2018 Ford Focus Electrical Problems
25 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (25)
Your vehicle has a documented recall and class action lawsuit related to transmission problems (skipping and stalling), but this wasn't disclosed to you when you purchased it from Enterprise. You've been paying for repairs out of pocket for years, and a mechanic told you the only solution was a complete transmission replacement. When you checked recall information using your VIN, no issues showed up in the system. You're concerned about how this affects your legal standing and what you should do next.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
My 2018 ford focus broke down in the middle of the road on [XXX] leaving it undrivable. The engine light came on and it gave an error saying “system engine fault, service now” I had it towed to Legacy Ford in Corbin KY on [XXX] and was they advised it was due to a recall with the with Oil Pump Drive belt and told me it would be covered but they didn’t know how long it would take….after having it for OVER a month, they called and said it was finished and ready for pick-up so I picked my car up on September 9th (still was driving weird) and picked my kids up from school & daycare, then went home so I only drove it about an hour before parking it. I went to leave to take my son to school the next morning and before I even pulled out of the driveway, the same error message had kicked on and the engine would seize and died- which is the same exact thing it did whenever it initially broke down…. Well they had it towed back to them on Wednesday September 10th so they could take a look at it since it was most likely related to the recall… So they called me the next day to let me know they had checked it out and it was an issue with the PCM and is unrelated to the recall and it will be $1,600 to fix it even though it’s doing the SAME EXACT thing it did whenever it broke down the first time. I found information supporting the fact that the issues from the recall can most certainly cause damages to the PCM. I also found out my car was part of a class action lawsuit and the Plaintiffs allege that Ford internally acknowledges that there is no permanent fix for the alleged defect; however, it continued to manufacture and sale the car. I don’t know what to do at this point but if they aren’t going to make it right then I guess my next step is to speak with an attorney for emotional distress and loss of pay. I tried to resolve the issue with the dealership but they weren’t helpful so customer support opened a case. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The rear view camera went out on our 2018 Ford Focus some time ago. I read recently there is a recall for the camera issue with Ford trucks. I am wondering if other consumers have complained of issues regarding the camera going out on Ford Focus 2018 cars
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)
I bought this car it was used by two other owners. I bought a new battery for this car but there is some kind of electrical problem with smell coming from vents and the radio system keeps shutting off.. keeps giving me a message on the screen that says shit off admission or restart engine to save battery then my whole radio system turns off till I turn off my car... Also now it time 4 tries to start my engine. Dash board will turn on but not engine..
Engine light and red oil can symbol's keeps showing on the dashboard. Brake pedal is tight & hard when stopping when pressed on them.
While driving 70mph on the highway my oil pressure light came on and I loss all power to my engine. I tried pressing the brakes and nothing happened. I lost ability to accelerate and then the brakes got hard and locked up so therefore lost ability to stop. I was able to coast off of an exit off the highway and had to try to not cause an accident until my car finally coasted to a stop. I had it towed to Portage ford in Portage Wisconsin and they told me that there is an advance notice recall but would not diagnose my car. They told me that they cannot do anything because the recall is just an advance notice and they are unable to open a repair order on it. They told me that because they could not open a repair order they could not verify that it was in fact the recall and told me that I would need to purchase a new engine completely. My oil had been recently changed and the oil levels were checked and they were good as well as the consistency. The recall is exactly word for word what happened but they told me the engine would be $6,000 and the labor would be 25 hours and likely another $6,000 so they qualified my vehicle as a total loss and that they wouldn't be able to give me more than $1,000 for my trade in. They said the Kelly blue book value was only a little under $8,000. My vehicle has a little over 50,000 miles on it only and was just out of powertrain warranty by maybe a month or two. This forced me into having to purchase a new car. They told me that if they found that it was related to the recall once they were able to open a repair order they would cut me a check for $5,000 because my car is obviously worth more than $1,000. I had just replaced the battery, front brakes and tires. No body damage or interior damage that would qualify the vehicle as lower trade in value. I bought it brand new and only owed $1,641on it and it would have been paid off completely. This is CLEARLY the recall but they refused to acknowledge it.
Purchased car 9/30 and have driven less than 3600 miles. Engine slow to accelerate, also revving up while at a stop light, lurching forward, lagging, and recently on 1/3 not drive able and had to be towed. Engine light on with codes P2837 and P287B. Two different garages (1. Fritz Ford and McNairs Auto) have diagnosed this vehicle to have a defective TCM freezing up gears, causing transmission failure. Notified Ford Motors in MI, they advised me to submit a report to NHTSA to help. Repair cost is 8600.00 at McNairs, 9600.00 at Fritz Ford in Riverside, CA No warranty on this car! Please help!
When weather began to get cold in 2023, the car's Sync system and all associated electronics (back up camera, usb ports, radio, navigation, touch screen, etc.,) went dark. At first 30% of the time, but within weeks the system was dead. Looking online, we found many other people having similar experiences with Ford products. The Ford dealership who serviced the problem said it was very common in Ford 150s. At first the component would fail and turn off and on intermittently. There was no warning. It would cut out or resume mid trip. Within a day or so, failure and possible resumption only happened when the car was turned on from a full stop and key removal. Updating the Sync system was not an option as it would go black or not connect to any methods. Dealership was unable to attempt an update as well. The part was replaced by a ford dealership. I no longer have it but they may. This puts myself and others at risk for multiple reasons a) Backup Camera display failing unexpectedly, b) navigation system failing unexpectedly, c) electrical component failure in the car may lead to other electrical systems failing. The issue was investigated and reproduced by Lilliston Ford in Vineland, NJ on Dec 21, when they deemed it a failure of the AIMS component and said it required full replacement. It was at this time they indicated that they are seeing it in other Ford vehicles. There were no symptoms. It was a fairly rapid degeneration from "sometimes" to "constant" failure within 2-3 weeks.
-Engine service now message -stalling out while driving - loss of power - loss of gas mileage
I brought my 2018 Ford focus in July 22 2021 . I took it in because it had taken over an hour to crank and when it did crank it get really bad had it brought to Green Ford in Greensboro North Carolina. They said they fixed it. I end up having to bring it back the next day. When I brought it back they said that the head gaskets had cracked so they were going to replace and the engine. The engine was on back order. The engine was on backorder. They finally had it fixed and ready for me September 16th, 2021. May 26th, 2022. I brought it down to town and country Ford in Charlotte, North Carolina because I had a light on and something smell like it was burning. They informed me that my engine once again had overheated and a head gasket was cracked . Again, the engine was on backorder so I received my car June 22nd 2022. At that time I was told that my warranty was 60,000 mi or 5 years. July 24th 2023 driving home from work. My car overheated and I pulled over and had called it to be towed into green ford in Greensboro, North Carolina again. They called July 25th, 2022 stating that the engine had blown again. But this time is because the fan had died in that my car was not under warranty. I had asked for the invoice at green ford from the back in July 22,2021. As my stepfather and I were looking over both invoices, we noticed that green Ford had a code on there for a remanufactured engine/ OEM long block. When called about this they stated that's how they bill for labor. I'll try to call customer service with Ford. They can't give me any information on how they bill for labor. My complaint is that I've had two engines put into my car in a year and a half and no one's wanting to figure out why my car is overheating. I believe that it have been the fan the whole time. Down for the third time. My engine is blown. I have no warranty and they're trying to charge me $9,500 for parts and labor.
Car does not start or stalls when new fuel is added, poor fuel mpg. Check engine light with 1450 code. Recall on other fords 18s32 has the same issues but is not covering this model.
My car died had trouble starting while driving Check engine kept showing code for purge valve replacement and fuel neck line. Had both replaced out of pocket had my battery replaced.
Car will not go in reverse transmission went out and needs tcm repair, so to shift fork b circuit going out causing damage to transmission
USB, Sync, radio system and A/C stopped working. Dealership found APIM is defective and needs to be replaced. This issue has occurred for many other Ford vehicles and is a known defective part, although Ford will not cover the cost (over $1500) to replace since there is not recall for this Ford make, model and year.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the "Transmission Failure, Service Immediately" message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where she was informed that the electrical wiring was soy based, which attracted rodents to chew on the wires. The contact stated prior to the failure, the oxygen sensor warning light had appeared on the instrument panel and was serviced by the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
1) The car shuts off and has difficulty turning on after filling up the gas tank. It will turn on for five seconds, lung forward, and then shut off. It has not been inspected yet. There is a check engine light on and showed up about 2 months ago (same time as when the issue started). 2)The center media screen shut off. This is a risk because the backup camera no longer works as the screen no longer turns on. It has not been inspected yet. There were no warning lamps or messages.
Everytime I fill my gas tank .Dies ,cuts out ,won't stay at a idle. Also the power train .When taking off at times feels like the transmission is falling out jerking or hesitant.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE SOLENOID NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
FUELED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT LATER AND IT STALLED. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. IT IS A 2018 WITH ONLY 26,000 AND WE OWNED IT A WEEK. BOUGHT FROM WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A REPUTABLE DEALER. HILLYERS FORD
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT INDICATED EVAP,VERY SMALL LEAK. RESET CODE AND A DIFFERENT CODE CAME UP FOR A VACUUM IN THE FUEL TANK. UNABLE TO EFFECT REPAIRS MY SELF AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT CARDINAL FORD DEALERSHIP. 11400 NEW HALLS FERRY RD. STL, 63033. ATTACHED DOCUMENTS DETAIL REPAIR AND COST.
EACH TIME I FILL THE CAR WITH GAS, EVEN WITH THE TANK HALF FULL, THE CAR STALLS AND HAS TROUBLE STARTING. I HAVE CHECKED FOR CLOGGED OR CRACKED FUEL LINES AND THERE ARE NONE. IT PUTS OUT THE CODE P1450. REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SOLENOID AND IT'S STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE READ THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL OF SOME SORT ON THE FUEL SYSTEM IN THESE CARS. *TR
HEAD LAMP SERVICE FAULT . YOU LOSE ALL POWER TO THE HEADLIGHTS AND YOUR KEY FOB DOES NOT REGISTER. MEANING YOU CAN JUST HOP IN THE CAR WITH NO KEYS AND DRIVE. ALSO THE CAR TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE READING. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,333.
I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING (LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OFF) THEN CAME BACK UP. NOT LONG AFTER THIS, I CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE THAT SUGGESTED A CURRENT RECALL COULD BE TO BLAME FOR THIS BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. IT SHOULD BE. (DATE OF OCCURRENCE IS APPROXIMATE.)