it did happen, and I have pictures in mechanic testimony to prove this to be true, had I’ve been on a different road, or had more traffic, this could have to a fatality. The engine replacement would cost a estimated 4500-7500$

The clutch had to be replaced a second time and the engine became disabled while driving due to parts failure and it blowing up. This is all happening with 60,000 miles on the vehicle. My safety came into question with both failures disabling my car while I was driving on the interstate. The clutch was replaced and paid for out of pocket and I have been trying to work with ford about the engine but they have not helped at all. The issues just popped up and failed immediately while driving. This engine failure issue is covered for my vehicle, but my VIN is not covered. The only explanation I have received is that it is because my car is a manual transmission, which has no link to the part that failed on the engine. I was also notified by the ford service manager that my vehicle was made in...

I was driving the car other all of a sudden died on me and told me to put it in park I put it in park and then turned the key off and tried to restart it. It did not restart and would not turn of kept popping up a warning saying starter system failure. Could not turn my wheel or pit it in neutral to get it out of te middle of the road.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the RPMs became drastically elevated, and the vehicle shut off unintendedly. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over, and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and after three days the contact attempted to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle started without hesitation, and the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer to be diagnosed; however, there was no cause for the failure found. The vehicle not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

It is my transmission problem, there is an engine light on and the shifting is very rough and it also jumps gears, i know ford had a recall for this problem i believe it should be under warranty it is the TCM

2016 Ford Focus, VIN: [XXX] Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (TCM) This complaint details a recurring and severe safety defect in our 2016 Ford Focus. The vehicle's Transmission Control Module (TCM) has failed twice, resulting in sudden, complete loss of power and dangerous stalling incidents at highway speeds. In January 2023, at approximately 8,000 miles, the vehicle suddenly lost all propulsion while traveling on a highway. We were forced to execute a dangerous emergency maneuver across lanes of traffic to reach the shoulder. A Ford dealership diagnosed a failed TCM which had, in turn, caused the clutch to burn out. In July 2025, after only 7,000 additional miles (total vehicle mileage ~15,000), the identical, catastrophic failure occurred again. The vehicle once more stalled without warning on a major highway, creating another life-threatening situation. The diagnostic codes confirmed the same TCM and clutch failure, proving the issue is a persistent,...

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop or while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked, hesitated, experienced difficulty shifting into gears and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch actuator had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the part was previously replaced under Ford Customer Satisfaction Program Number: 19N08. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

The dual clutch for the 2016 Ford Focus SE. This model is showing an open recall on active listings but not showing up in a search via VIN. Yes the vehicle is still available for inspection. The vehicle’s transmission overheats which has left us stranded, on the interstate and regular roads, maybe times. The vehicle has broken down multiple times in the middle of the road and put us at risk of a collision. I have verified with the dealer that this is a problem with these specific cars but only after I had purchased it. The problem started right away after purchase by showing on the dash that the transmission was overheating but that same message would go back off, resulting in the dealer refusing to take a look at it under warranty. I’ve seen many other customers complain of this problem and eventually end up losing a lot...

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, an alarm sounded, the message " Pull Car Over Safely " was displayed, and the vehicle turned off independently. The contact stated that the vehicle was turned off and was restarted several times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate mileage was 67,855.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle jerked until shifting into gear. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was advised that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into second gear while driving. The contact stated there was an abnormal grinding sound while turning the steering wheel. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10-50 MPH, the vehicle began to slow down and kick back. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission control module, purge valve, and power control module failure, and a software reprogramming was needed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, who replaced the transmission. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the clutch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the...

Check engine light illuminated followed by unresponsive throttle. Pulled over and the car immediately stalled. Would not restart. Came back with code P1450. There's an open recall for that exact code for 2015-2018 focus, however the 1.0L supposedly "not affected" so my vehicle is not eligible.

Notes from the Ford dealer: Oil pump belt tensioner failed causing oil pump belt to slip and starve engine for oil. Turbo was also starved of oil. Long block and turbo were replaced. This seems to be the same issue that is included in a current recall but it does not extend to all affected vehicles. Reference NHTSA# 23V905. Ford recall 23S64.

I am dealing with a dual clutch going bad the car is stalling hesitating and loosing power very dangerous to drive. Also i just replaced transmission without finding any help from ford even there was a recall now my dual clutch is going on and there was a recall i never got to be apart of when i first got the car in 2015. I need help please point in the direction i feel like ford should fixed this buy the car back

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The failure had occurred on several occasions. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer had made the contact aware of an undisclosed recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

I was driving the speed limit at 65 MPH down a steep hill, I felt something "drop" and then the oil lamp and "Engine Fault Error" displayed. I was unable to drive faster than 30 mph. I was fortunate that no one was following close behind. I had to put on my hazards and drive half a mile more to find a safe place to pull off the road. I had to have my vehicle towed 60 miles to the nearest mechanic. I was informed that the problem was related to a known recall, but there are no parts to fix the problem and it will be months until they do. My vehicle cannot be driven and is sitting at the dealership until it can be repaired and they cannot tell me when that will be.

2016—2022 Ford EcoSport® and Focus® 1.0L Engine--- My car is experiencing the same issue as the Automatic transmission. The car is not listed on the Oil Pump Failure Recall on the Ford Website as it shows that it applies to automatic transmission, and doesn't mentioned manual transmission. Both transmission carry the same issue as it's an engine design flaw and not a transmission related issue. The car experienced a bad idle that results to lost of power and Oil light went on as I drove it to the Mechanic shop. Currently there's no parts available and ford website the part is back ordered. The reference number is 23S64 for the current recall of the 1.0L engines. Please see reference below. I've contacted Ford support about the issue and was informed to report the issue here. Website for reference: [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA),...

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to continue to drive. The vehicle failed to accelerate above 11 MPH. The vehicle failed to move. The contact turned off the vehicle and the vehicle failed to restart. The contact's neighbor pushed the vehicle into a parking spot. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V523000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced, but the failure recurred. The vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The mechanic used a scanner and retrieved DTC: P2837 and P287B. The vehicle failed to reverse. The mechanic informed the contact that the transmission control module had failed. The transmission warning light was...

My car is has engine hesitation and runs rough. I have a recall call letter and the Ford dealership Ken Grody Carlsbad, Ca refused to fix the recall because it is not giving the code but I’m having issues with it.

Stearing went out and car would not start after filling tank with gas

Engine is misfiring, lack of power, stallign out, barely made it home could of been a really bad accident.now engine is still running terrible, throwing multiple codes and blowing white smoke which we all know is a head gasket issue.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was shifting rough. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. While restarting the vehicle, the check engine and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The "Transmission Overheating, Stop Safely" message was displayed while driving. The contact pulled over again and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle failed to restart immediately and was started on the third attempt. The contact drove the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 14M02 (Transmission Control Module Extended Warranty Coverage); however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

I am experiencing two significant issues with my 2016 Ford Focus, both of which closely match known recall problems documented for this model and year. However, my vehicle’s VIN does not currently show an active recall, and Ford has not covered the repairs. Canister Purge Valve (Error Code P1450): The canister purge valve in my vehicle is malfunctioning, leading to rough idling, poor fuel economy, and difficulties starting the engine. This issue also triggered the check engine light. My research shows that similar problems were included in a Ford recall for the 2016 Ford Focus, where a defective purge valve could cause stalling and inaccurate fuel readings. Despite these similarities, my VIN is not covered under this recall. Transmission Control Module (TCM) Issues: My vehicle also has transmission performance problems linked to the Transmission Control Module (TCM), causing hard shifting, irregular transmission behavior, and occasional failure to engage properly. The...

The engine went limp and lost all strength as I was driving on the street. Smoke started coming out. Had an independent mechanic tell me it was the fuel pump that lead to the engine dying. My car will not start and I have been carless. Dealers will not help the situation because although my car has issues related to the recalls specifications, my VIN does not apply. Engine died at 107k miles (mostly highway miles)

Received code P090C and seen this was recalled

My 2016 Ford Focus SE is stalling at higher temperatures while driving at high speeds, which is very dangerous. This issue occurs primarily during hotter daily temperatures. I have previously taken the vehicle in for the recall (NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000) related to the Canister Purge Valve (CPV) malfunction, which was supposed to address excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system. However, this did not resolve the stalling issue. This has stalled my car out at interstate highway speeds (75 MPH) which makes me lose power steering and acceleration and has nearly ended in accidents numerous of times due to this.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at approximately 45 MPH. The vehicle was steered to a parking lot. The vehicle was not able to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the lower half of the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

When accelerating or breaking, my cars transmission would slip causing me to slow down whiled driving. Also, my check engine light has came on. It goes on and off unexpectedly. Car shutters and shakes when accelerating.

The transmission slips and when the car starts to move it lunges forward then vibrates/shakes. I received a notice from Ford that there may be a TCM issue with the car via Ford Campaign 14M02. When I called the dealership service center in August 2023 then again in November 2023. They said the part was on back order and to check in again in the winter. When I brought the car in the mechanic said that it was not the TCM but the clutch and that it would be $2500. He did not do a diagnostic test just told me as I was checking in at the front desk. Highly unprofessional and unsafe. I unfortunately do not have any paperwork as did not go through with the repair. I called Ford and they said they had a Ford Campaign 19N08 to address the shudder clutch but it expired at the...

on 6/27/2024 when accelerating into traffic my vehicle stalled and almost caused an accident. Dash board display had two messages was code P0106 MAP sensor and hill start assist wasn't going to work. Possible safety recall 14S17 Saying not for my vehicle.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and shook abnormally while attempting to accelerate. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was previously under a recall for a failure with the transmission clutch shudder, but the contact had not received the notification. The contact was also advised to contact the NHSTA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,850.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil light and Service engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the engine seized. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact's husband used the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The contact's husband pushed the vehicle into a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and then shut off. The vehicle was able to be restarted after several attempts. The contact stated once the vehicle was restarted the message "Unable to lead up fuel pump vacuum" was displayed and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed and determined that the clutch and levers and catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated soon after the check engine warning light illuminated again. The contact called an independent mechanic to diagnose the vehicle. The contact stated that the message "Unable to read fuel pump vacuum" recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was...

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle was vibrating and losing motive power. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back to the residence; however, the transmission failed, and the contact was unable to place the vehicle in reverse (R) or drive (D). The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the body shop where it was diagnosed with canister purge valve failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be repaired. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who confirmed the diagnosis. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a stop sign, the vehicle sputtered while attempting to accelerate before the vehicle later stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was taken to two different independent mechanics to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart on the third attempt; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but was advised to contact the NHSTA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000. The VIN was not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal before jolting forward without warning. The vehicle had been taken to a dealer where a software update was performed; however, the failure persisted. Recently, the contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle began to hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal followed by a loud cracking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, Laird Noller Ford of Lawrence (935 W 23rd St, Lawrence, KS 66046) and it was discovered that the engine mount had cracked due to the excessive slippage of the clutch. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was...

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that the day after having an oil change performed, while driving 35 MPH, the check engine and check oil warning lights illuminated. The contact was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,259.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at high speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that his daughter was driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle began to stall. The driver pulled over and restarted the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who informed him there were no open recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

I have a 2016 ford focus titanium, the transmission shudders and sometimes hesitant to excellerate on the highway. at times the transmission shifts into neutral when backing up into my driveway a home. Car has this common transmission issues and started to get worse this week.

Vehicle engine consistently stalls while driving resulting in dangerous or deadly situations. 4/8/24 was the 5th engine stalling incident.

On March 29 2024, vehicle had rough idle on start, problem remedied with restart. All fluids appeared to be within normal levels with coolant reservoir indicating just below half-full. On March 30 2024, vehicle idled rough on starting. Attempted restarts led to multiple stalls with failure to start after third attempt. Inspection of engine bay found coolant reservoir to be empty. Upon towing to dealership, service department denied NHTSA #23V905 as cause of failure, stating that the engine was showing coolant intrusion into cylinders and needed a full replacement at 57,771 miles. This is similar to NHTSA Complaint # 11570577. The engine showed no driver-visible warning indicators of imminent failure. This is a cause for concern as engine failure while driving will lead to loss of power steering and brake assist systems. These are safety critical systems and can cause an accident if rendered inoperable while in motion.

Purchased car end of 2022. After 3 weeks of driving the vehicle, the engine began to fail and the vehicle would stop driving/rpm would crash to 0 while driving. After seen by 3 auto shops, it resulted in the engine being destroyed due to the placement of a belt in oil within the engine and had to pay over 7000 out of pocket for a used engine and a new belt just for the car to run. Despite issues between the end of 2022 to now (March 2024) with starting the car or driving for a long amount of time, we were told the belt needed to be replaced after 50,000. The fix for the belt is over 2000 out of pocket which is absolutely ridiculous. It is March 28th today, on March 22nd my engine failed and the vehicle is liable to stop while driving, therefore unsafe to use....