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What 743 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Focus Bev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (743)Crash / fire / injury (21)Transmission & drivetrain (285)Engine (195)Fuel system (181)Engine & cooling (108)Electrical system (38)Steering (30)Speed control (23)Brakes (21)Airbags (8)Body & structure (6)

Newest first · 743 complaints · page 29 of 30

Aug 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

CAR'S TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS OR JERKS AT VARIOUS TIMES LIKE ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. FRIGHTENED AND IRRITATED.

NHTSA ODI 11241083

Jul 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION WOULD SHUDDER AND NOT ENGAGE 2ND GEAR. ACCELERATION WOLD BE BOGGED DOWN MAKING IT HARD TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES OR MERGE ON THE HIGHWAY. CLUTCH PACK REPLACED AT 39,991 MILES UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11234697

Jul 23, 2019Engine

TRANSMISSION VIBRATION INVOLVING DOUBLE CLUTCH @ SPEEDS 13 -18 MPH IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 11234029

Jul 23, 2019SteeringAirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A DITCH. DURING THE CRASH, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER LONG LEWIS FORD(2551 JOHN HAWKINS PKWY, HOOVER AL.) WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINED CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,043. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ODI 11234093

Jul 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrainBrakes

TRANSMISSION CLUNKS AND SHUDDERS AT TIMES WHEN DRIVING. WHILE ENGINE RUNNING IN THE STOP POSITION, BRAKE PEDDLE GOES TO THE FLOOR.

NHTSA ODI 11234306

Jul 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOWLER FORD (3400 S SHERIDAN AVE, TULSA, OK, 74145) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH CLUTCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH TRANSMISSION SEALS THAT WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200.

NHTSA ODI 11232438

Jul 15, 2019Fuel system

VEHICLE IS STALLING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. SOMETIMES WHEN I HIT GAS PEDAL IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THIS BUT IT DIDN'T INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. WHEN IT STALL WAS WHEN I SIT AT A RED LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11231955

Jul 14, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

CAR FEELS LIKE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO GIVE OUT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER A WEEK OR TWO AFTER AND MECHANIC SAID THAT'S JUST WHAT FOCUS ARE.

NHTSA ODI 11231679

Jun 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

2018 FORD FOCUS SEL . VEHICLE HESITATES OR SHUDDERS WHEN TAKING OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11222833

Jun 18, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel system

I HAVE A 2018 FORD FOCUS SE THAT IS LESS THEN A YEAR OLD AND IT BOGS DOWN, ACTS LIKE ITS GOING TO STALL OUT AND DOESN'T GET THE GAS MILEAGE IT'S SUPPOSE TOO. IT BOGS DOWN WHEN I AM DRIVING IT AND WHEN DRIVING IT WILL SPIT AND SPUTTER LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL OUT ON ME THEN SNAPS OUT OF IT. FORD KEEPS TELLING ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ODI 11221099

Jun 14, 2019Speed control

WHEN TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT THE ENGINE RPMS WILL REMAIN FOR 7 TO 10 SECONDS BEFORE FALLING AND ALLOWING YOU TO ENGAGE THE NEXT GEAR. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES THE ENGINE WILL REV APPROXIMATELY 1,000 RPMS HIGHER AND REMAIN FOR 7 TO 10 SECONDS BEFORE FALLING. THIS ALL HAPPENS WITH NO INPUT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS HIGHER. THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS (MANUAL TRANSMISSION).

NHTSA ODI 11219946

May 13, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER BOB DAVIDSON FORD LINCOLN LOCATED AT 1845 E JOPPA RD, BALTIMORE, MD 21234, (410) 661-6400, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,500.

NHTSA ODI 11207370

May 9, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION SHUDDERING, HESITATING, VERY ROCKY AND DOES NOT SHIFT NICELY. DRIVES LIE IT'S A MANUAL CAR; JERKS AND SHIFTS HARD. WHEN TAKING OFF CAR HESITATES AS THOUGH IT COULD STALL . BROUGHT IT IN TO BE SERVICED AT DEALER AND SERVICE EMPLOYEE PERFORMED WHAT HE EXPLAINED TO BE A SHUTTER TEST. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT DID NOT COMPLETELY FAIL THE TEST AND TO EXPECT IT TO GET SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE WITHIN THE NEXT TEN THOUSAND LMAO. CAR IS ONE YEAR OLD WITH 28,000 KM. TRANSMISSION SEEMS BUGGY AND UNRELIABLE . AFRAID THIS NEW CAR WILL LEAVE ME STRANDED ALONGSIDE THE ROAD. LOST ALL FAITH IN FORD FOCUS. IT IS RIDICULOUS THIS HAS NOT VERB RECALLED OR BOUGHT BACK TO FIX. I HAVE MADE MANY COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER AND WAS TURNED AWAY AND TOLD THIS IS COMPLETELY NORMAL FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DESIGNED TO DRIVE LIKE IT'S A MANUAL CAR. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. SERVICE CENTRE ALSO PERFORMED WHAT THEY CALLED A PC UPDATE. DID NOT PROVIDE ME WITH ANY PAPER WORK IN REGARDS TO SERVICE OR WORK DONE . HATE THIS CAR

NHTSA ODI 11206537

May 3, 2019EngineFuel system

FORD FOCUS, HESITATING WHEN DRIVING, ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED.OVER PERIOD OF TIME, HEARD STRANGE NOISES LIKE A LOUD BOOM WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS ONLY WHEN GAS LEVEL IS AROUND HALF TANK. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE VIN.CUT OFF HAPPENED AFTER MAKING A TURN ALSO THE BOOM NOISE. HESITATION USUALLY ON SLIGHT UPHILL. DEALER SAID THEY WILL CHECK WITH FORD COMPANY ABOUT THIS. I'M ACTUALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE, IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11205514

Apr 23, 2019Engine

WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AFTER DECREASING SPEED IT SHOOTS UP IN RPM AND WILL BARELY MOVE UNTIL I LET GO OF GAS AND ALLOW IT SOME TIME. IT'S AS IF I'M REVVING MY ENGINE WITH THE THE BRAKE APPLIED. ITS SLOWLY GETTING WORSE. I'M UP TO DATE ON ALL MY MAINTENANCE AND THE CAR IS AT APPROX 17500 MILES. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN AUGUST.

NHTSA ODI 11203048

Apr 23, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CROWN FORD (256 SWAIN STREET, FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28303) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-17722233. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

NHTSA ODI 11203193

Apr 17, 2019Brakes

2018 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLES BRAKING SYSTEM. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A MAJOR BRAKING SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE OWNER RESIDING NEAR AN OCEAN. THE CONSUMER OWNED MULTIPLE VEHICLE'S IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENT THAT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A SIMILAR. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11196315

Apr 16, 2019AirbagsCrash

A DRIVER RAN A RED LIGHT AND THE NOSE OF MY CAR DIRECTLY IMPACTED THEIR SIDE AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A 2018 HONDA CIVIC AND THEIR SIDE BAGS DEPLOYED. EVEN THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE SHOCKED MINE DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK WITH THE IMPACT OF THAT CALIBER THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF

NHTSA ODI 11196681

Apr 8, 2019Fuel system

UNCONTROLLED ENGINE SPEED INCREASE. WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH AND TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO SHIFT, THE ENGINE RPM INCREASED FROM APPROX. 2500 TO 4000 RPM. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER THE CAR HAS WARMED UP. THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED SHIFTING FROM 3 TO 4TH AND 4TH TO 5TH. AFTER THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, I CAPTURED THE ISSUE ON VIDEO WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11194660

Apr 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

2018 FORD FOCUS SE SEDAN RECALLS. I RECENTLY GOT A 2018 FORD FOCUS SE SEDAN IN NOVEMBER OF 2018. IT PERIODICALLY HESITATES WHEN I ACCELERATE AND I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING THE OTHER DAY ON MY WAY HOME AND NOT ONLY DID IT HESITATE WHEN I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON A 30 MPH STREET BUT IT ALSO BEGAN TO SLIP AND DID NOT WANT TO MOVE FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDA WHEN I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS, IT WAS BEGINNING TO SLOW DOWN INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING THE SPEED IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WHEN I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS ON A CITY STREET WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11193064

Feb 25, 2019Engine

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN OCTOBER OF 2018. THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO FAIL, WITH SHUDDERING, STALLING AND JUMPING AT ACCELARATIONS. THIS IS THE SECOND FOCUS MODEL THAT I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH.

NHTSA ODI 11182464

Feb 12, 2019Steering

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT TURN. VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO ALL GEARS AND COULD BE DRIVEN FORWARD AND BACKWARD. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVE AT THE TIME. FORD DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ODI 11176613

Feb 9, 2019Engine

THE FUEL SYSTEM

NHTSA ODI 11175938

Jan 22, 2019Transmission & drivetrainBrakesEngine

THE 2018 FORD FOCUS TI STARTED TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS WHEN BRAKING AND ACCELERATING, THE FIST WAS WHEN TAKING OFF AT A STOP LIGHT, THE FOCUS ACCELERATED MORE WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND BRAKING TO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, IT WAS LIKE I WAS HITTING GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER THAT ON THE SAME DAY I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL AND IT WAS ACCELERATING WITH OUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL I HIT THE BRAKES AGAIN AND IT FINALLY STOPPED, WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND AGAIN PRESS THE BRAKE IT REVVED UP TO 3000 RPMS AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL I PRESS THE RUN/STOP BUTTON. THE NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING AND DID A HARD STOP IT ABOUT STALLED WITH RPMS GOING DOWN TO 400 AND FLUCTUATING UP TO 1200 RPMS, WITH ALL THIS WAS GOING ON MY BRAKES FELT SOFT THEN HARD, THE TRANSMISSION ALSO CLICKED TWO TIMES WHEN HARD STOPPING.

NHTSA ODI 11171466

Jan 4, 2019

THE HORN GOES OFF AFTER THE CAR IS LOCKED WITH THE KEY FOB. NO KNOWN WAY TO STOP IT.

NHTSA ODI 11165828

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Working with the data? Download all 743 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 22, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2018 Ford Focus Bev verdict →