RoadVitals

2016 Ford Focus Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jul 1, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
<1%
of 1,176 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Jul 1, 2020

THE WIPERS STOP WORKING AND FREEZE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD CONSTANTLY!! BLOCKING VIEW FROM DRIVING. THE CAR SHUDDERS EVERY TIME YOU GO FROM A STOPPED POSITION. WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. BEEN TO THE FORD DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. NEVER GETS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID
11337066
Incident
Jun 30, 2020
Mileage
42,000 mi
SteeringVisibility
Filed Jun 14, 2020

I HAVE HAD THE CLUTCH IN THIS VEHICLE REPLACED 3 TIMES AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 37014 MILES. I HAVE HAD THE STEERING WHEEL REPLACED BECAUSE THE HEATED STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T WORK. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION MODULE REPROGRAMMED 3 TIMES. AND NOW MY BACKUP CAMERA SUDDENLY TURNS PITCH BLACK. IT'S RANDOM. I COULD JUST GO INTO REVERSE AND IT IS ALREADY PITCH BLACK. OR I COULD BE REVERSING WITH A CLEAR SCREEN AND THEN IT TURNS PITCH BLACK.

NHTSA ID
11328772
Incident
Jun 8, 2020
Visibility
Filed Dec 26, 2019

WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE IT WAS RAINING CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. COULDN'T CONTINUE TO DRIVE SO WAS PULLED OVER ON SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY UNTIL RAIN STOPPED. LATER WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE SWITCH WAS TURNED TO OFF POSITION AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF UNTIL FUSE WAS PULLED. HAVE REPLACED MOTORS AND SWITCH AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN REPAIRED. NO LONGER WORKING AT ALL WITH NO RESPONSE TO THE SWITCH AT ALL.

NHTSA ID
11291262
Incident
Dec 6, 2019
Mileage
106,328 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Jul 16, 2019

I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY HOME, AND MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO THROW THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND CRANK IT BACK UP AND SLAM IT INTO DRIVE AND SPEED OFF, BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO GET HIT BOTH DIRECTIONS. THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS HARD IN BETWEEN GEARS, STALLS OUT ON HILLS/ STRUGGLES ON HILLS, IT FAILS TO ACCELERATE IN THE MOMENT, THE CAR FAILS TO KNOW WHAT GEAR IT WANTS TO BE IN. THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING. I LIVE IN THE CITY A SMALL AREA NOT VERY POPULATED BUT I STILL DEAL WITH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE TRANSMISSION JERKS HARD IF YOU DON'T START MOVING AT A STEADY PACE. THE HIGHWAY THOUGH IT DOES RELATIVELY WELL, BUT THAT'S WHEN OTHER PROBLEMS START I HAVE LOSS OF POWER AT TIMES WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL, IT WILL BOUNCE BACK AND FOURTH LIKE I HAVE BAD GAS OR SOMETHING, IT ALSO HAS A VERY BAD GLITCH WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS (THEY HIT EACH OTHER). I HAVE HAD THE UPMOST PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR PRIMARILY THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL FOLKS. I DO HOWEVER FEEL THIS CAR IS SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD TO PEOPLE, I HAVE A "DONT BUY A FOCUS" STICKER GOING DOWN BOTH SIDES OF MY CARS WINDOWS. I'M STUCK WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE OF CREDIT ISSUES SO I'M GOING TO LET EVERYONE KNOW MY STORY IF I CAN SAVE THEM HAVING PROBLEMS NOT EVEN A YEAR AFTER BUYING THIS BRAND NEW FOCUS. ALL FORD HAD TO SAY IS IT'S A CLUTCH PROBLEM IF COMPLETELY SAFE. THAT'S EVEN WHEN I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE AND I DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE IT TILL THEY DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'M NOT ON TRANSMISSION CLUTCH SET #5 I'VE DEALT WITH SO MUCH LOST TIME BECAUSE OF THIS MATTER AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD COMPLETELY RESPONSIBLE. START DATE FOR THE PROBLEMS IS THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. DONT BUY A FOCUS!!!!

NHTSA ID
11232307
Incident
May 29, 2016
Mileage
24,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 2, 2018

THE WIPERS STOP WORKING IN MID SWEEP, SOMETIMES IT'S THE RIGHT SIDE, SOMETIMES THE LEFT. HAPPENS WHEN IT'S RAINING AND ALSO WHEN THE WINDSCREEN IS DRY. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU CAN'T SE THROUGH THE WIPER ASSEMBLY AND YOU CAN'T SEE THROUGH THE RAIN. CAR WAS IN MOTION DURING THE RAIN AND IN MOTION OR STATIONARY WHEN USED ON A DRY/DAMP WINDSCREEN.

NHTSA ID
11115486
Incident
Jul 28, 2018
Mileage
43,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Mar 8, 2018

WIPER BLADES STOPPING IN LINE OF SIGHT DURING RAIN AND SNOW CONDITIONS CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND NOT BEING FIXED. HAS REPLACED WINDSHIELD AND MOTORS AND STILL OCCURRING. VIDEO SHOWING PROBLEM NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND TIRED OF RICART NOT FIXING

NHTSA ID
11076807
Incident
Mar 8, 2018
Visibility
Filed Feb 10, 2018

WITH JUST OVER 5K MILES, OUR 2016 FOCUS HAS DEVELOPED A WIPER PROBLEM. THE DRIVER'S SIDE, TO BE EXACT. THE WIPER ARM WILL GO PAST IT'S NORMAL STOPPING POINT, & THEN LOCK UP. BUT SOMETIMES, IT WILL STOP MID WAY, WHILE THE RIGHT SIDE WIPER CONTINUES TO WORK. HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES ALREADY. THEY'VE MADE ADJUSTMENT, & REPAIRS, BUT IT CONTINUES TO MESS UP. EACH WIPER HAS AN INDEPENDENT MOTOR. BEGINNING TO THINK WE'VE BOUGHT A LEMON. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR SITTING STILL.

NHTSA ID
11072073
Incident
Feb 10, 2018
Mileage
5,400 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 25, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OCCASIONALLY STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR DURING A RAINSTORM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (STUCKEY FORD AND SUBARU, LOCATED AT 500 BROAD ST, HOLLIDAYSBURG, PA 16648; (814) 695-9862) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTORS NEEDED TO BE REDESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. ..UPDATED 10/25/17 *BF *JS

NHTSA ID
11019519
Incident
Aug 10, 2016
Mileage
1,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 3, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AT ANY SPEED, THE WIPER BLADES STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT MAKING A FULL CYCLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REGIONAL MANAGER WOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,500.

NHTSA ID
10983290
Incident
Apr 10, 2017
Mileage
5,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 23, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES WOULD STOP IN MID-USE. IN ORDER FOR THE BLADES TO CONTINUE OPERATING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL WOULD NEED TO BE TURNED AGAIN. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT DESIGNED TO OPERATE ON A DRY SURFACE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,900.

NHTSA ID
10947071
Incident
Jan 23, 2017
Mileage
14,900 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Jul 18, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LUNGING, THE RPM WENT ABNORMALLY HIGH, AND THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AFTER AN INSECT FLEW INTO A WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT ABNORMAL AS THOUGH IT WAS LACKING POWER DURING TURNS AND THROUGH NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS FRACTURED, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE OTHER FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,646. UPDATED 09/08/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID
10885606
Incident
Jan 4, 2016
Mileage
13,646 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .