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2018 Ford Focus complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2018 record →

Engine
Filed Jan 22, 2026RI

The malfunctioned component Engine Oil Pump failed while driving on highway causing the vehicle to both overheat and stall all at once, causing the vehicle to stop running in the middle of a main highway forcing me and another pedestrian to push the car into a gas station, out of the way of oncoming traffic, Ford did send out a recall notice for the Failed Oil Pump in December 2025 the same month my vehicle broke down. The vehicle was inspected by a mechanics shop, Master Muffler & Brake repair shop in Wareham Ma. as well as Empire Ford of New Bedford, Master Muffler & Brake concluded that the Head Gasket had blown, and Empire Ford of New Bedford concluded the issue was due to a cracked engine block. Prior to any issue there had been no warning signs then once the 2018 Ford Focus began to stall an overheating warning light as well as the check engine light began to flash at the same exact time as the vehicle itself breaking down.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 13, 2026MA

Loss of engine power, engine noise. I am submitting this complaint regarding Ford Motor Company’s handling of an active safety recall affecting my vehicle and its failure to complete recall-related repairs after directing me to a dealership for evaluation. I previously filed a complaint with NHTSA regarding this safety issue. Following that complaint, Ford Motor Company contacted me and instructed me to bring my vehicle to an authorized Ford dealership for recall inspection and repair. I complied fully and delivered my vehicle as directed. The vehicle remains at the dealership and has not been returned to me in a repaired or operable condition. After the vehicle was brought to the dealership, Ford Customer Service opened Case # [XXX]. I was advised in writing by a Ford representative that the matter would be escalated and that a supervisor would contact me on or about December 30, 2025. No supervisor ever contacted me. I waited almost two weeks beyond the promised date and followed up by email with no response. When I later contacted Ford Customer Service by phone, I was informed that my case had been closed. I was not notified in advance of the closure, was not provided any written explanation, and the promised supervisory review never occurred. At the time the case was closed, my vehicle remained at the dealership and the recall issue had not been resolved. I am requesting that NHTSA review Ford Motor Company’s handling of this matter to determine whether Ford is complying

Engine
Filed Jan 12, 2026TX

Ref Recall #23V905: I brought my 2018 Ford Focus into Northside Ford, San Antonio on Tuesday, Jan 6th, to comply with referenced recall. I was told that to "get in line" I would have to leave my vehicle at the dealership until parts were available, approximately a one month wait. There was no provision for a written recall wait list - then notify the customer when parts are available. Nor was a loaner car available. I believe such a policy that requires customers to lose use of their vehicle for a month is a barrier to referenced recall compliance. I ask that Ford change their procedure.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 6, 2026NM

My 2018 Ford Focus with DPS6 PowerShift transmission exhibits documented defect symptoms: shuddering, delayed engagement, jerking, slipping, and unpredictable low-speed behavior. Ford corporate has refused to open a defect case or provide arbitration review. This transmission family has known litigation history and systemic defect documentation.

Engine
Filed Jan 6, 2026IL

I was driving on a major road at about 40mph. The oil light unexpectedly came on and I experienced a sudden reduction of engine power. There was no prior warning about this issue before the oil light suddenly came on. This power reduction caused unpredictable vehicle driving behavior that could have caused an accident. I was able to get the car to a nearby Ford dealership who told me that the oil light came on because the timing belt started to break apart and began to seize up the engine. They have told me that the entire engine will need to be replaced. The malfunctioning parts should still be available for inspection. So far, only the initial Ford dealership and the auto shop I had my car towed to for repair has inspected the vehicle. I have called Ford directly and they would not help with my problem because there has been no recall issued for my manual Focus model, though the automatic models have been recalled for a very similar or the same issue according to the Ford dealer.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 2, 202674,947 milesNY

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000(Engine and Engine Cooling), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The dealer informed the contact that the engine was replaced; however, the contact stated that after the recall repair, the vehicle started to overheat. The contact added coolant to the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was not experiencing the failure prior to the recall repair. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant contamination. The dealer replaced two reservoirs and cleaned out the coolant. The contact stated that upon attempting to start the vehicle in the driveway, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the spark plugs were removed, and the mechanic noticed that there was coolant leak on the spark plugs. The mechanic determined that the engine had seized. The contact sent pictures of the failure to the dealer, who advised that they would need to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, but was not yet diagnosed due to the cost. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,947.

Engine
Filed Dec 16, 2025NY

I was driving on a 40mph road, went to pass someone and touched the gas to do so and the car shuddered, lost power, and made a whining noise anytime the turbo would engage. The turbocharger had to be replaced. Luckily this occurred on a road that wasn't busy and was close to home. The car has 55,000mi on it and it meticulously maintained.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 16, 2025AR

Vehicle experienced a highway-speed overheat and automatic engine shutdown. Inspection revealed antifreeze intrusion into the under-hood engine fuse box, causing widespread fuse degradation and electrical failure. This occurred following recall-related service. Vehicle lost power and is unsafe to operate due to electrical contamination and fire risk. Manufacturer and dealer have been unresponsive.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 5, 2025WA

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 local dealer was contacted several times and informed the contact that the recall repair part had been ordered. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 1, 2025100,000 milesMO

The contact owned a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. While the contact was about to pull over to the side of the road, the vehicle functioned normally. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact called the dealer; however, the contact was advised that there was a waiting list. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while starting the vehicle, the message "Engine Pressurized - Stop Immediately" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the radiator hose had detached. The vehicle was not repaired and was pending an inspection of the engine. The contact stated that the recall repair was still pending. The dealer failed to provide an appointment for the recall repair. The contact was informed that there were several warning lights illuminated; however, the contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The contact was the second owner of the vehicle and stated that the original owner experienced the same loss of power with the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Power Train
Filed Nov 17, 202564,000 milesOH

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift into gear properly. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while at a stop, the vehicle shimmied while attempting to shift into gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the failure was related to the transmission and the contact was referred to the dealer for further assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the independent mechanic. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 30, 2025NC

The fuel pump has failed and causes my car to loose power after the car has started. This is able to occur while operating the vehicle and results in immediate loss of power. This component has been inspected by an auto mechanic and will be looked at by the Ford dealership. A check engine warning appeared on 27Oct2025. However, my vehicle had been showing symptoms starting as early as Nov 2023. The symptoms included: a clunking vibration while accelerating the vehicle and switching gears, stalling at low speeds, and making weird noises when switching between gears at low speeds. I first contacted a Ford dealership about these symptoms six months ago.

Power Train
Filed Oct 10, 202543,000 milesFL

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle felt as if the transmission had slipped into neutral(N). The contact was not able to get the vehicle back into gear, and the vehicle lost forward momentum. The contact was in the parking lot of the residence and stopped and called a tow truck. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that it was the fifth time that the clutch had been replaced. The contact stated that the clutch was most recently replaced in May 2024. The contact called the manufacturer and was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

Engine
Filed Oct 5, 2025VA

My wife was driving her car home from work when her car suddenly overheated in light traffic. She pulled over and called me. I came by and we saw that the coolant level was low, so we filled it up to the normal level and she drove it another 20 minutes back to our home. She said it was shuddering the whole way back. I started it in the driveway later that evening and a large amount of white smoke came out of the exhaust pipe and the engine still seemed to be misfiring. I tried starting it again the next day and it would crank but not start. It seems to be an issue with the engine, my guess is a ruptured head gasket. The shuddering caused by the misfires made the car unstable to drive especially if it died while she was at speed with other cars around. The car was towed to a dealer over 30 days ago and they said that it may be related to the open recall, but they won't know until they tear it down. Which they still haven't done. There were no engine codes or prior lamp indications until the overheating event.

Engine
Filed Oct 2, 2025MA

On August 26, 2025, my 2018 Ford Focus suffered an engine failure and had to be towed by AAA to [XXX] of Saugus. Prior to the tow, service advisor [XXX] confirmed the vehicle could be inspected for secondary engine damage connected to Ford recall 23S64 (oil pump drive belt). On August 29, [XXX] texted me that the engine required replacement due to engine failure but that Ford would not cover it since the oil pump belt itself had “not failed.” He claimed Ford only covers engine replacement if the belt breaks outright. This is inaccurate: recall obligations extend to secondary damage caused by the defect, which in my case left the car inoperable. When I requested inspection documentation, technician notes, and photos, Service Director [XXX] and [XXX] told me “there is no checklist” and insisted the car was “drivable,” which was false—I have the AAA tow receipt. Internal correspondence shows [XXX] asking if photos “must have been taken for SSSC contact,” yet the case was never escalated to Ford’s Special Service Support Center as required. On Sept. 30, [XXX] emailed me that he would no longer respond, accused me of manipulating details, threatened storage fees, and refused to perform recall repairs. On Oct. 1, in person, he told me [XXX] “does not need to follow Ford recall protocol” because it is a private dealer and that he blocked my vehicle in Ford’s system to prevent any [XXX] location from performing recall work. I believe [XXX] of Saugus and Ford Motor Company have failed

Power Train
Filed Sep 29, 20258,899 milesOH

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was jerking and hesitating while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an unknown transmission repair was performed; however, the failure persisted. The local dealer and an unknown dealer were contacted and offered to take the vehicle in a trade-in, but the contact declined. The vehicle was taken to Marcino Enterprises LLC, where it was test-driven, and the failure recurred. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission fluid was contaminated with metal shavings and had become brown. Additionally, the contact stated that the engine overheated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 8,899.

Engine
Filed Sep 26, 2025VA

My vehicle is part of the 23S64/23V905 Ford recall. The car died in the middle of an intersection in 2024 and Ford finally agreed to replace the faulty parts with more faulty parts until there was a fix. Now there is a fix and Ford said they will not replace it because it's still running, but when/if the parts fail again, to bring it in and they'll fix it. So if the vehicle fails on the interstate or in the middle of an intersection again and I'm in a crash, then they'll fix it. But they will not fix it until they fail because "there are too many not running vehicles in front" of mine.

Power Train
Filed Sep 16, 2025IL

Bought a used 2018 Ford Focus From a dealer in October 2024. In February 2025 the car started shuttering when put inn reverse when I left work. I drove ten miles to Home and didn't drive the car util the next day. The next morning when I went to work the car would not do more than 25 miles per hour. I pulled over and called someone to come tow the car. The car would not go in reverse. Car was taken to Dealership Which told me I needed some kind of part for the transmission. the Part was replaced but then the dealership could not get the car to go forward or in reversed. The car kept throwing codes for the mechanic. I had the car towed back home. the Transmission light is on and cannot drive the car. The car has not been driven since the end of February due to unable to pay for more repairs.

Power Train
Filed Sep 15, 2025TX

Transmission element B stuck on. Requiring replacement of clutch and actuator.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 15, 2025KY

My 2018 ford focus broke down in the middle of the road on [XXX] leaving it undrivable. The engine light came on and it gave an error saying “system engine fault, service now” I had it towed to Legacy Ford in Corbin KY on [XXX] and was they advised it was due to a recall with the with Oil Pump Drive belt and told me it would be covered but they didn’t know how long it would take….after having it for OVER a month, they called and said it was finished and ready for pick-up so I picked my car up on September 9th (still was driving weird) and picked my kids up from school & daycare, then went home so I only drove it about an hour before parking it. I went to leave to take my son to school the next morning and before I even pulled out of the driveway, the same error message had kicked on and the engine would seize and died- which is the same exact thing it did whenever it initially broke down…. Well they had it towed back to them on Wednesday September 10th so they could take a look at it since it was most likely related to the recall… So they called me the next day to let me know they had checked it out and it was an issue with the PCM and is unrelated to the recall and it will be $1,600 to fix it even though it’s doing the SAME EXACT thing it did whenever it broke down the first time. I found information supporting the fact that the issues from the recall can most certainly cause damages to the PCM. I also found out my car was part of a class action lawsuit and the Plaintiffs al

Electrical System
Filed Sep 11, 2025NH

I have had this car for 2 years, the transmission went on me in the middle of the night and I had to have it towed home and to a transmission SPECIALIST. I just got the car back 2 weeks ago after spending $2,000 to get it NH road legal. My transmission NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I’ve contacted Ford, my car should be on the recall list but it isn’t. I have the junk transmission that they never should have “engineered”. The car has done nothing but cost my money and I still owe on because the dealership ripped me off. The attached file is from recent work, I haven’t gotten the invoice from AAMCO of Concord NH.

Engine
Filed Sep 9, 2025SC

The recall has yet to be resolved for me and the nearest appointment is 2 months away, A new problem that has arisen is the transmission jerks, struggles with the car not having any warning indications

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 4, 202582,000 milesMI

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the low oil pressure and the check engine warning lights illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 82,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 4, 2025100,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the recall repair was performed twice; however, the failure persisted for almost two months. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that parts might take a while to be available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 28, 202588,000 milesVA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle briefly vibrated violently before returning to normal functionality. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the engine was idling abnormally but was unable provide a diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 88,000.

Power Train
Filed Aug 28, 2025MI

Engine Oil Pump Stuck Canister Purge Valve Clutch Fracture My car has difficulty starting. I have had problems with my hill start assist and air bags. My car stalls when I press gas at a light. it makes a funny noise and jerks. My engine light will come on and stalls even more and then the transmission alert comes on my dash to tell me to pull over because it’s over heating. The takeoff is extra slow like a turtle and fluid leaking. I’ve had my car at the same dealership I purchased my car.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 26, 202583,900 milesME

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 his son was driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The contact's son was able to coast to the side of the road; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact stated that the engine had been replaced before at approximately 35,000. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,900.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 21, 2025OK

I was on my way to a 7-Eleven to get gas once I filled it up. Those engine started sputtering and it did that for a minute until it finally started. I got to my school and then once I needed to go to school to school, my car was not going above 11 mph and when I was trying to reverse, it would not accelerate while reversing.

Power Train
Filed Aug 20, 202579,000 milesNH

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the transmission shifted between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear, the engine revved up, and the vehicle jerked and lost motive power. The accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle responded. The contact stated that several weeks later, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact’s neighbor used a handheld diagnostic machine to retrieve a code related to transmission failure. The neighbor performed unstated repairs to the vehicle; however, the failure reoccurred days later. The contact stated on the last occasion, while driving at an undisclosed slight incline, between 1st and 2nd gears, the vehicle started jerking and failed to accelerate as intended. The check engine warning light illuminated with a message to "Transmission Safety - Stop for 5 Minutes" displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that unknown parts needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 79,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 18, 2025AZ

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 unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the oil pump was losing pressure and the vehicle needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 15, 202520,000 milesVA

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 unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The check engine warning light was temporarily illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who was unable to determine why the warning light was illuminated. The mechanic cleared the system, and the warning light was no longer illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair, but the recall repair was not performed. The dealer informed the contact that the recall repair could not be performed because the check engine warning light was not illuminated. The dealer advised the contact to return when the warning light illuminated again. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

Engine
Filed Aug 6, 202593,000 milesGA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that upon attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to crank as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the head gasket, resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000.

Power Train
Filed Jul 29, 202599,500 milesTX

The contact owns 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The message "Transmission Is Overheating" was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle had failed to reverse as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V845000(Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but the contact was informed through a voicemail message that no assistance would be provided. The failure mileage was 99,500.

Power Train
Filed Jul 28, 2025MA

I have had problems with the clutch 3 times and had it repaired and it sounds like it is going again i have only 44,000 miles on my 2018 and this is ridiculous I love my ford but something has to be done. My warranty is over 7/2026.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 18, 2025SC

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 local dealer was not made aware of the issue. 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 issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Power Train
Filed Jul 18, 202590,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where the fuel line was replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed back to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with clutch failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Power Train
Filed Jul 16, 2025FL

My battery died in my car. I replaced the battery with a brand new battery and then I noticed transmission issues that were not present 1 day prior. My check engine light came on as well as a “transmission fault warning” message. My car would not drive over 10 mph in drive. My car would shift into reverse, but would not drive at all. Car would not shift into S gear. Dealer told me it was the TCM. And that I just missed the TCM warrant by 3 days. They replaced the TCM and now they’re telling me there are deeper issues with the transmission.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 15, 2025VA

The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact’s daughter 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. Additionally, the contact's daughter was fearful of driving the vehicle with the open recall. The contact stated that previously the vehicle experienced engine failure and the failure had occurred without warning. The contact stated that his daughter was traumatized and afraid of the failure reoccurring while driving. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unavailable. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Steering
Filed Jul 13, 2025CA

I was waiting to pull out of the parking lot after work making a left turn. When it was clear I accelerated but the car felt like it didn't want to turn, it just went straight, the wheel felt like it had locked up, it was super stiff. I almost hit parked cars and almost was hit by the oncoming traffic. I was able to stop before hitting the parked cars, put my emergency lights on, put the car in reverse and had to go incredible hulk mode on the steering wheel to turn it any kind of amount.. I managed to steer the car towards the curb and park. I was stuck on the side of the road for a bit looking up what it could be and I found that it was most likely the electronic power steering system going out. I also found that there was a recall on the 2018 Ford Focus already for that same issue NHTSA#15S18/15V340. I took it to the dealer and explained what happened, they looked at it and said it is the power steering and needs to be replaced but that it's not showing up as under recall for my VIN. I called Ford but they say my VIN is not effected as well. I don't understand how since the description in the recall is exactly what happened to me and the dealer is saying that is also the problem. The car is a 2018 and has 22k miles on it, used just for work commutes. It should not be having these issues. I have 3 payments left on this car and they now want $5k plus for repairs..

Power Train
Filed Jul 13, 2025AZ

Most recently, my transmission stopped working leaving my [XXX] daughter and I stranded at an airport, in congested traffic, right around a bend where traffic was exiting in Phoenix, Arizona. It was 111 degrees outside and we had to be towed by the airport contracted tow company to a little area where we could only stay for 20 minutes. They were originally going to tow us to the top of the parking garage, where the sun blazes down, but decided since I had my daughter with me that they would take us to a shaded area. I’m a [XXX], her father [XXX] and hasn’t been any help her entire life. I don’t have any family besides my sister which lives in California. I couldn’t afford a tow truck back to Kingman, AZ which is a which is a 3 1/2 hour drive. My car ended up starting and I was able to park in the parking garage so we got her flight moved back a couple of hours. Again, I was able to get the car started and it drove fine until it cut out about two hours from Phoenix in Wikieup Arizona where I stayed for 12 hours in my vehicle waiting for somebody to come and pick me up with a tow dolly. Now it’s at Anderson Ford in Kingman with an $8000 bill for a new transmission. This transmission issue is a known issue with many of the Ford focuses and I think that Ford needs to fix it and or give me a new vehicle because I’ve already had two new engines put in and I’m waiting on the third engine for the oil pump failure the first time the oil pump went out again. The first time the engine f

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 9, 2025MD

Engine light is on for no reason and when the rpm’s spike and stutter when accelerating

Power Train
Filed Jul 9, 202593,000 milesWA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to a lower gear and the vehicle jerked abnormally. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.

Power Train
Filed Jul 7, 2025CA

I have had the clutch replaced and after 5 months I'm having issues with it again. The Ford dealer that I purchased it from it saying that there is no issue and they cannot duplicate the problem that I am telling them is occurring.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jun 24, 2025WA

While driving the vehicle at 60 mph in traffic, all propulsion was lost and the car displayed "stop safely now." Fortunately, I had enough momentum to drift to the side of the road, but this was a very unsafe situation. The vehicle was towed to a dealership where they diagnosed the high voltage battery to have experienced a sudden failure. The vehicle has approximately 60k miles, and searching online indicates that this is a common problem at this mileage. The replacement batteries are jow only built to order, so the vehicle has now been out of service for over 2 months while waiting on a replacement battery.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 23, 2025198,000 milesAL

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the engine overheated and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the engine was revving and the message to pull over was displayed. The contact turned on the hazard lights and waited for the engine to cool down. The contact stated that the vehicle was making an abnormal clunking noise. Additionally, the transmission was slipping, and the gears were sticking. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who confirmed there were no associated recalls on the VIN for the failures. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine mount, transmission, canister, water pump, and axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 11, 2025106,000 milesOH

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, and while driving at various speeds, messages that the brake fluid level was low, and to shift into park were displayed. The contact stated that other unknown messages were displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that upon turning off the vehicle, the instrument cluster and the infotainment system screen failed to turn off intermittently. The contact stated that the vehicle had also experienced abnormal battery drainage. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was recommended to replace the negative (-) ground wiring cable. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred the following day. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the TCM had failed, and the failure could be the cause of the battery drainage. The dealer determined that the TCM needed to be replaced and ordered the part. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

Power Train
Filed Jun 4, 202596,000 milesKY

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The vehicle was diagnosed with a defective transmission clutch. The contact was informed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

Power Train
Filed Jun 4, 2025134,225 milesCO

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift to reverse(R) as needed. The contact stated that the transmission warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that when the gear shifter was shifted to drive(D), the transmission downshifted unintendedly. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 134,225.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 4, 202548,000 milesGA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated unintendedly. The check engine, oil, and engine failure warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired three times, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

Engine
Filed May 30, 2025GA

Loss of engine oil pressure, possible engine damage, and/or seizure.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2018 Ford Focus → · Every Focus year → · How the figures are calculated →