What 743 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Focus RS

After working on [XXX], my vehicle made it home, and wouldn't start. After jump starting, I began to drive it to the dealership. My safety, and others, was put at risk when the car began to smoke, lost power in a driving lane, and then burned down with extreme intensity. The dealership isn't helping. Ford said their Office of General Council is still looking into it, but originally denied my claim before saying they would reconsider my case. An official report from the Lakeland Fire Department stated mechanical failure and loss estimated to be equal to $10,000. The engine light blinked on the way home, the oil lamp went off and on, and then the car wouldn't start. These were the only signs prior to a total loss of power and smoke before my life was in jeopardy. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11639732

My vehicle seized up as I was driving it and I wrecked it aside a median. I had to tow it to the ford dealership for them to diagnose it as the recall stated. The recall wasn’t officially out yet, so I had to tow my vehicle back to my house. This happened in February 2024. I have received a new engine, but had to continue to make payments on a car that I was not able to drive and only received a rental within the past 6 weeks since I have paid for new brakes, new battery, new tires, and an alignment. None of these things were covered for the recall except the engine. The dealership clearly states that because my car has been sitting I have to purchase these other items. I have reached out to corporate and the dealership and haven’t gotten anywhere. I don’t know if even doing this will help, but I definitely feel taken advantage of. I think someone should reimburse me for tires and battery due to the extended time it sat. Heck, even the brakes too.

NHTSA ODI 11632177

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

My car keeps stuttering and stalling. I've been trying to get it fixed at specialists but they say nothing is wrong with the car, even though I've been stuck on the side of the road multiple times. Not to mention the intense jerking the car does when I try and speed up .

NHTSA ODI 11578828

As I was driving my 2018 Ford Focus, the check engine flashed on. Almost as soon as I noticed it flashed on, it went away. Several more miles down the interstate, it came on again. Almost as soon as it came on, a warning displayed stating Engine Temp Hot, Stop Safely. As I started to pull over onto the shoulder, the power steering went out and then the brakes became extremely hard to push in. As my car slowed down I noticed smoke and as soon as we stopped flames came out from under the hood of the car. I called 911 and the Indiana State Police came and Incident # 2023-00344031 was filed after Pike Township Fire department extinguished the flames. State Farm Insurance was contacted and my car was deemed a total loss. I have photos but the website wouldn't upload the photos.

NHTSA ODI 11535898

My Vehicle has been with me since I’ve had It since 32,000 miles it’s up to 87,000 miles now The first thing I had to replace the starter at 32,000 the alternator and CV axle on the passenger side and the clutch is second and third clutch And the inside dome lights an the dash lights shorted out all went out the day after I got it now since then at 84,000 the The front clip just fell off going down the road it never dragged the ground an it was never broken but going down the interstate at 70 the speed limit it fell down an ripped out from under the car an hit the car behind me costing me a lot of money but now currently at 87,000 The cv axel on the passenger side has started knocking again bye far one of the worst cars I’ve ever bought

NHTSA ODI 11481954

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCCOMBS FORD WEST (7111 NORTHWEST LOOP 410, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78238) FOR WARRANTY SERVICE ON THE TRANSMISSION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ABOUT TO DRIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MOVED FORWARD AS A RESULT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED FACE AND CHIN INJURIES AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE DASHBOARD AS WELL AS BACK AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS BECAUSE HIS LAWYER WAS DEALING WITH THE ACCIDENT CASE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11319821

ON DECEMBER 12TH, 2019, I WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE-CAR FENDER BENDER ON FAIRFAX COUNTY PARKWAY IN VIRGINIA. I WAS TRAVELING IN SLOW-MOVING TRAFFIC AT 7:20AM, CLOSE TO RESTON HOSPITAL, WHEN THE TWO CARS IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES UNEXPECTEDLY AND I UNFORTUNATELY COULD NOT BRAKE IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME WAS A TOYOTA SUV AND HAD A TOW-BAR, WHICH TOOK MOST OF THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. ASIDE FROM SOME MINOR SCRATCHES, BOTH OF THE OTHER CARS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WERE FINE AND THE TWO DRIVERS WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE ON THEIR WAYS TO WORK. MY CAR, ON THE OTHER HAND HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS IT IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES UPON IMPACT. AS I MENTIONED ABOVE, THE TRAFFIC WAS SLOW-MOVING SO WE WERE NOT TRAVELING AT MORE THAN 25-30MPH AT ANY TIME ON THAT STRETCH AS WE NAVIGATED THE TRAFFIC. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY LOW-IMPACT AND MINOR INCIDENT; HOWEVER, FOR SOME UNKNOWN AND UNEXPLAINABLE REASON, THE FORD FOCUS WAS ON FIRE BEFORE I EVEN KNEW THAT I HAD CRASHED. THE IMPACT WAS SO MINIMAL THAT NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. FIREFIGHTERS WERE ONSITE WITHIN 5 MINUTES AND HAD DIFFICULTY PUTTING OUT THE BLAZE. IN ADDITION, I WAS STILL IN THE CAR WHILE IT WAS ON FIRE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY UPON IMPACT, SO WHILE I WAS LUCKY TO WALK AWAY WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL INJURIES, I WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE AMBULANCE TO MONITOR MY VITALS AND TRY TO CONTROL MY SHOCK. I REALIZE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS OF FORD FOCUS VEHICLES PURCHASED IN 2017 AND PRIOR; HOWEVER, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE SAFETY CONCERNS RAISED IN PREVIOUS LAWSUITS AGAINST FORD PERTAIN DIRECTLY TO THE 2018 MODEL AS WELL. WE HAD ALREADY REPLACED THE CLUTCH IN THE FOCUS AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF BECAUSE OF A TRANSMISSION FAILURE ALSO NOTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

NHTSA ODI 11291305