Home · 2018 Ford Focus Bev · Complaints

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 6 of 30

Aug 23, 2024Engine

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence and parked. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 11610483

Aug 23, 2024Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the fuel system and transmission warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the canister purge valve and the powertrain control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 11610509

Aug 23, 2024Engine

Drove car it stopped accelerating causing the engine to fail causing me to be broke down on interstate 81. Car has been sitting at the dealer since April

NHTSA ODI 11610546

Aug 23, 2024SteeringTransmission & drivetrainSpeed control

Car shuddered horribly on interstate. RPMs revving up like crazy. Transmission struggling. This caused the car to slow down drastically in the middle of traffic, nearly causing myself a fatal accident amongst others around me. No warning indications, just Transmission Fault Service Now as soon as it happened. In the past this vehicle has had transmission issues fixed and replaced by Ford themselves, due to the same shuddering and stalling as listed above. All those times, no check engine light or warning lights. Care would accelerate/jerk/shudder badly. Making it unpredictable to drive.

NHTSA ODI 11610557

Aug 19, 2024Engine & cooling

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ODI 11609408

Aug 19, 2024Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to increase in speed while the accelerator pedal was depressed. No warning light had illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for diagnoses but the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer on another occasion where it was diagnosed that the automatic clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

NHTSA ODI 11609488

Aug 15, 2024Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11608725

Aug 12, 2024Engine

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ODI 11607922

Aug 12, 2024Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11607931

Aug 9, 2024Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11607521

Aug 9, 2024Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11607582

Aug 9, 2024Engine & cooling

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ODI 11607516

Aug 8, 2024Engine

I had my car looked at by a mechanic because I was losing coolant! This has been going on for a few months. The mechanic found that the coolant was leaking from a water outlet on the passenger side in front of the motor! We took the car to a dealership to try to get the part. The parts agent could only find a water outlet for the thermostat in the drivers side? The part has lower radiator hose, Overflow reservoir, and a coolant line leading to the thermostat outlet on the drivers side of the vehicle? The outlet has 3 mounting studs with 10 millimeter nuts. that part is not listed in any parts stores? It leaks down to the minimum on the reservoir daily to a point that I have to put antifreeze in it everyday just to not have my motor become overheated?

NHTSA ODI 11607241

Aug 8, 2024Transmission & drivetrain

The contact called on behalf of her son who owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle jerked abnormally and lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with dual transmission clutch failure and the two actuators failure. The contact was informed that the dual transmission clutch and the actuators needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,248.

NHTSA ODI 11607315

Aug 6, 2024Engine & cooling

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ODI 11606868

Aug 6, 2024Engine

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine and low oil warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s son's residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,444.

NHTSA ODI 11606785

Aug 5, 2024Fuel system

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle would shut off or idle roughly immediately after starting. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened and the contact was referred to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

NHTSA ODI 11606615

Aug 5, 2024Speed controlBrakesEngine

With out warning my car lost power and went from 65 mph to 40 in an instant, I was able to avoid hitting the side wall of the freeway and with Gods help avoided hitting any other vehicles. The oil light came on then the engine light soon after, I was able to take the first exit off the freeway and pulled over in a gas station parking lot. Tow truck took it to the dealership, this car has a recall and the recall description matches exactly what happed. The dealership told me it will take them 6-8 weeks before they can even diagnosis the car for that recall. I am stuck without a car, and I am lucky no one was injured. People with this type of Ford ecoboost need to be made aware they are driving a vehicle at any moment can have total engine failure putting lives in danger. When I received the original recall letter, I called Five Star Ford in April to set the appointment, and they told me they are not taking those recall repairs right now and to call back at another time. I called back in May and was told they are still not taking repairs for that recall, to call back 3rd quarter of 2024. You can see that Ford has put lives in danger if others who called for the repaired was turned away as well.

NHTSA ODI 11606631

Aug 2, 2024Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed the vehicle stalled with the low oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed as a failure with the oil pump tensioner which caused the engine to seize. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also stated while driving at an undisclosed, the contact became aware of a failure with the transmission. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and jerked with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed as a failure with the torque converter. The contact was informed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11606138

Jul 29, 2024Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the RPM's increased. The contact stated that the engine was loud. The contact turned off the vehicle and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11605237

Jul 25, 2024Fuel system

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The vehicle was towed to the residence where a relative diagnosed the vehicle and retrieved DTC code: P1416. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure with an unknown sensor valve. The contact related the failure with the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the vehicle was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11604520

Jul 22, 2024Engine

In February of 2022, while driving home from work the car suddenly lost power to the engine along with the ability to brake and stop the car. This happened during rush hour traffic on a 65 mph speed major road in DE. Fortunately we were able to get off an exit without colliding into vehicles that were coming to a stop. We had to let the car drift to a stop and had to almost stand on the brake to get the car to fully stop moving. We had the car brought to the dealership that the car was purchased and it was diagnosed and reported to us that the engine needed to be replaced. At the time the car only had 63k miles on it and should not have needed a new engine. After the repair was completed it was determined that the Oil Pump Belt Tensioner failed causing the engine the go bad resulting in a replacement of the engine. Luckily for us Ford was able to help us out due to the mileage and good faith and covered a good portion of the engine replacement, however we still had to put money out of our pocket for a replacement that we are now finding out was caused by this part being recalled (Recall 23S64) and needing replacement. The dealership is now stating they can not give us our money back until there is an actual remedy for this recall. For my specific situation the remedy has already been produced in the means of a new engine with new parts. Not sure why I have to wait for parts to be distributed for a refund when I've already had to have this part replaced along with the engine. The failure of this part causing the engine to go bad is a dangerous situation and I hope nobody else has the problem I had because of the engine loses power you also lose the ability to use your brakes and if you are driving the car you are looking at the possibility of a serious crash resulting in serious injury or death.

NHTSA ODI 11603697

Jul 22, 2024Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and was towed to a local dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the oil pump had failed. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11603724

Jul 19, 2024Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started shuddering with smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that the engine was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer however, the cause of the failure could not be duplicated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11603361

Jul 18, 2024EngineFuel system1 injury

Vehicle has been having more frequent issues starting up. Engine stalls intermittently and hesitates after fueling up. Been getting inaccurate fuel gauge and distance to empty readings lately. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety was compromised because the car stalled without warning on the highway almost causing me to get into an accident, and it also shut down on me after pulling out from the gas station after fueling up. Car also loss power and hesitated on highway when merging, causing traffic to back up. I feel extremely unsafe. Problem was replicated with my mechanic after driving with him from the gas station. The car has always passed inspection from when I bought it and i stay up to date with its maintenance from the dealerships. The Malfunction Indicator Lamp just illuminated a few days ago from 7/18/2024 but have been experiencing this issue slowly for a few months, and has been progressively getting worse until the check engine light came on which is the current situation. Mechanic found multiple codes P1450, P0456 and etc when he connected the computer to my car showing a CPV purge valve and other issues associated.

NHTSA ODI 11603112

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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 →