YearToAvoid

2016 Ford Focus Electric Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#5 most-complained of 6 Focus Electric years

The 2016 Ford Focus Electric has 5 NHTSA complaints, 1 recall, and a complaint index of 20, ranking it Best among the 6 model years with data. Electrical System issues make up 80% of complaints.

Complaints
5
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
105
110 city / 99 hwy

Top 2016 Ford Focus Electric problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System4 (80%)
  2. Engine2 (40%)
  3. Other1 (20%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain1 (20%)

What owners report

  • Charger cable overheated and burned while parked and plugged in, with a burn mark left on the outlet but no sparks or flames.
  • Vehicle lost motive power after rain, showing a "stop safely now" dash warning before being towed to a dealership.
  • A high-voltage connector experienced water intrusion that blew a 350 amp fuse, stopping the car.
  • Body Control Module malfunctioned, causing lights, hatch, and door lock/unlock functions to fail unexpectedly while driving.
  • Vehicle displayed a "stop safely now" alert and shut off unexpectedly on the freeway and residential streets, then failed to restart right away.
  • A transmission differential issue tied to an open recall caused loss of vehicle use shortly after purchase.
2016 Ford Focus Electric complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2017Sep 2019Apr 2020Jan 2023Jul 2024
8 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2017 to Jul 2024; peak Jul 2024 (3).

2016 Ford Focus Electric recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V479000Jun 28, 2016Transmission & Powertrain865 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:differential unit

    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.

    Risk: 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.

2016 Ford Focus Electric fuel economy and fuel cost

City
110 MPG
Highway
99 MPG
Combined
105 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Electricity
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other Focus Electric years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Avoid80552105
2015Good40122105
2016Best2051105
2017Best070107

All Ford Focus Electric years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Ford Focus Electric reliable?
NHTSA lists only 5 complaints and 1 recall for the 2016 Focus Electric, giving it a complaint index of 20 — the second-lowest of the 6 model years with data, with a Best verdict relative to other years.
What is the main problem area for the 2016 Ford Focus Electric?
The Electrical System accounts for 80% of complaints, including a charging-related fire and a stop-safely-now shutdown reported by owners.
Does the 2016 Ford Focus Electric have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 16V479000) covers a transmission differential pinion gear shaft that could overheat and fail.
How does the 2016 model compare to other Focus Electric years?
The 2016 model's complaint index of 20 is far lower than 2013's 100 and 2014's 80, both rated Avoid, making 2016 one of the better years.
Was anyone hurt in the reported 2016 Focus Electric incidents?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths for the 2016 model year, though 1 fire incident involving a charger cable was reported.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.