Certain 2015 - 2018 Model Year Focus Vehicles with 1.0L Engine Canister Purge Valve (CPV) Replacement (if required) and Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Reprogramming
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Ford Focus powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Ford Focus have filed 655 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 65,000 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
655
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Focus | 1,348 |
| 2013 Focus | 1,049 |
| 2014 Focus | 1,535 |
| 2015 Focus | 540 |
| 2016 Focus (this page) | 655 |
| 2017 Focus | 430 |
| 2018 Focus | 298 |
8crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 655 powertrain complaints filed for the 2016 Ford Focus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Powertrain accounts for 55% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 655 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain 2011 through 2015 Model Year Fiesta and 2012 through 2016 Model Year Focus Vehicles Equipped with a DPS6 Automatic Transmission; Transmission Control Module Extended Warranty Coverage REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT Non-Ford Part Usage: ⢠Vehicles that are still covered by the 8 years/80,000-mile Emissions warranty coverage MUST be serviced with a NEW Ford Motor Company TCM. ⢠Vehicles outside of or exceeding the 8 years/80,000-mile coverage are authorized to use a used Ford Motor Company TCM, a refurbished original Ford TCM, or an aftermarket TCM that will successfully complete the required Ford software updates.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Ford is extending the warranty coverage on the DPS6 automatic transmission TCM to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, whichever occurs first. This extended warranty coverage will address intermittent symptoms of loss of transmission engagement while driving, no-start, or a lack of power.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015-2018 Focus service parts transmissions part # F1FP-7000-VB / F1FZ-7000-P built on 1-Aug-2020 and through 01-Mar-2021 may have an incorrect input speed sensor A (ISSA) shim thickness. This may cause an intermittent input speed sensor diagnostic trouble code (DTC). In the event of shift issues or skip shift events, check and verify that the ISSA speed sensor shim is 2.0 mm (0.079 in) F1FZ-7Z101-A before proceeding with further diagnostics.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2016 Ford Focus vehicles with the PowerShift dual-clutch transmission describe a pervasive pattern of shuddering, jerking, and loss of power—many starting within weeks of ownership. The transmission shudders when accelerating from stops or shifting in lower gears, sometimes violently enough to shake the whole car. Owners report the vehicle hesitates to respond to throttle input, revs without moving forward, or suddenly drops into neutral mid-drive, causing dangerous deceleration in traffic. Transmission overheating warnings force drivers to pull over and wait 15–30 minutes; some failures recur on the same trip.
Multiple clutch replacements within 2–3 years are common, yet owners report subsequent failures are often denied coverage because their VIN falls outside Ford's warranty cutoff dates, despite having identical symptoms. Dealerships frequently dismiss shuddering as "normal" or "within limits," refusing repairs until problems worsen. Some owners had engines replaced under separate recalls only to face new transmission failures. The transmission control module (TCM) fails unexpectedly, leaving vehicles unable to start or recognize park position; parts are frequently back-ordered. Owners who attempt warranty claims encounter circular referrals between dealerships and Ford customer service, with neither taking responsibility. Several owners describe safety hazards: inability to merge on highways, forced deceleration in traffic, and loss of control during cornering. One owner reported the vehicle stalled mid-intersection, another had to push the car backward in neutral because reverse failed to engage.
Same Ford Focus powertrain reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission shuddering and jerking during acceleration
Vehicle shudders, jerks, or lurches when accelerating from a stop or shifting between low gears. Owners describe it as a grinding or rattling sensation, sometimes so severe the car shakes visibly. Symptom often present from early ownership or shortly after purchase.
When: Typically from a few weeks to months after purchase; can persist for years if not repaired
Symptoms owners cite: shuddering when accelerating; jerking motion when shifting; lurching between 1st and 2nd gear; grinding or rattling sound; visible car shaking; rough acceleration from stops
Codes mentioned: P2837, P287B, TCM-related error codes
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch replacement; clutch actuator replacement; transmission seal and clutch assembly replacement; TCM (Transmission Control Module) replacement or recalibration. Many owners report repairs are temporary or unsuccessful.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Program 14M02 covers DPS6 transmission built Aug 1, 2010–Nov 5, 2015; extended warranty to 10 years/150,000 miles. Owners report Ford frequently denies coverage due to manufacture-date cutoffs or VIN exclusions. Dealers often claim shuddering is 'normal' and within limits.
Loss of power and delayed acceleration
Engine fails to respond to throttle input; vehicle hesitates, revs without forward motion, or accelerates very slowly. Often occurs when entering traffic, merging, or pulling away from stops. Creates serious safety hazard as vehicle cannot keep pace with traffic.
When: Throughout vehicle ownership; may intermittent or worsening over time
Symptoms owners cite: no response to accelerator pedal; revving without forward motion; hesitation when accelerating; sluggish acceleration; delay between pedal press and response; inability to reach safe speed for merging
Codes mentioned: P2837, P287B
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite transmission fluid changes ($700 tow + service), clutch replacement, TCM replacement. Many report these repairs fail to resolve the issue or recur within days.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford requires engine warning light to be actively illuminated to cover repair under recall; turns off intermittently, making warranty claim difficult. Dealers refuse work if light is not on at time of service.
Transmission dropping into neutral during driving
Vehicle suddenly shifts out of drive into neutral while cruising at speed. Engine revs but vehicle loses all forward force and decelerates rapidly. Creates extreme hazard in traffic as other vehicles cannot predict the sudden deceleration.
When: Can occur suddenly and without warning; may recur multiple times
Symptoms owners cite: sudden shift to neutral; rapid deceleration in traffic; engine revving with no torque to drivetrain; inability to control cornering speed; complete loss of motive power
Codes mentioned: Transmission service required message, Transmission fault codes
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch replacement; TCM replacement. Owners report dealerships claim they cannot replicate the issue during diagnostics, refusing warranty work.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) extends some warranty coverage, but dealership personnel often claim inability to diagnose or replicate failure. Owners report being told repair is not covered due to VIN exclusion from recall.
Transmission overheating warning
Dashboard warning 'Transmission Overheating' or 'Stop Vehicle Immediately - Transmission Fluid Hot' appears. Vehicle may lose power temporarily; owners must wait 15–30 minutes for transmission to cool before driving. May recur on same drive.
When: Can occur after extended driving or in stop-and-go traffic; some owners report it happening after fuel fill-up
Symptoms owners cite: transmission overheat warning on dashboard; loss of power; inability to accelerate above certain speed (11–35 mph); vehicle shaking or shuttering before warning; burning smell
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch replacement; TCM replacement. Owners report multiple clutch replacements within 2–3 years indicate underlying transmission or TCM defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some owners report Ford initially covered clutch replacement under extended warranty (7–10 years/100,000–150,000 miles), but subsequent failures denied if manufacture date falls outside defined window.
Difficulty or failure to shift into reverse
Vehicle will not shift into reverse, or reverse gear is unreliable and does not move vehicle backward. Owners report having to push vehicle in neutral to back up. May be accompanied by transmission control module failure.
When: Can occur suddenly or gradually worsen over time
Symptoms owners cite: unable to engage reverse gear; reverse gear engages but vehicle does not move; dashboard shows R but wheels do not respond; have to push vehicle manually
Codes mentioned: TCM failure codes
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission control module (TCM) replacement; clutch system repair. Owners report rear-ending risk in parking situations and emergency maneuvering.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TCM recall (Campaign 18V845000 or 22V413000) covers some vehicles, but owners report VIN exclusion from coverage despite having identical symptoms.
Transmission control module (TCM) failure
Transmission control module fails or becomes unresponsive, causing erratic shifting, inability to start vehicle, limp mode, or complete loss of gear engagement. Some owners report water contamination in transmission fluid leading to repeated TCM sensor replacements.
When: Can occur at various mileages; some owners report repeated failures within weeks of repair
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle will not start or difficult to start; unable to recognize park position; limp mode engaged; check engine light; transmission service required message; water in transmission fluid
Codes mentioned: P2837, P287B, TCM-related fault codes
Repairs/costs cited: TCM replacement; sensor replacement (owners report all 3 sensors replaced multiple times); some owners report water intrusion blamed on leaves in windshield wiper area. Parts frequently on back order.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford TSB addresses TCM issues; extended warranty to 10 years/150,000 miles in Program 14M02. Owners report dealerships claim incorrect transmission type and refuse coverage.
Hard shifting and slipping clutch
Transmission shifts hard or feels like clutch is slipping; gear engagement is abrupt or delayed. Vehicle hesitates to shift, creating jerking sensation. May occur intermittently or progressively worsen.
When: Present from early ownership in many cases; worsens over time
Symptoms owners cite: hard shifting between gears; clutch slipping sensation; grinding noise on engagement; delayed gear engagement; progressive worsening
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch replacement; transmission seal and assembly replacement. Multiple owners report second clutch replacement needed within 2–3 years of first repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Early complaints dismissed by dealers as 'normal for PowerShift transmission' or 'within limits.' Extended warranty programs eventually introduced but applied only to vehicles within specific manufacture date windows.
Fuel purge valve malfunction with power loss
Fuel purge valve fails, causing rough idle, intermittent power loss, sluggish acceleration, and engine stalling. Vehicle behavior erratic after fuel fill-up. Engine light triggered with engine failure codes.
When: Can occur intermittently or persistently; may be related to refueling
Symptoms owners cite: rough idle; sluggish acceleration; intermittent loss of power; hesitant start after refuel; engine light with failure message; struggles when accelerating
Codes mentioned: Engine failure codes
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement (in at least one case due to prior recall). Owners report dealership unwillingness to perform warranty repairs if check engine light not illuminated at time of service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships cite policy requiring check engine light to remain on for warranty recall repair; light goes off intermittently, making claim ineligible.
Synthesized from 655 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
The car wouldn't shift gears no reverse and when it finally did go into drive only 11 MPH
A known defect with the clutch is causing the transmission to slip when switching gears. Ford knows about this defect and yet did not issue a recall/extended warranty for all of the transmissions affected, only some. It's a $1500-$2000 repair and it's ridiculous that we should have to pay for their faulty machinery.
Shakes shutters since new have had in twice. Said both times not shaking or shuttering enough yet. Um im 52 I am a mechanic. We all know this is lemon I have owned numerous fords and would like this resolved
Having fuel problems with this ford se. Adding gas after starting the car it doesn't run right. It misses n doesn't have power. Plus Transmission went out two times again. First time it went out. It was about a year ago. Now the second time [XXX]. First time was about a year ago. It was repaired. Because I had a car warranty from the car dealer ship. Now they won't repair it again.…
[XXX] daughter was driving her car on I87 in Albany NY when oil pressure light went on and car speed dropped from 65 to less than 30 while in middle lane of interstate forcing her to cross over lanes onto shoulder roadway and exit ramp where it lost all power. Have learned that the oil belt system failed without any warning or notice causing incident. Have since learned that vehicle motor has…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal whining sound while shifting into gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where the transmission was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred while driving. The transmission was replaced a second time; however, the failure persisted. The…
Something wrong with the transmission the one that Ford extended warranty on and my car is a 2016 and Ford extended it 10 years and they said it ended a few months ago as well as the TCM replacement I didn't know about because I just purchased the vehicle a little over a year ago.
Car has been vibrating whenever accelerating since the first 6 months after it was purchased. Car was purchased in 2016. Started stalling a few months ago after any stops. Thought maybe transmission oil was low or dirty so I had it changed. Right after oil change check engine light came on and car began driving as it would get stuck. Had the car coded and it came back that the clutch was getting…
The 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has a well-documented shudder when beginning to accelerate- jerky motion, no or delayed motion, extreme shaking of the front of the car. It happens repeatedly. Ford has repaired this problem once, but the repair process was faulty, as the problem has returned. In 8/2019, Ford extended the warranty on the car to 7 years or 100,000 miles, for…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the gear shifter failed to shift out of park(P). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, but no failure was found. Additionally, while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle shuddered and vibrated while reversing and the transmission erroneously shifted into neutral(N). The contact stated that while driving…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2016 Ford Focus?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2016 Ford Focus?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 655 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 443 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 31,000 and 93,000 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 31,000; a quarter make it past 93,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Ford/Focus.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.