2018 Ford Focus: fuel pump failure

Filed Apr 23, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · MI

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.

Filed Oct 30, 2025 · Fuel system · NC

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.

Filed Dec 30, 2024 · Transmission · NC

My 2018 Ford focus started having transmission issues over 2 years ago. I took my car into a Ford dealership who reassured me that my car was fine and that my transmission was in fact not slipping. I continued to drive my vehicle while feeling the transmission slipping telling myself Ford told me this is normal it's fine. Cut to 2 years later. It is not fine. My entire transmission needs replaced. My TCM was not working properly which in turn ruined my reverse gear and caused internal damage to the transmission, resulting in a recommended replacement of the transmission. My car is only 5 years old with about 45,000 mi on it. I drive about half as much as the average American driver per year. My car had a hard acceleration so it was hard to enter traffic from a stop. Many times I was making a turn into traffic and felt like I might get hit by another car because I couldn't get into traffic fast enough. The jerking and slipping of the transmission caused constant fear of the car not performing as it should so to ensure everyone's safety, I would only make turns or go when there was absolutely no traffic. It also caused fear when my car wouldn't accelerate so I use more pressure on the gas pedal and then suddenly my car would lurch forward faster than expected. My check engine light did light up a few weeks prior to my transmission going out but the code was for the fuel pump purge valve. Again, the issue started in April of 2022 and the Ford dealership told me there was nothing wrong with the transmission even though there was. My transmission is experiencing many of the same things others experienced which is why this transmission was recalled. Unfortunately my particular VIN number was not.

Filed Aug 26, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · 125,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving and exceeding 45 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and hesitated to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and made a whining sound. The vehicle was towed to an Auto Parts store, where it was diagnosed with high-pressure fuel pump failure. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving at highway speeds, causing the vehicle to be towed several times. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), 18V845000 (Power Train), and 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recalls. The manufacturer referred the contact to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

Filed May 20, 2024 · Engine · 47,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power with the check oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed as a failure with the fuel pump. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Feb 23, 2024 · Engine · 65,000 miles · AZ

The contact owned a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a message displayed reading "Low Oil Pressure," after which the vehicle lost significant motive power and was unable to accelerate above 30 MPH. The oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed failures with the timing solenoid and oil pump belt tensioner. The timing solenoid was repaired, the oil pump belt tensioner was not, and the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the fuel pump belt tensioner, resulting in damage to the engine cylinders. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), and the VIN was included but parts were not yet available. The contact stated that she had since sold the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 65,000.

Filed Mar 6, 2023 · Engine, Fuel system · 70,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked, lost motive power, and stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated intermittently. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while starting, and while shifting into reverse(R). The contact used an ODB reader and retrieved fault codes for the fuel pressure sensor and fuel pump. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pressure sensor and fuel pump needed to be replaced. The contact became aware of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the federal safety agency Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

Filed Aug 19, 2022 · Fuel system · OK

The fuel pump keeps burning out even though the tank is clean and there are no other obvious issues.

Filed May 23, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · 49,805 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the purge valve, fuel pump, fuel tank, gasket, and fuel sender valve were replaced. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 49,805.

Filed Sep 10, 2021 · Engine · 29,106 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated, shook abnormally, and shuddered. The RPM’s increased and the miles per gallon increased to 99.9 miles per gallon. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the purge valve, vapor canister, fuel tank, and fuel pump needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. No further assistance was provided. The contact stated the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The approximate failure mileage was 29,106.

Filed Aug 27, 2021 · Fuel system · 45,000 miles · OR

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The contact managed to veer to the shoulder of the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The contact waited for approximately 5 minutes to restart the vehicle. The vehicle resumed its normal function. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the gasket, fuel pump, fuel tank, and purge valve failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.