2018 Ford Focus
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 347 of 831 complaints (42%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 903 in 2017 to 831 in 2018.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2018 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,850–3,500 | 1,850–3,500 | 1,850–3,500 | |
| Combined MPG | 22–34 | 22–34 | 22–34 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19–30 / 25–41 | 19–30 / 25–40 | 19–30 / 26–40 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 260–410 | 264–412 | 264–402 | |
| Complaints filed | 1,185 | 903 | 831 | |
| Recalls issued | 11 | 10 | 7 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 27 | 18 | 15 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 2 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 24 | 16 | 11 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 8 | 8 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Ford Focus have?
7 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Ford Focus?
Engine: 347 of 831 NHTSA complaints (42%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Ford Focus get?
EPA rates it 22–34 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Ford Focus?
EPA estimates $1,850–$3,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
EPA-Rated Configurations (8)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.3L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 19 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | $3,500 (high) | 402 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AM6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 26 mpg | 38 mpg | 31 mpg | $2,000 | 289 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 24 mpg | 34 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,250 | 321 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 25 mpg | 34 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,250 | 316 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 3 | 1.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 27 mpg | 38 mpg | 31 mpg | $2,000 | 286 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Manual 6-spd | 3 | 1.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 30 mpg (high) | 40 mpg (high) | 34 mpg (high) | $1,850 (low) | 264 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 7 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 22 mpg | 30 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 356 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Front-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Compact Cars | 118 MPGe | 96 MPGe | 107 MPGe | $700 | 0 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 347 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 318 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 195 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical | 49 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 30 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 11 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 10 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 78 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (7)
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION · Campaign 26V376000 · Jun 9, 2026
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER · Campaign 26V369000 · Jun 9, 2026
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
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.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER · Campaign 26V012000 · Jan 20, 2026
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER · Campaign 26V011000 · Jan 15, 2026
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP · Campaign 23V905000 · Jan 8, 2024
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION · Campaign 18V845000 · Dec 3, 2018
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER · Campaign 18V735000 · Oct 23, 2018
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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.