2016 Ford Focus Engine Problems
Owners have filed 234 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2016 Ford Focus, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 53,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “purge valve” (8% of reports).
- 234engine complaints
- 53,000median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Purge valve: mentioned in 18 of 234 complaints (8%)
- Fuel gasoline: mentioned in 13 of 234 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 131 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 234 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 5 an injury.
Ford Focus engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Focus | 232 | 28% | 52,500 |
| 2017 Focus | 229 | 25% | 63,000 |
| 2016 Focus | 234 | 20% | 53,000 |
| 2015 Focus | 173 | 17% | 65,000 |
| 2014 Focus | 442 | 17% | 51,000 |
| 2013 Focus | 344 | 16% | 49,529 |
| 2012 Focus | 475 | 13% | 62,000 |
| 2011 Focus | 3 | 3% | 58,000 |
| 2010 Focus | 42 | 15% | 49,335 |
| 2009 Focus | 16 | 7% | 54,000 |
| 2008 Focus | 14 | 6% | 83,000 |
| 2007 Focus | 6 | 2% | 65,000 |
| 2006 Focus | 2 | 1% | 50,651 |
| 2005 Focus | 11 | 2% | 81,500 |
| 2004 Focus | 13 | 3% | 145,275 |
| 2003 Focus | 18 | 2% | 111,500 |
| 2002 Focus | 16 | 2% | 127,500 |
| 2001 Focus | 32 | 2% | 122,000 |
| 2000 Focus | 16 | 0% | 137,481 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Problem: 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.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Problem: 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.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pump
Problem: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The vehicle is subject to NHTSA Safety Recall Campaign 18V-735 (Ford Recall 18S32) regarding a defective Canister Purge Valve (CPV) that causes fuel vapor saturation, excessive fuel tank vacuum, fuel tank deformation, and engine stalling.The vehicle presented with an active check engine light for…
I was driving 75mph down i-10 at 11:30pm and my focus sunddenly died, i had to push the car to the shoulder. Information flashed not in park and started ghostly trying to start on its own, i believe the tcm failed. I had to have it towed.
The car would not accelerate when pressing accelerator, they said the clutch assembly malfunctioned, confirmed by documentation. Myself and others had our safety at risk because the car could not be controlled properly while on the road. The car was taken to the dealer and they confirmed the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 Ford Focuss have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 234 owner complaints about engine for the 2016 Ford Focus (20% of the 1,183 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Ford Focus engine?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 53,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2016 Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “purge valve”, in 18 of 234 complaints, followed by “fuel gasoline” (13).
Other 2016 Ford Focus problems
See all 2016 Ford Focus problems or engine problems across all Focus years.