2018 Ford Focus
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 835 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 19 Focus model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 15 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 11 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, manual transmissionJun 9, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will inspect Focus vehicles and replace the clutch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S43. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
Campaign 26V376000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, evaporative emissions, canisterJun 9, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
Campaign 26V369000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, electrical, engine block heaterJan 15, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.
Campaign 26V012000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, electrical, engine block heaterJan 15, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
Campaign 26V011000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, oil/lubrication, pumpDec 22, 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport vehicles. The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure.
A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the oil pump tensioner assembly and oil pump drive belt, free of charge. If engine failure occurs due to a damaged oil pump belt and/or oil pump belt tensioner, Ford has authorized dealers to replace the engine assembly as an interim repair before the availability of remedy parts for the final repair. This repair will be free of charge (parts and labor). Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S64.
Campaign 23V905000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, manual transmissionNov 28, 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L Fox GTDI engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip, and will replace the clutch, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S07. Note: This recall is an expansion of Recall 18V-169.
Campaign 18V845000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storageOct 22, 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.
Campaign 18V735000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
349 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 30, 2019
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCHES. I DROVE THE CAR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH SURGING/LUGGING. NOW, IT IS HAPPENING IN LOWER GEARS AND WHEN I ACCELERATE TO HIGHER GEARS. IT IS NOW HAPPENING WHEN I AM IN REVERSE, TOO.
Engine, Dec 30, 2019
2018 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SHAKING IN MOTOR. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. *JS
Air bags, Structure, Engine, Dec 26, 2019, crash, fire
ON DECEMBER 12TH, 2019, I WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE-CAR FENDER BENDER ON FAIRFAX COUNTY PARKWAY IN VIRGINIA. I WAS TRAVELING IN SLOW-MOVING TRAFFIC AT 7:20AM, CLOSE TO RESTON HOSPITAL, WHEN THE TWO CARS IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES UNEXPECTEDLY AND I UNFORTUNATELY COULD NOT BRAKE IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME WAS A TOYOTA SUV AND HAD A TOW-BAR, WHICH TOOK MOST OF THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. ASIDE FROM SOME MINOR SCRATCHES, BOTH OF THE OTHER CARS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WERE FINE AND THE TWO DRIVERS WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE ON THEIR WAYS TO WORK. MY CAR, ON THE OTHER HAND HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS IT IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES UPON IMPACT. AS I MENTIONED ABOVE, THE TRAFFIC WAS SLOW-MOVING SO WE WERE NOT TRAVELING AT MORE THAN 25-30MPH AT ANY TIME ON THAT STRETCH AS WE NAVIGATED THE TRAFFIC. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY LOW-IMPACT AND MINOR INCIDENT; HOWEVER, FOR SOME UNKNOWN AND UNEXPLAINABLE REASON, THE FORD FOCUS WAS ON FIRE BEFORE I EVEN KNEW THAT I HAD CRASHED. THE IMPACT WAS SO MINIMAL THAT NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. FIREFIGHTERS WERE ONSITE WITHIN 5 MINUTES AND HAD DIFFICULTY PUTTING OUT THE BLAZE. IN ADDITION, I WAS STILL IN THE CAR WHILE IT WAS ON FIRE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY UPON IMPACT, SO WHILE I WAS LUCKY TO WALK AWAY WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL INJURIES, I WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE AMBULANCE TO MONITOR MY VITALS AND TRY TO CONTROL MY SHOCK. I REALIZE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS OF FORD FOCUS VEHICLES PURCHASED IN 2017 AND PRIOR; HOWEVER, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE SAFETY CONCERNS RAISED IN PREVIOUS LAWSUITS AGAINST FORD PERTAIN DIRECTLY TO THE 2018 MODEL AS WELL. WE HAD ALREADY REPLACED THE CLUTCH IN THE FOCUS AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF BECAUSE OF A TRANSMISSION FAILURE ALSO NOTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 26, 2019
I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN, AND LOST COMPLETE POWER, COULDN'T EVEN MOVE IT OUT OF GEAR, TRIED TO JUMP IT AND NOTHING. I COULD'VE WRECKED BECAUSE OF THIS
Steering, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 14, 2019
THE 2018 FORD FOCUS HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RELATING TO THE VAPER/VACUUM HOSE, SENSOR OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. IN ADDITION, THE FOCUS NOW HAS A BROKEN STEERING GEAR. I WAS DRIVING ON THE CITY STREET WHEN IT WENT OUT, AND THANKFULLY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE NEAR.
Engine, Oct 22, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED WHILE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAXWELL FORD (5000 S IH 35 FRONTAGE RD, AUSTIN, TX 78745, (512) 443-5000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PURGE VALVE FAILED. THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AT THE COST OF $425. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED AS TO WHY HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE UNKNOWN RECALL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO KEEP THE REPAIR PAPERWORK IN CASE OF A FUTURE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSFERRED TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,839.
Power train, Engine, Sep 26, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER 25 MINUTES. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, BUT COOLED DOWN ONCE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GILLIE HYDE AUTO GROUP (610A HAPPY VALLEY RD, GLASGOW, KY 42141, (888) 621-5047) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
Power train, Engine, Sep 24, 2019
THE TRANSMISSION LUGS OR SLIPS WHEN GOING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. IT WILL EVENTUALLY GO AND SEEMS TO BE FINE ONCE I AM OVER 25 MILES PER HOUR. IT STARTED ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO AND SEEMS TO BE MORE FREQUENT. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON IT. IT GETS REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND IS NOT DRIVEN ROUGHLY.
Engine, Sep 23, 2019
WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT OR CORNER AFTER A STOP THE CAR SHAKES & BOUNCES UNTIL I MOVE AGAIN, ONLY 15000 MILES ON IT. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 6, 2019
THE ENGINE STALLED ONCE ON AUGUST 20TH, 2019 WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. EACH TIME THAT I FILL THE TANK WITH FUEL I HAVE TO TRY 2-3 TIMES TO START ENGINE AS IT MAKES A NOISE AS IF I'M COMPLETELY OUT OF FUEL THOUGH IT'S A FULL TANK AND I'M STILL AT THE PUMP. FORD DEALERSHIP STATED TO ME THIS IS "NORMAL" FOR ALL CARS THOUGH I'VE NEVER DEALT WITH THIS AND AT 39 I'VE HAD SEVERAL CARS.
Engine, Aug 18, 2019
CAR STALLS
Power train, Engine, Aug 15, 2019
THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SKIPPING WHICH CAUSED A BELT TO BREAK INSIDE THE ENGINE AND THEN THE OIL PUMP WENT OUT. HAD AN OIL CHANGE AROUND JULY 1ST AND NOTHING WAS WRONG. FORD CLAIMS IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I WAS OVER 2,000 MILES ON AN OIL CHANGE.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 12, 2019
MY CAR STARTED HAVING A CLUTCH SHUDDER BEFORE IT WAS A YEAR OLD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST TIME AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE ADAPTIVE LEARN FEATURE, AND RESET THE COMPUTER. IT WAS STILL DOINF IT AND I TOOK IT BACK WITHIN A WEEK. I WAS TOLD ITS A FORD CLUTCH PROBLEM, BUT UNTIL IT GETS BAD ENOUGH TO REGISTER IN THE COMPUTER I HAD TO KEEP DRIVING IT. THEN THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE BROKE, IT CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMITION AND HAD TO BE FIXED, AT THE SAME TIME I HAD THE CLUTCH RE-CHECKED AND IT FINALLY REGISTERED BAD IN THE COMPUTER AND WAS REPLACED. 1 WEEK AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK IT STRTED OVERHEATING AND HAD TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP (8/7/19), I ALSO REALIZED WHILE DRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CAR HAD BURNT THROUGH AROUND 1/2 TANK OF FUELS IN A LITTLE OVER 60 MILES. I WAS TOLD THE COOLING FAN JUST STOPPED WORKING AND WAS REPLACED.
Engine, Jul 23, 2019
TRANSMISSION VIBRATION INVOLVING DOUBLE CLUTCH @ SPEEDS 13 -18 MPH IN MOTION.
Power train, Engine, Jun 26, 2019
2018 FORD FOCUS SEL . VEHICLE HESITATES OR SHUDDERS WHEN TAKING OFF.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 3, 2019
FORD FOCUS, HESITATING WHEN DRIVING, ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED.OVER PERIOD OF TIME, HEARD STRANGE NOISES LIKE A LOUD BOOM WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS ONLY WHEN GAS LEVEL IS AROUND HALF TANK. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE VIN.CUT OFF HAPPENED AFTER MAKING A TURN ALSO THE BOOM NOISE. HESITATION USUALLY ON SLIGHT UPHILL. DEALER SAID THEY WILL CHECK WITH FORD COMPANY ABOUT THIS. I'M ACTUALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE, IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Engine, Apr 23, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CROWN FORD (256 SWAIN STREET, FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28303) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-17722233. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
Engine, Apr 23, 2019
WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AFTER DECREASING SPEED IT SHOOTS UP IN RPM AND WILL BARELY MOVE UNTIL I LET GO OF GAS AND ALLOW IT SOME TIME. IT'S AS IF I'M REVVING MY ENGINE WITH THE THE BRAKE APPLIED. ITS SLOWLY GETTING WORSE. I'M UP TO DATE ON ALL MY MAINTENANCE AND THE CAR IS AT APPROX 17500 MILES. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN AUGUST.
Engine, Feb 25, 2019
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN OCTOBER OF 2018. THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO FAIL, WITH SHUDDERING, STALLING AND JUMPING AT ACCELARATIONS. THIS IS THE SECOND FOCUS MODEL THAT I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH.
Engine, Feb 9, 2019
THE FUEL SYSTEM
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, Jan 22, 2019
THE 2018 FORD FOCUS TI STARTED TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS WHEN BRAKING AND ACCELERATING, THE FIST WAS WHEN TAKING OFF AT A STOP LIGHT, THE FOCUS ACCELERATED MORE WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND BRAKING TO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, IT WAS LIKE I WAS HITTING GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER THAT ON THE SAME DAY I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL AND IT WAS ACCELERATING WITH OUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL I HIT THE BRAKES AGAIN AND IT FINALLY STOPPED, WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND AGAIN PRESS THE BRAKE IT REVVED UP TO 3000 RPMS AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL I PRESS THE RUN/STOP BUTTON. THE NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING AND DID A HARD STOP IT ABOUT STALLED WITH RPMS GOING DOWN TO 400 AND FLUCTUATING UP TO 1200 RPMS, WITH ALL THIS WAS GOING ON MY BRAKES FELT SOFT THEN HARD, THE TRANSMISSION ALSO CLICKED TWO TIMES WHEN HARD STOPPING.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 6, 2018
MY 2018 FORD FOCUS ST IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS THE CURRENT CAMPAIGN 18V735. ON OCCASION THE VEHICLE DIPS DOWN ON RPMS AS IF ITS GOING TO STALL ON START UP. ITS NOT RECORDED AS CURRENT RECALL ON MY VIN BUT I BELIEVE THE SAME ISSUE IS OCCURRING.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 30, 2018
I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING (LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OFF) THEN CAME BACK UP. NOT LONG AFTER THIS, I CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE THAT SUGGESTED A CURRENT RECALL COULD BE TO BLAME FOR THIS BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. IT SHOULD BE. (DATE OF OCCURRENCE IS APPROXIMATE.)
Power train, Engine, Mar 4, 2018
FROM A COMPLETE STOP (DUE TO STOPPED TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT), ACCELERATION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE, RAPIDLY INCREASE RPM, AND SHUDDER/SHAKE VIOLENTLY. HAPPENS ROUGHLY BETWEEN 0-35 MPH. THE ISSUE IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT, SO I'LL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP. MILEAGE IS JUST UNDER 30K.