2018 Ford Focus: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 1075 complaints
1075
Total Complaints
54,500mi
Median Mileage
Power Train
Top Issue
24
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
31,200
25th Percentile
54,500
Median Mileage
75,385
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Power Train
280
Engine
221
Fuel/Propulsion System
123
Engine And Engine Cooling
117
Unknown Or Other
75
Fuel System, Gasoline
51
Electrical System
40
Steering
30
Vehicle Speed Control
24
Service Brakes
19
Severity Assessment
24
Crashes
8
Fires
16
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"MY PERSONAL CAR HAD A BATTERY DIE - I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND I GOT IT TOWED- THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR FOR THE DAY - WHEN I STARTED TO WORK WITH THE RENTAL CAR I STARTED FEELING SICK WITHIN 15 MINUTES BUT KEPT DRIVING TO WORK - (A 45 MINUTE RIDE) I WAS AT WORK FOR 15 MINUTES AND THEN ..."
"FROM A COMPLETE STOP (DUE TO STOPPED TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT), ACCELERATION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE, RAPIDLY INCREASE RPM, AND SHUDDER/SHAKE VIOLENTLY. HAPPENS ROUGHLY BETWEEN 0-35 MPH. THE ISSUE IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT, SO I'LL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERS..."
"FROM A COMPLETE STOP (DUE TO STOPPED TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT), ACCELERATION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE, RAPIDLY INCREASE RPM, AND SHUDDER/SHAKE VIOLENTLY. HAPPENS ROUGHLY BETWEEN 0-35 MPH. THE ISSUE IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT, SO I'LL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERS..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Power Train
280 complaints
25th: 28,700 mi
Median: 55,652 mi
75th: 82,585 mi
Engine
221 complaints
25th: 33,300 mi
Median: 51,576 mi
75th: 70,566 mi
Fuel/Propulsion System
123 complaints
25th: 28,600 mi
Median: 48,000 mi
75th: 58,000 mi
Engine And Engine Cooling
117 complaints
25th: 51,000 mi
Median: 65,309 mi
75th: 88,250 mi
Unknown Or Other
75 complaints
25th: 5,992 mi
Median: 32,875 mi
75th: 42,523 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
TX: 91
FL: 90
CA: 88
OH: 63
NC: 57
VA: 53
PA: 48
GA: 43
NY: 39
IL: 35
Who Files Complaints?
0.3%
Original Owners
99.7%
Second+ Owners
Ford Focus — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (5)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Storage
Campaign 18V735000 | 22/10/2018
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.
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
Manual Transmission
Campaign 18V845000 | 28/11/2018
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.
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.
Pump
Campaign 23V905000 | 22/12/2023
A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 par
Engine Block Heater
Campaign 26V011000 | 15/01/2026
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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 lett
Engine Block Heater
Campaign 26V012000 | 15/01/2026
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipa
Extend Your Transmission Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Change transmission fluid at manufacturer intervals — not 'lifetime' fluid
- Come to a full stop before shifting from reverse to drive
- Don't ride the brakes on hills — use a lower gear
- Check transmission fluid level and color monthly — dark fluid needs changing
- Address slipping, hard shifts, or delayed engagement immediately
Vehicle Rankings
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28