2018 Ford FOCUS: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

FROM A COMPLETE STOP (DUE TO STOPPED TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT), ACCELERATION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE, RAPIDLY INCREASE RPM, AND SHUDDER/SHAKE VIOLENTLY. HAPPENS ROUGHLY BETWEEN 0-35 MPH. THE ISSUE IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT, SO I'LL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP. MILEAGE IS JUST UNDER 30K.

Owner-reported narrative. 29,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11076145 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN EVEN MILD WIND OR TURBULENT AIR FROM TRAFFIC THE CAR HAS A LOSS OF STABILITY. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN WINTER AND AS SOON AS CONDITIONS IMPROVED FOR HIGHWAY SPEED TO RESUME WE FOUND OUT.WE DO NOT FEEL THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR HIGHWAY DRIVING. WHEN GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY INTERMITTENTLY A VIBRATION OCCURS AS WELL AS WHEN TRAVELING AT 50MPH OCCASIONALLY FEELING A DRIVE LINE VIBRATION FEELS LIKE IT COMES FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. SO FAR THE CAR HAS BEEN TO 2 DEALERS AND THEY BOTH ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUES AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11094082 at NHTSA ↗

BOTH OF THE REAR SIDE WINDOWS HAD MOULDING THAT WAS LOOSE, THE FIRST TECH AT SCHICKER FORD SAID THAT THEY WERE ALL LIKE THAT, THE NEXT DAY I WENT BACK AND TALKED TO ANOTHER TECH WHO GAVE ME THE SAME ANSWER. I SENT PHOTOS OF THE LOOSE MOLDING, THEN THE TECH SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO GET FORDS APPROVAL BEFORE IT COULD BE REPLACED. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK FORD GAVE APPROVAL TO REPLACE THEM. THE TECH. SAID THAT FORD WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE FOR A LOANER TO BE PROVIDED TO ME, SO I HAD TO WAIT THREE HOURS BEFORE THE JOB WAS COMPLETED. THIS IS A 2018 FORD FOCUS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11097931 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK AND ONTO THE FLOOR IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE REAR SEAT BELT BOLTS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIDDLETOWN FORD (1750 NORTH VERITY PARKWAY, MIDDLETOWN, OH 45042) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WELL TO THE FRAME WAS MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE SEAT BELT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFAC…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,930 miles reported. Look up ODI 11103838 at NHTSA ↗

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. T…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,384 miles reported. Look up ODI 11109754 at NHTSA ↗

CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR INTERMITTENTLY (2X IN 1600 MILES)

Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11115141 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2018-10-22 (October 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2018-11-28 (November 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2023-12-22 (December 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.

Consequence: A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2026-01-15 (January 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.

Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2026-01-15 (January 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.

Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2026-06-09 (June 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.

Consequence: An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2026-06-09 (June 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.