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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
22,193 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Ford Focus engine problems

engine problem

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2018 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 8)

problem #148

Nov 162023

Focus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car keeps stuttering and stalling. I've been trying to get it fixed at specialists but they say nothing is wrong with the car, even though I've been stuck on the side of the road multiple times. Not to mention the intense jerking the car does when I try and speed up.

- Wappingers Falls, NY, USA

problem #147

Mar 152024

Focus

  • miles
The reverse transmission went out while driving, and the car has had routine maintenance. There were no warning lights or indicators and I am not able to drive my vehicle at this time.

- Rock Hill, SC, USA

problem #146

Feb 262024

Focus

  • miles
Problem is with the engine. Three days it didn't start, then the fourth day start again. Few times it happened. Yesterday, during drive, while stopping on the signal, I felt two times that like engine is about to shutdown.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #145

Mar 082024

Focus

  • 43,529 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while at a red light, the vehicle shut off. The contact shifted the vehicle into neutral. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that a diagnostic test needed to be performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 43,529.

- Haines City, FL, USA

problem #144

Jan 282024

Focus

  • miles
While driving the oil pressure light came on. Within seconds the check engine light came on. The car was being backed out of my driveway at the time. It was pulled back in & parked at the end of my driveway. The oil was checked and was not low. I had it towed to a dealership. After a few days, the dealership called & told me I needed a new engine and turbo. I inquired about whether it was related to the current recall & was told -??your oil pump isn-??t working because of your motor-??. How can they tell me it-??s not because of the belt breaking down (which falls under the recall) without going into the motor to inspect the belt. I asked to speak with someone who actually worked on my car. The tech told me that the car lost oil pressure which meant the oil wasn-??t moving and my engine burned up. I reached out to Ford & was simply given a case number & told that I would receive a letter when the parts are available for repair. I am beyond that point as my engine is already shot and it-??s $6-7k to replace. But why replace the engine with the same engine that has the same belt that-??s causing these issues"?" The car belongs to my son who is a full time nursing student & REALLY needs his car. I can-??t get a loaner and can-??t afford to rent a vehicle for no telling how long. We are still having to make car & insurance payments on a car that we can-??t drive. It is currently still sitting at the dealership. It-??s $155 per hour to have the dealership go into the engine & inspect the belt to see if it in fact is at fault for my engine failure. That-??s on top of the $100 I paid for towing and the $188 I paid for the diagnosis. Not to mention having to help my son pay for rides to school and work every single day. Ford needs to come up with a solution ASAP! The car was fine until this sudden loss of oil pressure.

- Glenmora, LA, USA

problem #143

Oct 192023

Focus

  • miles
Timing broke with 71k on engine. Cut off and will not start back

- Wirtz, VA, USA

problem #142

Nov 232023

Focus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine seized

- Lyndhurst, OH, USA

problem #141

Jun 082022

Focus

  • 34,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled and failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the fuel injectors were replaced. The failure recurred three additional times. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a stuck clutch and stated that the clutch assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 34,000.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #140

Jan 182024

Focus

  • miles
My fuel system failed, causing fuel leakage, problems with starting my vehicle, pressing on the gas and the vehicle not driving, which caused me to get in almost 3 collisions. my check engine light sensors are being triggered for no reason and my car continues to jerk and not drive, even if there is fuel in the tank.

- Antioch, CA, USA

problem #139

Feb 022024

Focus

  • miles
The Transmission system of the car stopped shifting into gear and would randomly shift back into gear and jolt the whole car forward. This problem has happened with other ford focus models that have been recalled but not this model having the same issues. Had a transmission company look at the car and they said to take it into the dealership due to it being a manufacturing problem. Then I had to replace the lever ASY clutch release, Clutch ASY, Seal ASY, Cylinder ASY, Retainer bearing, Bracket, Retainer nut, and 2 Axles. The car is only a 2018 model and only has 70,000 miles. This ended up costing about $5,000 to repair when it was a manufacturing error and not from the driver.

- San Diego , CA, USA

problem #138

Nov 232023

Focus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on I75 the car started to act funny. No issue indicating lights came on the dash board. I exited the highway and the brakes did not work. I was able to get the car to eventually stop without damaging anyone. I had to use the hand break. My foot had the break peddle all the way to the floor and that would not stop the car. Once the car was stopped the check engine light came on when i tried to start the car. The car was towed to the nearby Ford dealership who determined the oil pump failed which caused the turbo to fail and 2 of the 3 pistons to fail. Engine, oil pump and turbo all had to be replaced. The break pump also had to be replaced. These were all related to the oil pump failure. This could have been so much worse had i had to slow down or come to a sudden stop on the highway. Or if there was any oncoming traffic at the exit intersection i had to go through without breaks.

- Roswell, GA, USA

problem #137

Jan 222024

Focus

  • miles
I purchased this vehicle from a dealer on 10/3/2022 and have had some issues, and 1/22/2023 my oil light came on and i took the car to a Tires plus who said it was a camshaft sensor, and the engine was vibrating to only have the engine light come on later. Called dealership only to find that they closed shop and you have to reach out via email/text. I was told to take to a mechanic which I then took to Jensen who said that the engine was shot, could not be fixed but would have to be replaced. I contacted the dealer again via text letting them know..I did purchase an extended warranty through the dealer and they sent out their 3rd party inspector who assessed it as the same. NOW the warranty place wants to know WHY the engine failed in order for them to repair and even in that..they said IF what caused it falls under their' do not cover' then they will not cover it. I have contacted the loan people prior to even this, the dealer (prior to this) about issues but they kept stating that nothing was wrong along with some cosmetic issues as well that they attempted to patch up..seatbelt was not working properly so they attempted to fix but still was tight and you have to pull to get it to roll up into the slot. My vehicle is now inoperatable and I have been w/o a vehicle since the date of engine failing. I also discovered other issues that were noted after the fact that were not revealed to me at the point of sale. (yes this is a branded title, and i was informed that the vehicle was ONLY hit on drivers door but was fixed, however via the warranty company who looked up CARFAX I was informed that there was way more damange to this vehicle then I was told). I am unsure what my next step and if you can give me some options of what I should do next would be great.

- Bellevue, NE, USA

problem #136

Jan 192024

Focus

  • miles
My car had a loss of motive power and the engine light and oil light came on. Checked the oil level, it was good, the light remained on. It also ran rough, had it towed to Future Ford shop. The diagnosis has been confirmed by Future Ford repair shop in Fresno, CA. that the recall for the oil pump is what is wrong with it. They said the engine has to be replaced. This will be the second engine replacement. I HAVE A CASE # [XXX]. MY REASON FOR CONTACTING YOU IS I NEED A LOANER CAR UNTIL FORD REPAIRS IT IN THE 2nd QUARTER. I JUST STARTED A NEW JOB 3 DAYS AGO AND I NEED A CAR. I CAN NOT AFFORD A RENTAL. PLEASE AUTHORIZE THE DEALER TO GIVE ME A LOANER CAR!!!!! I AM DESPERATELY BEGGING YOU FOR HELP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #135

Feb 012024

Focus

  • miles
I am writing to urgently submit a formal complaint regarding a critical safety issue with my Ford Focus, VIN: [XXX], and Ford's alarming failure to promptly notify owners about the defect described in Safety Recall 23S64. On [XXX], I experienced a terrifying incident while driving on the highway when my car suffered a sudden loss of power braking, resulting in a near miss accident and inflicting emotional distress. I towed the vehicle to a Ford dealer for assessment, where it was determined that the engine had failed and required a full replacement. After doing research myself, I found that my car is among those affected by Safety Recall 23S64, a fact of which I was completely unaware until after the incident. According to Ford's own communication to US dealers, new or in-stock vehicles under this recall are not to be demonstrated or delivered until repair instructions are provided, and customer notifications are to be issued only after repair instructions and parts ordering information are made available to dealers. At the moment, I have yet to receive any such notification or communication from Ford, despite my vehicle being directly impacted by the defect outlined therein. Furthermore, Ford expects me to shoulder the financial burden of the necessary repairs upfront, with the promise of reimbursement once the full FSA bulletin is released, a process that may extend until June. I am lucky this situation was a near miss, however, for others this might be a life threatening experience. If Ford does not take immediate action to remedy those who have been affected early on in the recall, I will have to seek legal action for Ford's negligence, seeking compensation for material costs associated with the repair of my vehicle, as well as recompense for lost wages due to lack of transportation, the cost of a rental vehicle, and the significant emotional distress I experienced during this harrowing experience. Thank you for your urgent attention. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)

- Missouri City, TX, USA

problem #134

Jan 082024

Focus

  • miles
Engine oil light came on. Lost my brakes. Upon inspection brake vacuum pump failed. And turbo failed from oil starvation. Problem found. oil pump screen blocked off with belt particles.

- Wallback, WV, USA

problem #133

Jan 142024

Focus

  • miles
My 2018 Ford Focus has not been running correctly since about 30000 miles. As I accelerate, the car has trouble shifting into the next gear and will make a rattle noise that sounds like an object hitting against a fan blade. This makes it difficult to speed up on the freeway or accelerate correctly when I get a green light. I take it into the dealership regularly for an oil change and tune up but when I mentioned the issue they have told me they don't hear it and nothing is wrong.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #132

Jan 032024

Focus

  • miles
The engine died while I was driving with my fiance, and the steering gave out. There was a loss of power to both the engine and brakes. The timing of shifting was inconsistent and I couldn't keep up with speed of traffic. Ford has confirmed that there is a problem with my vehicle and that the engine could explode. This is from their recall live on their site: "The engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm to fracture, separate from the tensioner backing plate, and/or the oil pump drive belt material may degrade and lose teeth, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure. A loss of engine oil pressure can result in engine damage and/or seizure, which can result in a loss of motive power and a loss of the mechanical vacuum pump required to provide power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash." My car has been inspected by the local Ford dealership. There was a warning lamp that showed on the dashboard the day I had planned to get an oil change done by the Tuttle-Click Ford. They completed my oil change and did not acknowledge that I had an engine warning light. I had to call them back the same day to ask why the light was still on and if they fixed it, and they said to bring it back in. Once I did, they said they would have to take apart my engine. After bringing it to two other mechanics (the failure getting progressively worse), one of them was kind enough to let me know my car was recalled. Information that Ford never led out with once I brought my car in.

- Dana Point, CA, USA

problem #131

Jan 032024

Focus

  • miles
The engine died while I was driving with my fiance, and the steering gave out. There was a loss of power to both the engine and brakes. The timing of shifting was inconsistent and I couldn't keep up with speed of traffic. Ford has confirmed that there is a problem with my vehicle and that the engine could explode. This is from their recall live on their site: "The engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm to fracture, separate from the tensioner backing plate, and/or the oil pump drive belt material may degrade and lose teeth, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure. A loss of engine oil pressure can result in engine damage and/or seizure, which can result in a loss of motive power and a loss of the mechanical vacuum pump required to provide power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash." My car has been inspected by the local Ford dealership. There was a warning lamp that showed on the dashboard the day I had planned to get an oil change done by the Tuttle-Click Ford. They completed my oil change and did not acknowledge that I had an engine warning light. I had to call them back the same day to ask why the light was still on and if they fixed it, and they said to bring it back in. Once I did, they said they would have to take apart my engine. After bringing it to two other mechanics (the failure getting progressively worse), one of them was kind enough to let me know my car was recalled. Information that Ford never led out with once I brought my car in.

- Dana Point, CA, USA

problem #130

Jan 302023

Focus

  • 43,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while at a complete stop, a message indicating that the vehicle was overheating was displayed, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact was able to pull into a gas station. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed due to the oil pump failure. The vehicle was repaired under warranty; however, the failure recurred while at a complete stop. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the oil pump drive belt failure had caused the engine to fail. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would partially cover the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

- Lancaster, OH, USA

problem #129

Jan 032024

Focus

  • 86,000 miles
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 manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH and slowing for pedestrians in a parking lot, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to slow down as needed. The contact shifted the vehicle to park(P) to stop the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that due to an oil pump failure, the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

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