2016 Ford Focus acceleration problems

Filed Feb 11, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · 150,000 miles · AR

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. While operating the vehicle, the vehicle was shaking abnormally while idling, while low on fuel, while driving long distances, or while driving uphill. The vehicle shut off unexpectedly intermittently. On several occasions, the RPM increased; however, the vehicle failed to respond, and the vehicle eventually stalled. The accelerator pedal was depressed to the floorboard, but the vehicle failed to respond. The brake pedal became firm. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped and restarted several times or shut down unintendedly. After refueling, the contact had to wait for approximately 2 to 10 minutes before the vehicle responded as needed. Occasionally, the contact had to wait for over an hour before the vehicle was restarted. The check engine warning light illuminated intermittently and later turned off. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine revved excessively without the vehicle responding as needed. An abnormal sound was coming from the vehicle. The Oxygen sensor error code was displayed. The failure persisted over time. The vehicle was previously repaired at an unknown dealer under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). Additionally, the high-pressure fuel pump was replaced. The local dealer was not contacted regarding the current failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Jan 23, 2026 · Acceleration, Transmission · UT

When driving my car all of a sudden it loses power almost like it’s struggling to go but the RPM revs up and makes a loud noise and my car kind of got stuck for a minute and there were cars behind me then it started going but every couple minutes it would do that again rev up really loud even when I barely push the gas and lose power and then go I have no idea why it was doing that I took it to get it looked at, but there was no light on then a light finally came on and it came up with P07A3. Transmission friction element A stuck on. It starts end doing that with no notice. Light came on later after I tried to get it scanned. There seems to be extended warranty satisfaction things offered on vehicles at the same time mine was made. Same vehicle. But my number is not on the vin recall. But it exhibits same symptoms. The ford customer satisfaction program 14m02 covers same issues but my vin is not listed. This is a driving hazard unsafe that I feel is issues from their manufacturing.

Filed Aug 6, 2025 · Acceleration, Engine · NY

2016 Ford Focus, VIN: [XXX] Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (TCM) This complaint details a recurring and severe safety defect in our 2016 Ford Focus. The vehicle's Transmission Control Module (TCM) has failed twice, resulting in sudden, complete loss of power and dangerous stalling incidents at highway speeds. In January 2023, at approximately 8,000 miles, the vehicle suddenly lost all propulsion while traveling on a highway. We were forced to execute a dangerous emergency maneuver across lanes of traffic to reach the shoulder. A Ford dealership diagnosed a failed TCM which had, in turn, caused the clutch to burn out. In July 2025, after only 7,000 additional miles (total vehicle mileage ~15,000), the identical, catastrophic failure occurred again. The vehicle once more stalled without warning on a major highway, creating another life-threatening situation. The diagnostic codes confirmed the same TCM and clutch failure, proving the issue is a persistent, underlying defect and not a random occurrence. This failure is entirely consistent with the widely-documented defect in Ford's Powershift (DPS6) transmission. This problem has been the subject of multiple national class-action lawsuits and is detailed in thousands of other consumer complaints filed. The repeated failure in our low-mileage vehicle underscores that this is a predictable and systemic design flaw that makes the vehicle inherently unsafe. We attempted to address this critical safety failure directly with Ford Motor Company. Our concerns were met with dismissal, and despite being issued a case number, Ford has failed to respond to our calls registered letter. This vehicle is unsafe to operate. We are filing this complaint to implore the federal safety agency to launch a formal investigation into this defect. The repeated, sudden loss of power presents an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death to occupants and other motorists. We believe a mandatory recall is urgently required. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATI

Filed Mar 11, 2025 · Acceleration, Transmission · TX

My vehicle started having issues with the transmission, like shifting issues while starting to accelerate , not going into gear while I am accelerating as well as going in and out of gear in current speed levels with the flow of traffic. It would go from a drive engagement to neutral and would cause me to be in dangerous situations while having passengers in my car as well as my children. I do Lyft an Uber as a current profession, and the last 10 rides that I have given people have been put in positions of compromise or danger due to the shifting issues. After googling issues online, I discovered my Transmission has had various online complaints of Same danger issues. I had 2 Mechanics also verify the issues as well. I contacted ford customer service and they have denied any issues or any recalls attached to my vin. After speaking with ford they said my vehicle was made after the cut off. My transmission DPS6 is the same model that was given extended warranty or repair or Replacement. The documents I found state that the DPS6 automatic transmission was covered under these manufacture dates: August 1, 2010 through November 5, 2015. After speaking with the Ford customer service agent she had mentioned that my car was built December 23, 2015. Which includes the same transmission as stated previously. The program where I found this information is on your website specifically. Program 14M02. Please add all transmissions affected by this situation to the timeline of the warranty extension. My vehicle would fall within the warranty extension of what is listed on the form below of up to 10 years and 150,000 miles considering it is only nine years old with 125,000 miles. Due to it being the same exact transmission, I feel that it is very unfair that it was not included in the extension of this warranty coverage. Please reconsider in adding that coverage to my VIN number. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 8, 2024 · Acceleration, Transmission · OH

The car is shuddering on acceleration. RPM currently rises and falls in an unnatural manner. Loss of power and gas mileage. This appears to be the same issue that other 2016 ford focuses are covered by.

Filed Aug 2, 2024 · Acceleration, Engine · 51,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle was slow to respond. The contact stated that the gears were lagging while shifting. While driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle shut down. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact noticed that the coolant reservoir was empty. The contact added coolant. There was no indication of a coolant leak. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Jul 15, 2024 · Acceleration, Engine · NC

When accelerating or breaking, my cars transmission would slip causing me to slow down whiled driving. Also, my check engine light has came on. It goes on and off unexpectedly. Car shutters and shakes when accelerating.

Filed Feb 24, 2024 · Acceleration, Engine · CA

I tried taking out the car and It completely stalled and went into neutral when driving . Ford has a recall for ford focus 2014-2016 but apparently mines not one.

Filed Jan 15, 2024 · Acceleration, Transmission · MI

This is my second time reporting this the first time I reported this the person I talked to on the phone inaccurately put what I said and didn’t put what I said. I was on my way back home from a little road trip and I had approached a stop sign and had come to a full stop. When It was safe I took off and my car stuttered and had loss of power and became jerky, started to buck and would have delay and sudden burst of acceleration and it felt like the transmission was slipping. And the message transmission fault service now and my check engine light came on. I proceeded to pull over and let my car sit for a bit and turned off and on my car and the warming message went away. When I started driving again my car continued to have the same issues as well as reving high and not speeding up then randomly shifting and suddenly accelerating

Filed Oct 14, 2023 · Acceleration, Engine · NY

the car shut off doing 60mph it was very scary took it to mechanic it had 2 codes the check engine light was on they cleaned the throttle body it ran but was struggling and rough idling drove to work and it wanted to stall multiple times put it in neutral to get idle up at a light then it stalled at a light drove home very afraid that it would shut off again took to the same mechanic to explain what happened have appt for estimate to fix . i need this car for work and am very scared to drive it as is never know when it will shut off called the dealer that sold me the car and all they said was theres no recalls and bring it in. i had an extended warranty but they said i was over by 1000 miles so no warranty i wont drive it there its a long drive. driving for many years i have never felt unsafe in a vehicle before this is very dangerous and needs to be resolved asap . also still have a loan for this car that i cant drive along with the repair costs my wife called ford directly and they said theres no recall and werent helpful at all