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: power train
319 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Aug 15, 2019
TAKATA RECALL. MY CAR IS ONLY 8 MONTHS OLD AND ALREADY HAS HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED. IT IS SHOWING SIGNS THAT MY 2014 DID FOR IT'S RECALL. IT IS ACTING LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL AND ACTUALLY STALLED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY 17 JUST SOUTH OF MAYSVILLE NC WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MY 2014, CELLA FORD IN NEW BERN, NC KEPT SAYING IT WAS NOT UNDER RECALL UNTIL IT STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BRIDGE, ALMOST CAUSING HER TO GET REAR ENDED WITH MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTERS ON THE CAR.
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.
Power train, Aug 1, 2019
CAR'S TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS OR JERKS AT VARIOUS TIMES LIKE ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. FRIGHTENED AND IRRITATED.
Power train, Jul 25, 2019
TRANSMISSION WOULD SHUDDER AND NOT ENGAGE 2ND GEAR. ACCELERATION WOLD BE BOGGED DOWN MAKING IT HARD TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES OR MERGE ON THE HIGHWAY. CLUTCH PACK REPLACED AT 39,991 MILES UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY.
Power train, Service brakes, Jul 23, 2019
TRANSMISSION CLUNKS AND SHUDDERS AT TIMES WHEN DRIVING. WHILE ENGINE RUNNING IN THE STOP POSITION, BRAKE PEDDLE GOES TO THE FLOOR.
Power train, Jul 16, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOWLER FORD (3400 S SHERIDAN AVE, TULSA, OK, 74145) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH CLUTCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH TRANSMISSION SEALS THAT WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200.
Power train, Jul 14, 2019
CAR FEELS LIKE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO GIVE OUT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER A WEEK OR TWO AFTER AND MECHANIC SAID THAT'S JUST WHAT FOCUS ARE.
Power train, Engine, Jun 26, 2019
2018 FORD FOCUS SEL . VEHICLE HESITATES OR SHUDDERS WHEN TAKING OFF.
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.
Power train, May 13, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER BOB DAVIDSON FORD LINCOLN LOCATED AT 1845 E JOPPA RD, BALTIMORE, MD 21234, (410) 661-6400, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,500.
Power train, May 9, 2019
TRANSMISSION SHUDDERING, HESITATING, VERY ROCKY AND DOES NOT SHIFT NICELY. DRIVES LIE IT'S A MANUAL CAR; JERKS AND SHIFTS HARD. WHEN TAKING OFF CAR HESITATES AS THOUGH IT COULD STALL . BROUGHT IT IN TO BE SERVICED AT DEALER AND SERVICE EMPLOYEE PERFORMED WHAT HE EXPLAINED TO BE A SHUTTER TEST. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT DID NOT COMPLETELY FAIL THE TEST AND TO EXPECT IT TO GET SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE WITHIN THE NEXT TEN THOUSAND LMAO. CAR IS ONE YEAR OLD WITH 28,000 KM. TRANSMISSION SEEMS BUGGY AND UNRELIABLE . AFRAID THIS NEW CAR WILL LEAVE ME STRANDED ALONGSIDE THE ROAD. LOST ALL FAITH IN FORD FOCUS. IT IS RIDICULOUS THIS HAS NOT VERB RECALLED OR BOUGHT BACK TO FIX. I HAVE MADE MANY COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER AND WAS TURNED AWAY AND TOLD THIS IS COMPLETELY NORMAL FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DESIGNED TO DRIVE LIKE IT'S A MANUAL CAR. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. SERVICE CENTRE ALSO PERFORMED WHAT THEY CALLED A PC UPDATE. DID NOT PROVIDE ME WITH ANY PAPER WORK IN REGARDS TO SERVICE OR WORK DONE . HATE THIS CAR
Power train, Other or unspecified, Apr 1, 2019
2018 FORD FOCUS SE SEDAN RECALLS. I RECENTLY GOT A 2018 FORD FOCUS SE SEDAN IN NOVEMBER OF 2018. IT PERIODICALLY HESITATES WHEN I ACCELERATE AND I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING THE OTHER DAY ON MY WAY HOME AND NOT ONLY DID IT HESITATE WHEN I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON A 30 MPH STREET BUT IT ALSO BEGAN TO SLIP AND DID NOT WANT TO MOVE FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDA WHEN I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS, IT WAS BEGINNING TO SLOW DOWN INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING THE SPEED IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WHEN I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS ON A CITY STREET WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
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.
Power train, Oct 25, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND CRACKING NOISES WERE HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB RUTH FORD (877-818-1593, LOCATED AT 700 N U.S. 15, DILLSBURG, PA 17019) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE NEEDED TO JUST GET USED TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOFFMAN FORD (717-657-1600, LOCATED AT 5200 JONESTOWN RD, HARRISBURG, PA 17112) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS RECOMMENDED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE DIAGNOSTIC COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200.
Power train, Sep 8, 2018
A FEW WEEKS AFTER I HAD GOTTEN MY CAR ON MAY 12TH 2018 I NOTICED GRINDING, JERKING, FELT ALMOST AS IF IT WERE TRYONG TO STALL AND THAT THERE WAS ALOT OF PLAY IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN ROTATING TIRES, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE WLFORD DEALERSHIP IN SIKESTON MISSOURI THEY CLAIM THAT THEY DIDNT NOT HEAR, SEE, OR FEEL ANYTHING. BUT DID NOT PUT THE CAR ON THE RACK OR ANYTHING THEY JUST DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK. THEY THREW A FIT ABOUT GIVING ME A LOANER AND WERE DOING THERE BEST TO PREVENT ANY WORK BEING DONE ON THE CAR. THEY CLAIM THAT THIS WAS NORMAL I DONE SOME RESEARCH AND OTHERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS POS POWERSHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WELL ITS NOW 4 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR IS ONLY GETTING WORSE IT IS JERKING BAD, GRINDING, CLINKING, CLACKING, POOR THROTTLE RESPONSE, BARELY ABLE TO GET UP A HILL, THE WHOLSE TRANSMISSION IS SH*T. THESE CARS ARE MAD CHEAP AND SOLD AT AN OVERPRICED AMOUNT, I WILL NOT BE BUYING ANYTHING FROM FORD AGAIN. BUT FOR HOW MUCH I PAID, THERE WILL BE A NEW TRANSMISSION OR SOMEONE GIVING A NEW CAR IF THIS SH*T KEEPS UP. 2018 FORD FOCUS WORST POS ON THIS PLANET DO NOT BUY IT. WHO WAS THE DUMB*SS TO EVEN THINK THAT A COUPLE OF SOLENOIDS AND A COMPUTER COULD CONTROL A MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN AN AUTOMATIC GEARBOX???? ITS NOT POWERSHIFT EITHER CAUSE THIS CAR HAS NO POWER WHATSOEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT HAS 50HP AND 2LBS TQ. 3RD GEAR IS THE ONLY GET UP AND GO GEAR ALL THE OTHER ONES ARE SLUGGISH AN YOU HAVE TO PUT THE PEDAL ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR JUST TO GO ANYWHERE.
Power train, Aug 1, 2018
CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR INTERMITTENTLY (2X IN 1600 MILES)
Suspension, Power train, Structure, May 16, 2018
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN EVEN MILD WIND OR TURBULENT AIR FROM TRAFFIC THE CAR HAS A LOSS OF STABILITY. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN WINTER AND AS SOON AS CONDITIONS IMPROVED FOR HIGHWAY SPEED TO RESUME WE FOUND OUT.WE DO NOT FEEL THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR HIGHWAY DRIVING. WHEN GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY INTERMITTENTLY A VIBRATION OCCURS AS WELL AS WHEN TRAVELING AT 50MPH OCCASIONALLY FEELING A DRIVE LINE VIBRATION FEELS LIKE IT COMES FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. SO FAR THE CAR HAS BEEN TO 2 DEALERS AND THEY BOTH ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUES AND THEN SAY THAT THIS IS PROPER THAT WHEN DRIVING A NEW FOCUS FROM THEIR LOTS THEY ARE THE SAME.
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.