2018 Ford Focus fuel, hybrid & EV propulsion problems

Related recalls

• Recall 26V369000Jun 9, 2026257,868 vehicles
  FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.

  Risk: An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.

• Recall 18V735000Oct 22, 20181,282,596 vehicles
  FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.

  Risk: 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.

  Remedy: 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 August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.

What owners say

1. Filed Oct 8, 2026ORFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

   when the vehicle accelerates too quickly or up a very gradual hill, barely any slope, it will slow to a stop. this is in line with the current recalls with other Ford focus 2018s likely caused by the Canister Purge Valve. it has the exact same symptoms, poor fuel economy, rough idling so much so the entire vehicle shakes, and the dangerous part- stalling. I have now stalled 4 times and have been in and out of multiple mechanics for this issue and no one can seem to identify…

   NHTSA complaint #11769967 · source
2. Filed Sep 3, 2026IAEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   There was supposedly a recall of 2012-2018 Ford focuses such as mine, which is a 2018, but somehow my car is not included in this recall even though it seems to be affected by the same problem. I believe it to have a faulty purge valve (forgive me if I am not precise in my terminology) as it stalls after I get gas and try to start it up. I have to rev the engine to get it to stay on. I cannot stop after I get it started because it roughly idles and seems like it will shut…

   NHTSA complaint #11761813 · source
3. Filed Aug 31, 2026OHFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   Car doesn't start after putting in gas, has to revved to start. Leaking fluid on right front driver side. Car doesn't start in intervals throughout the day.

   NHTSA complaint #11760847 · source
4. Filed Jul 20, 2026180,000 miKYFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently stalled with excessive fuel consumption. As a former Ford independent mechanic, the contact diagnosed the vehicle with a deformed fuel tank. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the canister purge valve was replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the manufacturer denied coverage for the fuel tank replacement. The contact stated that the…

   NHTSA complaint #11751634 · source
5. Filed Jun 24, 2026TXElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   I am adding a major update to my safety recall complaint because this dealership just tried to pull an illegal financial ambush on me.After my 2019 Focus started stalling out on the highway right after they did Recall 18V735, I brought it back. I explicitly told them in writing on our text thread: 'I do not authorize any standard diagnostic fees, parts, or repair charges.' I just wanted them to show me proof that they didn't pinch a wire or glitch the software during the…

   NHTSA complaint #11746337 · source
6. Filed Jun 18, 2026AZFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   The plastic gas tank was warped by heat and a faulty purge solenoid. The warped gas tank is a known issue for the 2018 Ford Focus and other versions of the car are covered by the recall, but my VIN apparently was not despite experiencing the same issue at less than 50,000 miles. The warped gas tank caused a dangerous car shutoff in traffic.

   NHTSA complaint #11745134 · source
7. Filed Jun 16, 2026TXElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   The vehicle was serviced for NHTSA Recall 18V735 (Canister Purge Valve/Fuel Tank stalling hazard). Immediately upon pickup from the dealership, the vehicle began severely stumbling and stalling while driving on the highway. It died while driving on the street. The dealership's diagnostic paperwork confirmed an 'O2 sensor logic error causing the vehicle to stall' right after they performed the mandatory computer software flash and valve replacement. The dealership is refusing…

   NHTSA complaint #11744616 · source
8. Filed May 5, 2026WAFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   I replaced my canister purge valve prior to TSB or recall (18S32). Once I received the letter for reimbursement, I sent my paperwork to the dealer that performed the work (Pierre Ford Seattle on 01/05/25). They said they were going to reimburse me for the work that they did but did not. I went back to the dealer on 04/22/26 with my paperwork again. They made a copy and said they were going to submit my reimbursement. After a week or two they said that the recall…

   NHTSA complaint #11735820 · source
9. Filed Apr 23, 2026MIEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   The dual clutch PowerShift DCT transmission has failed. When placed in reverse, the engine RPM increases when accelerating but the vehicle does not move at all. While driving forward, the vehicle struggles to reach 10mph and the transmission slips severely. The vehicle is essentially undriveable. The vehicle has gotten stuck on neighborhood roads on 3 separate occasions due to complete loss of reverse function. I was stuck for 30 minutes to an hour which put me in way too…

   NHTSA complaint #11733354 · source
10. Filed Jan 22, 2026RIEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

    The malfunctioned component Engine Oil Pump failed while driving on highway causing the vehicle to both overheat and stall all at once, causing the vehicle to stop running in the middle of a main highway forcing me and another pedestrian to push the car into a gas station, out of the way of oncoming traffic, Ford did send out a recall notice for the Failed Oil Pump in December 2025 the same month my vehicle broke down. The vehicle was inspected by a mechanics shop, Master…

    NHTSA complaint #11712590 · source
11. Filed Oct 30, 2025NCFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

    The fuel pump has failed and causes my car to loose power after the car has started. This is able to occur while operating the vehicle and results in immediate loss of power. This component has been inspected by an auto mechanic and will be looked at by the Ford dealership. A check engine warning appeared on 27Oct2025. However, my vehicle had been showing symptoms starting as early as Nov 2023. The symptoms included: a clunking vibration while accelerating the vehicle and…

    NHTSA complaint #11696619 · source
12. Filed Sep 26, 2025VAEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

    My vehicle is part of the 23S64/23V905 Ford recall. The car died in the middle of an intersection in 2024 and Ford finally agreed to replace the faulty parts with more faulty parts until there was a fix. Now there is a fix and Ford said they will not replace it because it's still running, but when/if the parts fail again, to bring it in and they'll fix it. So if the vehicle fails on the interstate or in the middle of an intersection again and I'm in a crash, then they'll fix…

    NHTSA complaint #11689962 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology