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CarComplaints.com Notes: Ford changed a lot of things for its 3rd generation, just none of them were a good idea.

The transmission tends to hesitate and jerk when accelerating. The new electronically-driven power steering can fail suddenly and without warning. Even Ford's SYNC can be a headache. Actually, scratch that last one — it's always been a headache.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,011 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Ford Focus body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2013 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #72

Jun 052020

Focus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I took my Ford Focus 2013 into the Ford dealership on June 2020. There was a recall for the door latches 20S30 code. The dealership said they took care of it. I just checked online and it's hasn't been fixed. It's been almost a year and we've been driving it with a newborn baby not knowing that they haven't fixed the recall.

- Kihei, HI, USA

problem #71

Dec 232020

Focus

  • miles
Got in my car to go work started down road and the ada's it showed up on my dash that it was the trans fault service now I turned around and come home. I called the service man at Ford place where I bought the car. Before this happened the car was taking to them because the car was not pulling right they looked at it and said nothing was wrong and I called them and nothing was done in June 2019 and now my car is not drivable now it's been down since 12/24/2020 I called the Ford place and they can't get it in till 01/04/2021. This has been very inconvenient for not do I have health issues, but my daughter is 81/2 months pregnant and I have no way to go. I've only have had this car 1year and 8 months and it's been nothing but trouble..

- Lula, GA, USA

problem #70

Jan 072016

Focus

  • 69,000 miles
Fuel system/ gasoline: Storage-campaign #18V735000 (01/19/2019)-fuel system/ gasoline: Storage-campaign #19V515000-(01/29/2019)-latches/locks/linkages: Door latch-campaign #16V643000-01/27/2017)-latches/locks/linkages: Hatchback: Lift gate lock campaign # 16V698000-(11/16/2016)-structure: Body hatch back/ lift gate campaign # 16V691000 (11/16/2016)- electrical system: Wiring campaign # 15V813000-(01/07/2016)

- Scottdale, PA, USA

problem #69

Mar 042020

Focus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Same issue with previous door latch recall, it is broken again and since it has already "been repaired" they will not fix it again. Door will not lock or will get stuck in a locked position and will not close.

- Roy, UT, USA

problem #68

Dec 042019

Focus

  • 86,000 miles
I own a 2013 Ford Focus that is experiencing door latch failures. I have discovered that their is a recall notice for the Ford Focus door latches but based the VIN for my vehicle my vehicle is apparently not covered. (safety recall 16S30) the vehicle was stationary at the time of the failure of the driver's side rear door latch. The latch opened but then would no longer engage to hold the door closed. I tried to rectify the issue with Ford Motor Company but they just state that my particular VIN is not covered.

- Elizabeth, CO, USA

problem #67

Aug 142019

Focus

  • 62,000 miles
2013 Ford Focus jerks while accelerating, was told recall was for extended warranty only via kindle Ford. Also the trunk no longer opens, but beeps when car is on saying the trunk is open. Was told this was a recall in 2017 that was fixed before we purchased the vehicle, but now it's up to us to pay for it.

- Milmay, NJ, USA

problem #66

Aug 032019

Focus

  • 85,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driver side door won't latch and even came open while driving

- Arnold, MO, USA

problem #65

Jun 062018

Focus

  • 56,000 miles
I bought my Ford Focus hatchback SE starting at 24K miles. At around 50K I began having transmission troubles. The stuttering, while accelerating or coming to a stop, was (and still is) horrible. I have taken this vehicle in on two separate occasions to get the transmission 'fixed', to no avail. I'm still dealing with these problems 80K miles later. The first two winters that I had owned the vehicle my door locks would not engage, in dry, 40 degree temperatures. So I would have to drive and hold my door closed until the car heated up and the locks engaged. I tried wd-40 and sprays meant specifically to unfreeze locks. Neither worked. And the locks would occasionally disengage while driving my morning commute on the highway. No recall until two years later, after complaining countless times. But back to the transmission, I was driving home after a long day at work and ended up stuck in cincinnati, oh. A message popped up on my dash reading 'transmission fault' advising me to take my car to a dealer. Turning off the engine didn't help, and I couldn't drive over 20 miles per hour because the car wouldn't shift over 1st or 2nd gear. Luckily I'm an experienced driver and was able to Dodge multiple cars that almost slammed into me on the street, due to my sudden braking. When contacting Ford it took them 5 hours of going back and forth between dealers to finally send me a tow truck. I get the car back, same problems. Over and over. A mechanic at the dealership told me that they don't actually have a fix for the problem (which it's becoming ever more clear that they still don't, nor will they ever). Ford's compensation for this problem was a terrible deal. Offering a replacement transmission with the exact same trans that gave me problems I'm the first place. I'm glad to see the government is getting involved and hope to see resolve soon.

- Middletown, OH, USA

problem #64

Jan 012015

Focus

  • 45,000 miles
Takata recall

- Arkansas City, KS, USA

problem #63

May 062019

Focus

  • miles
I received a recall notice in the mail, notice# 16S30/NHTSA recall 16V-643 may, 2017 and in doing so I notified the vicksburg Ford dealership here and scheduled a appointment to have my vehicle checked, and the part made it here Tuesday 5/30/17) and it was repaired I was told. Now yesterday as I tried to close my door it would not latch so I took it back to the Ford co to have it checked again to see what the problem was. I was told that there is no recall exists. Of course not it was in 2017 that I came out and it was suppose to have been repaired, but the problem is it has happened now. When I took my car out there at the time I was only following what I was instructed to do, now the want me to pay for it because the serviceman told me, he did not think Ford would pay for it because it is not on notice at this time. They want me to pay $197.50 plus tax and $110 labor charge. I donot feel that this is right, because they was paid for doing the job in may, 2017 eventhough at the time I was not experiencing the problem at the time, and it is hapening now they need to correct the problem. I cannot ride around with a door the is not shut properly. Now I am still trying to find my receipt for the repair, and they do have a record of it because the secretary took a forlder with the service ticket back in the back to the serviceman but he acted like that was not the recall ticket. I am going to continue to look for my receipt but in the meantime I need to get this problem fixed. I donot feel that they needs to be paid twice when the problem is obvious today. It was a safety recall issued in accordance with the federal law and I am entitled to that safey recall act. Luckily I had just made it to my house and parked when I noticed that the door would not shut, I have only the one vehicle and it is driven everyday to work, errands. Not good. Thx you..

- Vicksburg, MS, USA

problem #62

Apr 142018

Focus 4-cyl

  • 63,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. While driving 50 mph, the trunk opened independently. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road, secured the trunk, and resumed driving. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000. Consumer stated almost every time she drivespassenger doors open as well as the trunk. There is a recall for doors but not the trunk.

- Delhi, IA, USA

problem #61

Oct 102018

Focus

  • miles
My door flew open on the highway and I had to pay quite a bit to get it fixed not to mention it was a pretty scary experience. Since I'm seeing this issue was a recalled part, I'd like to be reimbursed. How do I go about that?

- Leander, TX, USA

problem #60

Dec 032017

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 55 mph, the trunk operated independently. After the contact closed the trunk, a message appeared indicating that the trunk was still open. The vehicle was taken to bill kay Ford (14633 S cicero ave, midlothian, il 60445) where it was diagnosed that the latch on the trunk needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- Tinley Park, IL, USA

problem #59

Oct 042017

Focus

  • 48,129 miles
Tailgate hatch has opened while vehicle was in motion, intermittent problem. Received safety recall notice from Ford for 16C13 tailgate release software update to boby control module, made appt and took car in on Oct. 4, 2017 to fremont Ford for this safety recall and also 16S30 side door latch replacement, they only performed the 16S30 recall but not the 16C13 tailgate software, said it was already up to date. Tailgate has opened unexpectedly twice since then. Need to clarify if safety recall 16C13 applies to my vehicle, and why was fremont Ford unable to apply software update for the 16C13 safety recall.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #58

Apr 172017

Focus

  • 86,000 miles
After taking my car into the Ford dealership to have my transmission trouble shooted. They did not do anything to repair the jerking the transmission does during the course of operation. Also I was told I have a recall on latches that they do not have parts for to preform the recall.

- Hesperia, CA, USA

problem #57

Sep 022016

Focus

  • 2,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V643000 (latches/locks/linkages); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact also stated that the weather stripping on the front driver's side failed and was replaced every six months. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the stripping was replaced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and referred the contact to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Hawthorne, CA, USA

problem #56

Apr 212017

Focus

  • 25,000 miles
Driver's door won't latch. Used the car normally the previous day. Car parked in driveway, and when I got in to drive, the door wouldn't shut, with no apparent cause.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #55

Apr 172017

Focus

  • 52,467 miles
As I backed out of my driveway and began driving up the street, I realized my driver door would not shut all the way, and the dash said "door ajar." Of course I immediately parked the car and can't drive it now. I could not figure out what the problem was. After researching possible solutions on the internet, I see this has been an issue with many other driver doors not latching in 2013 Ford focuses.

- Sapulpa, OK, USA

problem #54

Mar 012017

Focus

  • 53,000 miles
In motion rear brake lights sometimes do not work. In motion. Trunk unlatches unintentionally forcing myself to stop and pull over and close the trunk lid.in both situations the vehicle has warning that correctly warns of the occurring error. On more than 3 occasions recently in March of 2017.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #53

Dec 312016

Focus

  • 63,000 miles
At approximately 2:30 am this morning 12/31/16, our Ford Focus burst into flames while stationary in a parking lot. Thank god we and our 11 month old were not in the car at the time. We have had this car into the shop at least twice for transmission problems then our entire multi information screen including radio quit working, they refused to fix because we were out of warranty. We have barely had this car for one year and have had nothing but problems. Now we have no car because it is totaled from the fire. The police based on initial investigation said it was an electrical fire. I have seen another 2013 Ford Focus catch fire in australia and other places. I would like this to be investigated so this does not happen to other people.

- Chehalis, WA, USA

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