Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
5 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2024
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
When on freeway car suddenly displays an alert saying Stop safely now And will shut off , while driving makes it impossible to properly control the car . It has done this on multiple occasions, On the freeway , on residential streets and also when starting from park and proceeding to drive car has suddenly stopped and unab…
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When on freeway car suddenly displays an alert saying Stop safely now And will shut off , while driving makes it impossible to properly control the car . It has done this on multiple occasions, On the freeway , on residential streets and also when starting from park and proceeding to drive car has suddenly stopped and unable to restart right away
NHTSA ODI #11599912
Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2023
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
The Body Control Module controlling the lights, hatch, and door lock/unlock malfunctioned. Its a serious safety issue when the lights go out unexpectedly while driving.
NHTSA ODI #11502673
31,000 miles · Apr 1, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine
IT RAINED, AND CAR STOPPED. NO MOTIVE POWER. A RED WARNING, "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE ON DASH. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 20-2004 TO PUT ON A SPLASH SHIELD TO KEEP THE 318VOLT (HIGH!) CONNECTOR FROM BEING HIT BY WATER, BUT THE DEALERSHIP JUST PUT ON A BIG 350 AMP FUSE AND PUT THE CAR BACK IN …
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IT RAINED, AND CAR STOPPED. NO MOTIVE POWER. A RED WARNING, "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE ON DASH. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 20-2004 TO PUT ON A SPLASH SHIELD TO KEEP THE 318VOLT (HIGH!) CONNECTOR FROM BEING HIT BY WATER, BUT THE DEALERSHIP JUST PUT ON A BIG 350 AMP FUSE AND PUT THE CAR BACK IN SERVICE. THE FUSE BLEW DUE TO WATER INTRUSION. TREATED A SIDE EFFECT, NOT THE MAIN PROBLEM. THEY REFUSED TO DO WHAT WAS IN TSB 20-2004 & FSA 16B02. THE ATTACHED PICTURE SHOWS HOW CLOSE THE TIRE IS TO THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY CONNECTOR! FORD KNOWS THIS, BUT NO RECALL, AND DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX.
NHTSA ODI #11319990
10,000 miles · Sep 20, 2019
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CHARGER CABLE OVERHEATED AND BURNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURN MARK ON THE OUTLET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO SPARKS OR FLAMES WERE SEEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CHARGER CABLE OVERHEATED AND BURNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURN MARK ON THE OUTLET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO SPARKS OR FLAMES WERE SEEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V592000 (EQUIPMENT); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE YEAR WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LARRY H. MILLER FORD LINCOLN DRAPER (11442 LONE PEAK PKWY, DRAPER, UT 84020, (801) 590-0561), BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
NHTSA ODI #11256941
300 miles · Apr 4, 2017
Power Train
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW ON 3/17/17. A SAFTEY RECALL (16V479) HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ISSUED FOR THE VEHICLE BACK IN JUNE 2016. THE DEALER SOLD ME THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER A STOP-SALE RECALL IN VIOLATION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT. A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER ASKED ME TO TAKE IT IN FO…
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I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW ON 3/17/17. A SAFTEY RECALL (16V479) HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ISSUED FOR THE VEHICLE BACK IN JUNE 2016. THE DEALER SOLD ME THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER A STOP-SALE RECALL IN VIOLATION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT. A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER ASKED ME TO TAKE IT IN FOR WARRANTY WORK. I HAVE NOT HAD USE OF THE VEHICLE FOR THE WEEK SINCE AND AM BEING TOLD THAT IT MAY TAKE 2 MORE WEEKS FOR THE REPAIR WORK TO BE COMPLETED. THE DEALER VIOLATED THE LAW AND THE STOP-SALE RECALL ORDER ON THE VIN BY SELLING ME THE VEHICLE BEFORE THIS REPAIR WORK WAS DONE. I PAID FOR THE VEHICLE, BUT WILL HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO USE IT FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK OVER THE COURSE OF THE FIRST MONTH. NEWS REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE NHTSA HAS FINED DEALERS IN THE PAST FOR THIS.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Ford Focus Electric vehicles manufactured August 20, 2015, through April 13, 2016. The transmission's differential pinion gear shaft may overheat and fracture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fractured pinion shaft could cause a loss of motive power and loss of the transmission park function, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission differential assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S28.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
2016 Ford Focus Electric Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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