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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,436 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 10)

problem #185

Feb 122024

Focus

  • miles

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

My vehicle seized up as I was driving it and I wrecked it aside a median. I had to tow it to the ford dealership for them to diagnose it as the recall stated. The recall wasn-??t officially out yet, so I had to tow my vehicle back to my house. This happened in February 2024. I have received a new engine, but had to continue to make payments on a car that I was not able to drive and only received a rental within the past 6 weeks since I have paid for new brakes, new battery, new tires, and an alignment. None of these things were covered for the recall except the engine. The dealership clearly states that because my car has been sitting I have to purchase these other items. I have reached out to corporate and the dealership and haven-??t gotten anywhere. I don-??t know if even doing this will help, but I definitely feel taken advantage of. I think someone should reimburse me for tires and battery due to the extended time it sat. Heck, even the brakes too.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #184

Jun 202022

Focus

  • miles
In June of 2022 We were driving when all the dashboard lit up saying stop immediately, get to a mechanic, engine light and every light was on. We happen to be right near the Ford dealership in our town and pulled right in. After diagnosing it we were told it needed a new engine as the one we have had metal in the oil, it was froze, they had no idea a car with such low miles would do this, that is until they looked it up and found the recall on this car saying this exact thing could happen. It cost $6000 to have it fixed, this was in 2022. We keep getting told parts would be in to fix this problem, Now its almost 2025 and still waiting on parts, , are we to lose another engine? Which by the way, we want a full refund on the one we had to have fixed, , wouldnt have happened if Ford didnt have this problem with their cars.

- Mobile, NM, USA

problem #183

Oct 162024

Focus

  • miles
I bought this car it was used by two other owners. I bought a new battery for this car but there is some kind of electrical problem with smell coming from vents and the radio system keeps shutting off.. keeps giving me a message on the screen that says sh*t off admission or restart engine to save battery then my whole radio system turns off till I turn off my car... Also now it time 4 tries to start my engine. Dash board will turn on but not engine..

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #182

Oct 312024

Focus

  • miles

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

This complaint is related to an existing recall for the 1.0L Ecoboost engine in 2016-2018 Ford Focus models. As stated in Recall 23V-905, "The engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm may 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 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. The oil pump drive belt tensioner arm retention caulking joint is not robust to the vibration experienced by the component over time, which can cause arm separation. The tensioner arm can contact the engine balancer shaft, which can cause the tensioner arm to fracture. A greater than expected load on the oil pump drive belt may result in belt degradation. Ford-??s engine design verification testing did not adequately represent the load on the oil pump tensioner system experienced in the vehicle." This recall is written to apply only to 2016-2018 Ford Focus with the 1.0L Ecoboost paired to the automatic transmission - exempting the same car equipped with the manual transmission, even though it has the same faulty engine with faulty oil pump drive belt tensioner. It seems like a miss to not include the manual transmission variant of the same vehicle & engine combination, as the same safety hazards resulting from an oil pump tensioner failure exist! This cause of catastrophic engine failure should be corrected for both the manual and automatic transmission variants of the 2016-2018 Ford Focus 1.0L Ecoboost.

- Athens, AL, USA

problem #181

Mar 012024

Focus

  • 37,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked violently. The transmission and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the clutch actuator; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

- Andrews, SC, USA

problem #180

Jul 032024

Focus

  • miles
My son car broke down Towed to Ford Waiting on a back order part since July 1st. No rental available. No loaner and no buyback. 23s66l4 recall#. Number23V905

- Marion, VA, USA

problem #179

Mar 042024

Focus

  • miles

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

In March 2024, I was driving my Ford Focus when the engine suddenly shut off at a stop light and never restarted. There were no warning lights or indications that anything was wrong with the car prior to it shutting off. The car was towed to a Ford dealership where it was determined that the reason the car broke was due to the oil belt breaking which is an active recall. The manufacturer recall number is 23S64. The NHTSA recall number is 23V905. This oil belt failure, led to both the turbocharger and engine seizing up and breaking due to a lack of oil being delivered to the system. This problem poses a safety risk as 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. In March 2024, the recall only covered replacing the oil system - not the engine or turbo charger. In mid-June 2024, the recall was updated to include replacing the oil system as well as the engine and turbocharger that was affected in the cascading effects of the lack of oil delivery. We were told by the Ford dealership that a new engine and turbocharger had been ordered and would be delivered and installed in my car at the beginning of July 2024. Since early July 2024, I have called several times for an update of the status of my car. Each time, I have been told they are waiting on parts. Most recently, I was told that the one part they are waiting on is the high pressure pump. The service advisor at the local dealership said he has ordered it twice and emergency ordered it one other time. However, corporate Ford is not getting this order taken care of in a timely manner. It is now October 2024 and I have been waiting 7 months to get my car fixed. Per the NHTSA, car companies are expected to fix the recalled issue in a timely manner and Ford has failed to do this. They have also refused to buy my car back.

- Eldridge, IA, USA

problem #178

Sep 062024

Focus

  • miles
Engine light and red oil can symbol's keeps showing on the dashboard. Brake pedal is tight & hard when stopping when pressed on them.

- Lake Worth, FL, USA

problem #177

Sep 292023

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while stopped at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle started shaking moderately lost motive power, and failed to accelerate above 30 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that an unknown software needed to be updated and the actuators and clutch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Gainesville, GA, USA

problem #176

Aug 022021

Focus

  • miles
Before Ford issued the recall, our 2018 Ford Focus engine seized up and stopped working while we were driving it. We had it towed eventually to the Ford dealer in Shakopee, MN and they said the engine was shot from the issue it was finally recalled for in February of 2024. We bought the car in August of 2018 and this happened in August of 2021 with less than 80,000 miles on it. We ended up replacing the engine which cost $6585.44 for a new engine. We reached out to Ford and they told us it was not their problem. That was until February of 2024 when we received a letter with a safety issue regarding that problem. Now the new engine is also having this problem. Ford would not reimburse us for the new engine. We want to put in an official complaint that they actually ignored this problem even as we googled at the time and saw that it was happening. They're still not equipped to deal with it. We want our money back from the new engine we paid for.

- Prior Lake, MN, USA

problem #175

Mar 012024

Focus

  • miles

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

Drove car it stopped accelerating causing the engine to fail causing me to be broke down on interstate 81. Car has been sitting at the dealer since April

- Marion, VA, USA

problem #174

Jun 152024

Focus

  • 43,000 miles
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 unknown speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence and parked. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

- Tecumseh, MI, USA

problem #173

Jan 112024

Focus

  • miles
See attached document for complaint

- Summit Hill, PA, USA

problem #172

Aug 072024

Focus

  • miles
I had my car looked at by a mechanic because I was losing coolant! This has been going on for a few months. The mechanic found that the coolant was leaking from a water outlet on the passenger side in front of the motor! We took the car to a dealership to try to get the part. The parts agent could only find a water outlet for the thermostat in the drivers side" The part has lower radiator hose, Overflow reservoir, and a coolant line leading to the thermostat outlet on the drivers side of the vehicle? The outlet has 3 mounting studs with 10 millimeter nuts. that part is not listed in any parts stores? It leaks down to the minimum on the reservoir daily to a point that I have to put antifreeze in it everyday just to not have my motor become overheated"

- Washington Dc, DC, USA

problem #171

Aug 062024

Focus

  • 75,444 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine and low oil warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact-??s son's residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,444.

- Calimesa, CA, USA

problem #170

Aug 032024

Focus

  • miles
With out warning my car lost power and went from 65 mph to 40 in an instant, I was able to avoid hitting the side wall of the freeway and with Gods help avoided hitting any other vehicles. The oil light came on then the engine light soon after, I was able to take the first exit off the freeway and pulled over in a gas station parking lot. Tow truck took it to the dealership, this car has a recall and the recall description matches exactly what happed. The dealership told me it will take them 6-8 weeks before they can even diagnosis the car for that recall. I am stuck without a car, and I am lucky no one was injured. People with this type of Ford ecoboost need to be made aware they are driving a vehicle at any moment can have total engine failure putting lives in danger. When I received the original recall letter, I called Five Star Ford in April to set the appointment, and they told me they are not taking those recall repairs right now and to call back at another time. I called back in May and was told they are still not taking repairs for that recall, to call back 3rd quarter of 2024. You can see that Ford has put lives in danger if others who called for the repaired was turned away as well.

- Watauga , TX, USA

problem #169

Feb 232022

Focus

  • miles
In February of 2022, while driving home from work the car suddenly lost power to the engine along with the ability to brake and stop the car. This happened during rush hour traffic on a 65 mph speed major road in DE. Fortunately we were able to get off an exit without colliding into vehicles that were coming to a stop. We had to let the car drift to a stop and had to almost stand on the brake to get the car to fully stop moving. We had the car brought to the dealership that the car was purchased and it was diagnosed and reported to us that the engine needed to be replaced. At the time the car only had 63k miles on it and should not have needed a new engine. After the repair was completed it was determined that the Oil Pump Belt Tensioner failed causing the engine the go bad resulting in a replacement of the engine. Luckily for us Ford was able to help us out due to the mileage and good faith and covered a good portion of the engine replacement, however we still had to put money out of our pocket for a replacement that we are now finding out was caused by this part being recalled (Recall 23S64) and needing replacement. The dealership is now stating they can not give us our money back until there is an actual remedy for this recall. For my specific situation the remedy has already been produced in the means of a new engine with new parts. Not sure why I have to wait for parts to be distributed for a refund when I've already had to have this part replaced along with the engine. The failure of this part causing the engine to go bad is a dangerous situation and I hope nobody else has the problem I had because of the engine loses power you also lose the ability to use your brakes and if you are driving the car you are looking at the possibility of a serious crash resulting in serious injury or death.

- Woodside, DE, USA

problem #168

Jan 012024

Focus

  • miles
Vehicle has been having more frequent issues starting up. Engine stalls intermittently and hesitates after fueling up. Been getting inaccurate fuel gauge and distance to empty readings lately. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety was compromised because the car stalled without warning on the highway almost causing me to get into an accident, and it also shut down on me after pulling out from the gas station after fueling up. Car also loss power and hesitated on highway when merging, causing traffic to back up. I feel extremely unsafe. Problem was replicated with my mechanic after driving with him from the gas station. The car has always passed inspection from when I bought it and i stay up to date with its maintenance from the dealerships. The Malfunction Indicator Lamp just illuminated a few days ago from 7/18/2024 but have been experiencing this issue slowly for a few months, and has been progressively getting worse until the check engine light came on which is the current situation. Mechanic found multiple codes P1450, P0456 and etc when he connected the computer to my car showing a CPV purge valve and other issues associated.

- Glendale, NY, USA

problem #167

Jul 172024

Focus

  • miles
Coolant keeps disappearing with no sign of leaking, only possibly on the ground when my car sit. Engine keeps overheating and smoke comes out of air vents. Recall that is out now is what seems to be the issue but does not cover my Ford focus.

- Scottdale, PA, USA

problem #166

May 112024

Focus

  • miles
Engine failure

- Stone Mountain , GA, USA

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