How common are electrical problems in the 2016 Ford Focus?

NHTSA lists 86 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Focus, which is 7% of the 1,181 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for 2016 Ford Focus electrical issues?

No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this complaint area.

At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this complaint area is 50,000 miles.

Did the electrical problems cause any crashes or fires?

NHTSA data tied to this complaint area for the 2016 Focus includes 1 crash, 1 fire, and 1 injury among the reports.

How does 2016 compare to other Focus years for electrical complaints?

The 2016 Focus's 7% share is lower than 2010 (15%), 2011 (22%), 2012 (10%), 2013 (13%), and 2014 (10%), but higher than 2017 (5%) and close to 2018 (6%).

2016 Ford Focus Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 86 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Ford Focus, 7% of its 1,181 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 50,000. No recall is linked to this complaint area.

Electrical System complaints: 86; 7% of 1,181
Crashes reported: 1
Fires reported: 1
Injuries reported: 1
Median mileage: 50,000 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

Owners describe sudden RPM spikes paired with a loss of power and violent jerking or shuddering, especially when accelerating from a stop.
Some report rodents chewing through wiring, which owners attribute to soybean-based wire coating, causing inoperable vehicles and fire concerns.
Several complaints describe transmission shudder tied to a referenced service bulletin, along with unresponsive infotainment display and steering-wheel call buttons.
Owners report stalling with no restart, accompanied by a battery warning light and no diagnostic error code found by technicians.
A few complaints mention headlights that do not illuminate brightly enough, with dealers unable to resolve the issue.
One owner described windshield wiper blades stopping mid-sweep during rain or snow, even after motor and windshield replacement.

When 2016 Ford Focus electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 18, 2016, latest Jul 7, 2026.

86 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2021 Q1 (7).

Electrical System recalls for the 2016 Ford Focus

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Focus model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

201043 (15%)
201125 (22%)
2012370 (10%)
2013282 (13%)
2014252 (10%)
201565 (6%)
201686 (7%)
201741 (5%)
201852 (6%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are electrical problems in the 2016 Ford Focus?: NHTSA lists 86 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Focus, which is 7% of the 1,181 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2016 Ford Focus electrical issues?: No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this complaint area.
At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this complaint area is 50,000 miles.
Did the electrical problems cause any crashes or fires?: NHTSA data tied to this complaint area for the 2016 Focus includes 1 crash, 1 fire, and 1 injury among the reports.
How does 2016 compare to other Focus years for electrical complaints?: The 2016 Focus's 7% share is lower than 2010 (15%), 2011 (22%), 2012 (10%), 2013 (13%), and 2014 (10%), but higher than 2017 (5%) and close to 2018 (6%).