2018 Ford Focus fuel system problems

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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 failure reoccurred. No warning light was illuminated. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V369000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the canister purge valve was replaced a second time; however, the failure persisted. The dealer notified the manufacturer of the failure. The vehicle was not further repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA complaint #11751634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 recall work.Instead of showing me proof, they sent me a text message today saying my vehicle was 'ready for pick up' just to lure me down to the lobby. When I got there, they slapped an unauthorized invoice for $988.82 in front of my face for parts and labor. They did nearly $1,000 worth of work after I told them 'no' in writing, clearly trying to quietly fix their botched recall mistake under the table and force me to pay for it.When I showed the advisor the texts proving I denied the charges, the staff panicked and couldn't answer who authorized the job. I refused to sign it or pay it, and I walked out. My car is currently stranded on their lot because they are holding my keys hostage over unauthorized bills on a federal safety recall file. I have already escalated this to Ford Corporate under Case # CXH-0831-1568-S8L7B8

NHTSA complaint #11746337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Purge valve sensor and canister is malfunctioning causing my car to stall out

NHTSA complaint #11745425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 to verify if their technician damaged the adjacent wiring harness or glitched the software flash, leaving the vehicle an active highway stalling hazard. As for my experience, The car died in Clear Lake by Baybrook Mall. Extremely high traffic, almost got hit. (Yelled at by several drivers). Constant stalling happened in Baytown. Scariest incident was going over the very tall Fred Hartman bridge. My 10 year old daughter and I felt sure it was about to die and we were going to roll backward down the bridge becauseit kept dropping power. We took the ferry home because we were so scared.

NHTSA complaint #11744616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 reimbursement program had expired earlier this year.

NHTSA complaint #11735820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 much preassure and possibly, I could have ended up in danger. The vehicle had to be physically pushed by hand to move it. This created a dangerous situation for myself and others on the road. An independent mechanic diagnosed and replaced the clutch actuator assembly and fuel pump. After repairs the problem persists unchanged. The mechanic has noted the vehicle requires a full transmission replacement. This is a known defect with the Ford PowerShift DCT transmission affecting multiple model years. Repair costs have exceeded $1,500 with no resolution. The failed transmission puts safety at risk as the vehicle cannot accelerate properly in traffic and has no reverse function. Problem has been confirmed by an independent service center. Vehicle is available for inspection.

NHTSA complaint #11733354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 Muffler & Brake repair shop in Wareham Ma. as well as Empire Ford of New Bedford, Master Muffler & Brake concluded that the Head Gasket had blown, and Empire Ford of New Bedford concluded the issue was due to a cracked engine block. Prior to any issue there had been no warning signs then once the 2018 Ford Focus began to stall an overheating warning light as well as the check engine light began to flash at the same exact time as the vehicle itself breaking down.

NHTSA complaint #11712590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #11696619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 it. But they will not fix it until they fail because "there are too many not running vehicles in front" of mine.

NHTSA complaint #11689962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

My 2018 ford focus broke down in the middle of the road on [XXX] leaving it undrivable. The engine light came on and it gave an error saying “system engine fault, service now” I had it towed to Legacy Ford in Corbin KY on [XXX] and was they advised it was due to a recall with the with Oil Pump Drive belt and told me it would be covered but they didn’t know how long it would take….after having it for OVER a month, they called and said it was finished and ready for pick-up so I picked my car up on September 9th (still was driving weird) and picked my kids up from school & daycare, then went home so I only drove it about an hour before parking it. I went to leave to take my son to school the next morning and before I even pulled out of the driveway, the same error message had kicked on and the engine would seize and died- which is the same exact thing it did whenever it initially broke down…. Well they had it towed back to them on Wednesday September 10th so they could take a look at it since it was most likely related to the recall… So they called me the next day to let me know they had checked it out and it was an issue with the PCM and is unrelated to the recall and it will be $1,600 to fix it even though it’s doing the SAME EXACT thing it did whenever it broke down the first time. I found information supporting the fact that the issues from the recall can most certainly cause damages to the PCM. I also found out my car was part of a class action lawsuit and the Plaintiffs allege that Ford internally acknowledges that there is no permanent fix for the alleged defect; however, it continued to manufacture and sale the car. I don’t know what to do at this point but if they aren’t going to make it right then I guess my next step is to speak with an attorney for emotional distress and loss of pay. I tried to resolve the issue with the dealership but they weren’t helpful so customer support opened a case. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11687254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #11669053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Since I have had this car the engine has been replaced 4 times and transmission once Engine has been replace 3 times under the same warranty due to recalled part I was not in an accident however car broke down while I was in traffic I am putting the latest date car broke down

NHTSA complaint #11654809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after refueling and driving a short distance, the vehicle was parked. The contact stated that later while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to immediately start. Additionally, on several occasions after refueling, the vehicle failed to immediately restart. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the canister purge valve, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 111,000.

NHTSA complaint #11647860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Vehicle keeps dying while in idle or low speed, sometimes hard to crank. Battery/electrical has been checked.

NHTSA complaint #11645482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The current recall issue already happened to my vehicle in 2022 and I had to pay out of pocket to have the entire engine replaced. I have contacted ford to get reimbursed for this due to the recall and they have not responded. Also this recall has been in place since 01/2024 and still no fix.

NHTSA complaint #11644056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Additional information to existing case # 11636712. The 3rd Evap canister valve repair on 1/15/2025 from Cook Ford Case# from Ford Michigan regarding Evap Canister Valve Recall Also, a 3rd pending code on the Transmission Control Module on my 2018 Ford Focus listed on the Cook Ford repair invoice

NHTSA complaint #11638228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

My vehicle has had 3 Evap Canister Valve Recall repairs since 2021, I purchased my 2018 Ford Focus Titanium brand new in January 2019. I have all receipts. I recently had the 3rd Evap canister valve repair January 15,2025. My vehicle had pending codes P144A and P1450 which would have prevented it from passing Texas Emmissions. My Vehicle has also had a Transmission Control Module Recall repair -TCM twice, once in 2022 and 2023. My car has had intermitten stalling in the middle of a intersection due to this recall putting me at risk for an accident. My vehicle currently has a pending code P2867 which is the TCM code. I have AAA tow truck history of my vehicle being towed to Classic Ford for these repeat repairs. I have taken my car to Classic Ford several times in Galveston, TX in which they have not successfully repaired these recalls. Which has turned into repeat repairs. Invoices to prove it. Cook Ford in Texas City recently repaired the 3rd Evap Canister Valve on January 15, 2025 in which they also found the faulty code for the Transmission Control Module. This is a serious concern.

NHTSA complaint #11636712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:HOSES/VALVES/SENSORS

Vehicle fails to start after refueling with gasoline. Research has revealed a faulty, purge valve as the problem.

NHTSA complaint #11634040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

After filling up gas tank, car continues to sputter and tries to stall. This only happens after filling tank.

NHTSA complaint #11625138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #11624762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #11622960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after the vehicle was refueled, the vehicle failed to start. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had started a year ago; however, the failure had since become persistent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with canister purge valve failure. The contact was informed that the canister purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #11621691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle failed to start-up immediately. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local Auto Zone and diagnosed with a faulty purge valve. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #11621191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle failed to start immediately. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shaking and vibrating abnormally while shifting gear. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 68,000.

NHTSA complaint #11620640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 35-40 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked and hesitated to respond. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Randy Redinger and Sons Auto Service, where it was diagnosed. The mechanic retrieved DTC codes: P0456 and P144A and determined that the canister purge valve was stuck open, which caused excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system and caused the fuel tank to become deformed. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

NHTSA complaint #11618443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

In March 2024, I was driving my Ford Focus when the engine suddenly shut off at a stop light and never restarted. There were no warning lights or indications that anything was wrong with the car prior to it shutting off. The car was towed to a Ford dealership where it was determined that the reason the car broke was due to the oil belt breaking which is an active recall. The manufacturer recall number is 23S64. The NHTSA recall number is 23V905. This oil belt failure, led to both the turbocharger and engine seizing up and breaking due to a lack of oil being delivered to the system. This problem poses a safety risk as a loss of engine oil pressure can result in engine damage and/or seizure, which can result in a loss of motive power and a loss of the mechanical vacuum pump required to provide power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash. In March 2024, the recall only covered replacing the oil system - not the engine or turbo charger. In mid-June 2024, the recall was updated to include replacing the oil system as well as the engine and turbocharger that was affected in the cascading effects of the lack of oil delivery. We were told by the Ford dealership that a new engine and turbocharger had been ordered and would be delivered and installed in my car at the beginning of July 2024. Since early July 2024, I have called several times for an update of the status of my car. Each time, I have been told they are waiting on parts. Most recently, I was told that the one part they are waiting on is the high pressure pump. The service advisor at the local dealership said he has ordered it twice and emergency ordered it one other time. However, corporate Ford is not getting this order taken care of in a timely manner. It is now October 2024 and I have been waiting 7 months to get my car fixed. Per the NHTSA, car companies are expected to fix the recalled issue in a timely manner and Ford has failed to do this. They have also refused to buy my car back.

NHTSA complaint #11618266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while the vehicle was idling, the vehicle stalled and failed to immediately restart. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the canister purge valve had failed causing the fuel tank to collapse. The contact was informed that the purge valve, fuel tank, and fuel tank module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 78,283.

NHTSA complaint #11617669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the failed to start. The contact stated that upon revving the engine, the vehicle was able to start. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 50 MPH after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle failed to respond upon depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle went into Safe Mode and stalled. The check engine warning light and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, he noticed that the fuel tank had collapsed. Additionally, the contact scanned the vehicle with an OBD-2 reader and retrieved a diagnostic test code indicating that there was excessive vacuum pressure in the fuel vapor management system. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also related the failure NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

NHTSA complaint #11614026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.