Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated and experienced hard transmission shifts. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the transmission clutch and the clutch actuator were replaced. The contact stated that while her significant other was driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The driver was unable to pull to the side of the road. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the driver noticed that the engine had fallen onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to a second dealer, Don Vance Ford, Inc. (MO-38, Marshfield, MO 65706), where it was determined that the motor mounts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle had failed to respond upon shifting to reverse(R). …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, and while driving at various speeds, messages that the brake fluid level was low, and to shift into park were displayed. The contact stated that other unknown messages were displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that upon turning off the vehicle, the instrument cluster and the infotainment system screen failed to turn off intermittently. The contact stated that the vehicle had also experienced abnormal battery drainage. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was recommended to replace the negative (-) ground wiring cable. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred the following day. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the TCM had failed, and the failure could be the cause of the battery drainage. …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the transmission shifted between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear, the engine revved up, and the vehicle jerked and lost motive power. The accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle responded. The contact stated that several weeks later, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's neighbor used a handheld diagnostic machine to retrieve a code related to transmission failure. The neighbor performed unstated repairs to the vehicle; however, the failure reoccurred days later. The contact stated on the last occasion, while driving at an undisclosed slight incline, between 1st and 2nd gears, the vehicle started jerking and failed to accelerate as intended. The check engine warning light illuminated with a message to "Transmission Safety - Stop for 5 Minutes" displayed. …
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. …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed the vehicle stalled with the low oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed as a failure with the oil pump tensioner which caused the engine to seize. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also stated while driving at an undisclosed, the contact became aware of a failure with the transmission. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and jerked with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed as a failure with the torque converter. …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle decelerated unintendedly. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal down to the floorboard, but the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that she turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact continued driving; however, the failure recurred while driving. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring increasingly, and the vehicle was towed to the residence on one occasion. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start while shifted into park(P), and only start while shifted into neutral(N). The contact also stated that the vehicle failed to respond while shifting into reverse(R). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the vehicle shut off inadvertently. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving from a complete top. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving uphill and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle shuddered and hesitated to respond. There was an abnormally loud sound coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to the powertrain system. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that she would be charged a diagnostic fee. The contact declined to pay the diagnostic fee. …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after stopped, or while the vehicle was idling, upon acceleration, the vehicle hesitated. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact then stated that while shifted in gear, she heard a grinding sound. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was then taken to AAMCO where it was placed on a diagnostic machine and produced undisclosed codes indicating a faulty transmission. The vehicle was then taken back to the dealer where the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be diagnosed until a failure had occurred. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated and failed to shift into reverse(R). The vehicle failed to start intermittently and required several attempts before starting. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed a failure with the fork actuator in clutch A, and the clutch master needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that approximately 2 years after the repair, the failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer who diagnosed a failure with clutch B. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact found information for NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V845000 (Power Train); however, the dealer confirmed that the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in 18V845000 (Power Train). …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after several attempts to start the vehicle, the vehicle started however, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact shut off the vehicle and waited for a while however, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact attempted to jumpstart the vehicle, but the vehicle would not start. The contact added oil to the engine and the vehicle was able to restart but with a clicking sound coming from the engine. Additionally, the vehicle would not accelerate properly. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced due to the clutch sticking. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V845000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. …
Related recalls
Power train › Manual transmission
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will inspect Focus vehicles and replace the clutch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were October 16, 2026.
Power train › Manual transmission
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L Fox GTDI engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip, and will replace the clutch, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019.
Transmission complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2018 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 319 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2018 Ford Focus, 38% of the model year's 837 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Ford Focus transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 26V-376 (manual transmission, Jun 9, 2026); NHTSA recall 18V-845 (manual transmission, Nov 28, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2018 Ford Focus transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 56,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.