2018 Ford Focus Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 124 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2018 Ford Focus, 15% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 65,619 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil pump” (26% of reports).
- 124engine and engine cooling complaints
- 65,619median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 50%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil pump: mentioned in 32 of 124 complaints (26%)
- Motive power: mentioned in 30 of 124 complaints (24%)
- Failed restart: mentioned in 17 of 124 complaints (14%)
- Engine cooling contacted: mentioned in 16 of 124 complaints (13%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 83 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 124 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Ford Focus engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Focus | 124 | 15% | 65,619 |
| 2017 Focus | 81 | 9% | 79,252 |
| 2016 Focus | 50 | 4% | 87,000 |
| 2015 Focus | 7 | 1% | 103,603 |
| 2014 Focus | 8 | 0% | 70,000 |
| 2013 Focus | 14 | 1% | 19,000 |
| 2012 Focus | 27 | 1% | 14,500 |
| 2011 Focus | 1 | 1% | 47,000 |
| 2010 Focus | 11 | 4% | 34,324 |
| 2009 Focus | 7 | 3% | 39,253 |
| 2008 Focus | 7 | 3% | 57,000 |
| 2007 Focus | 12 | 3% | 21,000 |
| 2006 Focus | 6 | 3% | 13,000 |
| 2005 Focus | 18 | 4% | 14,578 |
| 2004 Focus | 22 | 6% | 49,380 |
| 2003 Focus | 60 | 6% | 56,189 |
| 2002 Focus | 103 | 11% | 50,000 |
| 2001 Focus | 243 | 14% | 52,450 |
| 2000 Focus | 474 | 13% | 56,750 |
| 1999 Focus | 6 | 55% | 119,754 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pump
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport vehicles. The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure.
Risk: A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the oil pump tensioner assembly and oil pump drive belt, free of charge. If engine failure occurs due to a damaged oil pump belt and/or oil pump belt tensioner, Ford has authorized dealers to replace the engine assembly as an interim repair before the availability of remedy parts for the final repair. This repair will be free of charge (parts and labor). Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S64.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving uphill, the vehicle lost power, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the message "Engine Fault" was displayed. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the check valve on the vacuum…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shuddering, jerking, and hesitating to accelerate as needed. The vehicle then stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that there…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine and Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled and stopped in…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2018 Ford Focuss have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 124 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2018 Ford Focus (15% of the 837 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Ford Focus engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 65,619 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2018 Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “oil pump”, in 32 of 124 complaints, followed by “motive power” (30).
Other 2018 Ford Focus problems
See all 2018 Ford Focus problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Focus years.