Model year record

2016 Ford Focus

10 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,732 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V369000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: evaporative emissions: canister

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: evaporative emissions: canister
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
257,868
Reported to NHTSA
2026-06-09
Owners notified
2026-07-29

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.

Safety risk

An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V376000

Power train: manual transmission

Component
Power train: manual transmission
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
5,252
Reported to NHTSA
2026-06-09

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.

Safety risk

A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will inspect Focus vehicles and replace the clutch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S43. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V011000

Equipment: electrical: engine block heater

Component
Equipment: electrical: engine block heater
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
116,672
Reported to NHTSA
2026-01-15

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

Safety risk

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V012000

Equipment: electrical: engine block heater

Component
Equipment: electrical: engine block heater
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
2,403
Reported to NHTSA
2026-01-15

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

Safety risk

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.

Recall campaignNHTSA 23V905000

Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: pump

Component
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: pump
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
139,730
Reported to NHTSA
2023-12-22
Owners notified
2025-08-11

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport vehicles. The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure.

Safety risk

A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the oil pump tensioner assembly and oil pump drive belt, free of charge. If engine failure occurs due to a damaged oil pump belt and/or oil pump belt tensioner, Ford has authorized dealers to replace the engine assembly as an interim repair before the availability of remedy parts for the final repair. This repair will be free of charge (parts and labor). Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S64.

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V845000

Power train: manual transmission

Component
Power train: manual transmission
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
2,828
Reported to NHTSA
2018-11-28
Owners notified
2019-01-17

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L Fox GTDI engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.

Safety risk

A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip, and will replace the clutch, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S07. Note: This recall is an expansion of Recall 18V-169.

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V735000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: evaporative emissions: canister

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: evaporative emissions: canister
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
1,282,596
Reported to NHTSA
2018-10-22
Owners notified
2019-08-19

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.

Safety risk

The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V169000

Power train: manual transmission

Component
Power train: manual transmission
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
5,361
Reported to NHTSA
2018-03-12
Owners notified
2018-08-03

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Fusion vehicles equipped with a 1.6L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission and 2015-2016 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission. Also included are four 2017 Ford Focus vehicles that had clutch replacements with potentially affected parts. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.

Safety risk

A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Focus vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip, and will replace the clutch, as necessary, free of charge. Owners of Fusion vehicles will have their clutch assembly replaced free of charge. The recall began August 3, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S07.

Recall campaignNHTSA 17V052000

Structure: body

Component
Structure: body
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
17
Reported to NHTSA
2017-01-24
Owners notified
2017-03-08

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Focus and C-Max vehicles. The floor pan may have improperly welded left-hand apron joints.

Safety risk

Improperly welded apron joints may reduce the front-end structural integrity of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the apron joints, repairing the vehicle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S03.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V698000

Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock

Component
Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
64,038
Reported to NHTSA
2016-09-28
Owners notified
2016-11-16

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Ford Focus hatchback vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 26, 2016 and equipped with a manual transmission. The hatchback of the affected vehicles may be unlatched with a single press of the interior latch release button. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."

Safety risk

With only a single press needed, the driver may accidently unlatch the hatchback, increasing the risk of injury to any unsecured passengers in the back.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C13.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Power train69563,313 mi
Engine26453,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system17856,000 mi
Unknown or other11243,000 mi
Electrical system9252,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling6293,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline5680,000 mi
Steering4548,000 mi
Vehicle speed control3627,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)1997,000 mi
Air bags1652,288 mi
Power train: automatic transmission1370,000 mi
Structure: body1320,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)1253,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: internal: clutches/bands1165,000 mi
Visibility/wiper1114,900 mi
Power train: clutch assembly1080,000 mi
Service brakes1081,000 mi
Wheels928,000 mi
Exterior lighting64,402 mi
Seat belts61,600 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs625,000 mi
Suspension5143,336 mi
Seats417,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic4160,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal476,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump365,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: evaporative emissions: canister380,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: TV/radio/speakers2
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.270,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights2188 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: internal: clutches/bands: actuators/solenoids2106,000 mi
Back over prevention1
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera1
Electrical system: instrument panel: fuel gauge167,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys1136,000 mi
Fuel system, diesel152,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump: control/drive module140,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly189,000 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system193,000 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly1
Latches/locks/linkages1125,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch1
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum157,000 mi
Steering: electric power assist system1
Structure: body: bumpers1
Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments1
Suspension: front: wheel bearing150,500 mi
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire125,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt157,000 mi
Wheels: rim1

The 2015 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2017 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Open investigations

An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.

EA26004Timing Belt Failure

Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.