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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,043 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2018 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #38

Dec 012021

Focus

  • miles

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

Engine stalls after filling up with fuel causing check engine light codes

- Canastota, NY, USA

problem #37

Dec 072022

Focus

  • miles
The vehicle is still experiencing mechanical issues with the clutch and the check engine light is on after leaving a Certified Ford dealership for the third time now over the past month but the Ford dealership is not willing to assist nor take accountability when my vehicle has never been repaired to be safe to commute in even after a clutch replacement which according to them was a recall and apart of an extended warranty. All other Ford dealerships have months waiting period for availability and I-??m attempting to sell my vehicle due to the used car market crash but am now told the market value of my vehicle will be deducted since it-??s still undergoing mechanical issues and has a check engine light that is present as well as issues with the powertrain / clutch that will not allow the vehicle to maintain a consistent speed, while jerking and steering - almost colliding vehicles multiples times as well as losing control. This needs to be investigated as there-??s clearly internal issues/errors going on with my vehicle like the thousands of other Ford Focuses whether VIN specific or not. I-??ve retained a lawyer for a lawsuit that-??s now pending against Fords manufacture and I-??d love to add you to it as well if you do not respond with a sense of urgency as this is my second submission regarding unrepairable issues over the past month that have caused my vehicle to be back into a Ford certified dealership 3 times now with no resolution. Ford manufacture is stating the complete opposite of the certified Ford dealership Mossy Ford in San Diego and that the vehicle doesn-??t have any recalled parts nor extended warranty but than how was my vehicle repaired without my confirmation but still not in safe, drivable conditions? It will legally be proven within the letter of the law I promise you and the negligence will be highlighted as well as your administrators handlings of this critical situation will be held against you in front of a judge as the vehicle IS A LEMON!!!!!!

- San Diego , CA, USA

problem #36

Aug 082022

Focus

  • miles
Yes, both the safety of myself as well as others is at risk. The engine shuts off while driving, which is extremely dangerous in many scenarios: on a highway - the risk of rear-ending at high speed, hazardous when passing another car on a two-way street, inability to leave the intersection safely etc. During regular operation, the vehicle loses power and enters "idle mode"; the car shakes a bit like choking, the engine shuts down, and no acceleration is possible. An error message " engine fault service now" appears. You are losing control over a car and cannot safely leave a line or an intersection. Turning the engine off and back on clears the message, and the vehicle typically runs back and runs without problems. The incidents happen entirely at random without any warning. There is no pattern, fast or slow drive, length or dynamic of the drive, the weather, etc. Happened to me multiple times. Around August 8th - the first observance, on an interstate highway, the car entered idle mode and died numerous times when slowing down. The car was dropped off at the authorized FORD dealer. The dealer cannot replicate the issue. Car picked up from the dealer around August 30th - throttle body replaced as per dealer recommendation. September 15th - same problem. The car shuts off during driving. No acceleration, same message. Fulls speed, city driving, lost acceleration mid-intersection. Car towed to an authorized dealer. The dealer cannot identify the issue, cannot replicate the problem and says everything is ok. On September 23rd, the car was picked up from the dealer, stating that they replaced the harness and resolved the issue. September 24th card enters "middle mode" while on the highway off-ramp. Unable to accelerate same error message. Miraculously avoids being rear-ended by the driver behind. The message clears off after tuning the car off and on. The vehicle operates normally after. Dropped the car off at the authorized dealer.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #35

Sep 012022

Focus

  • miles

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

The clutch on the vehicle continues to fail. It has been replaced three times by a ford dealer. When taking off from a stopped position the vehicle makes a grinding noise and shudders when switching from first to second gear(Around 16mph). The shudders can be slight or aggressive enough that it shakes the entire car.

- Chicago Heights, IL, USA

problem #34

Jun 092022

Focus

  • miles
My car has shuddered and dies on my 3 times. 1st time with 12 miles until empty. 2nd time with 19 miles until empty and 3rd time with 30 miles left until empty. All 3 of these times were in the middle of the road. All 3 times within the last 6 months.

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #33

Apr 132022

Focus

  • miles
There is currently a recall on 2018 Ford Focus however the dealer claims my VIN is not included. Three weeks ago my check engine light came on I went to a gas station they checked it it states it was a small evaporative leak. It went off, IT came back theee days later. I went to the auto shop they said it was a gas filler neck issues. They fixed it the light went off then a day later came back on. I took it to the shop they said there is a safety recall issue with a deformation of the plastic gas tank due to the CPV which causes the deformation. The dealer refused to fix my car claiming the recall does not included my VIN. Even though what the recall stated is EXACTLY what is wrong with my car.

- Silver Spring , MD, USA

problem #32

Feb 142022

Focus

  • miles

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

I purchased this vehicle used in 8/2021 and within 6 months, I have an inoperable vehicle with a hefty car loan of over $15,000 to payoff monthly. I can-??t afford another car and I should not be responsible for paying for a car due to defective parts from the manufacturer that is causing other damage to my vehicle. I haven-??t had the use of my vehicle since this time. This is unfair and unacceptable. The component that failed/malfunctioned was the double clutch on the transmission. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This poses a safety risk because the vehicle ultimately can lose control, it jerks, slow drags/stalls, gets hot while in traffic which will which eventually shut off preventing me from moving the vehicle out of traffic. This can put me and my passengers in danger of getting hit in the event of a collision from oncoming traffic resulting in eminent danger of getting seriously injured or killed. The problem has been reproduced at an independent service center, Gray-??s Garage in Dover, TN. The problem is a known issue on Ford Focus 2016 -?" 2018 manual transmissions vehicles and associated with recall NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 18V845000. It is evident that this issue is also present with 2018 Ford Focus automatic transmission vehicles. Car was inspected by certified mechanic in Dover, TN and I was advised the double clutch was broken and it messed up the transmission. The issue first appeared on 2/14/22, I was stopped at a traffic light with my foot on the break. When moved feet off break just before beginning to accelerate, I heard a noise. The car began to jerk until I got to 15 mph speed and then it downshifts or slow drags. The car alerted me that the transmission hot and to pull over, turn the car off for 5 minutes to let it cool off. I kept trying the steps on multiple occasions this day and the result was the same every time I come to a stop it happens. I was basically stranded, unable to drive any distance with a non-functioning car.

- Dover, TN, USA

problem #31

Mar 282022

Focus

  • 61,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle would stall after being started. The vehicle had to be started several times before being able to accelerate. The fuel gauge was occasionally inoperable. The check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic which diagnosed the failure to be an evaporative emission control system. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 61,000.

- Sanford, FL, USA

problem #30

Nov 032021

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
The check engine light came on a week and a half ago and after having someone do a diagnostic test it sent a code saying an emissions leak somewhere. The car will sputter and sometimes will not restart after fueling and has to be revved up a bit to get it going. The scary part is when it starts to sputter when at an intersection. I called the dealership that I bought this ford focus brand new in 2018 which has 20,000 miles now and the girl answering phones at Brandon Ford Tampa Fl. said my car would not be covered for my problem under warranty. I did not know until just checking online that this was actually one of 2 recall problems with the 2018 ford focus models. Would expect a little more from what is supposed to be the number one ford dealer in the south. I was blown off. Doubt my next new car will be a ford but I am waiting to hear back from you to see if I have any recourse here. Thanks for your time. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Plant City, FL, USA

problem #29

Sep 182020

Focus

  • miles
Purchased with less than 50k miles with warranty. 2k miles until warranty expired car started jerking and shuddering when taking off. Took to dealership no codes or recalls. A month later car would not start after refueling. Had mechanic replace fuel evap. Fixed one problem but not the shuddering. Problem seems to be worsening. Recall for half of the 2018 focus models for same issues but recall does not include all!

- Paducah, KY, USA

problem #28

Oct 142021

Focus

  • miles

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

turn the car on going in reverse and it stalled out were I couldn't stop and this was the second time that this happen

- Bessemer City, NC, USA

problem #27

Aug 212021

Focus

  • miles
I bought the vehicle on 08/21/2021 which is 3 days ago the vehicle has 57k miles on it and I quickly found out why. I realized when stopping at red lights and then trying to accelerate when the light turns green the car boggs down like its stuck in a mud pit and then suddenly flies out of it. I almost rear ended a vehicle and then almost got rear ended. I had the same issues going up and over a mountain. And believe me if they had a return policy like Wal-Mart it would've been returned the same day.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #26

Aug 142021

Focus

  • miles
My car stalls out when trying to gain speed and then trying to restart it after it stall out is very hard to do. My check engine light is on with a P1450 code.

- Barstow, CA, USA

problem #25

Aug 122021

Focus

  • miles
The car engine shuts off (or fails) without any warning while driving. This has happened randomly on numerous occasions since we purchased the car in January of 2021. Today the check oil light and check engine light both came on prior to the engine just completely shutting off while driving and would not restart. There was also a strange engine noise accompanied by the engine running -??rough-?? prior to engine failure. We had to get the car towed. We looked up recalls and there was a recall for our make/model/year but none associated with our specific VIN #. However the recall described our same issues. We would like this investigated as this is very dangerous, unexpected and concerning. The incident happened in a busy city, on a busy road during work hours. The car is currently at a Ford Dealership awaiting inspection but we were already told there are zero recalls for our VIN #.

- Clayton, NC, USA

problem #24

Jul 302021

Focus

  • miles
Engine and all electrical power suddenly stops while driving with no warning. Car shows "Starting System Fault" when key is turned. After about 30 minutes everything restarts but the car only goes a few miles before cutting out again. This failure is extremely dangerous. We took the car to Town and Country Ford in Nashville TN on Monday July 26,2021 and picked it up on Friday July 30. They said it had been repaired, I drove approximately 6 miles and was on a 5 lane highway doing 60mph when it happened again. I was lucky to safely get to the side of the road. Since the air conditioning and windows also stopped when the heat index was 105 degrees that represents another possible danger. On Sunday July 25 the engine light came on, but being Sunday there was no place to read the code. After the first failure occurred about 10am Monday we had the code read as a P1450. As I hadn't had any experience with fuel system/ emission control we decided to take it to the above dealer. At the time of the Friday failure there was no code or warning. This failure method is extremely dangerous as a car may suddenly stop running in high speed traffic. I have no Idea what would have happened if i had been going uphill. Also if the service tech cannot detect the problem it may be widespread. Vehicle is currently in the dealership.

- Hendersonville, TN, USA

problem #23

Jul 132021

Focus

  • miles
check engine light came on. Vehicle is extremely hard to start after refueling. Seems to be same symptoms as Ford recall 18S32. NHTSA campagin ID 18V735000

- Charleston, WV, USA

problem #22

Mar 282021

Focus

  • miles
On 3-28-21 I got an oil change. Shortly after my engine light came on with error code p1450 which it didn't have beforehand. We first took the car to a mechanic and he said that the code is consistent with a known recall for that year and model for a problem with the fuel system. We took it to a Ford dealership to get an evaluation done and they confirmed that the problem was consistent with the recall the mechanic mentioned however there is no recall for my VIN number. When we put gas in the tank and turn it on again, the engine stalls. It runs rough when idle and sometimes has a problem getting up to speed from sitting at traffic lights.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #21

Jan 182021

Focus

  • 56,000 miles
When driving, the car will shutter when changing gears. Also in March 2021, radio, backup camera and usb ports stopped working. Dealership said that it wasn't covered under warranty and paid over $800 for a new radio to be installed.

- Manchester, TN, USA

problem #20

Jan 132021

Focus

  • 15,000 miles
My boyfriend got this car April 13 of 2020 and about a month and a half after we got it it statts acting up... not shofting out of lower gears. Shuddering. When you stop at a stop light for too long and go to take off it almost stalls. We almost got hit because of it! it sounds lile gears are grinding or like we are dragging something under the car. We have taken it in twoce to get checked and the forst guy that srove it around the lot sais something was wrong woth it nut aftwr they had it on the shop for about an hour ans a half they bring it back to us the second time and say nothing os wrong woth it.... it is getting worse and worse. Is statted out just not wamting to shift from second gear now it doesnt even wanna shift out of first most the time. 45000 miles. There should be no issues woth this car.

- Hartford, AR, USA

problem #19

Aug 022019

Focus

  • 50 miles
The car's exterior design causes the rear window and entire hatchback to continually become covered in road dirt and obscure visibility out the rear window. The rest of the car is immaculately clean but the wind dynamics of the car design cause road debris to accumulate on the rear portion or the car. This happens when in motion in all types of driving.

- Southold, NY, USA

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