Ford Focus oil consumption problems

Filed Jul 25, 2026 · Engine · IN

I presented my vehicle to Oliver Ford-Lincoln in Plymouth, IN for inspection under recall 23S64 / the federal safety agency 23V‑905. The dealership confirmed that the oil pump drive belt degraded, clogging the oil pickup pump screen and causing engine oil starvation and complete engine failure. The dealership subsequently denied recall coverage claiming "bad maintenance history". Under the federal safety agency Campaign 23V‑905, Ford explicitly acknowledges that the wet belt and tensioner are defective by design and cause oil starvation. Denying a safety recall remedy for the exact failure mechanism detailed in the federal recall notice based on discretionary maintenance rules violates federal safety recall requirements. Furthermore, I attempted to escalate this denial to Ford Corporate. Ford Corporate refused to generate an official case number, promised a callback, and abandoned the request. I am requesting the federal safety agency intervention to compel Ford Motor Company to honor the remedy mandated under Safety Recall 23V‑905.

Filed May 15, 2026 · Engine · FL

Last July my car was overheating and breaking down as I was driving on I4 to work one morning which it overheated and broke down which was the precursor the last time My engine blew in December 2024 which the engine was already repaired January 2022 (Dumphy Ford,Pa), December 2022 (Tropical Ford, Fl) then I got notices there is a recall with the oil pump and belt since February 2023 however the remedy parts were not available and kept getting notices that the parts would be in by fall 2024 then it kept getting pushed back when they would be available, meanwhile my car broke down again July 2024 which the engine needed to be replaced and was covered because oil and coolant was leaking into the engine due to the recall and they still didn’t have parts available and then car broke down again December 2024 which Tropical Ford covered because the recall parts were still not available. So in July 2025 they attempted to fix it and I picked it up and it overheated again and they kept it till September 2025 and fixed a bunch of things like transmission, recall and other things and now the car began to overheat again and took it to [XXX] and now they are saying the engine is blown again… I believe the recall failed and I shouldn’t have to pay for the 5Th engine replacement INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 24, 2025 · Engine · MI

Notes from the Ford dealer: Oil pump belt tensioner failed causing oil pump belt to slip and starve engine for oil. Turbo was also starved of oil. Long block and turbo were replaced. This seems to be the same issue that is included in a current recall but it does not extend to all affected vehicles. Reference the federal safety agency# 23V905. Ford recall 23S64.

Filed Sep 27, 2024 · Transmission · 96,000 miles · TX

The contact called on behalf of her daughter who owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently failed to start immediately, and several attempts were needed to start the vehicle. While driving at various speeds the vehicle would begin decelerating and then turn off independently. The contact stated that approximately 30 minutes later the vehicle would restart as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission had failed. The transmission control module was replaced. The contact stated that several weeks after the repair, while driving approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle lost power. The check engine, low oil level, and several unknown system warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift as needed. The contact stated that after waiting for a while, the vehicle was restarted and driven as designed. The contact stated that several weeks after the repair was performed, while pulling into a parking lot the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted after waiting for a while. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, the brake seized, and the transmission failed to shift into the intended gear. The vehicle continued to roll. The contact was assisted with moving the vehicle over to the side of the road. After a while, the vehicle was able to restart; however, the contact opted to not drive the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed there was a blown mega fuse #9 causing an open wire that needed to be replaced. The powertrain control module (PCM) had experienced a loss of communication. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer had referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.

Filed Sep 25, 2024 · Engine · 58,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to start as intended. The check engine and oil warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil pump had malfunctioned and caused oil to not be pumped into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred approximately a year later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Aug 6, 2024 · Engine · 75,444 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine and low oil warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s son's residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,444.

Filed Aug 2, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · 115,000 miles · OK

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency 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 was informed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Jul 29, 2024 · Engine · 2,000 miles · UT

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined on three occasions that the turbo charger and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The dealer informed the contact that the oil level was low. The vehicle was taken to the same local dealer, where the oil was changed. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Larry H. Miller Ford Draper (11442 Lone Peak Pkwy., Draper, UT 84020), where it was diagnosed and determined that the turbo charger needed to be replaced. The contact was notified by the Insurance Provider about the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was towed back to the local dealer for an oil consumption test, but the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.

Filed Feb 28, 2024 · Engine · 95,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. 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 contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact checked the oil level, and the oil level was good. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that a diagnostic test was needed. The contact took the vehicle and attempted to trade in the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Filed Feb 28, 2024 · Engine · WA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. 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 contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light and the low oil warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the brakes were inoperable and the contact had to utilize the hand brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, however the dealer was unable to service the vehicle due to being over-booked. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed oil pump tensioner. The contact stated the timing belt, the oil pump, water pump, oil pump belt and the tensioners, brake booster vacuum, and thermostat were all replaced. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,300.