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: fuel/propulsion system
131 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 18, 2019
I HAVE A 2018 FORD FOCUS SE THAT IS LESS THEN A YEAR OLD AND IT BOGS DOWN, ACTS LIKE ITS GOING TO STALL OUT AND DOESN'T GET THE GAS MILEAGE IT'S SUPPOSE TOO. IT BOGS DOWN WHEN I AM DRIVING IT AND WHEN DRIVING IT WILL SPIT AND SPUTTER LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL OUT ON ME THEN SNAPS OUT OF IT. FORD KEEPS TELLING ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT.
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.
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 8, 2019
UNCONTROLLED ENGINE SPEED INCREASE. WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH AND TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO SHIFT, THE ENGINE RPM INCREASED FROM APPROX. 2500 TO 4000 RPM. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER THE CAR HAS WARMED UP. THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED SHIFTING FROM 3 TO 4TH AND 4TH TO 5TH. AFTER THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, I CAPTURED THE ISSUE ON VIDEO WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING.
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, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 5, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE READING. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,333.
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 25, 2018
THE VEHICLE FAILS TO ACHIEVE MORE THAN 25 MPG ON A FULL 12 GALLON FUEL TANK WITH 100% GASOLINE. THERE IS A GASOLINE ODOR AT TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR MULTIPLE HOURS. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 1 LITER ECOBOOST MOTOR THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH 3K MILES ON IT. THE CURRENT ODOMETER READING IS 12,600. ON OCTOBER 21ST, 2018 I ACHIEVED 19 MPG ON A FULL TANK OF GASOLINE.