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

"TAKATA RECALL" THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, ALONG WITH VIBRATION AND TRANSMISSION SHUDDER IN SECOND GEAR. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO GIVE OUT. THERE IS ALSO A GRINDING NOISE WHILE BREAKING AND TURNING. ALL OF THE CONCERNS MENTIONED ARE WHILE DRIVING REGARDLESS OF CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY. THE RATTLING NOISE WILL SOMETIMES OCCUR WHILE THE CAR IS OFF AND PARKED, ESPECIALLY RIGHT AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF.

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TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNED A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE DRIVER STRUCK THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALL AIR BAGS EXCEPT THE DRIVER KNEE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER CHEST AND HANDS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED BACK INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND THE CONTACT'S AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ENCINITAS FORD 1424 ENCINITAS BLVD, ENCINITAS, CA 92024. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD SPEAK TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

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"TAKATA RECALL" WHEN I TAKE OFF MY CAR JERKS AND ALMOST JUMPS LIKE. IT ACTS LIKE ITS DOUBLE SHIFTING OR HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING. I HAD FORD LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THEY COULDNT HELP ME UNTIL IT GETS WORSE. I WILL BE REALLY UPSET IF SOMETHING GOES AFTER MY WARRANTY IS GONE. A BRAND NEW CAR SHOULDNT DRIVE LIKE THIS.THEY TOLD ME ITS THE CLUTCHING SYSTEM THAT CAUSES IT TO DO THIS . THAT IS WHAT THEY TOLD ME AT FORD ,BUT EONT REPLACE UNTIL IT GETS WORSE.

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LETTER FROM SENATOR PORTMAN ON BEHALF ON CONSTITUENT RE THE SAFETY OF 2016 FORD FOCUS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER ONLY 9,000 MILES. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE, THE REPAIRS WERE TEMPORARY BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN NOT THE PARTS, AND THE FAILURE WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY RECUR IN 9,000 MILES OR LESS. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BACK FOR THE FULL ORIGINAL PURCHASED AMOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS TEMPORARILY REPAIRED. UPDATED 05/16/2017*JS UPDATED 07/26/2017*JS

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VEHICLE EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION SHUTTER RELATING TO SERVICE BULLETIN 16-0109. PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORST AND I AM SCARED IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE IN 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. ALSO ISSUES WITH DISPLAY AND PHONE UNABLE TO HANG UP DURING CALLS WHILE USING DISPLAYS BUTTON AND STEERING BUTTON.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AT ANY SPEED, THE WIPER BLADES STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT MAKING A FULL CYCLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REGIONAL MANAGER WOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,500.

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AFTER PURCHASING THIS CAR ON 3/7/2017 WITH 1,909 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED EXTENSIVE BODY DAMAGE THE NEXT MORNING WHICH WAS UNBEKNOWNST TO ME SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN THE EVENING TIME. I NOTIFIED MY DEALER ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT WERE AWARE OF THE PRE EXISTING DAMAGES! I WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO BRING IT IN FOR REPAIRS AND WAS EVEN CHARGED FOR THE COST OF THE RENTAL COVERAGE! MY VEHICLE BEGAN GIVING ME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON 4/19/2017, IT HESITATES TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN MOTION AND WHEN IT FINALLY GETS TO THE SPEED I DESIRE IT JERKS AT TAKE OFF. ALSO, WHEN I START THE ENGINE IT MAKES A LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM THE EXHAUST PIPES, I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE ON 4/24/17 AND ONCE IT WAS RELEASED TO ME IT WAS MAKING THE SAME NOISES THE VERY NEXT MORNING. A SERVICE ADVISOR FROM THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED TO ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES.

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HELLO MY CLUTCH PEDAL KEEPS STICKING AND BURNING MY CLUTCH ALSO PEDEL STICKS TO FLOOR UNLESS I TURN CAR OFF AND PULL PEDEL UP HAS HAPPENED NOW 5 TIMES PLEASE REPORT THIS SO FORD CAN LOOK INTO IT [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE OVERHEATING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE ENTERED INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE, WHICH ALLOWED THE USE OF THE VEHICLE BUT NOT OVER 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ENGINE FAILURES AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCED HESITATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 08/29/17*LJ *CN

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OUR CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION, JUST AS OUR PREVIOUS FORD HAD BEEN. 1. FORD NEVER RECALLED EITHER CAR. WE HAD TO GO TO THEM. 2. THIS 2016 FOCUS WAS REPAIRED, AND THE ONLY ASSURANCE THEY CAN GIVE US IS THAT IT WILL FAIL AGAIN. MEANWHILE, THEY WILL NOT EVEN TAKE THE CAR IN TO INSPECT HOW IT IS MISBEHAVING NOW.

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BOUGHT NEW ON 12/25/2015. STARTED HESITATING STARTING OFF, SKIPPING LIKE SPINNING TIRES.GOT WORSE AND LIKE GOING OVER STRIPS IN THE ROAD. AKIN REPLACED THE COMPUTER AND THE CLUTCH 9/2016. DID FINE THEN STARTED AGAIN. HAD IT CHECKED AND COULD NOT MAKE IT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (01/2017). JUST THIS WEEK (04/06/2017 IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN, AND QUICKLY INCREASED HAPPENING. 04/07/2017 WAS SO BAD IT WOULD NOT CHANGE FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND NOW HAS A SCRATCHING/RATTLING NOISE. CALLED DEALER AND SERVICE DEPT. SAYS TO CALL IN THE MORNING AND SET APPT. TO BRING IN. HAD HUSBAND RIDING THIS TIME AND IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO HAS A SLIGHT DROP OR HESITATION WHILE DRIVING AS IT SEEMS TO BE DROPPING BACK IN POWER AND THEN PICKS BACK UP. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. THIS HAPPENS STARTING OFF FROM A STOP, TURNING FROM STOP, GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I DID NOT HAVE THE AIR TURNED ON!

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CAR WAS DRIVING FINE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY. ACCELERATOR WAS PUSH TO THE FLOOR, RPM'S WENT UP TO 6,000, CAR WAS JERKY. AT 6,000 RPM THE CAR WOULDN'T GO FASTER THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR. SPEED LIMIT WAS 50. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND NO DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE, ONCE IN OCTOBER 2016 AND ONCE ON APRIL 1, 2017. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER. THEY STATED IT WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM AND REPROGRAMED MY CAR. IN BETWEEN THE TWO INCIDENTS, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY DATED FEBRUARY 2017. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CAR "MAY EXHIBIT SYMPTOMS OF INTERMITTENT LOSS OF TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT WHILE DRIVING, NO-START, OR LACK OF POWER, USUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY AN ILLUMINATED SERVICE ENGINE SOON ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER." THE LETTER AUTHORIZES REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, BUT IT IS THE OPINION OF THE DEALER AND FORD MOTOR CO. THAT THEY HAVE TO SEE THE PROBLEM IN ACTION FOR THEM TO REPLACE IT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND HAS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM.

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I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW ON 3/17/17. A SAFTEY RECALL (16V479) HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ISSUED FOR THE VEHICLE BACK IN JUNE 2016. THE DEALER SOLD ME THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER A STOP-SALE RECALL IN VIOLATION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT. A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER ASKED ME TO TAKE IT IN FOR WARRANTY WORK. I HAVE NOT HAD USE OF THE VEHICLE FOR THE WEEK SINCE AND AM BEING TOLD THAT IT MAY TAKE 2 MORE WEEKS FOR THE REPAIR WORK TO BE COMPLETED. THE DEALER VIOLATED THE LAW AND THE STOP-SALE RECALL ORDER ON THE VIN BY SELLING ME THE VEHICLE BEFORE THIS REPAIR WORK WAS DONE. I PAID FOR THE VEHICLE, BUT WILL HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO USE IT FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK OVER THE COURSE OF THE FIRST MONTH. NEWS REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE NHTSA HAS FINED DEALERS IN THE PAST FOR THIS.

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1) TRANSMISSION SHUDDERING ON STARTUP (@ 2000 MILES), 2) WE TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER AT 3000 MILES AND WERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION TESTED WITHIN ACCEPTABLE FORD LIMITS. WTF? 3) NOW TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE DURING ACCELERATION FROM A STANDING START - ENGINE REVS AND THEN TAKES OFF UNEXPECTEDLY (@ 4000 MILES).

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK AT START UP AND WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT A FAILURE CODE WAS UNABLE TO BE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9. UPDATED 06/07/17*LJ

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE DID NOT ILLUMINATE BRIGHT ENOUGH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188. UPDATED 06/28/17*LJ *CN

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THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH ALL MY FORD FOCUS SINCE 2014 MOST RECENTLY ON OR ABOUT 02/10/2017. WHEN I ENTER A FREEWAY OF GOING UPHILL MY VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS AND THEN TAKES ABOUT 3-6 SECONDS TO UPSHIFTS RENDERING THE VEHICLE HELPLESSLY AT THE MERCY OF OF THE TRAFFIC COMING FROM BEHIND. SEVERAL TIMES I HAD TO QUICKLY DRIVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID BEING CRUSHED BY A TRUCK. ON MY EARLIER PURCHASED 2016 VEHICLE BOUGHT IN DECEMBER OF 2015. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A REPROGRAMMING OF THE TRANY. I TRADED MY VEHICLE FOR THIS CURRENT 2016 FORD FOCUS THAT HAS THE SAME ISSUE. THIS A LEMON AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED AS WHICH IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I WILL BRING BACK TO THE DEALER. I ALSO BELIEVE IT OCCURS ONLY WHEN THE A/C OR HEAT BLOWER ARE ON THE SAME TIME. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN IN MOTION.

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SOMETIMES WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE (VEHICLE IN REVERSE) THE VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD. THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THE VEHICLE IS GOING IN REVERSE. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER DOES NOT MOVE FROM THE REVERSE INDICATOR. I TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO CHECKED IT OUT AND COULD NOT LOCATE A PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE TRAVELED A FEW FEET FORWARD. THIS WAS AT MY RESIDENCE.

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I HAVE A 2016 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK. AS I WAS TRAVELING 65 MPR ON THE INTERSTATE WITH NO TRAFFIC AROUND AT THAT TIME. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR A LOUD POP. IT SOUNDED LIKE I HAD A BLOW OUT AND THEN I HEAR GLASS SO I PULLED OVER SAFELY ONLY TO GET OUT AND SEE THAT MY SUNROOF WAS BUSTED. NOT ONLY WAS IT BUSTED BUT THE GLASS CHIPPED MY PAINT. IT WAS A VERY SCARY MOMENT. IT SOUNDED LIKE PRESSURE WAS BUILT UP WHEN IT BUSTED. THE GLASS WAS POINTED UPWARDS LIKE IT BUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

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RODENTS CHEWED THROUGH WIRING BECAUSE THE WIRE IS MADE FROM SOYBEANS. POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. MAKES CAR INOPERABLE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR TO 2016. MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM BY SUBSTITUTING WIRING THAT DOES NOT ATTRACT RODENTS. MANUFACTURER (FORD) SHOULD MAKE THIS RIGHT. THE COST OF REPAIRS SHOULD NOT BE BORNE BY CUSTOMERS.

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WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTO 3RD GEAR THE CLUTCH REMAINED STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE WOULD MOVE VERY SLOWLY. CLUTCH DID RETURN AFTER 3 SECS BUT THIS CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS AGAIN.

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EAST-BOUND ON FREEWAY TRAVELING APPROX 65 MPH. ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE CRUISE CONTROL SPONTANEOUSLY TURNED ON BY ITSELF. ON THOSE OCCASIONS I TOUCHED THE BRAKES AND THE ISSUE STOPPED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I EXITED THE FREEWAY FOR A 2 LANE HIGHWAY . DID NOT EXPERIENCE FURTHER CRUISE ISSUES ON 2 LANE HIGHWAY

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES WOULD STOP IN MID-USE. IN ORDER FOR THE BLADES TO CONTINUE OPERATING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL WOULD NEED TO BE TURNED AGAIN. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT DESIGNED TO OPERATE ON A DRY SURFACE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,900.

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LEFT REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL OF THE RADIAL TIRE CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCONTACT 195/65 R1591H M S RADIAL

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AT 400 MILES THE CAR HAD A TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID TRANSMISSION OVER HEATING PULL OVER WAIT 5 MINUTES GOING SLOWLY UP A SLIGHT INCLINE IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT AS THE VEHICLE SPEED DECLINES AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE CASING WHEN TURNING AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT.

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