2018 Ford FOCUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
830 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
56,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 422 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 294 of 830 complaints (35.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 268 | 32.3% |
| Engine operation | 166 | 20.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 54 | 6.5% |
| Braking behavior | 47 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 39 | 4.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 38 | 4.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 294 |
| Engine | 229 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 131 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 118 |
| Unknown Or Other | 76 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 52 |
| Electrical System | 46 |
| Steering | 30 |
Power Train: 294; Engine: 229; Fuel/Propulsion System: 131; Engine And Engine Cooling: 118; Unknown Or Other: 76; Fuel System, Gasoline: 52; Electrical System: 46; Steering: 30
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 78 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 89 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 132 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 66 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 47 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 78; 25,000 to 49,999: 89; 50,000 to 74,999: 132; 75,000 to 99,999: 66; 100,000 to 149,999: 47; 150,000 and above: 10
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (132). 408 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 56 |
| 2020 | 60 |
| 2021 | 78 |
| 2022 | 89 |
| 2023 | 133 |
| 2024 | 241 |
| 2025 | 106 |
| 2026 | 49 |
2018: 18; 2019: 56; 2020: 60; 2021: 78; 2022: 89; 2023: 133; 2024: 241; 2025: 106; 2026: 49
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 268 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 166 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 54 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11122188 · 2018-08-24 (August 24, 2018)
I'M UNSURE IF MY VEHICLE HAS THE DEFECTIVE TAKATA INFLATORS: MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, UNDER POWER AND TRAVELING GREATER THEN 32 MPH EXITING A HIGHWAY ONTO A CITY STREET. WHILE TURNING LEFT, I EITHER TURNED TO WIDE OR THE OTHER VEHICLE TURNED TO CLOSE AND MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT QTR IMPACTED THE PASSENGER FRONT QTR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE IMPACT ENERGY WAS SO SIGNIFICANT THAT THE DAMAGE WAS ON THE LEFT FRONT QTR, THE FRONT AND IT TRANSFERRED THROUGH THE VEHICLE AND MY PASSENGER SIDE LOOKS MORE DAMAGED THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE. SO MUCH SO THAT TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,197 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11128226 · 2018-09-08 (September 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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 12,226 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11156658 · 2018-12-06 (December 6, 2018)
MY 2018 FORD FOCUS ST IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS THE CURRENT CAMPAIGN 18V735. ON OCCASION THE VEHICLE DIPS DOWN ON RPMS AS IF ITS GOING TO STALL ON START UP. ITS NOT RECORDED AS CURRENT RECALL ON MY VIN BUT I BELIEVE THE SAME ISSUE IS OCCURRING.
Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 11156658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142659 · 2018-10-25 (October 25, 2018)
THE VEHICLE FAILS TO ACHIEVE MORE THAN 25 MPG ON A FULL 12 GALLON FUEL TANK WITH 100% GASOLINE. THERE IS A GASOLINE ODOR AT TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR MULTIPLE HOURS. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 1 LITER ECOBOOST MOTOR THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH 3K MILES ON IT. THE CURRENT ODOMETER READING IS 12,600. ON OCTOBER 21ST, 2018 I ACHIEVED 19 MPG ON A FULL TANK OF GASOLINE.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11265955 · 2019-10-03 (October 3, 2019)
MY VEHICLE IS A 2018 FORD FOCUS ST AND HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT INDICATES THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CANISTER PURGE VALVE TO BE STUCK OPEN WHICH COULD CAUSE THE FUEL TANK TO DEFORM. I EXPERIENCE ENGINE HESITATION AND ALMOST STALLING IMMEDIATELY UPON START-UP AFTER REFILLING FUEL. THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED IN AN EXISTING RECALL (18S32) FOR CERTAIN 2012-2018 FORD FOCUS. HOWEVER, MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF CARS THAT ARE AFFECTED AND AS A RESULT, FORD REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR EXPENSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11265955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11103373 · 2018-06-22 (June 22, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2018 FORD FOCUS FROM ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE LOST BRAKING ABILITY AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR AND NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. *TT VIN NOT AVAILAB…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11103373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11120830 · 2018-08-18 (August 18, 2018)
HIT SOMEONE DUE TO NO BRAKES. THEN LATER WHEN TRYING TO STILL HEAR AIR IN BRAKES WAS GOING 10 MPH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11120830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11150671 · 2018-11-10 (November 10, 2018)
THE STEERING STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER. AFTER PARKING THE CAR AND COMING BACK TO IT AFTER A MEETING IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR AND IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE CAR ONLY HAD 55248 MILES ON IT. DIAGNOSED AS THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.THE STEERING SHOULD NOT FAIL MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY WITH LOW MILEAGE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST QUALITY ISSUE WITH THIS CAR TO AFFECT ITS DRIVABILITY.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,248 miles reported. Look up ODI 11150671 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11060978 · 2018-01-07 (January 7, 2018)
MY PERSONAL CAR HAD A BATTERY DIE - I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND I GOT IT TOWED- THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR FOR THE DAY - WHEN I STARTED TO WORK WITH THE RENTAL CAR I STARTED FEELING SICK WITHIN 15 MINUTES BUT KEPT DRIVING TO WORK - (A 45 MINUTE RIDE) I WAS AT WORK FOR 15 MINUTES AND THEN HEADED TO AN APPOINTMENT- I GOT CONFUSED AND STARTED HALLUCINATING - I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD - FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS I WAS GOING IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS- I WAS ROLLING MY WINDOWS UP AND DOWN BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL GOOD WHICH THE DOCTOR S…
Owner-reported narrative. 187 miles reported. Look up ODI 11060978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289250 · 2019-12-16 (December 16, 2019)
MY LOW BEAM NOTIFICATION CAME ON MY DASH WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE MY LIGHT I NOTICED THAT THE WIRING IS TINGED AND EXPOSED AND THE LIGHT IS BROWN AND BURNT I'M NOT SURE IF THERE WAS AN ELECTRIC FIRE OR WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS PARKED AND TURNED MY CAR ON WHEN THE NOTIFICATION CAME UP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11289250 at NHTSA ↗