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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:
14 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 1
Average Mileage:
37,671 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2013 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 7 of 51)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #886

Jan 122021

Focus

  • miles

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

Vehicle shuddering on acceleration. At an intersection/full stop car would sputter when trying to accelerate through the intersection. At cruising speeds, RPM's would suddenly accelerate.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #885

Dec 232020

Focus

  • miles
The car isn't drivable. When I start it it makes clicking noise and hard to start. If driving it, it doesn't give any gas or go over 20 miles. It sometimes shut off and sometimes have a hard time driving foward. Codes P0087, P0783, P2872, comes up on a diagnostic. That's driving on a street and can't drive on highway anymore.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #884

Feb 012018

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
2013 Ford Focus. Consumer writes in regards to transmission issues. The consumer stated the vehicle was inoperable.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #883

Dec 222020

Focus

  • 97,232 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the transmission overheating warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and parked the vehicle on the side of the road. The contact waited for five minutes before restarting the vehicle, and continued driving to her destination. The vehicle was taken to larry H. miller super Ford (1340 500 w, salt lake city, ut 84115, (801) 783-4473) where it was diagnosed with needing the clutch to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,232.

- Murray, UT, USA

problem #882

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 #881

Dec 042020

Focus

  • 114,000 miles
The transmission control actual failed while I was driving on the interstate. It was as if the car went into neutral and would not go back into gear. When I pressed the accelerator pedal, it would only rev the rpms high and fall back down, no reaction by the transmission whatsoever. I was almost hit by several cars while trying to move over, with the transmission not responding to my gas pedal. There is an active recall/extended warranty on the tcm transmission control module for my vehicle. The check engine light came on, and I scanned the code with a professional obd2 reader. The code was for tcm. Capital Ford at charlotte called me and told me it was the "shift actuator", (a $60 part), not the tcm, and it was not covered under the recall. They wanted $2800 to replace the part, a $60 part. I called Ford, and they gave me a case number to "try" to get it repaired under warranty, but the service director at capital Ford told me he cannot do anything unless Ford tells him to do so, and thus far they have not approved anything to be repaired under warranty. They still have my car in the shop. This is a death trap waiting to happen. I am glad it was me driving and not my wife.

- Mount Holly, NC, USA

problem #880

Nov 202020

Focus

  • 126,000 miles

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

I was driving on a highway using my cruise control and the motor revved up really high as if it was in neutral. I took it off cruise control and the transmission wasn't going into to any gear. I had to start off in low gear and when I got to 15-20mph put in drive the transmission jerks so hard it felt like someone had hit us from behind ive been reading up on this and I feel the whole transmission needs to be recalled. Also the power steering has showed 2 times theres something failing on it turning around in a parling lot and all the sudden ima not able to turn almost hit 2 people. It was horrible.

- Chattanooga, TN, USA

problem #879

Aug 012014

Focus

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, the vehicle started to hesitate and jerk forward. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer - gwinnett place Ford (3230 satellite blvd, duluth, ga 30096; (404) 418-6877) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred on six occasions. The manufacturer was informed of failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #878

Dec 022020

Focus

  • 55,000 miles
My vehicle gives a "stop safely now" warning in the instrument cluster with a red triangle icon. This is accompanied by a loss of power and a sudden stall or inability to even start. It has happened both while the vehicle is in motion and while it was stopped.

- Woodstock, GA, USA

problem #877

Oct 162020

Focus

  • miles
We just bought this car has 87,000 miles on it. Just quit driving would not go forward or back and found out it has had 4 clutches replaced. Have had it at hunt Ford in franklin, ky. Said they could fix it for $4,000, I said cannot afford that, took it to a local mechanic his transmission guy could not fix it or get parts, took it to greenwood Ford in bowling green, ky. Same thing as hunt Ford $4,000 job. Something has been seriously wrong with this car for a long time. The car won't even drive now. I paid $4,000 for this car for my niece I am stuck! I am discouraged. Why is there not a recall on this whole transmission" the clutch has been changed many times and I cannot afford a new transmission. Ford needs to pay for this. Can you help me"

- Scottsville, KY, USA

problem #876

Sep 162020

Focus

  • 110,815 miles

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

Car in motion in a street and suddenly stopped and my wife couldn't turn the wheel. Until she managed somehow to park it. (power steering problem). Speed problem when accelerating, car slowed down in highway suddenly while other cars behind me. It did it 5 times in different days. (transmission problem). Now car is parked since 3 months in parking lot. Since 2016 I reported 5 times to Ford dealers the dual clutch transmission problem. I filed online report. I reported in 2019 power steering problem they didn't fix it. I fixed it. Now I can not drive my 2013 Focus for safety precautions due to transmission problem since 3 months. They refuse to admit recall and fix the problem. I am paying a lease for not be able to drive my car.

- Miami Gardens, FL, USA

problem #875

Nov 022020

Focus

  • 122,000 miles
The car shudders when trying to speed up after a stop, this happens on and off, but, very frequently. It also produces a slight clanging sound when this happens. Once the car shudders it will continue shuddering every time you stop for the rest of the drive. This is concerning as the car kind of struggles to jump to the next gear.

- Wyoming, MI, USA

problem #874

Oct 112020

Focus

  • miles
I purchased a Ford Focus SE from mccarthy Ford in Illinois in 2015. Since having the car, I've constantly experienced jerking while accelerating, lack of acceleration, which was dangerous, while making a left turn with oncoming traffic, or on the highway with trucks speeding by you because my car wouldn't accelerate quick enough. I constantly complained to Ford dealer about these issues and the kept repairing it under the guise that 'oh your tcm(transmission control module) beds reprogramming' or it was 'your car was originally a stick shift that they turned automatic, and what you feel, is your car shifting gears'. the car was under warranty and they assured me I didn't have transmission issues, so I let them fix this same issue more than 5 times over the course of warranty. In July 2020, my car stopped and wouldn't drive at all. I took it to Ford, and they claimed it was the tcm again, and supposedly fixed with no customer to me. However, the car never stop jerking or the acceleration was always lacking, like it's always done, before and after a repair. October 11,2020, I take my car in for the exact same symptoms, and now I need a transmission clutch, that Ford claims is $1700 dollars to fix. Now, I took my car in for these exact issues, I've been experiencing, all these years. But, now my warranty is up on the transmission and now it's supposedly gone out. I have less than 6 months to pay on this vehicle, I'm a single mom, a student, and unemployed due to the pandemic. I absolutely do not have this money, as I feel Ford as blackballed me, and as I read reviews, apparently thousands of other people as well. I am devastated, and don't know what else to do. Is there any way NHTSA can help, or hold Ford accountable for this? the potential danger I've dealt with while driving this vehicle all these years, with minimal acceleration and shifting gears. Thank you! !

- Peosta, IA, USA

problem #873

Jul 132020

Focus

  • miles
There was a previous recall on the transmission shudder issue. This issue was resolved through a complete rebuild of my transmission, but this issue that should no longer even exist, due to new parts is still there. This is not something that should be happening. I think that my car should be replaced due to Ford's ongoing issue. I think they are using either used parts, or they know the parts needed to fix this issues are faulty as well and continue to do this to customers.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #872

Sep 262020

Focus

  • 175,000 miles
I have been having cooling problems for months. It would run hot without any signal of it getting to hot. Now it wont crank. I was traveling on interstate at about 65 mph and smelled burning pulled over and wouldn't crank again.

- Brookhaven, MS, USA

problem #871

Sep 252020

Focus

  • 40,730 miles
When I went to warm up my car the check engine light is on and the transmission doesn't work right. It takes a while to engage the gear and won't go past 30 mph. It shifts very rough. It has been doing this for a while now every two days now. I have done the tcm adaptive learning service in forscan and I have updated the PCM and tcm and ABS modules to the latest calibration. After the tcm adaptive learning it shifts fine but the dtc's will come back on in a few days. The dtc's are P2831, P2833, and P287B. I don't know what else to do? the battery and battery cables are fine.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #870

Mar 062013

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact experienced a failure with the transmission of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to go into reverse with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact called bob rohrman schaumburg Ford (815 E golf rd, schaumburg, il 60173), and informed the dealer of the failure. An appointment was not yet scheduled. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The contact stated that the transmission was slipping into second gear previously and was taken to the same dealer where the clutch and transmission were replaced however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to have the vehicle diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

- Streamwood, IL, USA

problem #869

Feb 052019

Focus

  • 103,300 miles
I took car to dealer back last year for a fuel problem recall and when I was taking car to dealer the car shuttered and died and I about hit the car in front of me.I called allen vigil Ford.they said they did the recall but they replaced clutch and now engine lights been on ever since.before I picked it up the engine light was on and they took it back and tured out the light.went two blocks it came back on.took it back and they did it again same thing happened went 2 blocks and engine light came on.I left it for a few weeks and they called and said it was ready.I had my wife pick it up and got halfway how and engine light came back on.been on ever since. I all so told them that when you put gas in it takes several minutes to re crank engine.I took car to another Ford dealer they tried to sell me another clutch.so I just don't know what to do now.

- Hampton, GA, USA

problem #868

Sep 112020

Focus

  • 84,329 miles
While driving only 20 minutes on highway the engine light came on. Pulled over immediately and turned off the car. The car was towed to the nearest shop. They said they need to replace the failed water pump and thermostat. The next day they said that didnt fix the problem and that it needed a head gasket replaced. After opening the engine they said that its warped. The car (SE model) has only 84000 miles and was a certified preowned car we bought Feb 2016. I will be contacting Ford manufacturer on a possible recall #19522 as well as the dealership as this should be covered under the 7 year 100000 warranty.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #867

Sep 112020

Focus

  • 74,000 miles
There is a shudder on take off and vibration while accelerating - 2013 Ford Focus. 2013 Ford Focus to vibrate upon acceleration. From your description, it describing an engine misfire. Misfires can be caused by many issues, but the most common are spark plugs, coil, fuel pump, fuel injectors, maf sensor, vacuum leaks, or a wiring harness fault.

- Denver, CO, USA

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