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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:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,029 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2013 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 4 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #200

Oct 202019

Focus

  • 90,000 miles

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

With no cause or warning, the instrument panel notified me that "hill assist is unavailable". also, when stationary, there appears to be no power steering when attempting to turn left. This problem stops when rolling forward or reverse. After moving, the problem does not reoccur (stop signs, stop lights, etc). It does, however, occur again when the ignition is turned off, then back on. Both of these problems began at the same time.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #199

Oct 162019

Focus

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. When the vehicle was started, the "power steering assist failure" message appeared and the steering ability seized. The contact drove the vehicle to bradley Ford Lincoln (1690 industrial blvd, lake havasu, AZ 86403) and the battery was replaced, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer four times. The vehicle was not corrected. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

- Bullhead City, AZ, USA

problem #198

Oct 042019

Focus

  • 93,463 miles
I was driving on a normal street I hade the green light to turn left and as I was turning the steering wheel got really hard I almost crash to a pole...then a (power steering service light came on) this is the first time that light came on I was looking for some information about the power steering and it seems im not the only one that have the same problem..

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #197

Jul 262019

Focus

  • 40,000 miles

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

My son had just driven to altoona, pa from wash DC, parked the car, and went into house. Came out of house, got into car to drive to state college, pa where he is a student at psu. Was unable to steer the car. Luckily this didn't happen while he was on the highway. Car had to be towed to stuckey Ford in hollidaysburg, pa. Shouldn't such a dangerous malfunction, especially with only 40,000 miles, qualify as a recall ? cost of repair was $2495.

- Altoona, PA, USA

problem #196

Sep 172019

Focus

  • 130,000 miles
The power steering went out in my car earlier in the day on 9/17/19 when I was making some of my rounds for work. I made a stop at a business, and was only inside for a couple of minutes. I got back in my car, started it and the steering wheel was very hard to move. I backed out and went to a store about 2 miles down the road. Checked some things, but didn't see anything wrong. Started my car and it worked. Later the same evening my boyfriend and I dropped off our kids to go to town real quick. We were only gone from them for about 45 minutes when we went to head back to get them and the steering wasn't working again. There was no noise, no sign, no light, nothing. It just quit. We checked the fuse and it looked fine. It doesn't throw out any kind of code. It shows that it has power. We did make it home, being very cautious. It's not working today, so that means I can't do my job. However, when we started searching the internet we both see all kinds of complaints stating the same problems. Why has nothing been done to address this issue? there were recalls for the same problem on other vehicles, but not the Focus. Obviously there is a problem that Ford needs to fix.

- Summerville, GA, USA

problem #195

Sep 012019

Focus

  • 94,500 miles
Power steering assist seems to have failed, hard to steerwhen turning, also hard to drive streight

- Navarre, FL, USA

problem #194

Sep 062019

Focus

  • 88,342 miles

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

Backing out of driveway and steering wheel siezed up. Warning light comes on saying steering assist fault service. Take it to dealer they say need to replace steering gear assembly rack and pinion and some module. Total $2647 with 88000 miles.

- Burbank, CA, USA

problem #193

Sep 062019

Focus

  • 88,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. While driving 65 mph, the steering wheel seized and became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the electric power steering warning indicator illuminated. The contact was able to park the vehicle at a nearby fuel station and then drove home. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 88,000.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #192

Jul 062019

Focus

  • miles
My sterling get stuck and my transmission making noise and my car dont go into reverse

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #191

Jun 152017

Focus

  • 73,531 miles
Transmission stop working in middle of busy intersection during rush hour. I was turning left, car was stationary waiting for traffic to pass. Thankful I think it quit in neutral although dashboard was black & gear shift would not lock into any gear; could be pushed into corner business parking lot. It was fixed but never completely better nor did I feel completely safe. I had 2 clutch replacements, which were also fixed & paid by them. Ford dealer replace some recall on side doors, but never fixed the recall on fuel tank, never informed that they ever got part in as letter stated.

- Duluth, MN, USA

problem #190

Aug 022019

Focus

  • miles

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

I was backing up at a gas station and all of a sudden it just quit steering. I was moving very slowly so was able to stop with my brakes, but it was a very close call

- Weirton, WV, USA

problem #189

Jun 012018

Focus

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. While driving 40 mph, the power steering completely failed and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The contact pulled over, restarted the vehicle, and was able to drive home. The contact previously called J.C. lewis Ford (9505 abercorn St, savannah, ga 31406, (912) 210-5676) because the failure initially bean when the vehicle was started. Upon restarting the vehicle, it resumed normal operation. The dealer stated that they would not repair the vehicle because there was no recall. The manufacturer was notified and they provided the same information as the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #188

Jul 212019

Focus

  • 104,974 miles
Car was sitting idling for approximately 5 minutes with the ac on, then proceeded to drive slowly out of parking lot as soon as I got out of parking lot, about 500 ft the power steering went out, no warning that I was aware of it just went out. I was on a residential street. I was able to pull off to the side of the road and turn the vehicle off and when I restarted the vehicle it was fine.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

problem #187

Jul 252019

Focus

  • 108,604 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the power steering stopped functioning while driving approximately 30 mph. The 'steering assist fault, service required' message illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer advised the contact to have the vehicle diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 108,604. The VIN was invalid.

- Chatanooga, TN, USA

problem #186

Nov 012014

Focus

  • miles
Soon after the purchase of my vehicle I began to experience problems with the transmission. In the early years of owning my car I took it into Ford for the recall repairs which did nothing to solve the issue with my car. After about 3 or 4 failed attempts to have my car properly fixed I stopped taking it in. So for the last 5 years I've been driving my vehicle with this transmission issue. There are times where my vehicle stalls completely and the steering wheel stiffens so I am unable to drive. They're have been times where I had to continually pull over and stop my vehicle completely, waiting a few minutes to restart my car so I would be able to drive. I know have a 2 year old son and feel extremely uncomfortable and unsafe in this vehicle. At this moment I cannot afford to trade my vehicle in either and take the loss of all the money I put into this car.

- Dover, PA, USA

problem #185

Jun 222019

Focus

  • 127,000 miles
While driving, my power steering randomly goes out, luckily I was parking when it did, but the message pops up as -steering assist fault-. now I would have been worried if it wasnt for the fact that it would work for short periods of time then randomly cut off in the middle of driving, got me once on a turn almost causing me to crash. Not sure if there is a real difference with the other focuses but mines a 2013 Ford Focus SE hatchback.

- Galax, VA, USA

problem #184

Jul 162019

Focus

  • 138,000 miles
As others described. While driving the power steering stops. Pull over and restart the engine and the steering assists comes back. This has been happening for a year intermittently about 6-8 weeks apart. This week it happened but the steering assist has not returned.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #183

Jul 152019

Focus

  • 130,000 miles
When I turned my car on I got an alert that said "steering assist fault service required". I tried to back up but the steering wheel was completely stiff so I turned my car off. When I turned it back on the power steering returned. I have read a lot of complaints about the same issue online, and I am confused as to why there isn't a recall on the power steering yet.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #182

Jul 092019

Focus

  • miles
This Focus has gave me nothing but problems. I've had it for almost 4 years in January. And it's left me stranded numerous times multiple trips to the dealership lets not get started on how awful they are. I'm going to trade it in. Never will I buy another Ford !!

- Belmont, NC, USA

problem #181

Jul 022019

Focus

  • 59,600 miles
Drove to work fine, on my way home, alert comes on steering wheel fault and then I can barely turn the wheel. I panic and pull into auto zone, which they say I may need power steering fluid so I buy a bottle. Look in the car book to see where to put it, turns out this car isnt equip with that, I have an esp! get in the car again and everything is fine no alert and I can drive it fine. Next day I go to drive and again I have an alert and can not drive!!! this is my 1st car ever and in the 2yrs I've had it nothing but recalls on it! this needs to be a recall to many are complaining about the same issue. What if this happen on a highway!"!"! on top of this I'm still waiting for a fix to the gas gauge issue, and the transmission was supposedly fix but it's still doing the same thing after a full stop, it has a hard time going again!!!!! I will never by a Ford vehicle again

- Manville, NJ, USA

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