The Lemon IndexOn Fords, the fuel vapor (EVAP) system couldn't release vacuum from the gas tank. Full P1450 page
86 owner complaints · the #1 code Ford Focus owners name · 28% of Ford Focus complaints that name a code (every car: 1.1%)
Middle of 74,000 miles · most between 55,000 and 101,000 (33 owners gave it)
Ford Focus owners named P1450 in 86 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2018, 2016 and 2017 model years, at a middle of 74,000 miles. The part they name most is the EVAP purge or vent valve (32 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Ford Focus model years that report P1450
Owner complaints naming P1450, 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
74,000 miles is the middle of what 33 owners entered. Half were between 55,000 and 101,000 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 32 of the 86 complaints (37%). 18 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 4 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: engine software (a reflash) (10), engine computer (ECM / PCM) (8) and fuel pump (4).
- EVAP part (purge valve, vent valve, canister)32 complaints18 mention a repair or replacement, 4 of them say the problem came back · what Ford Focus owners paid
- Software update (reflash)10 complaints10 mention a repair or replacement, 2 of them say the problem came back
- Engine computer (ECM / PCM)8 complaints8 mention a repair or replacement, 3 of them say the problem came back · what owners paid
- Fuel pump4 complaints4 mention a repair or replacement · what Ford Focus owners paid
- Transmission computer (TCM)3 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back · what Ford Focus owners paid
62 complaints mention a recall and 3 mention a warranty.
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 P1450
70% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Stalls or shuts off56%48 of 86 complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode13%11 of 86 complaints
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires10%9 of 86 complaints
- Won't start or hard to start6%5 of 86 complaints
- Transmission slips or shifts hard6%5 of 86 complaints
- Warning lights and electrical faults5%4 of 86 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P1450 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
P0456 12 P0420 6 P2196 5 P144A 5 P0171 3 P0460 2
Other codes named in the same Ford Focus complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
- Fuel pump replacement$1,350, $2,0002 bills
- EVAP system repair$3311 bill
Repair bills owners named in these 86 complaints (3 in all). Owner reports, not a quote: costs vary by shop and region.
Ford Focus TCM replacement cost
Recalls on these Ford Focus years
- Fuel system, gasoline · 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 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, 2015, 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 P1450. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P1450: 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
P1450 on other cars
Ford Fusion (28) · Ford Escape (26)
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 P1450 means
On Fords, the fuel vapor (EVAP) system couldn't release vacuum from the gas tank. It's an emissions fault; the car usually 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.
- Blocked EVAP vent valve or filter
- Kinked EVAP hose
- Faulty purge valve (some Ford bulletins replace it)
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11769075, 11735835, 11656791, 11637488, 11636712, 11626851, 11626456, 11623679, 11623448, 11616257, 11603112, 11583587 and 74 more.
Quick answers
What does P1450 mean on a Ford Focus?
Unable to Bleed Up Fuel Tank Vacuum. On Fords, the fuel vapor (EVAP) system couldn't release vacuum from the gas tank. It's an emissions fault; the car usually drives normally.
Which Ford Focus years have the most P1450 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2018 (18), 2016 (18), 2017 (13) Ford Focus named P1450 most (86 complaints in all, 2012–2018). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P1450 on a Ford Focus?
Owners most often name the EVAP purge or vent valve (32 of 86 complaints), then engine software (a reflash) and engine computer (ECM / PCM). 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 P1450 show up on a Ford Focus?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 74,000 miles; half were between 55,000 and 101,000 (33 owners).
Can I drive my Ford Focus with P1450?
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 P1450 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.