If you're hunting for a used car that doesn't break the bank, the 2016 Ford Focus is probably all over your search results. It’s sleek. It’s everywhere. Honestly, it looks way more modern than a decade-old car has any right to. But before you go dropping five or six grand on one, there is some serious baggage you need to know about. This isn't just about "routine maintenance."
The 2016 model year was a weird turning point for Ford. They were trying to balance that "fun to drive" European handling with a fuel-sipping transmission that, frankly, ended up being a nightmare for thousands of owners. Yet, people still buy them. Why? Because when they work, they are genuinely some of the best-handling small cars ever made. It’s a complicated relationship.
The Elephant in the Room: That PowerShift Transmission
Let’s get the scary part out of the way first. If you’ve spent five minutes on a car forum, you’ve heard about the "shudder."
The 2016 Ford Focus uses a dual-clutch transmission (DCT) called the PowerShift. Ford marketed it as an automatic, but internally, it’s basically two manual transmissions working together with a computer-controlled clutch. It was supposed to be fast and efficient. Instead, it became the subject of massive class-action lawsuits.
Owners reported the car bucking like a bronco at red lights. Some felt a terrifying loss of power while merging onto highways. Ford issued several Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) and extended the warranty on the Transmission Control Module (TCM) for many of these cars.
But here is the nuanced truth: not every 2016 Focus is a lemon.
If you find a manual version—the 5-speed or the 6-speed in the ST—you are golden. Those cars are bulletproof. The issues are almost exclusively tied to the automatic. If you’re looking at an automatic, you have to check the service history. Has the TCM been replaced? Were the clutch packs swapped out for the "updated" versions? If the owner says, "Oh, it's always been a bit jerky," run. Don't walk. Run.
Why People Actually Love Driving This Thing
Forget the transmission for a second. Let's talk about the chassis.
Ford’s engineers in Europe did something magical with the suspension on the 2016 Ford Focus. Even the base SE trim feels "zippy." It’s communicative. You turn the wheel, and the car actually goes where you point it without that mushy, boat-like feeling you get in a contemporary Corolla.
The 2.0-liter Ti-VCT GDI four-cylinder engine is actually a solid piece of hardware. It puts out about 160 horsepower. It’s not a rocket, but for a daily commuter? It’s plenty. It feels punchy in the mid-range.
Then there’s the interior. By 2016, Ford had started moving away from the "button-mashing" disaster of the early 2010s. If you find a model with the SYNC 3 infotainment system, you’re in luck. It was a massive leap over the previous MyFord Touch. It’s responsive. It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (on later builds or via a quick USB hub update). That alone makes the car feel five years newer than it actually is.
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Real Talk on Cabin Space
It's tight.
If you are over six feet tall, the person sitting behind you is going to have a bad time. The 2016 Focus has a "cockpit" feel, which is cool for the driver but feels cramped for everyone else. The dashboard is deep, taking up a lot of real estate.
But the hatchback? That’s where the utility is. You can fit a surprising amount of IKEA gear in there with the seats down. It’s one of those cars that looks small on the outside but carries a mountain of groceries without breaking a sweat.
The Trim Levels: What’s Worth Your Cash?
Most 2016 Focuses on the market are the SE. It’s the middle-of-the-road choice. You get alloy wheels, cruise control, and maybe some nice fog lights.
But there are some outliers you should look for:
- The S Trim: Total rental car spec. Steel wheels with plastic covers. Basic radio. Avoid it unless you just need a "point A to point B" appliance and found one for $3,000.
- The Titanium: This is the fancy one. Leather seats, Sony sound system, dual-zone climate control. It feels like a budget luxury car. If the transmission is healthy, this is the best value for your money.
- The 1.0L EcoBoost: This is a weird one. It’s a three-cylinder engine. It’s surprisingly torquey and gets incredible gas mileage. Most importantly, it often came with a traditional torque-converter automatic or a manual, avoiding the DCT drama entirely. If you see an "EcoBoost" badge that isn't an ST, pay attention. It might be the most reliable version of the car.
Safety and Long-Term Durability
Safety-wise, the 2016 Ford Focus held up well. The IIHS gave it "Good" ratings in most categories, though it struggled a bit with the small overlap front test, which was common for cars designed in that era. It has a heavy, solid feel to the doors. It doesn't feel like a tin can.
Mechanically, besides the gearbox, these cars are pretty stout.
The suspension bushings might start squeaking around 80,000 miles.
The motor mounts are known to wear out, leading to some vibration in the cabin.
But these are cheap fixes.
I’ve seen plenty of these cars with the 2.0L engine hit 200,000 miles. The engine itself is rarely the thing that kills a Focus; it’s usually the cost of a transmission repair exceeding the car's value.
The Performance Legends: ST and RS
We can't talk about the 2016 Ford Focus without mentioning the Focus ST and the legendary Focus RS.
The ST is the "Goldilocks" hot hatch. 252 horsepower. A 6-speed manual that feels like clicking a bolt-action rifle. It has "torque steer," which means if you floor it, the steering wheel tries to wrestle you. It’s hilarious and fun.
The RS? That’s the halo car. All-wheel drive. 350 horsepower. Drift mode. In 2016, these were the king of the mountain. However, early 2016 RS models had a massive head gasket issue where the factory accidentally used gaskets meant for the Mustang EcoBoost engine. Most have been fixed under recall, but if you’re buying an RS, you must verify the "17B32" field service action was completed.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think the 2016 Ford Focus is a "cheap" car. It wasn't. When new, it was priced to compete with the Golf and the Mazda3. It was meant to be a premium small car.
The "cheapness" only comes into play now because the resale value plummeted due to the transmission reputation. This creates a unique opportunity for buyers. If you know how to drive a manual, you can get a high-quality, European-engineered car for a fraction of what you’d pay for a Honda Civic of the same year.
It’s basically a "hacker" car. You’re exploiting the bad reputation of the automatic to get a great deal on the chassis.
Practical Steps Before You Buy
If you’ve found a 2016 Ford Focus that looks tempting, do not just kick the tires. You need a strategy.
First, get the VIN. Take it to a Ford dealer or use an online tracker to see if the TSBs have been performed. Check if the "clutch shudder" was ever documented.
Second, do a specific test drive. You don't just drive around the block. You need to find a hill. Stop on the incline and let the car crawl forward without using the gas. If it vibrates or feels like it's "slipping," that transmission is on its way out. Also, pay attention to the shift from 1st to 2nd gear. It should be crisp, not hesitant.
Third, check the "Grounding Point." A common DIY fix for the 2016 model’s electrical gremlins involves cleaning the paint off the main ground wire under the airbox. If the car has weird radio glitches or flickering lights, it’s often just a $0.05 sanding job, not a $500 alternator.
Fourth, look at the tires. The Focus is sensitive to alignment. If the inside of the tires is bald, the rear control arms might be sagging—a common high-mileage Focus trait.
Final Verdict on the 2016 Ford Focus
So, is it worth it?
If you want a car you can just ignore and drive for five years with zero thought, buy a Corolla.
But if you actually enjoy driving—if you like the feeling of a car that hugs corners and has some personality—the 2016 Ford Focus is a steal, provided you buy the manual or the 1.0L EcoBoost. It’s a stylish, fuel-efficient, and genuinely fun machine that got a bad rap because of one specific (albeit major) component.
Avoid the DCT if you can't verify its history. If you do buy the automatic, drive it "firmly." These transmissions actually hate "creeping" in traffic; they prefer decisive throttle inputs to help the clutches engage fully.
It's a car for people who know what they're looking at. It's a car for the savvy buyer who wants more for less and isn't afraid to do a little homework. Just make sure that homework includes a thorough pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic who knows Ford’s small-car quirks inside and out.
Actionable Insights for Owners and Buyers
- Check the Build Date: Cars manufactured later in the 2016 cycle often had slightly better seal designs in the transmission than the early-build units.
- Update the Software: Even if the transmission feels okay, ensure the dealership has flashed the latest TCM software; it significantly changes the shift logic to preserve the life of the clutches.
- Manual Swap Dreams: If you find an ST or a standard 5-speed manual, buy it. The depreciation from the automatic's reputation has unfairly dragged down the price of the reliable manuals, making them one of the best used-car values on the market today.
- Battery Health is Key: The Focus is notoriously sensitive to low voltage. A dying battery will make the transmission act like it's failing when it’s actually just a computer getting bad data. Replace your battery every 3-4 years regardless of how it "feels."