FordFocus RS2016Overview/ford/focus-rs/2016/base/

2016 Ford Focus RS

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Focus RS.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Manual 6-spd

The 2016 Ford Focus RS is a passenger‑car hot hatch equipped with a six‑speed manual transmission and an EPA rating of 19 city/25 highway/22 combined mpg. Owner‑reported issues total 1,143 complaints, with the powertrain leading the complaint categories and six recalls issued for the model year. Across the 2016‑2018 window the 2016 version records the peak complaint count — 1,143 versus 743 for 2018 — marking it as the most trouble‑prone year in that short run. That concentration of powertrain‑related reports and recalls suggests the inaugural RS year carries a higher reliability risk than its later siblings.

Model year20172016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy19/25/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI NS · 760 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI NS · 760 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size225/50R17OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

BatteryBAGM48H6760

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionManual 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length171.7 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Curb weight2926 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 25 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 21.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity1.3-2.0
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity1.9
Brake FluidDOT 4
Clutch FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Engine Coolant Capacity15.8 qt
Engine Coolant Capacity6.8 qt
Engine Coolant Capacity6.1 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14.7
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head BoltsUniformly tighten fasteners. ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14.7
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head BoltsInstall new studs: 30 ft/lbs.
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug21.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap.028 in
Spark Plug Torque9 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap.035 in
Spark Plug Torque11 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.33 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.20-4.90 oz
RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.33 lbs
Oil Capacity5.20 oz

Service checks

Pressure Test21 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief17-21 psi
Residual Pressure82-102 engine running psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)72.5
Intake Valve Lash0.008-0.011 in
Intake Valve Lash0.009-0.013 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.012-0.016 in
Intake Valve Lash0.007-0.012 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 21; Rear: 21 /
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 129; Rear: 52 /; Front: 129; Rear: 52
ABS Sensor Torque7.0 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .906; Rear: .354
Maximum Rotor Runout.002
Maximum Drum DiameterFront: NA; Rear:

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
166.0
Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
159.0 ft. lbs., 90 degrees. Do not tighten with vehicle on ground or bearings loaded.59 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.

15.17 ft. lbs.5.17 ft. lbs
211.0 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
333.0 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
490 degrees90 degrees
590 degrees90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.

15.17 ft. lbs.5.17 ft. lbs
211.0 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
333.0 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
490 degrees90 degrees
590 degrees90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

Prep Do not reuse any bolts. Coat new bolts with specified engine oil

17.4 ft. lbs.7.4 ft. lbs
230 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
3Back off bolts 45 degrees45 degrees
422.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
590 degrees90 degrees
690 degrees90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 20,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant) · Timing Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 200,000 miHybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Ford Focus RS represents the peak of reported issues for this generation, recording 1,143 complaints, six recalls, and 204 TSBs. Following 2016, there is a consistent downward trend in problems, with complaints dropping to 842 in 2017 and 743 in 2018. Similarly, investigations fell from four in 2016 to two by 2018. For the 2016 model, the Power Train was the primary area of concern with 493 complaints, while the record also notes 26 crash complaints and 3 fire complaints. The provided data does not specify the root cause for these issues. Because this year has the highest volume of complaints and technical service bulletins compared to later models, it is not the ideal year to buy.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
204
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,143
Owner complaints
26 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,143 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train493
Fuel/Propulsion System79
Engine77
Unknown Or Other51
Power Train,Engine39
Fuel System, Gasoline39
Engine & Engine Cooling38
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System25

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 204 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
24N072024-12-04Unknown Or OtherCertain 2012 – 2018 Model Year Focus Vehicle Line One-Time Canister Purge Valve…
TSB 24-21652024-05-27Unknown Or OtherThis article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some 2016 MKS…
SSM 524762024-04-24EquipmentAll accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the…
21B09 S22023-04-12Electrical SystemCertain 2014-2020 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines 3G Telematics Control Unit to 4G…
SSM 515362023-04-04StructureFor 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Focus RS. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 Focus RS have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Focus RS get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 25 highway / 22 combined mpg.