I just got my first car at 20, a 2016 Ford Focus! What should I know?

Hey everyone, I’m 20 years old and just bought my first car—a 2016 Ford Focus with 72k miles for $6k. I’m in the military, which helped me save up, and I’m paying $110 a month for insurance. I love how it drives and sounds, but I’ve read mixed reviews about this car. Is there anything I should know about it—good or bad?

Jo said:
Congrats on your first car! Some quick advice: always use your blinkers and be courteous when merging. It’s good driving karma!

Forums like this would roast you for letting people merge too nicely, though. Gotta hold your ground sometimes!

Is it an automatic transmission? If so, you might want to read up on the infamous DCT (PowerShift) issues. Lots of complaints about these, but there’s a 10-year/150k mile extended warranty for some models.

@Lane
I bought it used. Does the 10-year warranty still apply?

Tal said:
@Lane
I bought it used. Does the 10-year warranty still apply?

Yes, as long as it’s within the production timeframe, you should be covered.

@Lane
If it’s the 2.0L engine, just know it’s better than the 1.0L EcoBoost, which has its own set of issues.

Hope it’s a manual. If not, you might run into problems with the transmission down the road.

Lian said:
Hope it’s a manual. If not, you might run into problems with the transmission down the road.

If it’s an automatic, you can technically convert it to a manual. It’s not that hard, but it’s definitely a project.

If you have the DCT, just know that shuddering and funky shifts are common. Keep up with maintenance and check for any recalls or service bulletins. It’s still a good car if you maintain it well.

Davin said:
If you have the DCT, just know that shuddering and funky shifts are common. Keep up with maintenance and check for any recalls or service bulletins. It’s still a good car if you maintain it well.

Also, check the grounding point under the airbox. Sand it to bare metal and use dielectric grease. It helps with some electrical quirks.

Enjoy your car! I’ve had three Focuses over 12 years and never had major issues with any of them.

Noor said:
Enjoy your car! I’ve had three Focuses over 12 years and never had major issues with any of them.

Three cars in 12 years? Sounds like they might not have been as reliable as you’re saying.

@Jules
Nah, I just like upgrading every 5-6 years. They’ve all been solid for me.

If it’s an automatic, make sure you drive it like a manual. Don’t creep forward in traffic or at stops—it wears out the clutch. Hold the brake instead.

Lior said:
If it’s an automatic, make sure you drive it like a manual. Don’t creep forward in traffic or at stops—it wears out the clutch. Hold the brake instead.

Thanks! I’ll keep that in mind.

Every car has its quirks. Just take care of it, and it’ll take care of you. Enjoy the ride!

Quill said:
Every car has its quirks. Just take care of it, and it’ll take care of you. Enjoy the ride!

That’s not true for cars with known catastrophic issues like the Focus’s automatic transmission. It’s not just a quirk—it’s a serious design flaw.

Watch out for the rubber door seals—they tend to come loose on these. It’s an easy fix but annoying.

This car has a bad reputation for transmission issues. VehicleHistory.com and CarComplaints.com are great places to check out common problems. Hopefully, yours holds up well!

Just know this car isn’t known for its reliability. Hope for the best, but prepare for some repairs.