The Lemon IndexThere's a very small leak in the fuel vapor system. Full P0456 page
26 owner complaints · the #2 code Ford Focus owners name · 8% of Ford Focus complaints that name a code (every car: 1.0%)
Middle of 62,000 miles · most between 52,000 and 85,000 (12 owners gave it)
Ford Focus owners named P0456 in 26 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2018, 2013 and 2012 model years, at a middle of 62,000 miles. The part they name most is the EVAP purge or vent valve (11 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Ford Focus model years that report P0456
Owner complaints naming P0456, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
Mileage when it happened
62,000 miles is the middle of what 12 owners entered. Half were between 52,000 and 85,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the EVAP purge or vent valve, in 11 of the 26 complaints (42%). 4 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 1 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: engine computer (ECM / PCM) (4) and engine software (a reflash) (3).
- EVAP part (purge valve, vent valve, canister)11 complaints4 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back · what Ford Focus owners paid
- Engine computer (ECM / PCM)4 complaints4 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back · what owners paid
- Software update (reflash)3 complaints3 mention a repair or replacement
19 complaints mention a recall.
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with P0456
73% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Stalls or shuts off46%12 of 26 complaints
- Transmission slips or shifts hard15%4 of 26 complaints
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires15%4 of 26 complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode15%4 of 26 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0456 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
P1450 12 P144A 4 P0420 3 P0460 2 P0452 2 P2196 2
Other codes named in the same Ford Focus complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
Ford Focus EVAP system repair cost
Recalls on these Ford Focus years
- Fuel system, gasoline · 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 · issued 2026
The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving. NHTSA 26V369000 - Engine · 2016, 2017, 2018 · issued 2023
The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure. NHTSA 23V905000 - Fuel system, gasoline · 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017 · issued 2019
The affected vehicles did not have the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) updated as intended. NHTSA 19V515000 - Fuel system, gasoline · 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 · issued 2018
The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system. NHTSA 18V735000 - Fuel system, gasoline · 2014 · issued 2015
On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 45,505 vehicles, including certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured November 11, 2013, to August 29, 2014, 2014-2015 Ford … NHTSA 15V005000
6 recalls for the same systems (engine and fuel) on the Ford Focus model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind P0456. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P0456: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Ford Focus reliability by year
- 2018 Ford Focus problems and recalls
Other codes Ford Focus owners report
P0456 on other cars
Ford Escape (10)
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What P0456 means
There's a very small leak in the fuel vapor system. The car drives normally.
Drive on, get it checked. You can usually keep driving. Have the code read at your next service or within a few weeks.
- Gas cap seal
- Tiny crack in an EVAP hose
- Leaking purge or vent valve
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11637488, 11633206, 11626456, 11620504, 11618443, 11603112, 11583166, 11542656, 11511916, 11503584, 11502778, 11467635 and 14 more.
Quick answers
What does P0456 mean on a Ford Focus?
Evaporative Emission System Leak Detected (Very Small Leak). There's a very small leak in the fuel vapor system. The car drives normally.
Which Ford Focus years have the most P0456 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2018 (10), 2013 (5), 2012 (5) Ford Focus named P0456 most (26 complaints in all, 2012–2018). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0456 on a Ford Focus?
Owners most often name the EVAP purge or vent valve (11 of 26 complaints), then engine computer (ECM / PCM) and engine software (a reflash). That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does P0456 show up on a Ford Focus?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 62,000 miles; half were between 52,000 and 85,000 (12 owners).
Can I drive my Ford Focus with P0456?
Drive on, get it checked. You can usually keep driving. Have the code read at your next service or within a few weeks.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P0456 on the Ford Focus, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.