2018 Ford Focus · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 132owner reports
- 57,547median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 21, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026
318 of the 830 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 132 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 132 reports
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the clutch (54 reports) and the transmission (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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.
Risk and remedy
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. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S43. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
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.
Risk and remedy
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. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S07. Note: This recall is an expansion of Recall 18V-169.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 24,000 and 79,000 miles, from the 90 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Hesitation, stuttering, and lack of power have plagued me since purchasing 2022. When I put my foot on the accelerator the car should go. My car decides to take a coffee break, then smoke break, then bathroom, another smoke break then decides to go.”
Filed Mar 6, 2023
“The Ford DPS6 transmission has lost reverse and buck, jerks and possibly sudden acceleration. Itâs a 2018 Ford Focus with the same issues as the 2012 models and up.”
Filed Feb 16, 2023
“bought my car 2018 ford focus in 2019 used. its since been at the dealership 3 times. transmission is jerking and taking off by itself. they had my car for 5 months said it was fixed but almost a year later doing the same thing. the warranty just ran out, they said i would have to pay for it. the car is very dangerous. i still owe 10000 on the car. i am so heartbroken. i have no one to help me.”
Filed Oct 10, 2022
“The clutch on the vehicle continues to fail. It has been replaced three times by a ford dealer. When taking off from a stopped position the vehicle makes a grinding noise and shudders when switching from first to second gear(Around 16mph). The shudders can be slight or aggressive enough that it shakes the entire car.”
Filed Sep 25, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 132 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 205 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 176 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 76 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 38 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 26 reports