Home · 2016 Ford Focus RS · Complaints

What 1,143 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Focus RS

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,143)Crash / fire / injury (31)Transmission & drivetrain (649)Engine (220)Fuel system (215)Electrical system (77)Engine & cooling (46)Steering (45)Speed control (34)Wheels (15)Airbags (14)Body & structure (14)

Newest first · 1,143 complaints · page 37 of 46

Jul 25, 2019Engine

I'VE BOUGHT A USED 2016 FOCUS SE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP ABOUT A YEAR OR 2 AGO. THE CAR ALREADY AT 50,000 MILES ON IT, I HAD IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTED STUTTERING VERY BADLY DURING SHIFTS SO I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY HAD MY CLUTCH REPLACED. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT 72,000 MILES AND THE STUTTERING DURING SHIFTS STARTED UP AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11234745

Jul 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND MAKES NOISE - I'VE TAKEN IT TO 2 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11234813

Jul 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHENEVER I TAKE OFF FROM A STOP MY CAR SHAKES AND SHUDDERS SO BAD. IT'S DONE IT EVER SINCE I I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK IN 2018. I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN MY CAR WAS GOING TO HAVE THIS MANY ISSUES I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT IT. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS SO ROUGH EVEN IN HIGH GEARS.

NHTSA ODI 11234917

Jul 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR WILL COMMONLY SHUDDER WHEN SHIFTING IN LOWER GEARS, FREQUENTLY CREATING AN UNSAFE LAG IN MOMENTS WHERE QUICK ACCELERATION IS REQUIRED. THE PROBLEM BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED AS THE PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS OR NEAR-CONTINUOUS USE INCREASES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, AT PRESENT, THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHUDDERING ENOUGH TO WARRANT A REPAIR UNDER THE TERMS OF MY WARRANTEE, HOWEVER I BELIEVE THAT IS DUE TO MY CONTINUAL ADJUSTMENT TO DRIVING STYLE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS UNSAFE SITUATION. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S PRUDENT FOR ME TO EXACERBATE THE SITUATION AT THE RISK OF MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIR AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. THE SHUDDERING ITSELF CAN RANGE FROM A LIGHT FLUTTER TO A COMPLETE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH FOR A SECOND OR TWO. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THAT AMOUNT OF TIME IS UNACCEPTABLE. TO ME, IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE SOFTWARE IS ATTEMPTING TO DECIDE AND ACTUATE A DESIRED GEAR RATIO, BUT DOING SO IN A TIMEFRAME THAT IS FAR LONGER THAN WHAT IT WOULD TAKE ME TO DO SO IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ADDITIONALLY, SOME ENGAGEMENT MECHANISM OR PROGRAM FREQUENTLY MISJUDGES THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH, RESULTING IN MECHANICAL ABNORMALITY RANGING FROM A FLUTTER TO A SHUDDER TO A LOUD AND FORCEFUL KNOCKING AS IT ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE. THE ODD BEHAVIOR IS MOST PRONOUNCED WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD GEAR. OCCASIONAL BUT VERY ALARMING DISENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH CAN OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TURNING CAN SEEM TO EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11234372

Jul 24, 2019BrakesTransmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE RPMS DROPPED BELOW 500 AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VACUUM ASSIST FOR THE BRAKES WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DON FRANKLIN FORD (LOCATED AT 388 KY-192, LONDON, KY 40741, (888) 461-0896) ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE DUAL CLUTCH IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V845000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE RECALL CAMPAIGN WOULD NOT BE HONORED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD A REBUILT TITLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11234509

Jul 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR JERKS AND SPUTTERS SO BAD THAT FOR FEAR OF GETTING IN A COLLISION WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR ALL TRAFFIC TO CLEAR WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. VERY UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY! I WAS NOT THIS BAD ON THE TEST DRIVE AND THE SALES MAN TOLD IT THE CLUTCH PLATES NEEDED TO BE BROKEN IN!

NHTSA ODI 11234123

Jul 23, 2019Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. ROBERT HORNE FORD (3400 S TOMAHAWK RD, APACHE JUNCTION, AZ 85119, (480) 508-8831) DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND WAS CURRENTLY REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND SUGGESTED THE CONTACT CALL NHTSA. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DISCLOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11234218

Jul 19, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING AND NOT GOING INTO GEAR. WHEN I TRY TO PUT I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND PUSH GAS PEDDLE IT DOES NOT GO, BUT WHEN I PUT IN DRIVE IT MOVES. THE CAR ONLY HAS 45,XXX MILES. WHEN I START THE CAR A BUNCH OF CLICKING SOUNDS COME FROM THE MOTOR, AND WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF IT MAKES A BUNCH OF WEIRD CLICKING SOUNDS ALSO

NHTSA ODI 11233303

Jul 19, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

MY CAR HAS EXTREME STUTTERING WHEN IT SHIFTS, AS THOUGH THE CLUTCH IS SLIPPING OR NOT ENGAGING PROPERLY. IT ALSO DOES NOT SHIFT WHEN GOING UP A HILL UNLESS THE THROTTLE IS RELEASED AND THE REV COUNTER IS ALLOWED TO DROP VERY LOW. ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS, FORD SET A DEADLINE OF 7/19/19 FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS OF THIS ISSUE. MY LOCAL DEALER CONFIRMED THIS DEADLINE AND TOLD ME TO CALL FORD FOR INFORMATION. FORD REFUSED TO CONFIRM ANYTHING AND SAID THAT I NEEDED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO DO ANYTHING. THE FACT THAT THEY HID A DEADLINE FOR REPAIR COVERAGE FOR A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT THE PUBLIC WAS ONLY MADE AWARE WHEN THAT INFORMATION WAS LEAKED AND REPORTED ONE DAY BEFORE ITS EXPIRATION IS INCREDIBLY ANTI-CONSUMER AND DANGEROUS. THERE CAN BE NO REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT ANYONE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND FIXED IN ONE DAY AT A DEALER, AND FORD IS CLEARLY ACTING IN BAD FAITH.

NHTSA ODI 11233324

Jul 19, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

VEHICLE STUTTERS AND HAS TROUBLE ACCELERATING/STAYING IN GEAR AFTER COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN AND STARTING MOVEMENT AGAIN MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. SOUNDS LIKE TRANSMISSION IS GRINDING DAILY WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER BEING AT A STOP, OR SLOWING DOWN. VEHICLE DROPS GEARS RANDOMLY WHILE MAINTAINING SPEED HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MADE RIGHT HAND TURN OUT AND EVEN WITH THE ACCELERATOR FLOORED VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL ALMOST REAR ENDED WHEN CARE JUST TOOK OFF ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY, WAS LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL GEAR AND WAS JUST ROLLING FOR JUST UNDER A QUARTER MILE ON CITY STREETS. EVEN FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE MIGHT OF BEEN SLOWING DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11233456

Jul 17, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES, THE DPS6 TRANSMISSION STARTED SHUDDERING AND VIBRATING DURING ACCELERATION. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, AND AT 21,988 MILES, ON 6/12/2019, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FROM WHOM I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON 6/20/2016. A TECHNICIAN PERFORMED LABOR CODE #160109A. HE THEN NOTED, "FOUND SOME CLUTCH SHUDDER STILL PRESENT BUT FEWER THAN 250 RPM, OK PER FORD." AFTER I COMPLAINED, THE SERVICE MANAGER SENT ME A LETTER OFFERING ME A FREE OIL CHANGE (WHICH I DECLINED). TODAY, 7/17/2019, AT 21,988 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL SHUDDERING. I AM WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON THE FORD FOCUS/FIESTA TRANSMISSION SETTLEMENT. MY CLAIM ID NO. ON THIS SETTLEMENT IS 10612086.

NHTSA ODI 11232718

Jul 17, 2019

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND THE CAR SHUDDERS. I HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED 3 TIMES AND EVERY TIME THE "CLUTCH" GOES BAD AGAIN. THE CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY ROLL BACK WHEN ON A HILL AND ALSO UPON TAKE OFF THERE'S A DELAY AND THEN THE CAR SHUDDERS AND THEN WILL START TO GO. THERE'S ALSO TIMES THAT THE RPMS WILL GO HIGHER THAN THEY SHOULD BEFORE THE CAR SHIFTS INTO THE NEXT GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11232808

Jul 17, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI 11232838

Jul 17, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE MADE A RATTLING NOISE AND SHUDDERED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN IT WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO UPTOWN FORD LINCOLN (414-771-9000, LOCATED AT 2111 N MAYFAIR RD, MILWAUKEE, WI 53226) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,803. *AS *TR

NHTSA ODI 11232891

Jul 17, 2019

MY CAR IS NOT YET THREE YEARS OLD AND I HAVE HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED TWICE. ON JULY 2, 2019, I WAS TOLD I NEEDED ANOTHER CLUTCH, WAITED ALL DAY FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND A PART, ONLY TO BE TOLD THE NEXT DAY THAT I DIDN'T NEED A NEW CLUTCH. HOWEVER, MY CAR IS STILL MAKING THE RATTLING NOISE THAT HAS LED TO MY CLUTCH BEING REPLACED THE OTHER TWO TIMES. ON MY SECOND REPLACEMENT IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018, I WAS ENCOURAGED TO "UNLOAD" MY CAR AS SOON AS I COULD AS MY CLUTCH COULD NOT PERMANENTLY BE FIXED, AND THAT THEY COULD REPLACE IT, BUT THAT I WOULD BE BACK AGAIN IN 6 MONTHS. WHEN, IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, I WENT FROM NEEDING A NEW CLUTCH, TO SUDDENLY NOT, I ENDED UP WITH MY CAR BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP ON JULY 16, 2016 TO HAVE THEM TEST THE CLUTCH AGAIN. I ASKED THE SERVICE REP IF IT WAS TRUE THAT MY CLUTCH COULD NOT BE PERMANENTLY FIXED AND HE SAID THAT YES, UNFORTUNATELY THAT WAS TRUE. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THE DUAL CLUTCH AND SAID THAT IT WAS AN EXPERIMENT THAT WORKED IN THE FACTORY, BUT FAILED IN THE REAL WORLD. POSSIBLY, MOST CONCERNING TO ME, IS THAT THE CAR HAS TWICE, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, LURCHED FORWARD WITH THE CAR IN REVERSE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS BACKING INTO MY GARAGE, AND MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHEN I PUSHED ON THE GAS WITH THE CAR IN REVERSE. I BARELY MISSED HITTING MY NEIGHBORS FENCE. THE SECOND TIME, I WAS ON MY PARKING SLAB. WHEN I WENT TO BACK UP, IT LURCHED FORWARD WITH THE CAR IN REVERSE. SINCE, ON MY MOST RECENT VISIT, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS ACTION IN MY CAR THEY FIXED NOTHING. THEY ALSO, ONCE AGAIN DID NOT REPLACE THE CLUTCH, AND MY CAR IS STILL RATTLING. I'VE ALSO HAD THE TWO OTHER WARRANTY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE BLOCK HEATER REPLACED, AND I HAD A LOSE BALL JOINT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE RATTLING AND SHUDDERING THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ODI 11232959

Jul 16, 2019

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES MISSES GEARS OR SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE ACCELERATING. SO FAR IT HAS ALWAYS FOUND A GEAR EVENTUALLY, BUT CAUSES A TEMPORARY SLOWDOWN THAT MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. FORD SAYS THERE IS NO ISSUE OR THE CLUTCH PACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED . THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW FORD IS AWARE OF.

NHTSA ODI 11232209

Jul 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemVisibility & wipers

I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY HOME, AND MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO THROW THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND CRANK IT BACK UP AND SLAM IT INTO DRIVE AND SPEED OFF, BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO GET HIT BOTH DIRECTIONS. THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS HARD IN BETWEEN GEARS, STALLS OUT ON HILLS/ STRUGGLES ON HILLS, IT FAILS TO ACCELERATE IN THE MOMENT, THE CAR FAILS TO KNOW WHAT GEAR IT WANTS TO BE IN. THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING. I LIVE IN THE CITY A SMALL AREA NOT VERY POPULATED BUT I STILL DEAL WITH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE TRANSMISSION JERKS HARD IF YOU DON'T START MOVING AT A STEADY PACE. THE HIGHWAY THOUGH IT DOES RELATIVELY WELL, BUT THAT'S WHEN OTHER PROBLEMS START I HAVE LOSS OF POWER AT TIMES WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL, IT WILL BOUNCE BACK AND FOURTH LIKE I HAVE BAD GAS OR SOMETHING, IT ALSO HAS A VERY BAD GLITCH WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS (THEY HIT EACH OTHER). I HAVE HAD THE UPMOST PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR PRIMARILY THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL FOLKS. I DO HOWEVER FEEL THIS CAR IS SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD TO PEOPLE, I HAVE A "DONT BUY A FOCUS" STICKER GOING DOWN BOTH SIDES OF MY CARS WINDOWS. I'M STUCK WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE OF CREDIT ISSUES SO I'M GOING TO LET EVERYONE KNOW MY STORY IF I CAN SAVE THEM HAVING PROBLEMS NOT EVEN A YEAR AFTER BUYING THIS BRAND NEW FOCUS. ALL FORD HAD TO SAY IS IT'S A CLUTCH PROBLEM IF COMPLETELY SAFE. THAT'S EVEN WHEN I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE AND I DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE IT TILL THEY DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'M NOT ON TRANSMISSION CLUTCH SET #5 I'VE DEALT WITH SO MUCH LOST TIME BECAUSE OF THIS MATTER AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD COMPLETELY RESPONSIBLE. START DATE FOR THE PROBLEMS IS THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. DONT BUY A FOCUS!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11232307

Jul 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION SLIPS CONSTANTLY. VEHICLE HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT IS MANUAL WITH CLUTCH PLATES BUT OPERATES AS AUTOMATIC. I FIND IT SHUDDERS AT ABOUT 18/19 MILES PER HOURS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEARS. THIS IS HAZARDOUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT AND YOU NEVER KNOW IF YOUR CAR IS GOING TO GO OR SHUDDER UNTIL IT FINDS THE GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH PLATES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND IT HAS BEEN IN TWICE MORE FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. NOT WHAT I EXPECTED WHEN I PURCHASED A NEW CAR AND WAS NOT TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION WORKED. VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN IN 3 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION AND NEEDS TO GO AGAIN. FIRST ISSUE WAS 12/12/16, VEHICLE WAS 2 MONTHS OLD AND HAS BEEN ONGOING.

NHTSA ODI 11232408

Jul 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

MY CAR HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE 20K & HAS RUN OUT OF GAS ON ME TWICE & LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CLUTCH & SEVERAL SYLENOIDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE REATAINED A LAWYER FOR HELP WITH MY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11232508

Jul 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MY FOCUS. AFTER NUMEROUS RETURNS TO THE DEALER, TWICE FOR CLUTCH KIT REPLACEMENTS AND AT LEAST 5-6 TIMES FOR OTHER "ADJUSTMENTS" IT STILL HAS PROBLEMS. JERKING, HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER EVEN WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED OUT OF A SHOPPING PLAZA THE OTHER DAY AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. MY CAR WILL FEEL LIKE IT'S DOWNSHIFTING AND DRAGGING, EVEN WHILE I'M DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED. IT JERKS AND SHUDDERS WHEN I ACCELERATE AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. RPM DIAL OFTEN GOES ALL THE WAY TO 8 OR 9 UNTIL THE CAR FINALLY SHIFTS. DEALER CAN NOT SEEM TO FIX THIS. ALSO, AT TIMES WHEN MOVING AGAIN AFTER A STOP, THE CAR WILL FEEL LIKE IT'S "BANGING" UNDERNEATH. HAVE ADDRESSED THIS WITH SERVICE AT THE DEALER, BUT IT STILL DOES IT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING CONSTANTLY FOR THE TWO PLUS YEARS I'VE HAD IT. I HAVE MANY DOCUMENTS AND REPAIR RECEIPTS TO DOWNLOAD, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN AND IF YOU WILL NEED THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11232564

Jul 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING MY HUSBAND COMPLAINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, AND LOSING POWER, WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS WITH THE CAR, WHILE TRYING TO ADVANCE FROM A STOP SIGN PULL OUT AND THE CAR LOSES POWER, ALSO PULLING ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE ON RAMP, THE CAR WILL JUST LOSE POWER, AND SHUDDER, WE HAVE TAKEN TO IT TO THE DEALER WE PURCHASED IT FROM THREE SEPARATE TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE SHUDDER IS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS, THAT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND WITH A BRAND NEW CAR, IT SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, THE LAST AND FINAL INCIDENTS WAS WHEN WE TOOK OUR GRANDCHILDREN TO A ATTRACTION WHERE YOU STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE AND YOU RIDE THROUGH IT, THE CAR STARTED TO SHUDDER, AND BUCK, AND THEN THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, WE KEPT TRYING TO START IT, IT WOULD START BUT WHEN YOU WOULD PUT IT IN GEAR IT WOULD NOT MOVE, WE ARE SO THANKFUL THAT THE CAR BEHIND US WAS PAYING ATTENTION, AND SAW WE WERE STRANDED IN THE ROAD, WE HAD TO SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR SO THE TRANSMISSION COULD COOL OFF, WE KNEW THAT IT HAD OVERHEATED BECAUSE OF THE ODER, MY SON WHO IS A MACHANIC DROVE IT AND TOLD US THE CAR IS UNSAFE, AND NOW MY HUSBAND HAS FORBIDDEN ANYONE FROM DRIVING IT BUT HIM, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE WE OWE MORE ON IT THEN THE CAR IS WORTH, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET KILLED,

NHTSA ODI 11232601

Jul 15, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS UNDER LOAD AND SHAKES THE VEHICLE BADLY. IT HAS CURRENTLY BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS OCCURS MOST FREQUENTLY UNDER ACCELERATION AND GETS WORSE WITH INCREASED LOAD.

NHTSA ODI 11231965

Jul 14, 2019Speed controlEngine

CANISTER PURGE VALVE, ENGINE STALL RECALL. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE SINCE I RECIEVED THE CAR FEBUARY 2017. THE ISSUES WAS WHEN I WOULD STEP ON THE GAS TO DRIVE, IT WOULD STALL SLOWLY THE SPEED FROM ITS ORIGINAL SPEED AND CAN FEEL A PULL AND PUSH FROM THE CAR TRYING TO SPEED UP EVEN WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL; THE CAR MOVES SLOW, ITS LIKE ITS TRYING TO GO UP A HILL WITH EFFORT BUT TIRELESS WHEN ITS NOT EVEN GOING UP A HILL. ITS MAKES A LOUD CLANK NOISE WHEN IT TRIES TO SPEED UP. IT DOESNT FEEL SMOOTH WHEN DRIVING. I HAD CALL THE MANUFACTURER FORD SINCE JANUARY 2019. THEY ASK FOR MY DATE OF BIRTH TO SUPPOSELY LOOK FOR ME IN THE SYSTEM AND MAKE ME WAIT FOR 12 MINUTES, THEN THEY HANG UP THE CALL. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT FORD JANUARY 2019, THEY CANCELED IT THE DAY BEFORE. I RECALLED FORD JULY 2019, THEY HANG UP ON ME AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11231711

Jul 14, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE SEEMS TO HESITATE WHEN STEPPING ON GAS

NHTSA ODI 11231754

Jul 12, 2019EngineFuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITH FORCE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE MORE THAN USUAL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE CONTACT CALLED AUFFENBERG FORD (1312 N KELLER DR, EFFINGHAM, IL 62401, (217) 342-3929) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,061.

NHTSA ODI 11231425

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Ford Focus RS verdict →