2018 Ford Focus Rs
Common Problems
Ranked from 292 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
20 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Transmission Shuddering and Jerking During Acceleration
98complaintsSafety riskTransmissionThe transmission shudders and jerks during acceleration, causing difficulty in shifting gears.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Transmission Slipping and Hard Shifting
91complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission slips and hard shifts during driving, causing the vehicle to lose power and stall.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Engine Stall at Idle Due to Purge Valve Failure
71complaintsHigh severityFuel systemThe purge valve fails, causing the engine to stall at idle and not start immediately after refueling.
$100–$600est. evap system repair · 0.5–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Steering Assist Intermittently Fails
48complaintsHigh severitySteeringThe power steering assist intermittently fails, causing the steering to become difficult and the vehicle to lose stability.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure
10complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine stalls at idle, especially during stop-start conditions.
$150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Transmission Clutch Failure
10complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission clutch repeatedly fails, leading to erratic shifting and vehicle stalling.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Engine Stall at Idle Due to Fuel System Failure
7complaintsMedium severityFuel systemThe vehicle stalls at idle after refueling, often due to a faulty purge valve or fuel system component.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Engine Failure During High-Speed Driving
4complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine loses power and fails to restart during high-speed driving, often accompanied by abnormal sounds from the engine compartment.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Transmission Slipping or Jerking
4complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission slips or jerks during acceleration, especially on hills or turns.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Accelerator Pedal Malfunction Causing Loss of Power
3complaintsMedium severityEngineThe vehicle fails to accelerate properly when the accelerator pedal is depressed, often due to a malfunctioning powertrain control module.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Clutch and Fork Actuator Failure
3complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe clutch and fork actuator fail, causing the vehicle to fail to shift into reverse and experience difficulty starting.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 13
Engine Seizure and Replacement
3complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine seizes and requires replacement, often due to metal contamination in the oil, leading to significant downtime and costs.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 14
Engine Shuddering and Hesitation After Refueling
3complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine shudders and hesitates after refueling, often due to a blocked vapor line or other fuel system issues.
- 15
Fuel System Issues and Stalling
3complaintsMedium severityFuel systemThe vehicle stutters, stalls, and fails to start after refueling, often due to issues with the fuel system or canister purge valve.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 16
Transmission Failure and Shuddering
3complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission fails to properly shift gears, causing the vehicle to shudder and fail to accelerate.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 17
Transmission Shuddering and Slipping
3complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission shudders and slips, especially in lower gears, leading to poor acceleration and shifting issues.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 18
Engine Oil Pump Failure
2complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine oil pump fails, causing a loss of oil pressure and subsequent engine failure or seizure.
- 19
Engine Overheating and Loss of Power
2complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine overheats and experiences a significant loss of power, often accompanied by check engine light illumination.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 20
Engine Shaking and Bouncing
2complaintsLow severityEngineThe engine shakes and bounces when sitting or moving slowly in traffic.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.