2018 Ford Focus FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
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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 switching gears, stalling at low speeds, and making weird noises when switching between gears at low speeds. I first contacted a Ford dealership about these symptoms six months ago.
While driving the vehicle at 60 mph in traffic, all propulsion was lost and the car displayed "stop safely now." Fortunately, I had enough momentum to drift to the side of the road, but this was a very unsafe situation. The vehicle was towed to a dealership where they diagnosed the high voltage battery to have experienced a sudden failure. The vehicle has approximately 60k miles, and searching online indicates that this is a common problem at this mileage. The replacement batteries are jow only built to order, so the vehicle has now been out of service for over 2 months while waiting on a replacement battery.
Vehicle keeps dying while in idle or low speed, sometimes hard to crank. Battery/electrical has been checked.
My car stalls when I get gas. If I get gas, I have to try multiple times to start my car and once it starts, I can’t stop. If I stop, my car will turn off and I have to start it again. My car has died in intersections and on streets many times. I called ford and they told me that I am basically out of luck and will have to have it repaired on my own dime even though I am having the same symptoms of a current recall.
After filling up gas tank, car continues to sputter and tries to stall. This only happens after filling tank.
On several occasions over the last several thousand miles, several issues have developed (all without warning at the time of first occurrence). At random times the engine will shut off when lifting out of the throttle. The car will run out of fuel before the fuel gauge is on empty or the "Miles to Empty" indicator state there are more miles to empty. Additionally, when shutting off the car to fuel at a gas station, the car takes up to a minute of cranking to re-start. When it starts, it will randomly shut off for the first several minutes unless throttle is applied before it shuts off. On 10/30/24 when driving with the gas gauge and range to empty indicators not on empty, the car stalled when beginning a slight climb, leaving the car stranded at night in the left most lane of traffic. This suggests fuel tank deformation. When issues started, the Canister Purge Valve was tested and found to be working correctly. It appears Recall 18V-735 is the issue here. Every symptom related to Recall 18V-735 is being experienced ("malfunctioning Canister Purge Valve (CPV) that can stick open and a Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software that does not adequately detect a stuck-open CPV. A CPV that is stuck open in these vehicles can cause excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system, potentially deforming the fuel tank. If this occurs, the customer may observe a Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL), inaccurate or erratic fuel gauge indication, drivability concerns or loss of motive power."). Expanding this recall to cover 2018 Ford Focus with the 1.0L Ecoboost seems prudent as Ford should update the PCM to avoid drivers of this vehicle being stranded in unsafe situations.
Engine light came on while after car hassertated withe code p144A engine detected running the PCM and obstruction in the EVAP SYSTEM PURGE VAPOR LINE IS BLOCKED AND TO REPLACE EMISSIONS SYSTEM PURGE VAPOR CANISTER PURGE CONTROL VALVE
I bought this car in 2020-2021. My check engine light came on recently and when I took it in to get it fixed, I payed $1,140 (general maintenance, and fuel injector cleaner) and when I picked it back up they informed me that some 2018 models had a recall on my car. I called the dealership, and they informed me I had no open recalls. However, I am having all of the symptoms of the recall open on some of the same vehicles. Whenever I get gas, my car will not start. I have to turn my car over multiple times before it will safely start. Sometimes, when I get gas, if I slow down or completely stop my car will just turn off and then I have to repeat the same process over and over until it will start on its own. It has died in the middle of busy roads before and it is not safe.
Oil light on engine is on. Issue is related to recall. Not able to fix issue until early next year
My check engine light came on. I have the code P0456 indicating the evaporative emission system has a leak. This is the same code that caused a recall for 1,282,596 Ford focuses on recall #18S32. My VIN number is not in the recall, but I’m having the same problem.
previous recall 18V735000 that covered the fuel system was inadequate. my 2018 se is constantly displaying incorrect fuel levels, and it has multiple warnings regarding the fuel system.
While driving my car cuts off in the middle of the intersection of one of the most busiest streets where I live causing someone to bump into me nothing major but I was already still at that point with my Emergancy signals on but the oil pump went causing my car to shut completely off oil light comes on I contacted a mechanic just to look and he said my oil pump blew I have a crack in the pan smh no warning until it happened found out it’s a common issue with fords it really sucks
1) purge valve, available for inspection 2) causes stalling when driving and difficulty starting after a fresh refueling unless completely pressing onto the gas pedal 3) problem confirmed, Ford refused to fix the issue 4) inspected through diagnostic tools 5) several codes and the check engine light. Identical to recall 18S32 but 2018 Ford Focus S is not within the accepted years. Any sudden change in speeds will cause it to jolt and seize and/or rev the engine to over 4000 rpm even if less than a 5mph shift in speed Ford has a audio recording of several calls tied to the matter within the last week (31Mar-6APR and ongoing) Issue has been ongoing for several months
For a couple months I’ve noticed after I pump new gas, my car hesitates. It acts as if it’s going to turn off. I see this is a known issue but not for my year which is absolutely crazy. Not to mention how the car has jerked when you take off from a stop. This has been going on since I purchased the car new & I’ve continued to be told “it’s normal”. Nothing normal about a car hesitating and jerking.
There was an immediate loss of power while on the highway driving normally at about 70mph. There were no codes indicated previous to this incident, after vehicle was in a safe location I checked the codes. I believe it is the fuel tank purge valve as all symptoms point to that. It’s a known issue for this vehicle but for some reason my model/ year isn’t covered.
The check engine light came and the code for CPV show up. When you put gas in it doesn't start up right away like it suppose to. And the acceleration take time on occasion. Basically what the recall said for the car. But the dealship says my Vin numbet doesn't match the recalled so I don't know what to do.
The check engine light came on and the code reads P0456. The car also has a rough idle and loss of accleration power. We had the car inspected at the mechanic and the shop said the Cannister Purge Valve (CPV) needed replaced and the PCM software needed to be updated. They notified us there was a safety recall on 2012 - 2018 Ford Focus - #18S32 that describes this exact issue, but when we contacted Ford, they said even though our car was a 2018 Ford Focus the VIN # was not included in the recall. Ford suggested we report the issue.
MY VEHICLE IS THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AND ENGINE AS THE ONE ON RECALL. BUT MY VIN ISNT. BUT I HAVING ISSUE WITH THE RECALL PART . OCTOBER AS PUMPED GAS , MY VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING AND CUT OFF, THOUGHT MAY OF BEEN BAD GAS. WELL EACH TIME I ADD GAS , IT STARTS SPUTTERING, DIES AND STALLS AT STARTING. I LOOKED IT UP AND REALIZED PURGE VALVE ON CAR WAS OBVIOUSLY CAUSING ,MY ISSUE. COUPLE WEEKS AGO ON JANUARY 20TH I DROVE VEHICLE TO DO A DASH AND MY CAR DIDNT WANT TO CHANGE OUT OF FIRST GEAR , LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING BAD, I LITERALLY HAD TO SHIFT TO LOW GEAR ADN BACK TO DRIVE AND NEXT DAY IT DIED ON ME AT RED LIGHT BUT STARTED BACK UP . WELL 1/30/23 WAS ON WAY ABOUT MILE FROM STORE TO ADD GAS, HAD 10 MILES TO E AND MY CAR DIED GOING 45 MPH AND WOULDNT EVEN START BACK. LUCKILY NOONE WAS BEHIND ME OR MY SON AND HIS FRIEND MAY OF BEEN HURT FROM GETTING HIT. DUE TO CAR SHUTTING OFF GOING DOWN THE RD. I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD NO RECALL ON MY VIN BUT SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AND 2.0 GDI ENGINE.
FORD REFUSAL OF NO COST SERVICE/REPLACEMENT for an ACTIVE RECALL on 2018 FORD FOCUS Canister Purge Solenoid Issue: Engine stalls at idle. Engine underperforms at lower speeds (under 40mph). Engine does not start immediately after refilling gas tank. Check engine light is on. Independent (i.e. non-dealer) mechanic checked on 09Feb2023. Diagnostic codes report Canister Purge Solenoid error. Independent mechanic noted a FORD recall (reference: 18S32) for 2018 Ford Focus Canister Purge Solenoid replacement, but my VIN does not show an active recall. FORD Customer Service and local dealers refuse to include my VIN on the active recall. FORD has not offered any opportunity for an appeal to have my VIN included on the recall.
Got engine lights and promble truning on and when accelerating and deccelerating car will shake and wont change gears. Took the car to have a diagnostic told purge valve has some damage and was told some ford focus where being recall for this promble.
The purge valve problem persists well into this model year. The car is hiccuping and stalling at lights and has difficulty starting after fueling. I find it appalling that reprogramming the "check engine" light to acknowledge the defect, rather than actually repairing the defect was considered an adequate solution. My car has 59,000 miles and is just out of warranty. I think had this purge valve problem (rather than just the engine light symptom) been properly addressed by the NHTSA and Ford, my family would be safer in this car. I will never buy a Ford again.
A couple weeks ago I went to put gas into my car and after filling up my tank I tried to turn on my car and it would not turn on. I knew it was not a battery problem because I just bought a brand new battery in July. This issue put me in danger because I was by myself in a busy gas station with no where to go or anyone to help me safely push my car into a safe area. This occurrence keeps happening when I pump gasoline in my car and after the first incidence a service light popped up but never any warning prior to that day. The vehicle has not been inspected because I am afraid to start my car and it will not work. When I would try to start my car after pumping gas it would stall and my engine would shake the car. I have checked my VIN # on all the websites possible but my VIN is not a part of the recall but it should be because my car is having the same issue any other 2018 Ford Focus have been having.
The fuel pump keeps burning out even though the tank is clean and there are no other obvious issues.
I'm pretty sure my car is having the problem with the fuel something because EVERY TIME I put fuel into my car it wants to choke up and die. It's very annoying now. It's been doing it for a couple weeks now but my car is not on the recall list and my car also is doing a thing when I accelerate it is very jumpy and feels like I'm going over rumble strips. I'm very unsatisfied with my car.
Engine light on for fuel purge valve . Once vehicle is under half tank it struggles to start after fueling unless putting gas to floor while still in park. Once started struggles to stay on .
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Quick Summary
The 2018 Ford Focus has 54 FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.