2018 FORD FOCUS Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Ford Focus. This model year has 807 NHTSA complaints β top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car β accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2018 Ford Focus Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Fuel/Propulsion System
Considering a 2018 Ford Focus?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car β accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2018 Ford Focus. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 346 | 4 | 3 | β | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 306 | β | β | β | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 124 | 3 | 2 | β | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 75 | 1 | β | β | |
| Fuel System | 64 | β | β | β | |
| Gasoline | 64 | β | β | β | |
| Electrical Faults | 43 | β | 1 | β | |
| Steering Defects | 30 | 3 | β | β | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 25 | β | β | β | |
| Brake System | 21 | 2 | β | β | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 9 | 7 | 1 | β | |
| Structural Problems | 6 | 2 | 1 | β | |
| Back Over Prevention | 5 | β | β | β | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 5 | β | β | β | |
| Wheel Issues | 4 | β | β | β | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | β | β | β | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | 1 | β | β | |
| Hydraulic | 2 | β | β | β | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | 1 | β | β | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | β | β | β | |
| Equipment | 1 | β | β | β | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | β | β | β | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 1 | β | β | β | |
| Tire Issues | 1 | β | β | β |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Ford Focus. Type a keyword (e.g. βtransmissionβ, βstallingβ, βbrakesβ) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 807 total. View all on NHTSA β
RECALL 23V905 February 2024 This is a complaint about service for the Recall. Or, the lack thereof. Still hasn't been serviced by dealer Serramonte Ford in Colma, CA.650-395-2728 Car was delivered to dealer Wednesday April 22, 2026. And still hasn't been serviced, as far as I knoβ¦
The dual clutch PowerShift DCT transmission has failed. When placed in reverse, the engine RPM increases when accelerating but the vehicle does not move at all. While driving forward, the vehicle struggles to reach 10mph and the transmission slips severely. The vehicle is essentiβ¦
Was seen by Ford Dealer And confirm TCM issues
During their recall repair work on my cpv/ecm recall Rowe Auburn Ford allowed my car to leave their custody with the airbag light on and have refused to take responsibility or offer resolution to fix this issue without costing me more money.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 - 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle suddenly decelerated and then accelerated to the desired cruise control setting. The failure had occurred several times. Approximatelβ¦
I purchased a 2018 Ford Focus in Sept of 2023 with 30k+ miles. Financed. In April of 2025 the car started making strange noises when starting and then would not go into reverse. The car pushed in neutral and drove about 2 miles. Stopped for gas and then the car would not start.β¦
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shuddering, jerking, and hesitating to accelerate as needed. The vehicle then stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who detβ¦
car stalled and I took it to three mechanics who all said transmission was shot.I replaced two oil pumps (low and high) in the last year or so also.Car is barely 8 yrs old with 101k miles on it. ONline says this problem is widespread.
Engine light is on with the code reading the clutch and the transmission is overheating with sticking gears as I drive
Recall 23s64 was completed and immediately was smelling and losing oil. Took back to dealer twice and second time they said it was fixed. A few thousand miles later I had sudden turbo failure. Lost all power and a huge amount of smoke making it impossible for me and other highwβ¦
All a sudden struggling to start. Crankshaft was bad and replaced. Still had issues. Checked plugs and they needed replaced less than 18.5k miles since engine and plugs replacement (under previous owner). Still had trouble starting. At least 12 different codes. Dropped off for diβ¦
The DPS6 clutch failed rapidly. It is available for inspection. The car will suddenly and aggressively speed up while trying to shift gears or will suddenly slow down when downshifting making a collision very likely. They problem has been confirmed by a dealer. It has been inspecβ¦
I am reporting about the recall that was previously done about the backup camera going black and hard to see out of ect for the ford fusion and other ford vehicles . However I own a 2018 ford focus SE hatchback and the camera is doing the same thing and it is not added to the recβ¦
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine and Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalβ¦
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 driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil pressure and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was takeβ¦
At 80000miles I noticed misfires and replaced original spark plugs per spec At 107578, misfires occurred, when I pulled plugs pos 1 was completely worn out, as well as pos 4.Codes were seen P0304 and P0301. Car ran well after replacement. I have been troubled by loss of coolant lβ¦
The engine stopped running do to bad timing belt / oil pump belt.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and was taken to the dealer to be repaired under the recall. Approximately 2-3 months after the recall repair was completed; whileβ¦
Ford diagnostic revealed transmission friction element stuck in A. The service center mechanic said the damper unit, forks, motors, bearing sleeve, TCM needed to be replaced.
There is a documented recall and class action suit filed and awarded that I was unaware of. I purchased this vehicle from Enterprise rental car and it was not disclosed to me. I have been repairing this exact issues with transmission skipping, stalling and making it dangerous to β¦
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2018 Ford Focus.
Recalls for 2018 Ford Focus
5 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2018 Ford Focus. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2018 Ford Focus β FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2018 Ford Focus reliable?βΎ
Notable Issues. The 2018 Ford Focus has 807 NHTSA owner complaints, 15 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (346 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Focus?βΎ
#1: Engine Problems (346 complaints). #2: Transmission / Drivetrain (306 complaints). #3: Fuel/Propulsion System (124 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2018 Ford Focus?βΎ
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2018 Ford Focus?βΎ
The 2018 Ford Focus has 15 crash-related complaints and 3 fire reports out of 807 total NHTSA complaints. 11 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2018 Ford Focus have any recalls?βΎ
Yes β 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2018 Ford Focus. The largest issue: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2018 Ford Focus?βΎ
The 2018 Ford Focus has notable issues β review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ford Focus reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2018 Ford Focus
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car β accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.