2018 Ford Focus
Common Problems
Ranked from 339 federal NHTSA complaints and 7 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
23 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
Clutch Failure Requiring Multiple Repairs
111complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe clutch repeatedly fails, requiring multiple replacements and causing the vehicle to shift improperly and lose power during driving.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V845000, 26V376000
- 2
Transmission Malfunction Causing Jerking and Sudden Acceleration
74complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission malfunctions, causing the vehicle to jerk and experience sudden acceleration, posing a safety risk during driving.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V845000, 26V376000
- 3
Transmission Control Module Malfunction
68complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission control module malfunctions, causing the transmission to fail to engage properly and the vehicle to lose power during driving.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V845000, 26V376000
- 4
Check Engine Light Illumination Due to Recall Issues
60complaintsMedium severityEngineThe check engine light illuminates due to unresolved issues from the NHTSA recall campaign.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 23V905000, 26V011000, 26V012000
- 5
Engine and cooling system recall issues leading to delays in repair
47complaintsHigh severityEngineRecall issues for engine and cooling systems lead to delays in repair and unresolved engine problems.
Related recalls: 23V905000, 26V011000, 26V012000
- 6
Transmission Jerking and Hesitation During Acceleration
41complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission jerks and hesitates when the accelerator pedal is depressed, often leading to loss of motive power.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V845000, 26V376000
- 7
Transmission Overheating
33complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission overheats, particularly when driving up hills or at higher speeds, leading to reduced performance.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V845000, 26V376000
- 8
Engine failure leading to loss of power and acceleration issues
23complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine fails, leading to loss of power and difficulty accelerating, often accompanied by warning lights.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 23V905000, 26V011000, 26V012000
- 9
Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure
19complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine frequently stalls at idle, especially during stop-start conditions.
$150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 23V905000, 26V011000, 26V012000
- 10
Steering Assist Failure Causing Loss of Power Steering
14complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe power steering assist intermittently fails, leading to a loss of steering assistance and difficulty in controlling the vehicle.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Engine stall during operation due to oil pressure issues
8complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine stalls and fails to restart due to low oil pressure.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 23V905000, 26V011000, 26V012000
- 12
Transmission failure leading to loss of power and stalling
8complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission fails to shift smoothly, causing the vehicle to lose power and stall.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V845000, 26V376000
- 13
Transmission Shifting Issues
8complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission experiences difficulty shifting gears, especially in lower gears, leading to hesitations and hard shifts.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V845000, 26V376000
- 15
Transmission Warning Lights
6complaintsLow severityOtherMultiple instances of transmission warning lights illuminating without a clear cause, often leading to further diagnostics.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 16
Engine and Transmission Overheating
5complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine and transmission overheat, often accompanied by a warning light and the need to pull over.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 23V905000, 26V011000, 26V012000
- 17
Engine Stalling During Refueling
4complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine frequently stalls during refueling, requiring multiple attempts to restart the vehicle.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 23V905000, 26V011000, 26V012000
- 18
Fuel System Malfunction
4complaintsMedium severityFuel systemThe fuel system malfunctions, leading to stalling, incorrect fuel level readings, and overall poor performance.
Related recalls: 18V735000, 26V369000
- 19
Brake system failure leading to loss of braking power
3complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe brake system fails, causing the vehicle to lose braking power, potentially leading to accidents.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 20
Engine Oil Pressure Loss
3complaintsHigh severityOtherThe engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm may fracture, leading to a loss of engine oil pressure.
- 21
Engine overheating leading to Limp Mode and engine failure
3complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine overheats, triggering Limp Mode and eventually leading to engine failure.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 23V905000, 26V011000, 26V012000
- 22
Engine Stalling and Hard Starting
3complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine stalling at idle or during low-speed driving, often requiring multiple attempts to start the vehicle.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 23V905000, 26V011000, 26V012000
- 23
Engine Overheating and Smoke Emission
2complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine overheats and emits smoke, often due to a failure in the cooling system or engine components.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 23V905000, 26V011000, 26V012000
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.