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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)

215 of 1,143 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters · page 9 of 9

Mar 13, 2019Fuel systemAirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)EngineCrash

I PURCHASE A 2016 FORD FOCUS TODAY AND THERE'S ONE OPEN RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THE TAKATA RECALL AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE FIXED BECAUSE IT SOUNDS DANGEROUS FROM THE RESEARCH I DID ON THE RECALL. PLUS I HAVE MY 1ST CAR WRECK A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND MY CAR WAS TOTALED OUT. I WANT TO BE SAFE BEHIND THE WHEEL AND I HAVE A LITTLE BOY; WHO WILL BE A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE I DON'T WANT MY CAR TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT AND MY SON GET HURT. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11186688

Mar 4, 2019EngineFuel system

INACCURATE FUEL GAUGE. FIRST ISSUE - MY CAR WOULD BE READING THAT I HAD (EXAMPLE) 15 MILES UNTIL EMPTY AND REALLY I HAD 0 MILES UNTIL EMPTY. RAN OUT OF GAS TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. SECOND ISSUE - MY CAR WILL STALL OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING/ACCELERATING AT ANY GIVEN TIME. MUCH WORSE WHEN I HAVE LESS THAN A HALF/QUARTER TANK. MY CAR WILL STILL STALL EVEN WHEN I DO HAVE MORE THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS. MOST TIMES, MY CAR WILL NOT RESTART AFTER THE STALL. THIS ISSUE IS MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN AS SOON AS I TURN THE CAR ON, AT A DEAD STOP THEN ABOUT TO ACCELERATE, IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JUNE OF 2018 AND STARTED TO NOTICE THE FUEL TANK ISSUE PRETTY QUICKLY. THE STALLING OUT ISSUE STARTED TO HAPPEN SHORTLY AFTER. I DID RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD.

NHTSA ODI 11184019

Feb 14, 2019Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11180085

Feb 11, 2019Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM) WAS RECEIVED IN OCTOBER OF 2018. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER (NORTH SIDE FORD, 12300 US HWY 281 NORTH, SAN ANTONIO, TX), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11176295

Jan 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DEALER (KEARNY PEARSON FORD, 7303 CLAIREMONT MESA BLVD, SAN DIEGO, CA 92111, (858) 560-5544) REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2018, BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN OCTOBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ODI 11172095

Jan 18, 2019Fuel system

TOOK FOCUS TO DEALER AND DEALER SAID HE CAN'T FIX DUE TO PARTS BEING ON BACK ORDER FOR A MONTH. HOWEVER, THIS IS A SAFETY RISK " AND ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING OR WITHOUT ABILITY TO RESTART CAN INCREASE RISK OF CRASH". STUCK CANISTER PURGE VALVE. DEPENDING ON WHERE THIS COULD HAPPEN, THIS COULD RESULT IN DEATH. THIS NEEDS FIXED IMMEDIATELY. RECALL ON FORD FOCUS 18V735 CHAPMAN FORD OF HORSHAM, 1100 EASTON RD, HORSHAM, PA 19044. WE HAVE PAPERWORK.

NHTSA ODI 11170777

Dec 11, 2018Fuel system

MY AUTO IS ON A RE-CALL FOR GAS TANK ISSUES THEY TOLD ME PARTS FOR AUTO WOULD BE 15 DAYS MEANWHILE MY AUTO HAS BEEN STALLING NOT STARTING GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE REAR OF AUTO FORD SAYS ITS NOT THERE PROBLEM TO RENT A AUTO FOR USE THEY SAID FILL THE CAR WITH GAS I DID THAT IT IS WORST THEN BEFORE THE DATE IS JUST ONE OF MANY DATES SINCE RECALL

NHTSA ODI 11160803

Nov 1, 2018EngineFuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY AND DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK BATTERY, CHECK OIL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DIRECTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN THE DRIVE POSITION, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START WHEN THE VEHICLE'S FUEL LEVEL WAS BELOW A 1/2 TANK. OURISMAN FORD & LINCOLN (6129 RICHMOND HIGHWAY, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22303 (703) 660-9000) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000.

NHTSA ODI 11144673

Oct 30, 2018Fuel system

THE CAR STALLS WHEN I FILL UP THE GAS TANK. THE CAR ALSO LOOSE POWER AS IT TAKES OFF FROM A STOP AND HAS TO BE RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT RESTARTS WHICH THEN CAUSES THE BATTERY LIGHT, OIL LIGHT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON INDICATING THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. THE ACT LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL WHENEVER I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC AND THIS IS A VERY STRESSFUL AND SOMETIMES HORRIFYING FEELING TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND DRIVING IN TRAFFIC JAMS IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 5 MONTHS AGO. WITH 1.5 MILLION CUSTOMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN DANGER OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT FORD BUY BACK ALL OF THESE CARS BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAYS.. PLEASE ADVISE..

NHTSA ODI 11144149

Oct 29, 2018Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

VEHICLE FUEL GAUGE IS OFF BY 50 MILES + - 10 MILES. VEHICLE STALLS AFTER FILLING FUEL TAKE TO FULL LEVEL. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON SOLID AFTER THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS. TRANSMISSION IS LOUD AND GRINDS WHEN MAKING TURNS AND HAS A JERKING MOTION WHEN INCREASING AND DECREASING SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11143860

Oct 28, 2018EngineFuel system

ON 10/27/2018 APPROXIMATELY 1330 AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO 29 IN WARRENTON HEADED TOWARDS CULPEPER GOING ABOUT 45MPH THE CAR SPUTTERED AND STALLED. TOOK 3 TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THEN DID IT AGAIN AFTER MAKING A LEFT ONTO 17 IN BEALETON. THE VEHICLE WOULD GET UP TO ABOUT 20 MPH AND JUST STALL IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS BECOMING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY HAVING MY 12 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME.

NHTSA ODI 11143452

Oct 26, 2018EngineFuel system

APPROXIMATELY AT 30000 MILES WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO SHEEHY OF WARRENTON BECAUSE WHILE ON RTE 28 IN STERLING VA THE VEHICLE WAS INTERMITTENTLY JERKING SPUTTERING AND STALLING. DEALER STATED THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY ISSUES BECAUSE NO CODE WAS PRESENT. ON 10/18/18 I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AGAIN BECAUSE THE CAR STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE IN MOTION. THEY STATED THAT CODE SAYS LOW FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THAT FIRST TO SEE. I NOTICED TODAY THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THE EXACT ISSUE I'M HAVING BUT RECALLS ARE ONLY ON THE 2.0 MODEL MINE IS THE 1.0.

NHTSA ODI 11142885

Aug 17, 2018Fuel system

ENGINES STALLS OUT WHEN DE-ACCELERATING. ENGINE VERY HARD TO START AFTER REFUELING

NHTSA ODI 11120740

Jul 14, 2018Fuel system

WHEN YOU STEP ON GAS PEDAL IT ISATATES AND RPM JUMPS UP AND IT SHAKES BEEN DOING IT SENSE I BOUGHT IT

NHTSA ODI 11111294

Sep 27, 2016Fuel system

BOUGHT THIS CAR THIS SPRING AND BEEN HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. IT FEELS LIKE A MISFIRE BUT IT THE ELECTRONIC SHIFTED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IF I KNEW THIS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I WOULD NOT HAVE.

NHTSA ODI 10909859

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Working with the data? Download all 1,143 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 22, 2026

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 →