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: other or unspecified
77 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Aug 24, 2021
I bought the vehicle on 08/21/2021 which is 3 days ago the vehicle has 57k miles on it and I quickly found out why. I realized when stopping at red lights and then trying to accelerate when the light turns green the car boggs down like its stuck in a mud pit and then suddenly flies out of it. I almost rear ended a vehicle and then almost got rear ended. I had the same issues going up and over a mountain. And believe me if they had a return policy like Wal-Mart it would've been returned the same day.
Other or unspecified, Aug 17, 2021
My car stalls out when trying to gain speed and then trying to restart it after it stall out is very hard to do. My check engine light is on with a P1450 code.
Other or unspecified, Aug 12, 2021
The car engine shuts off (or fails) without any warning while driving. This has happened randomly on numerous occasions since we purchased the car in January of 2021. Today the check oil light and check engine light both came on prior to the engine just completely shutting off while driving and would not restart. There was also a strange engine noise accompanied by the engine running “rough” prior to engine failure. We had to get the car towed. We looked up recalls and there was a recall for our make/model/year but none associated with our specific VIN #. However the recall described our same issues. We would like this investigated as this is very dangerous, unexpected and concerning. The incident happened in a busy city , on a busy road during work hours. The car is currently at a Ford Dealership awaiting inspection but we were already told there are zero recalls for our VIN #.
Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2021
Engine and all electrical power suddenly stops while driving with no warning. Car shows "Starting System Fault" when key is turned. After about 30 minutes everything restarts but the car only goes a few miles before cutting out again. This failure is extremely dangerous. We took the car to Town and Country Ford in Nashville TN on Monday July 26,2021 and picked it up on Friday July 30. They said it had been repaired, I drove approximately 6 miles and was on a 5 lane highway doing 60mph when it happened again. I was lucky to safely get to the side of the road. Since the air conditioning and windows also stopped when the heat index was 105 degrees that represents another possible danger. On Sunday July 25 the engine light came on, but being Sunday there was no place to read the code. After the first failure occurred about 10am Monday we had the code read as a P1450. As I hadn't had any experience with fuel system/ emission control we decided to take it to the above dealer. At the time of the Friday failure there was no code or warning. This failure method is extremely dangerous as a car may suddenly stop running in high speed traffic. I have no Idea what would have happened if i had been going uphill. Also if the service tech cannot detect the problem it may be widespread. Vehicle is currently in the dealership.
Other or unspecified, Jul 14, 2021
check engine light came on. Vehicle is extremely hard to start after refueling. Seems to be same symptoms as Ford recall 18S32. NHTSA campagin ID 18V735000
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, May 25, 2021
On 3-28-21 I got an oil change. Shortly after my engine light came on with error code p1450 which it didn't have beforehand. We first took the car to a mechanic and he said that the code is consistent with a known recall for that year and model for a problem with the fuel system. We took it to a Ford dealership to get an evaluation done and they confirmed that the problem was consistent with the recall the mechanic mentioned however there is no recall for my VIN number. When we put gas in the tank and turn it on again, the engine stalls. It runs rough when idle and sometimes has a problem getting up to speed from sitting at traffic lights.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Apr 21, 2021
WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR WILL SHUTTER WHEN CHANGING GEARS. ALSO IN MARCH 2021, RADIO, BACKUP CAMERA AND USB PORTS STOPPED WORKING. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND PAID OVER $800 FOR A NEW RADIO TO BE INSTALLED.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 13, 2021
MY BOYFRIEND GOT THIS CAR APRIL 13 OF 2020 AND ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AFTER WE GOT IT IT STATTS ACTING UP... NOT SHOFTING OUT OF LOWER GEARS. SHUDDERING . WHEN YOU STOP AT A STOP LIGHT FOR TOO LONG AND GO TO TAKE OFF IT ALMOST STALLS. WE ALMOST GOT HIT BECAUSE OF IT! IT SOUNDS LILE GEARS ARE GRINDING OR LIKE WE ARE DRAGGING SOMETHING UNDER THE CAR. WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN TWOCE TO GET CHECKED AND THE FORST GUY THAT SROVE IT AROUND THE LOT SAIS SOMETHING WAS WRONG WOTH IT NUT AFTWR THEY HAD IT ON THE SHOP FOR ABOUT AN HOUR ANS A HALF THEY BRING IT BACK TO US THE SECOND TIME AND SAY NOTHING OS WRONG WOTH IT.... IT IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. IS STATTED OUT JUST NOT WAMTING TO SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR NOW IT DOESNT EVEN WANNA SHIFT OUT OF FIRST MOST THE TIME. 45000 MILES. THERE SHOULD BE NO ISSUES WOTH THIS CAR.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jan 11, 2021
THE CAR'S EXTERIOR DESIGN CAUSES THE REAR WINDOW AND ENTIRE HATCHBACK TO CONTINUALLY BECOME COVERED IN ROAD DIRT AND OBSCURE VISIBILITY OUT THE REAR WINDOW. THE REST OF THE CAR IS IMMACULATELY CLEAN BUT THE WIND DYNAMICS OF THE CAR DESIGN CAUSE ROAD DEBRIS TO ACCUMULATE ON THE REAR PORTION OR THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION IN ALL TYPES OF DRIVING.
Other or unspecified, Nov 23, 2020
MY 2018 FORD FOCUS ST (~8K MILES) HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. FOR EXAMPLE, TWO WEEKENDS AGO, I WAS SHIFTING FROM SECOND GEAR TO THIRD GEAR AND MY CAR WENT UP BY 3000 RPMS AFTER I LET MY FOOT OFF THE THROTTLE. ON ITS OWN! THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS HOT (ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO RIDE) AND EXAGGERATED WHEN THE FLOOR HEATING IS ON. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A VALVE ISSUE BUT FOUND MULTIPLE FORUM POSTS WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND HOW A LOT OF ST OWNERS WENT THROUGH MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS TO GET THEIR THROTTLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY REPLACED TO PERMANENTLY FIX THE PROBLEMS. HERE ARE THE LINKS TO THE FORUM POSTS: HTTPS://WWW.FOCUSST.ORG/THREADS/RPMS-ACTUALLY-INCREASE-ON-CLUTCH.128706/ AND HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T75504_DS901319. ALSO A VIDEO DEMONSTRATING THE ISSUE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=EQO2PH9KHLC (THE VIDEO IS REGARDING THE 2018 FOCUS RS WHICH HAS THE SAME PEDAL PARTS AS THE 2018 FOCUS ST). THIS HAS CAUSED PEOPLE ACCIDENTS AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Nov 2, 2020
I BOUGHT MY 2018 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK ON 06/23/2018 AND ON 09/03/20 I HAD TO HAVE MY FRONT AND REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED. THE ROTOR WAS CRACKED AND THEY WERE REALLY RUSTED. MAKING MY CAR UNDRIVABLE. THIS MAKES ME SICK THAT FORD USES SUCH CHEAP PARTS THAT I MYSELF AS A POOR MICHIGANDER HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WITHIN 2 YEARS OF BUYING A BRAND NEW CAR.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 23, 2020
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT INDICATED EVAP,VERY SMALL LEAK. RESET CODE AND A DIFFERENT CODE CAME UP FOR A VACUUM IN THE FUEL TANK. UNABLE TO EFFECT REPAIRS MY SELF AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT CARDINAL FORD DEALERSHIP. 11400 NEW HALLS FERRY RD. STL, 63033. ATTACHED DOCUMENTS DETAIL REPAIR AND COST.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Oct 3, 2020
MY TRANSMISSION CLUTCHES. THEY HESITATE , SHUTTER AND IT NEVER WANTS TO MOVE AND HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED TWICE.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 25, 2020
THERE ARE MORE THAN A FEW FAULTY PURGE VALVE AND SIMILAR TYPE VALVES ON THE FORD FOCUS POSSIBLY CAUSING EXCESSIVE VACUUM IN FUEL VAPOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE EXCESSIVE VACUUM MAY RESULT IN AN ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING,. WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. AND YET MY YEAR MODEL AND MOTOR SIZE DID NOT MAKE THAT LIST. BUT YET I HAVE THIS PROBLEM ON MY 2018 FORD FOCUS SE ONLY @ 40,0000 MILES . THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE W/ MY YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENT DRIVING ALL HOURS OF NIGHT ON BACK ROADS DUE TO HER SCHEDULE. SHE HAD NO WARNING NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING. SHE WAS VERY LUCKY THIS DID NOT STALL ON THE HIGHWAY. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN REAR-END OR WHO NO WHAT ELSE. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD ME FORD MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE ADDED TO SAFETY RECALL LIST
Other or unspecified, Sep 22, 2020
THE LCD SCREEN IS TOTALLY BLACK. NO VISIBLE CONTROLS WITHOUT SCREEN.
Other or unspecified, Aug 26, 2020
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON 8/25/2020 ABOUT A MILE AWAY THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SO I TURN AROUND TO LEAVE IT HOME THEN MY VEHICLE STALLED ALL OF THE SUDDEN WITH NO WARNING OTHER THAN THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS CAMING ON, I TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ADIAGNOSIS SAME DAY AND THIS MORNING OF 8/26/2020 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERS SHOP AND THEY ARE STATING THAT THE OIL PUMP WENT OUT AND RUINED THE BATTERY AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BATTERY ON THE VEHICLE, NOW IM CONCERNED BECAUSE I DID NOT GET ANY WARNING FROM THE ENGINE, NO SMOKE, NO RATTLING OR SHAKING AND THE WEIRD THING IS THAT IT CRANKS BUT WONT START, IT JUST STALLED AND IT TURNS OUT TO BE A BLOWN ENGINE.
Other or unspecified, Apr 29, 2020
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD A LOUD POP. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE AROUND AT THE TIME. I OPENED THE SUNROOF COVER AND NOTICED IT WAS SHATTERED. I PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION TO SEE THAT THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE IN MY SUNROOF.
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.
Other or unspecified, Nov 1, 2019
WHEN CHANGING GEARS THE CLUTCH IS SHAKING THE CAR AND MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. IT APPEARS TO CREATING PROBLEM ON THE LOWER GEARS SUCH AS GEAR 1 AND 2
Power train, Other or unspecified, Aug 24, 2019
WE BOUGHT THE CAR ON JULY 13 2019WITH ONLY 7 MILE ON THE ODOMETER. WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF HAVING THE CAR IT BREAKS DOWN WHILE DRIVING IT AND HAD TO GET A FORD TO TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY HAD IT 2 DAYS AND REPLACED THE SOMETHING IN THE TRANSMISSION AT THE TIME OF IT BREAKING CAR WOULD ONLY OPERATE IN REVERSE. DEALER SHIP FIXES THE CAR GIVE IT BACK LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING TO PICK UP MY HUSBAY FROM WORK WAS STOPPED FOR TRAFFIC AND WHEN I STARTED TO ROLLED AHEAD AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON WITH TRANSMISSON FAILURE AND AGAIN CAR WOULD ONLY DRIVE IN REVERSE. BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS TIM THEY HAD IT A WEEK AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH MOTOR AND GIVE IT BACK. THEY SAID IT SHOULD BE FINE NOW. WHILE DRIVING YESTERDAY TO PICK UP MY HUSBAND FROM WORK, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN THE ENGINE JUST REVS WHEN GIVEN CAR LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INFRONT OF ME WHEN IT JERKED FORWARD AND IT WAS STILL MOVING ENOUGH TO PULL IT OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF TRAFFIC HOWEVER THE DRIVER BEHIND ME CURSED AT ME FOR DRIVING THAT LAST PART OF THE TIME ONLY AT 15 MILES PER HOUR. NOW WITHOUT A CAR ALL WEEKEND CAUSE THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS CLOSED AND THEY CANT ISSUE A LOANER CAR UNTIL THEY REOPEN ON MONDAY MORNING.
Other or unspecified, Aug 11, 2019
SEE ATTACHED LETTER. I HAVE COPIES OF ALL RECEIPTS, IF YOU NEED TO SEE THEM
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.
Other or unspecified, Jan 4, 2019
THE HORN GOES OFF AFTER THE CAR IS LOCKED WITH THE KEY FOB. NO KNOWN WAY TO STOP IT.
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.)
Other or unspecified, Jul 5, 2018
EXPLODING SUNROOF - TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-5 AT A SPEED OF 60MPH IN TACOMA TODAY (7/5/2018) IN MY BRAND NEW 6 MONTH OLD 2018 FOCUS RS AND JUST PASSED 56TH STREET EXIT. SUDDENLY WITH WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED AND I WAS COVERED WITH GLASS AS THE SUNROOF COVER WAS OPEN. FORTUNATELY I HAD A HAT ON OTHERWISE THE VERY SMALL SHARDS MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN INTO MY HAIR, EYES AND FACE. PULLED OF THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK A COUPLE PICTURES. THE DAMAGES FROM THE EXPLODING GLASS CAUSED ADDITIONAL DAMAGES TO THE ROOF AND WING OF THE CAR. THIS IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED AT OVER $2600 IN DAMAGES. NOT TO MENTION THE CLEAN UP THE THE INTERIOR CAR WILL NEED. THANK GOD MY KIDS WEREN'T IN THE BACK SEAT AS THEY WOULD HAVE GOT THE BRUNT OF THE GLASS.