2018 Ford Focus Recalls, Complaints & Specs
7 safety recalls list the 2018 Ford Focus, and owners have filed 835 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
7 safety recalls for the 2018 Ford Focus
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Canister (fuel system)
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.
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…
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Manual transmission (power train)
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.
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,…
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Engine block heater (equipment)
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.
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…
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Engine block heater (equipment)
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.
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…
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Pump (engine and engine cooling)
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.
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…
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Manual transmission (power train)
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.
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.…
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Canister (fuel system) and storage (fuel system)
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.
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…
835 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2018 Ford Focus have filed 835 complaints with NHTSA; 15 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 11 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 60,057 miles. Complaints peaked in 2024 with 241 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“My car had been driving fine. Until one day I leave my house and crank my car up and it does not go into reverse. It loses engine power and stalled into traffic. This is an on going issue as you can s”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 23, 2026 · Power train
“"My 2018 Ford Focus was traveling uphill at highway speed. I fully depressed the accelerator because the vehicle was losing speed. The vehicle did not respond with additional acceleration and subseque”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 17, 2026 · Vehicle speed control
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2018 Ford Focus (Focus Electric, Focus FWD, Focus RS AWD, Focus ST FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 22–107 MPGe |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–118 / 26–96 |
| Fuel | Electricity, Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 3/4 cyl, 1/2/2.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (A1); Automatic (AM-S6); Automatic (AM6); Automatic (S6); Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Focus model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Focus model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 Ford Focus | 0 | 11 |
| 2000 Ford Focus | 11 | 3,686 |
| 2001 Ford Focus | 7 | 1,761 |
| 2002 Ford Focus | 1 | 939 |
| 2003 Ford Focus | 1 | 977 |
| 2004 Ford Focus | 1 | 387 |
| 2005 Ford Focus | 1 | 441 |
| 2006 Ford Focus | 0 | 205 |
| 2007 Ford Focus | 0 | 391 |
| 2008 Ford Focus | 1 | 250 |
| 2009 Ford Focus | 0 | 229 |
| 2010 Ford Focus | 0 | 287 |
| 2011 Ford Focus | 0 | 113 |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 7 | 3,769 |
| 2013 Ford Focus | 11 | 2,112 |
| 2014 Ford Focus | 12 | 2,603 |
| 2015 Ford Focus | 9 | 1,021 |
| 2016 Ford Focus | 10 | 1,181 |
| 2017 Ford Focus | 10 | 898 |
| 2018 Ford Focus | 7 | 835 |
Checking a specific 2018 Ford Focus
How do I know if my 2018 Ford Focus has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 2018 Ford Focus; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 18V735000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
- Expedition9,359 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.