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2018 Ford Focus

ElectricGas
Compact Cars
8 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
35 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls4 critical7
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA830
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
EV rangebest configuration, EPA115 mi
Fuel economybest combined, EPA34 mpg
201820172016

The 2018 Ford Focus is sold in the U.S. as a electric and gas compact car with 8 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Focus Electric, is EPA-rated at 115 miles with 107 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year, 4 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 830 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
Focus ElectricElectricFWD107 kW AC PMSM11896107 MPGe115 mi31.55.5 h$700
Focus FWDGasFWD1.0L 3-cyl turbo304034———$1,850
Focus FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl263831———$2,000
Focus FWDGasFWD1.0L 3-cyl turbo273831———$2,000
Focus FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl243428———$2,250
Focus FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl253428———$2,250
Focus ST FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223025———$2,500
Focus RS AWDGasAWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo192622———$3,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39640, 39608, 39604, 39607, 39605, 39606, 39611, 39397.

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Recalls (7)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Power Train

26S43
5,252 vehicles
ProblemFord 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.RiskA transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.FixDealers 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, were mailed August 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S43. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.
NHTSA campaign 26V376000reported Jun 9, 2026Ford Motor Company
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

26S40
257,868 vehicles
ProblemFord 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.RiskAn engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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 recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
NHTSA campaign 26V369000reported Jun 9, 2026Ford Motor Company
!critical

Equipment

25SA4
2,403 vehicles
ProblemFord 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.RiskAn electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.FixOwners 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 element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Fo
NHTSA campaign 26V012000reported Jan 15, 2026Ford Motor Company
!critical

Equipment

26S01
116,672 vehicles
ProblemFord 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.RiskAn electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.FixOwners 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 element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. For
NHTSA campaign 26V011000reported Jan 15, 2026Ford Motor Company
▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

23S64
139,730 vehicles
ProblemFord 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.RiskA loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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 replace the engine assembly as an interim repair before the availability of remedy parts for the final repair. This repair will be free of charge (parts and labor). Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. For
NHTSA campaign 23V905000reported Dec 22, 2023Ford Motor Company
!critical

Power Train

18S07
2,828 vehicles
ProblemFord 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.RiskA transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.FixFord 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. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S07. Note: This recall is an expansion of Recall 18V-169.
NHTSA campaign 18V845000reported Nov 28, 2018Ford Motor Company
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

18S32
1,282,596 vehicles
ProblemFord 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.RiskThe excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixFord 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 carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to kee
NHTSA campaign 18V735000reported Oct 22, 2018Ford Motor Company

NHTSA defect investigations

Engine — Timing Belt Failure open

On December 18, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE25020 to investigate instances of timing belt failure in model year (MY) 2015-2017 Ford Fiesta and MY 2015-2018 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford), equipped with a 1.0L engine and manual transmission (subject vehicles). Additionally, MY 2018-2021 Ford EcoSport and MY 2016-2018 Focus vehicles with a 1.0L engine and automatic transmission were analyzed as peer vehicles because they utilize a wet timing belt comprised of similar material as the timing belt in the subject vehicles. Through the PE, ODI investigated a potential failure/degradation of the timing belt that may affect oil pump functio

Opened Jul 31, 2026 · action EA26004

Engine — Timing Belt Failure closed

On December 18, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE25020 to investigate instances of timing belt failure in model year (MY) 2015-2017 Ford Fiesta and MY 2015-2018 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford), equipped with a 1.0L engine and manual transmission (subject vehicles). Additionally, MY 2018-2021 Ford EcoSport and MY 2016-2018 Focus vehicles with a 1.0L engine and automatic transmission were analyzed as peer vehicles because they utilize a wet timing belt comprised of similar material as the timing belt in the subject vehicles. Through the PE, ODI investigated a potential failure/degradation of the timing belt that may affect oil pump functio

Opened Dec 18, 2025 · closed Jul 31, 2026 · action PE25020

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication:Pump — Oil Pump Failure closed

On September 20, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-015 to investigate instances of engine failure due to loss of oil pressure in model year (MY) 2018-2021 Ford EcoSport vehicles. Some consumers reported a low engine oil pressure warning lamp immediately preceding a complete loss or reduction of motive power while the vehicle was in motion. The investigation revealed that the engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm may fracture, separate from the tensioner backing plate, and/or the oil pump drive belt may degrade and lose teeth, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure. A loss of engine oil pressure can result in engine seizure, which can result in a loss of motiv

Opened Sep 20, 2023 · closed Feb 14, 2024 · action PE23015

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Evaporative Emissions:Canister — Loss of Motive Power closed

On September 15, 2023, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) after receiving 98 consumer complaints alleging loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles. The RQ focused on the effectiveness of the remedies of Recall 18V-735 and 19V-515. In October 2018, Ford issued Recall 18V-735, which updated Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software in MY 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with 2.0L GDI engines built prior to April 13, 2017, and those with 2.0L GTDI engines built prior to February 2, 2018. The recall addressed vehicles experiencing a malfunctioning Canister Purge Valve (CPV) that can stick open and PCM software that does not ad

Opened Sep 15, 2023 · closed Dec 20, 2024 · action RQ23006

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
830complaints filed

15 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 11 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2018: 18 · 2019: 56 · 2020: 60 · 2021: 78 · 2022: 89 · 2023: 133 · 2024: 241 · 2025: 106 · 2026: 49

Most-cited components

Power Train322
Engine229
Fuel/Propulsion System131
Engine And Engine Cooling124
Unspecified76
Fuel System, Gasoline66

What owners describe

“The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The contact managed to veer to the shoulder of the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The contact waited for approximately 5 minutes to resta…”Aug 27, 2021 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA owner report
“I have under 20,000 miles on the car and its already having issues shifting. The service station said it was a transmission issue. It whines and makes a vibrating sound when I shift gears, and it occasionally kicks back when pulling out of a stop.”Aug 18, 2021 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“The transmission has shuddered and demonstrated excessive slippage for a year. This has caused problems when I accelerate into traffic. I reported it several times to the dealership (Liberty Ford in Canton, Ohio), and the dealer has finally confirmed the issue (several thousand miles after the warranty expired).”Aug 18, 2021 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆12%
5 HB AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆11%
5 HB FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆12%
5 HB FWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★★10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Focus model years

F

2017 Ford Focus

10 recalls · 903 complaints

F

2016 Ford Focus

11 recalls · 1,191 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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