The Lemon Index2018 Ford Focus.
The 2018 Ford Focus is worse than average by owner complaints: 212 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 167, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, and it has 7 recalls. The best Ford Focus year is 2011.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2012–2018 Ford Focus, 34.5M views. The 2018 is the same generation.
- Infotainment, battery & electrical2.3M views
2012-2015 Ford Focus Battery ReplacementNoneMechanic101 · 623K views · 9 videos - Transmission & shifter1.2M views
How to Reset Transmission ford focus 2013YTLIFE · 531K views · 4 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring748K views
How To: Change the Tail Lights on a 2011-2018 Ford FocusO'Reilly Auto Parts · 259K views · 4 videos - No-start: theft light, key & ignition651K views
2013 Ford Focus No Start/ Wont Start Issue SOLVED!Alek Timmons · 651K views
Show 4 more
- Intake, EGR & engine sensors400K views
Do I REGRET buying a 2017 Ford Focus RS? 15 month UPDATERaiti's Rides · 400K views - Oil changes & service370K views
HOW TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL ON FORD FOCUS 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Auto Repair Guys · 238K views · 2 videos - Steering & suspension323K views
How to Replace Front Lower Control Arm 2012-2020 Ford FocusTRQ · 211K views · 2 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank268K views
2014 Ford Focus Low Fuel Pressure P0087 FixedL8R-HP · 268K views
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Ford Focus Hatchback 2012-2020 3rd Generation1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 850K views
Ford Focus ST 2015-2019 in-depth review - CarbuyerCarbuyer · 311K views
Ford Focus Estate 2015-2019 review - CarbuyerCarbuyer · 271K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 837 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Focus year. 2018 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 34K to 80K miles on the car (423 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 30K–83K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 32K–70K miles
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 26K–59K miles
Recalls 7
- fuel system, gasoline 2026
The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
- transmission & drivetrain 2026
The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
- equipment 2026
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Show all 7 recalls
- equipment 2026
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
- engine 2023
The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure.
- transmission & drivetrain 2018
The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
- fuel system, gasoline 2018
The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 107 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- MIL On with DTC's P0300 and/or P0316 store in Powertrain Control
- Inaccurate Outside Air Temperature(OAT) readings
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenTiming belt failure2026
- ClosedTiming belt failure2025–2026
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedOil pump failure2023–2024
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus 5 HB FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Focus 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Focus Bev 5 HB FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $700–3600 a year in electricity (EPA estimate).
In owners' words
Car been defective since purchased september 2019. Haven't did car fax on vehicle since this was my first time at the dealership.
2018 Ford Focus owner · NHTSA complaint 11324714
More owner reports
When my car is running and sitting idle at an intersection, it stutters ans hesitates to accelerate. When I am driving on the highway and I beed to sliw down or speed up; my car stutters and hesitates.
NHTSA complaint 11403396
My canister purge valve needs to be replaced. It is not under warranty but it should be. Many people are complaining online and the dealership itself confirmed a lot of people are having this problem.
NHTSA complaint 11394869
Quick answers
Is the 2018 Ford Focus reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.7× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 167; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Focus year by this measure is 2011.
What are the most common 2018 Ford Focus problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (39%), fuel or ev drive system (26%) and engine (25%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Ford Focus have?
7 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2018 Ford Focus safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2018 Ford Focus problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 34,500 and 80,000 miles. The middle report was at 56,000 miles, from 423 complaints.
Does the 2018 Ford Focus have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 39% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2018 Ford Focus cost in fuel a year?
About $700 to $3600 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What Ford Focus year is better than the 2018?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2010 and 2015.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works