There are 14 owner-reported tires & wheels complaints for the 2016 Ford Focusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
While attempting to change front brake pads, I couldn't get any of my sockets, of which I have multiple sets of both SAE and Metric, none would fit the lug nuts. After talking with a Ford dealership parts department, I was informed that the lug nuts swell and beating a socket onto the lug nuts was the only way to get them off the vehicle. This is unacceptable, and it was lucky that I wasn't trying to change a tire in the middle of the night. I immediately bought after-market lug nuts to replace them on the vehicle at a cost well over $100. This is unacceptable.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Control Contact Tour A/S Plus, Tire Size: 215/50/R15, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, an abnormal rattling sound was coming from the rear driver’s side tire. The low tire pressure message appeared on the instrument panel. The rear driver’s side tread had separated, causing the vehicle to swerve to the right. The contact struck her head on the driver’s side window and sustained an injury to her head, left thumb, and neck. The contact had not sought medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the tire was replaced. The contact stated that the tire was a replacement tire. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The tire failure mileage was approximately 1,300. The vehicle failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
The issue is the lug nuts have a swelling effect and the problem is they are hard to if not impossible to remove and the cost to replace them all is expensive
Three of the five lug nut studs on my front passenger side wheel broke off.
This is a lug nut-related complaint regarding the swelling and distorting of your tire factory installed lug nuts. I was not able to be remove lugnuts with the cars provided lug wrench. I was left stranded in a parking lot with a flat tire and had to drive the car with the flat tire to a local Firestone dealer, to have them remove and replace the damaged tire because I couldn't remove the tire after several attempts. an hour later I had several people try and help, It was a nightmare with my 90 year old mother. I should contact a lawyer, this is very unsafe if stranded on the highway. Ford needs to recall and replace all lug nuts. ASAP!
Lug nuts have expanded and have to be replaced. This is a known safety issue and a recall needs to take place.
When driving on a residential street, the wheel snapped and a truck parked in the neighborhood was almost hit (scraped the rim of the truck). Luckily, the incident did not happen once I got onto a faster road.
FOUND OUT MY VEHICLE HAD 2 PIECE LUG NUTS WHICH ARE DAMAGED WHEN REMOVED AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED WITH ONE PIECE LUG NUTS WHICH ARE $8.00 PER PIECE. AT 5 NUTS PER WHEEL ON 4 WHEELS THAT COMES TO $160.00. CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE(DAMAGED TIRE).02/12/
THE LUG NUTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE IMPROPERLY DESIGNED, AND THIS ISSUE IS WELL KNOW BY THE FORD DEALER, (FELIX SABATES FORD, CHARLOTTE, NC) AND TIRE SHOPS SUCH AS GOODYEAR. THE ALUMINUM OVER-CAP ON THEM BECOMES "SWELLED" AND DEFORMED TO THE POINT THAT A LUG WRENCH WILL NOT FIT ON THEM, AFTER ONLY A FEW USES. THIS CAN BE MORE THAN JUST A NUISANCE, AS IT CAN LEAVE SOMEONE STRANDED IN THE EVENT OF A FLAT TIRE. FORD REFUSED TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE WITH REPLACEMENT LUGS NUTS WHEN I CALLED THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ALSO BEEN TOLD BY FORD THAT THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF COMPENSATING THE DOZENS OF CUSTOMERS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. I HAD TO PAY FOR AFTER-MARKET REPLACEMENTS. THERE IS NO WAY LUG NUTS SHOULD BE DEFECTIVE AFTER ONLY 3 YEARS (5 TIRE ROTATIONS), AND THE DEALER DID MOST OF THEM. I PAID $62 + 8% TAX FOR REPLACEMENTS (WHILE I WAS AT GOODYEAR). SEE PHOTOS OF DEFORMED LUG NUTS AND RECEIPT FOR REPLACEMENTS. *DL
MY VEHICLE MAKES A GRINDING SOUND LIKE TGE FLOOR IS GOING TO FALL OUT , MY GAS TELL ME IM 50 MILES UNTILL EMPTY AND I RUN OUT ALSO WHEN I TURN MY CAR MAKES A LIKE A SCRECH SOUND AND ALSO SHAKES AT THE SAME TIME. MY CAR IS GETTING DO HOT ITS MELTING THR PLASTIC AND TIRE COVERS TO WHERE ITS RUBBING ON MY TIRES. MY VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO CATCH SPPED SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO DIE.
TIRES ARE WEARING OUT ON THE INSIDE A LOT FASTER. AM ON 3RD SET THE FIRST TWO SETS DID THIS AND THE DEALER SAID THE ALIGNMENT WAS FINE. I.FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS A CURSORY INSPECTION OF THE TIRES LOOKS OK BUT IF YOU GET ON THE GROUND TO CHECK THE INSIDE PART THE WEAR WILL BE ALARMING. I WENT ONLINE TO CHECK MESSAGE BOARDS FOR THIS MODEL AND NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE FAILED TO FIT ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS TOO SMALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RIVERSIDE FORD (5900 SYCAMORE CANYON BLVD, RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA 92507, 888) 984-4430), BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
LEFT REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL OF THE RADIAL TIRE CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCONTACT 195/65 R1591H M S RADIAL
TIRE SEPARATED ON BOTH SIDES WALLS AT THE TIME THE TIRE MADE A BOOM NOISE. MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN MOTION ON JOB IN JACKSONVILLE.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026