NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Ford Focus. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
At ~84k miles the vehicle lost the ability to shift into reverse gear. Upon reading about the issues with dual clutch transmission, swapped the actuator motors and some gears were restored but quickly lost all gears. Took to local transmission shop where they explained this is common issue with vehicle model. My options were to rebuild the transmission or replace the transmission, in either case costs would be approximately 50% of the vehicle's fair market value. Given other year model issues with the powertrain, this needs to be addressed by Ford and extend the same options given to purchasers of earlier year models. I was told the 2018 models had this issue "fixed", which led me to purchase the vehicle. Otherwise, great car but this is a design issue that there is no fix for.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission failed to shift out of first gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the TCM; however, the dealer informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced due to extreme internal damage. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to start as intended. The check engine and oil warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil pump had malfunctioned and caused oil to not be pumped into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred approximately a year later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Oil pump belt failed at a little over 50,000 miles
I was driving normal speed on a highway and all of a sudden my speed slowed to 0 and I had to hurry and pull over fast. I was so scared and it was so dangerous. I took it to a shop and they said I need a new transmission. The car never indicated there was an issue prior to this incident.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine was blown due to the oil pump failure. The vehicle was repaired under warranty; however, the contact was charged a deductible fee. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which the contact related to the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted for reimbursement of the deductible fee, but the manufacturer denied reimbursement. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
I was driving on the thruway when my car came on with a warning that I have never received before. Stating that my transmission was overheating and that I need to stop for five mins to let the transmission cool down. As soon as that light came on the car stopped moving and I could not get off the road. There was no indicator before that the transmission was even having issues of any kind. I could have died that day because of the car. I have only owned the car two years and this is the problems that this car has.
The 2nd engine for this car en 4 years 6 months that I have with it.. the dealer doesnt want to repair it , and I bring to them to check for that reason and they doesnt found nothing , months later do 2 times the oil change and less than 4 thousand miles (6 weeks) the car doesnt have oil and engine no working... Expensive to repair a lemon car
6 times (to date) - the car has needed repair for transmission issues and has been undriveable. The car's messaging system has displayed appropriate warnings, but the transmission issue has taken the car out of service all 6 times, at one time when parts were not available, for about a month. The Detroit Free Press has extensively reported on Ford's fraudulent conduct --- they knew about the transmission problems, but continued to sell the car without any disclosures.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after stopped, or while the vehicle was idling, upon acceleration, the vehicle hesitated. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact then stated that while shifted in gear, she heard a grinding sound. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was then taken to AAMCO where it was placed on a diagnostic machine and produced undisclosed codes indicating a faulty transmission. The vehicle was then taken back to the dealer where the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be diagnosed until a failure had occurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
Every time I start to accelerate from a stop. The transmission starts to stutter heavily and many times there were times the car would not accelerate causing the cars behind me to stop suddenly as to not hit me. Very dangerous as this is not normal which means something is wrong and one day it will just not accelerate at all and could cause a very bad accident. The next question asks date of the incident, it happened from the time I bought the vehicle three years ago to current. Ford says they are aware but no recall.
I was driving on the highway and the oil light came on and the car started to slow down. Luckily made it home that night. Woke up next day started the car. Did not see any lights on the dash. When I got halfway down my drive way the car just shut off and the engine light and oil light came on. Cut it off and back on to get it back up the drive way. After cutting it back on the only light on was oil light but it would not move. Towed it to 3 different local shops and all 3 said I needed a new motor which would coast 5-6,000 dollars. The motor has around 78,000 miles on it.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The oil pressure warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, it was confirmed that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle failed to shift gear properly. The contact stated that while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated and then unintendedly accelerated. The check engine warning light and the transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and scanned with an OBD2 scanner however, the vehicle produced unknown codes. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall and not covered under warranty. The contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Transmission overheating going up hill , vehicle has the faulty dps6 transmission in it , FORD needs to recall the 2018 year model for repairs
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while accelerating the vehicle started to shudder. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to shudder. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed by a transmission tech that the motor mounts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that on numerous occasions upon acceleration, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact then stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. Additionally, the contact stated that after the vehicle stalled, she was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure recurred, and another vehicle provided a jumpstart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the caliper and fuel tank needed to be replaced. The contact was then informed that her vehicle was included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and she advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for the repair. The undisclosed dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
There was an immediate loss of power while on the highway driving normally at about 70mph. There were no codes indicated previous to this incident, after vehicle was in a safe location I checked the codes. I believe it is the fuel tank purge valve as all symptoms point to that. It’s a known issue for this vehicle but for some reason my model/ year isn’t covered.
recurring transmission problems. Clutches and clutch actuator have been replaced and still studdard shifts and loud noises. same problems as our 2012 ford focus that did have a transmission recall. why has this not been recalled
1) purge valve, available for inspection 2) causes stalling when driving and difficulty starting after a fresh refueling unless completely pressing onto the gas pedal 3) problem confirmed, Ford refused to fix the issue 4) inspected through diagnostic tools 5) several codes and the check engine light. Identical to recall 18S32 but 2018 Ford Focus S is not within the accepted years. Any sudden change in speeds will cause it to jolt and seize and/or rev the engine to over 4000 rpm even if less than a 5mph shift in speed Ford has a audio recording of several calls tied to the matter within the last week (31Mar-6APR and ongoing) Issue has been ongoing for several months
JUST CAME FROM DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME i NEEDED NEW LUG NUTS BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN THEY SWELL AND CANNOT BE TAKEN OF EASILY AND MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $150
Transmission went out when car overheated. First it would not go in reverse but then none of the gears work. Took to ford dealer advised the clutch was out then was told transmission needs to be replaced. Was getting error code p2837 and p287B.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the "Low Oil Pressure" warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle back to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and related the failure to the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a Good Year Service Center to be diagnosed. The mechanic retrieved DTC code: P1405 (EGR Valve). The contact stated that a smoke test was performed that indicated that one of the valves remained open. The contact then stated that the valve was lubricated, and the vehicle was presumed repaired; however, the failure recurred. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and the contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
Transmission Control Module (TCM) does not work and the car does not start on.
I bought a 2018 ford focus se with 7,000 two years ago now my car only has 52,000 miles on it and the transmission doesn't work front or rear the ford dealer told me the car is out of warranty and i have to pay $4,000 for a new transmission It's not Only that they want to rob the citizens, please, the government, do justice against these corporations. Now my car is broken down in my house with the transmission that does not work.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while attempting to shift gear, the transmission was slipping and failed to register the intended gear. The failure caused the vehicle to stall, and the vehicle needed to be restarted to change gear. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was malfunctioning and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle failed to immediately restart. The service engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle eventually restarted and was driven to an independent mechanic. The contact was notified of fuel tank failure caused by an excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 39,500.
Initially the check engine light came on; took it to service center and the fuel sensor was replaced. Check engine light comes on the next day which revealed an evap code error. Suggestion was take it to dealer for recall check. Safety became an issue when the vehicle sputtered and stalled on the highway. I visually inspected the fuel tank which appeared "sunken" which suggested a vacuum pressure problem which the dealer also confirmed. All this is part of a recall which "should" include my VIN, make, model and year.
While on interstate felt steering wander. Within minutes I received a warning that the steering had a fault and service required. Now the car say it has steering failure. The cost to repair has been estimated at $4000+. I am still purchasing this vehicle and the mileage it at 75,000. With how quickly I lost steering I would say less than 10 miles of first steering issue. I am grateful I was able to park the car to avoid an accident. I have not been able to use this vehicle since this incident. The front wheels are locked up and towing it was inconvenient. This is the second problem we have had with this model the first being a transmission issue.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle was pushed into the driveway after stalling on the street. The vehicle was taken to an independent dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a leak in the evaporative emission control and EVAP purge valve. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 61,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated and failed to shift into reverse(R). The vehicle failed to start intermittently and required several attempts before starting. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed a failure with the fork actuator in clutch A, and the clutch master needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that approximately 2 years after the repair, the failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer who diagnosed a failure with clutch B. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact found information for NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V845000 (Power Train); however, the dealer confirmed that the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in 18V845000 (Power Train). The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission failed to shift into 2nd gear at 4,000 RPM. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics, who diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced; however, the replacement part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The engine component transmission failed. Yes it’s available for inspection on request. I was driving my car on the highway and out of nowhere the car went into limp mode, no lights or anything appeared on the car prior to this, when the car went into limp mode it began going 7 mph on the highway causing myself to be in danger. Multiple repair shops have inspected the vehicle. No warning lamps or symptoms appeared prior to failure.
The check engine light came on and the code reads P0456. The car also has a rough idle and loss of accleration power. We had the car inspected at the mechanic and the shop said the Cannister Purge Valve (CPV) needed replaced and the PCM software needed to be updated. They notified us there was a safety recall on 2012 - 2018 Ford Focus - #18S32 that describes this exact issue, but when we contacted Ford, they said even though our car was a 2018 Ford Focus the VIN # was not included in the recall. Ford suggested we report the issue.
My 2018 Ford Focus has a recall, it has been in the service center since November for non-repairable issues. Ford Motor company has lacked transparency and disclosures by lying about the recalls and defects as more than one the Ford certified dealership confirmed my emissions warranty and recall on parts but the manufacture continues to deny any sort of warranty and recall which is “VIN” specific but my engine and transmission falls under the classification of the recall “1.0L Fox GTDI engine and a 6-speed manual transmission.” Recall is for 2016-2018 and mine is a 2018. The condition and symptoms of just under 49k miles has these ongoing, Non-repairable issues as it’s since had its Clutch motor replaced, Transmission Control Module that was on a National back order because thousands of other vehicles identical to mine have the same issues but some do and some have “no recalls on their VINs” but after even this part was replaced, my vehicle still being in the service center, just like other past and pending lawsuits have stated - one part is replaced and the other malfunctions because now, after 5 months and four clear diagnostics - after the TCM was replaced, my vehicles Clutch Levers have malfunctioned all while still not operating the vehicle. The battery was also completely dead after being tested and fully replaced less than 3k miles ago. These Clutch Levers part is apparently not covered under any warranties and the manufacturer is not willing to pay for out of pocket expenses nor am I in the position to continue to invest in repairing, diagnosis, insurances, transportation, etc., but I don’t want to sell a vehicle that’s not safe to drive. I’d like some sort of an arbitration or buy-back option with the manufacturer but they’ve declined accountability because they’ve stated my VIN has no recall, and they’re administered from this department. I’ve filed several ongoing claims and I really hope this could be investigated internally as time is of the essence!
Car does not start or stalls when new fuel is added, poor fuel mpg. Check engine light with 1450 code. Recall on other fords 18s32 has the same issues but is not covering this model.
Hesitation, stuttering, and lack of power have plagued me since purchasing 2022. When I put my foot on the accelerator the car should go. My car decides to take a coffee break, then smoke break, then bathroom, another smoke break then decides to go.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the battery and check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over into a parking lot. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the canister purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, who replaced the canister purge valve. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
Transmission won't pull
Vehicle GPS goes out and I have no idea if/when the road changes (curves, turns, and if I'm on the correct road or not) apparently APIM module goes out all the time. From stop to start vehicle shudders, lurches, and hesitates. Several times wrecks were miraculously avoided. It's only a matter of time before one does. While driving vehicle looses power, high revs, and losing MPG. For being fuel efficient its burning a lot of it. Ford refuses to even acknowledge my problem. Waiting for my powertrain warranty to expire which is very soon.
I purchased this car recently, and it ended up having a faulty transmission. Research shows many of these car’s with a “Power shift” transmission have had the same issue. Please do what’s right, and initiate a recall. Thank you!
The vehicle is a 2018 Ford Focus SE sedan. The purge valve canister caused my car to stall in traffic and it would not start for up to 20 minutes the recall number is 18s32 but my car specifically does not have this recall, the service engine light is on it turned on right before the car stalled, this is a safety issue because it could lead to a crash due to stalling. The transmission is slipping when it is cold outside and it will not shift until 7,000RPM there is no recall on this but my vehicle has 74xxx miles and should not be having this issue, there is no warning light about the transmission. Ford is going to do a diagnostics for my purge valve but has stated they will not repair unless I pay for it due to lack of recall.
The Ford DPS6 transmission has lost reverse and buck, jerks and possibly sudden acceleration. It’s a 2018 Ford Focus with the same issues as the 2012 models and up.
FORD REFUSAL OF NO COST SERVICE/REPLACEMENT for an ACTIVE RECALL on 2018 FORD FOCUS Canister Purge Solenoid Issue: Engine stalls at idle. Engine underperforms at lower speeds (under 40mph). Engine does not start immediately after refilling gas tank. Check engine light is on. Independent (i.e. non-dealer) mechanic checked on 09Feb2023. Diagnostic codes report Canister Purge Solenoid error. Independent mechanic noted a FORD recall (reference: 18S32) for 2018 Ford Focus Canister Purge Solenoid replacement, but my VIN does not show an active recall. FORD Customer Service and local dealers refuse to include my VIN on the active recall. FORD has not offered any opportunity for an appeal to have my VIN included on the recall.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the check engine light illuminated. The contact diagnosed the vehicle and retrieved information indicating a transmission failure. While driving to an independent mechanic at 30 MPH, a message to "Pull Over Safely" appeared on the instrument panel as the vehicle started to overheat. The vehicle was diagnosed by the independent mechanic with a defective clutch. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle however, the engine failed to turn over. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil pump tension assembly and the turbo charger failed to operate as designed. The contact was informed that the engine and the oil pump tension assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000
Car will not go in reverse transmission went out and needs tcm repair, so to shift fork b circuit going out causing damage to transmission
For a couple months I’ve noticed after I pump new gas, my car hesitates. It acts as if it’s going to turn off. I see this is a known issue but not for my year which is absolutely crazy. Not to mention how the car has jerked when you take off from a stop. This has been going on since I purchased the car new & I’ve continued to be told “it’s normal”. Nothing normal about a car hesitating and jerking.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the engine was replaced. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a significant amount of smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the turbo charger had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the same assessment was made. Additionally, the dealer determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026