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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:
3 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,630 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2013 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 13)

problem #250

Nov 152022

Focus

  • miles

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

While driving on busy street, car gave sudden warning light 'stop safely now-??, car then slowed and shut down on its own, not giving enough time to find a safe place to pull over, posing risk of serious injury to myself, my son, and my wife, as this happened to all of us while driving this vehicle.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #249

Oct 022023

Focus

  • miles
I bought the car in November, 2021. I had it immediately start to shudder, noticed that for example when I tried to accelerate especially in the midst of turning in the middle of a busy road at an intersection I would stall and lose the ability to move the car, then the hazard lights would never turn on, then lost power to the components of the car which used to function normally. I-??m a single mom caring for a child who has multiple disabilities and needs much assistance in which we are still being tested and on waiting lists for, and the last year our car was overheating always, despite the amount of work and repairs that we have paid for and other organizations helped us with, which is more than the cost of the actual cars worth and before any of these faulty parts or builds were common knowledge and available, I was never aware of this. I had the car in to multiple mechanics and we were told they couldn-??t find the problem. We-??ve repaired up to 5 grand or more and have been having to drive with the heat on for the last year full blast and windows down. We-??ve had heat sickness and thrown up or ended up having severe headaches and dehydration. We then had the loss of power worsen, til 2 months ago. It was dead one morning and after jumping it, I couldn-??t get it in reverse, so pushed it out and then it wouldn-??t go over 10-15 mph nor would the hazard lights work. I got it to Ogden Ford, who said it-??s the dual clutch part. I had it replaced and came up with the near grand. We have lost our entire life due to this, no help with outside assistance, almost homeless. Now we get a call saying the clutch part was replaced but the whole transmission has to be replaced and need to get 4 grand. Had told them no way I can. They had a salesmen call me to pitch a new car instead. I called Ford Motor company and asked customer relations to get help. They won-??t even fix the existing recalls and we are losing our life. We need help. Please we have tried all we can.

- Roy, UT, USA

problem #248

Oct 092022

Focus

  • miles
My Ford Focus has a Steering Assist Fault. It failed in October 2022, and now I'm having to pay for replacement of the system because there is no recall on it for the Focus, unlike other models.

- Sharon Springs, NY, USA

problem #247

Dec 132023

Focus

  • miles

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

After the Stop Safely Now alert flashed I tried to get off a really busy street and my car turned off in the middle of traffic. I was blocking traffic and cars were trying to pass me on both sides forcing them to drive around my car using the oncoming lane. 3 men helped me by stopping traffic on both sides so that they could push my car off the street onto a church entrance driveway. This is the second time I have had my car stop dead in the middle of busy traffic. The first time I reported this very dangerous problem, my car stopped dead in the middle of a busy intersection.

- Peachtree City, GA, USA

problem #246

Mar 212022

Focus

  • miles
I had my engine on in park and it stalled left me stranded and dashboard said engine fault service now when I tried starting the car it would turn over and I heard a bunch of clicking and the lights were flickering the dash and radio had no power and my wipers wouldn-€™t go off. I had to abandon my car on someone-€™s private property until I could get it towed they ended up calling the cops and gave me 48 hours to remove my car off there property. In my 2013 Ford Focus se I have experienced reduced engine power, hesitation, ENGINE STALLS while driving with NO WARNING Front and rear lights flicker and dim random spikes in voltage and inconsistent start-up issues like sometimes the vehicle does not start when turning the ignition on and car suddenly starts or idles down unexpectedly and stutters/lurches when driving. Also sometimes my radio fails to have power. I have replaced relay fuses starter fuses purge valve bought a new battery bought a new alternator I changed o2 sensors spark plugs filters etc I took it to Fred Martin Ford and they advised me they found intermittent communication failure between PCM and TCM. Performed wire trace on harness found harness frayed that runs along transmission unit. There are wiring harness recalls on Certain 2013 and 2014 Model Year Focus ST and Escape Vehicles Equipped with a 2.0L Engine Engine Wiring Splice Repair Safety Recall 14S17 My 2013 Ford Focus SE 2.0L Engine does not fall under this recall how come? There are several other customers having the same wiring harness issues.

- Youngstown, OH, USA

problem #245

Mar 092023

Focus

  • miles
Electric power steering goes out without any warning. I took my car to the dealership to get rotors and tire rods put on.Go pick up my car, soon as I pull off the lot get down the road my car is pulling to the pulling to the right. I keep driving, it's pulling to the left. I took the car back and told them my car is doing something weird. The tech gets in the driver seat and I get in the passenger seat. We driving and he said yeah that is weird. Now, when I took my car there for repairs, it wasn't doing this. They do some testing and they tell me my Electric power steering is going out. Without any warning.I don't know if they did something to it or it just went out. It's a safety hazard because there was no warning light or anything. That's an accident waiting to happen.

- Edenton , NC, USA

problem #244

Jan 062023

Focus

  • miles

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

At approx 01-05-2023 while driving at a speed of 30 to 35 mph Transmission quit with no notice. Dealer says it needs a total rebuild with a cost of approx $3500 to $3900 The dealer or Ford refuses to make things right with me. Ford told me to make payment arrangements with the dealer and suck it up. I still have a loan on car for approx $7100. Car is currently disabled and is parked for good.

- Kingston, TN, USA

problem #243

Aug 242022

Focus

  • miles
Car acted like the battery was dead, then when the car started the Check Engine Light engaged. The car did not have to be jumped. Put the car in Drive and accelerated. The Transmission changed gears rather rough. After a couple miles the car, although in reverse or drive had, zero acceleration power. Seemed as though I was in Park or Neutral. The 3rd day with this issue, I was prompted that the Transmission was overheating. Please note that the car had been started and in park for 5 minutes. Took the vehicle to the auto shop and found the TCM failed at 54 thousand miles. Before this issue there was not any sign of issues. Looked at my maintenance records and found the TCM had been reprogrammed by an Official Authorized Ford Dealership.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

problem #242

Aug 282022

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
Bought my car from a dealer Ford and it was fine to start out then the battery died put a new one in kept doing what it was took it in to Ford They said it was the battery so I bought a new battery I asked them to check the alternator starter and the electrical wiring and things to see if they were something wrong with them they told me no that they had checked each one I can-€™t be driving in the whole car will shut off and shut back on then when you get in it the next day there is no electrical working had to call [XXX] when I was grocery shopping to have them to come look at it they jarred the car little bit and it started up then my brother got in the car to start it lights and dash lights kept going off like it was possessed but would not start Would like to know if they are any recalls on the electrical of the car it-€™s a 2013 Ford Focus INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Lenoir City , TN, USA

problem #241

Jul 152022

Focus

  • miles
The stereo has faulty mosfet components IT SOUNDS LIKE MACHINE GUN SHOTS I almost hit another car and drove off the road. Even when the car is off it does this! this is a MAJOR safety issue no one is doing ANYTHING about. Half my dashboard is on my floor in order to make this stop! I can-€™t lock or unlock my doors without the key fob so if I needed to get out of the vehicle fast I have to reach in my pocket to hit the key fob. The radio also drains the battery while the car is off and making VERY LOUD MACHINE GUN SHOT NOISES. A new stereo unit is about $1000 this is a MAJOR safety problem as you can-€™t even turn the volume down ITS ON FULL BLAST! Whether the radio is on or off the only option is to take the 1.5-€™by1.5-€™ section of the dash -€œthe whole middle-€ and put it somewhere else until this can be fixed! RANDOM FULL BLAST GUN SHOTS ARE NOT SAFE! I-€™ve read a LOT of forums and there are A LOT of people that have been in accidents because this is so LIAD and uncontrollable. Please let me know what I am supposed to do about this as your site says the radio is not covered? I-€™ve driving down the highway and the gunshots go off NON STOP for random lengths of time it is NO EXAGGERATION ITS AS LOUD AS GUN SHOTS! I shouldn-€™t have to drive my car with ear plugs or headphones I wear at the gun club while shooting guns! The mosfets on the pcb board are not adequately cooled, they break down because the heat for the car blows HOT AIR right on/around them. The design of the stereo uses the plate on the back to keep them cool, not possible while running the heater! I am unsure what to do as I need to be able to safely drive my car without it shoot full blast blank gun shots at me!also the FUSE for the radio does NOT blow shutting the stereo off when this happens. The mosfets get so hot I worry I-€™ll have an electrical fire while driving! This radio is NOT SAFE when the cheap components don-€™t function correctly and the safety features like fuses DONT WORK! I DONT WANT TO CRASH!

- New Salem, MA, USA

problem #240

May 112022

Focus

  • miles

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

This message is a complaint about my local car dealership and the car manufacturer of my vehicle. I will try to follow the general guidelines as much as possible. First off, I have a 2013 Ford Focus with numerous recalls. I recently dropped the vehicle off at my local car dealership the have those recalls worked on...and ONLY those recalls. The recalls include: - faulty transmission control module (TCM) - canister purge valve (CPV) being stuck open causing the plastic fuel tank to deform, causing incorrect gas tank readings - door latches not being secure - software update of the vehicle's computer...to also correct false computer readings. Symptoms I have with the vehicle are as follows: - difficulty with ignition, as I have to turn the key multiple times to start the vehicle; also happens when putting in gas - constant jerking of the vehicle while driving, especially when starting from a stop - stalling of the vehicle, especially when driving uphill - engine light always on - incorrect gas reading; fuel gauge goes up and down. When I dropped my vehicle off at the dealership, I was assured that if the problems were any of the recalls, they would be free of charge. Fast-forward a couple of weeks later and I'm being told that I now owe over $1,000 in labor fees! On top of that I am being told that I owe a $180 diagnostic fee. I was told of two things that were replaced on the vehicle: the canister purge valve (which I already stated IS one of the recalls) and some random sensor, which they had no right to replace without my permission. I am being told neither of these things are covered since the car dealership and manufacturer suddenly don't consider these recalls. The excuse I have been given is the "codes" of the vehicle don't give the same information. I am in utter disbelief of everything I am being told. The recall letters clearly state repairs that are part of a recall are free of charge. Absolutely ridiculous.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #239

Mar 032022

Focus

  • miles
Radio makes loud popping noises on occasion. This is available for inspection upon request assuming a fix is not made. This loud noise could put the driver and others at risk because loud popping noises could scare dive. This problem has been inspected and confirmed by an audio shop. The radio works on occasion but often has popping sound and cuts out.

- Chalotte, NC, USA

problem #238

Oct 192021

Focus

  • miles
This car started to make loud engine noises which caused the car to shut off then it restarted on it's on I finally got it to parking lot when I cut it off it still was rattling and clacking like I was cranking it up on the left side of engine so I waited till about 30 minutes what ever it was it killed my battery then it started back up again but then through a check engine light on but when I got it checked it wouldn't read any codes so the display on board of the car read transmission shift in reverse but I wasn't in reverse so it was stuck in transmission mode and could not drive it I got it at a shop which they only would say a transmission, but they only wants to put a transmission in with out checking if it could be anything else like a electrical problem but he says no a transmission so now I'm only at 150k miles and this goes out without notice, I even asked about the transmission acuator but he says no the whole transmission, I just got the car like 3 months ago, and that is no good

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #237

Oct 012021

Focus

  • miles
Powertrain loss and loss of engine power, power control module. Engine failure on a busy highway. Putting me at risk of an accident. The car has been serviced by an independent service center. Has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer. Check engine and other warning lamps appeared

- Montclair , CA, USA

problem #236

May 272021

Focus

  • 142,938 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 73 mph, the contact heard a loud knocking sound and received an electrical shock from the steering wheel. The contact sustained a numb left arm due to the electrical shock but medical attention was not sought. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer nor independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,938.

- Monroe, MI, USA

problem #235

Feb 142021

Focus

  • 119,000 miles
Doesn't accelerate half the time when I hit gas. Doesn't go reverse half the time I put it in reverse. Shuts off randomly. Shakes, shutters. Had codes P07A3 and P2872 show up and Ford said they aren't transmission related even tho both codes have the word " transmission in the code summary. Couldn't get involved in 55mill lawsuit because I haven't had 2 repairs on it. Been in shop since 50K miles getting seniors and stuff replaced. Car has never improved even tho I keep spending money. It's been in shop 3 weeks now. They said might be trans issue now but the radiator is messed up and they can't proceed without 600 dollars. Help before car kills some1. Millions of youtube videos show same issues I have. Ford don't do anything but deny cause 1.8 cars out there from the same assembly plant mine is from with same issues

- St Albans, WV, USA

problem #234

Mar 202021

Focus

  • 141,700 miles
My 2013 Ford Focus would not randomly start the other evening, after a couple tries it started. On the way home it would not shift properly and acting like it was going to stall. My engine light came on, which never had before. So the next morning I went to go take it to auto zone to have them do a diagnostic and my vehicle started right up, however it would not go into reverse. I have read there have been several issues with the Focus' transmission.

- Fort Atkinson, WI, USA

problem #233

Nov 162020

Focus

  • 134,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the transmission while driving. The contact also stated that on several occasions while driving, the vehicle ran out of fuel due to a fuel gauge failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 19V515000 (fuel system, gasoline) in November 2020 at tuttle-click's capistrano Ford (33301 camino capistrano, san juan capistrano, ca 92675) however, the failure occurred. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with the clutch and the shifting unit needing to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired yet. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

- San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA

problem #232

Feb 212021

Focus

  • 140,000 miles
Car stalls while driving on highway. Within my 10 miles to work and back the transmission disengages about 6 times and need to hit the button on side of shift knob. Radio shorted out makes a horrible sound even when not turned on or car not started. Had to remove fuses

- Kempton, PA, USA

problem #231

Jan 162021

Focus

  • 140,000 miles
Transmission seems to be slipping as if the gears are not catching during certain times of shifting. Engine seems to lose compression. Mechanic after mechanic seems to have a hard time diagnosing and repairing issues.

- Lexington, SC, USA

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