2016 Ford Focus: hesitation when accelerating

Filed May 26, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · PA

We bought this vehicle from Carvana in February 2023. Since very early on owning this vehicle, the engine hesitated and stuttered when trying to shift from first to second gear, and would lunge forward slightly. In December 2024, I received a letter from Ford Motor Company about a customer satisfaction program, Campaign 24N07. The letter addressed the symptoms my vehicle exhibited, including engine hesitation, engine running rough, and engine stalling at low speeds, though the check engine light was not on. The letter states that Ford Motor Company provides a one-time replacement of the canister purge valve, given these symptoms and the check engine light being on. When I called all the local Ford dealerships, they refused to do it because the check engine light was not on, and that Ford Motor Company issued this as a customer satisfaction program, rather than a safety recall.Everything that was listed in Campaign 24N07 is MOST DEFINITELY a safety issue, and should not be taken lightly. It is highly concerning that Ford Motor Company didn’t think to consider ENGINE ISSUES a safety recall. The class action lawsuit Vargas et al v. Ford Motor Company had a deadline of November 4, 2020, which was 2 years and 3 months prior to us buying the vehicle, so any vehicles of the affected years and models should have been either repaired, or not allowed to be sold unless the repairs were done by an authorized Ford dealership. This information was not told to us when we bought the vehicle.On May 25, 2026, while driving, the engine fault and steering assist fault warnings came on, as well as the check engine light. When we were able to safely park the car, we discovered the entire power train is non operational. The engine no longer turns over, and we are now having to buy a new car.

Filed May 21, 2026 · Transmission · TN

My car Transmission dual clutch went out in 2024. Car makes a loud winding noise car hesitate when stops Yes,confirmed by dealership and Coleman's transmission. Yes, by the manufacturer. No warning lamps or messages.

Filed Mar 27, 2026 · Transmission · MA

The powertrain/transmission in my 2016 Ford Focus is malfunctioning. Specifically, the vehicle shudders and hesitates when accelerating in low gears, causing delayed engagement and unpredictable power delivery. This issue occurs at low speeds, such as when entering traffic or moving through intersections, creating a potential safety risk for myself and other drivers. The problem has been officially diagnosed by a Ford dealership as a transmission/clutch issue, with a repair estimate of approximately $3,700. The issue has been reproduced consistently and confirmed by the dealer. No warning lights appeared prior to the malfunction, but the shuddering and hesitation are noticeable during normal driving. The vehicle currently has approximately 26,000 miles, which is very low for transmission failure, and the manufacturer has denied goodwill assistance despite the early and confirmed failure.

Filed Feb 5, 2026 · Transmission · TX

The vehicle experienced failure of the DPS6 dual-clutch automatic transmission. The transmission began slipping during acceleration, hesitating between gear engagement, and triggering a “Transmission Overheat” warning. Eventually, the vehicle lost the ability to reliably shift between Drive and Reverse and would not consistently engage gears. The vehicle can start and move forward but cannot reliably switch directions within the same ignition cycle. The vehicle is available for inspection. The transmission malfunction created safety concerns due to delayed or failed acceleration when entering traffic. The vehicle hesitated and slipped under throttle input, which could prevent timely acceleration when merging or crossing intersections. Additionally, the inability to reliably shift between Drive and Reverse could create hazardous situations in parking lots or emergency maneuvering scenarios. The sudden transmission overheat warning and gear disengagement could result in loss of power in traffic. The issue has been confirmed by an independent mechanic who diagnosed transmission failure. The vehicle has a known history of prior clutch replacement under similar symptoms. The transmission malfunction is consistent with documented DPS6 transmission failures in 2016 Ford Focus models. The vehicle has been inspected by an independent service center. The manufacturer has not inspected the vehicle. Prior to failure, the vehicle exhibited shuddering during acceleration from a stop, particularly at low speeds. This condition has been intermittently present for several years following a prior clutch replacement. In the days leading up to failure, the vehicle experienced difficulty accelerating and hesitation under throttle. A “Transmission Overheat” warning message appeared while driving. After cooling, the vehicle temporarily resumed operation but subsequently lost reliable gear engagement.

Filed Sep 25, 2025 · Transmission · 108,000 miles · AZ

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated. The contact also stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to make a left or right turn, the lost motive power. An independent mechanic was contacted, and the vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic retrieved DTC: P2872 (Clutch "A" Stuck Engaged). The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 14N02 (Extended Warranty Coverage for PCM Reprograming in the Event of ABS Vehicle Speed Signal Related Communication Loss that Disables OBDII System Monitors); however, the VIN was not included in the CSP. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and informed the contact that the VIN was not under warranty or recall. The failure mileage was 108,000.

Filed Aug 8, 2025 · Engine · 40,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the RPMs became drastically elevated, and the vehicle shut off unintendedly. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over, and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and after three days the contact attempted to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle started without hesitation, and the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer to be diagnosed; however, there was no cause for the failure found. The vehicle not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

Filed Jul 30, 2025 · Transmission · NY

Additional information related to a case I opened earlier today Vehicle: 2016 Ford Focus SE Component: PowerTrain – Transmission My 2016 Ford Focus has experienced three failed clutch packs with the Ford DPS6 PowerShift transmission. The first clutch was replaced at ~22,000 miles, the second at ~27,500 miles, and it now requires a third replacement at 80,000 miles. This is a known and dangerous defect that was part of a class-action lawsuit. Despite multiple replacements and low mileage, Ford is requiring me to pay over $4,000 for a third repair. This transmission causes slipping, hesitation, and safety issues when pulling into traffic or hills. I am requesting that the federal safety agency re-investigate or expand the scope of past complaints on this vehicle to include continued post-settlement failures.

Filed Jul 17, 2025 · Engine · 130,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop or while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked, hesitated, experienced difficulty shifting into gears and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch actuator had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the part was previously replaced under Ford Customer Satisfaction Program Number: 19N08. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Filed Jun 9, 2025 · Transmission · 131,206 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and then jerked into the next gear. The contact stated that the hesitation occurred at various speeds. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while slowing down, the vehicle hesitated, and then the transmission downshifted, and the vehicle jerked. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 131,206.

Filed May 2, 2025 · Transmission · 134,000 miles · MO

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly jolted and hesitated before returning to normal functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the clutch motor. The vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 16V479000 (Power Train); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 134,000.

Filed Apr 29, 2025 · Transmission · IL

The transmission (powertrain) on my 2016 Ford Focus SE (VIN: [XXX] ) has had persistent issues since shortly after I purchased the car in April 2022. It has not completely failed yet, but the symptoms — including shuddering, slipping, jerking, and hesitation when accelerating or shifting — have worsened over time. It uses a dual-clutch transmission with no dipstick, making it difficult to properly monitor or service. The vehicle is in my possession and available for inspection upon request. Due to the unpredictable and unsafe driving behavior, I have stopped driving the vehicle altogether and have not driven it in over a month. The car hesitates when shifting, especially at stop signs or when merging into traffic, creating serious safety concerns for myself and others. The issue has been reproduced multiple times and addressed at the CarMax dealership in Tinley Park, IL, where I bought the car. However, their repairs were only temporary, and the problem returned. Because the car is now outside of their warranty period, they refuse to inspect it without charging a diagnostic fee. I also contacted Ford Customer Service, but was told that since there is no current recall, I would need to pay out of pocket and that no assistance could be offered. There were no warning lights or messages at the start of the issue, which began within 60–90 days of ownership. The transmission symptoms have been present ever since, and have progressively worsened. This is clearly part of a wider transmission issue with the 2016 Focus, as supported by numerous consumer complaints and lawsuits. I urge the federal safety agency to investigate and take appropriate action, including consideration of a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 25, 2025 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · CT

The contact's daughter owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with a defective clutch module. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair and was later referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V845000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.