Model year record

2018 Ford Focus

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,338 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V369000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: evaporative emissions: canister

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: evaporative emissions: canister
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
257,868
Reported to NHTSA
2026-06-09
Owners notified
2026-07-29

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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 recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V376000

Power train: manual transmission

Component
Power train: manual transmission
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
5,252
Reported to NHTSA
2026-06-09

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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, 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.gov on July 6,2026.

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V011000

Equipment: electrical: engine block heater

Component
Equipment: electrical: engine block heater
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
116,672
Reported to NHTSA
2026-01-15

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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 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. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V012000

Equipment: electrical: engine block heater

Component
Equipment: electrical: engine block heater
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
2,403
Reported to NHTSA
2026-01-15

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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 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 Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.

Recall campaignNHTSA 23V905000

Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: pump

Component
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: pump
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
139,730
Reported to NHTSA
2023-12-22
Owners notified
2025-08-11

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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 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. Ford's number for this recall is 23S64.

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V845000

Power train: manual transmission

Component
Power train: manual transmission
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
2,828
Reported to NHTSA
2018-11-28
Owners notified
2019-01-17

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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. 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V735000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: evaporative emissions: canister

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: evaporative emissions: canister
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
1,282,596
Reported to NHTSA
2018-10-22
Owners notified
2019-08-19

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

The 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.

Manufacturer 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 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 keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Power train35860,000 mi
Engine27754,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling15065,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system15050,000 mi
Unknown or other9118,000 mi
Electrical system6040,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline5468,000 mi
Steering3440,000 mi
Vehicle speed control3111,500 mi
Service brakes1932,875 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)1263,451 mi
Air bags1021,043 mi
Power train: clutch assembly1066,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: internal: clutches/bands950,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: evaporative emissions: hoses/valves/sensors755,100 mi
Power train: automatic transmission783,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: evaporative emissions: canister661,000 mi
Exterior lighting519,000 mi
Structure: body51,500 mi
Visibility/wiper450 mi
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera351,000 mi
Seats3
Suspension332,000 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs3
Back over prevention251,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument panel: fuel gauge255,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger270,318 mi
Equipment262,000 mi
Seat belts21,930 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic265,000 mi
Wheels2
Back over prevention: warnings1
Back over prevention: display function154,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument panel: fuel gauge: fuel level float/sensor/sending unit1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ECU/ECM)164,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: oil cooler1105,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)1111,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump: control/drive module160,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly176,800 mi
Latches/locks/linkages132,800 mi
Structure: frame and members11,930 mi
Tires: sidewall1

The 2017 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Open investigations

An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.

EA26004Timing Belt Failure

Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.