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What 1,185 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Focus

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 (1,185)Crash / fire / injury (32)Transmission & drivetrain (674)Engine (235)Fuel system (224)Electrical system (85)Engine & cooling (49)Steering (45)Speed control (36)Airbags (15)Wheels (15)Body & structure (14)

4 of 1,185 complaints match · Body & structure · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Jul 13, 2022Transmission & drivetrainBody & structureFuel systemCrash

wheels such as automatic and manual transmissions, transfer cases, fluid cooling/management systems and related hoses and pipes, electronic control units and software, shift lever/gear control and indicator devices, clutches and torque convertors, drive axles, hubs, i have my service system report from the diagnostic. I've called the manufacturer they said they could not do anything.i have to go get my police report again i lost it mam ive gotnmy other paper work until then thank you i have been having problems with these people please help me god bless

NHTSA ODI 11473794

Apr 11, 2020SuspensionBody & structureCrash

I WAS INVOLVED IN A SPIN OUT DUE TO RAINY WEATHER ON MONDAY APRIL 6TH, 2020. THE CAR ENDED UP HITTING THE CONCRETE DIVIDER IN THE CENTER OF THE FREEWAY IN ACCESS OF 55 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD FRONTAL/ SIDE IMPACTS. I WAS UNHARMED IN THE EVENT, BUT IT IS CONCERNING TO ME, AS MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE FRAME WARPED AROUND THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11320830

May 12, 2019Electrical systemBody & structureFire

" TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN MY CAR STARTED SMELLING HOT. I LITERALLY JUST LEFT MY HOUSE I WAS ABOUT 5 MILES FROM HOME. IT SMELLED LIKE HOW YOU USE THE HEATER FOR THE FIRST TIME DURING COLD WEATHER. I CHECKED THE GAUGES TO MAKE SURE I WAS NOT OVER HEATING. I HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS POP ON AND MY TEMP GAUGE WAS NORMAL. I THAN STARTED SEEING SMOKE COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOT OUT. THE ENTIRE CAR UNDER NEATH WAS ON FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY GOT AWAY FROM THE CAR AND WAITED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE TO COME.

NHTSA ODI 11207047

Jul 10, 2016AirbagsBody & structureCrash

MY SON WRECKED OUR BRAND NEW FORD, OVER 6,000 DANGERO. MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS FRONT END. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NOT A GOOD SAFETY FEATURE IF THEY DON'T WORK.

NHTSA ODI 10883807

Working with the data? Download all 1,185 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 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 verdict →