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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 14 of 51)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #746

Jun 282013

Focus

  • miles

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

This vehicle has been plagued with transmission problems since soon after purchase. It has been returned to multiple Ford dealerships in carbon county pa since being purchased in December of 2013. There has been no resolution and problems still persist. We are trying to retrieve the attempted repair records and will upload when we have them.

- Lansford, PA, USA

problem #745

Jul 232019

Focus

  • 125,000 miles
Driving my 2013 Ford Focus, I had stopped at a stop sign. When I tried to accelerate the warning "hill start assist not available" flashed and then the car turned off. I put the car in park and after a few attempts I got the car started, but the engine light came on and "transmission fault service now" flashed. I was able to drive it home and it was checked out by an auto repair guy. He tried to reprogram the computer but the the transmission fault error continues to flash and the car won't start.

- Jackson, WY, USA

problem #744

May 212019

Focus 4-cyl

  • 62,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle jerked, lunged forward, and lost power. The contact managed to gain control of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to morlan-shell Ford (1824 porter wagoner blvd, West plains, mo 65775, (417) 256-3193) where multiple diagnostic tests were performed, which determined that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced five times, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided the contact with case number: 96-182145. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000. Check attachment characters are over 2,000. Arbitrator's decision form case number #xx-xxxxxx 'parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Mountain Home, AR, USA

problem #743

Nov 292016

Focus

  • 67,000 miles

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

Vehicle is equipped with the dps6 powershift dual clutch transmission. Vehicle was purchased used from Ford dealership in December of 2016 with about 44,000 miles on the odometer. Several months after purchase it started exhibiting some minor shuddering when accelerating from a stop. Over time this shuddering became quite severe and would sometimes even appear when already up to speed driving down the road at a steady pace or when accelerating to pass another vehicle etc. It also exhibited some grinding noises as well when accelerating. Eventually this shuddering became so severe it was un-bearable and at approximately 67,000 mileswe brought the car back to the Ford dealership for diagnosis. It was determined that defective seals on the input shaft of the transmission had caused the dct gearbox oil to contaminate the linings of the clutch assembly. The remedy was to replace these seals and the clutch assembly with updated items. This repair was completed at a cost to us of just under $1600

- Maple Park, IL, USA

problem #742

Jul 192019

Focus

  • 53,000 miles
My 2013 Ford Focus stalled out in the middle of an intersection and would not start due to a faulty tcm. We do not make right-hand turns on red because the vehicle does accelerate properly and shimmers and shakes when accelerating. We have advised Ford of this issue and was advised this is normal performance for this car.

- Cranberry Twp., PA, USA

problem #741

May 012015

Focus

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle had experienced random jerking and unintended sudden acceleration. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer cross road Ford(4510 whitehill blvd, prince george, va) was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Petersburg, VA, USA

problem #740

Jul 172019

Focus

  • 65,959 miles

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

The vehicle started shuddering badly between gear shifts and transmission began slipping in and out of gear at highway and city driving speeds. Returned the vehicle to the dealership, parkway Ford in winston salem, nc for evaluation and repair. This was the 8th incident with this vehicle. They replaced the clutch, seal assemblies and reprogramed thepcm/tcm. I got in the vehicle to drive home and my first worry was if I would make it home safely and without a mishap.

- Mount Airy, NC, USA

problem #739

Jul 102013

Focus

  • 100 miles
Multiple dealer visits to repair slipping and shuddering transmission. Was informed by dealer this was normal. Still own the car and the issue remains to date. Transmission still slips and shudders

- Garrettsville, OH, USA

problem #738

Aug 122018

Focus

  • 67,331 miles
Although we have experienced several problems with the transmission operation previously, the following incident left my wife stranded on the side of the road when driving home from the grocery store. "on 08/12/2019 at 67,331 miles, while traveling 35 mph approximately 1/2 mile after the restart of a warm engine and lightly accelerating on a county road, the shifting of the transmission became erratic and the check engine and check transmission lights came on in the instrument cluster. The driver pulled of the road and called me for assistance. I drove to her location and I slowly drove the Focus to the Ford dealership with the other driver following in our other car. The dealership, on the next day, replaced the transmission control module and the clutch assembly." The vehicle operated well for 6 months and 6,000 miles until the entire transmission had to be replaced at my cost ($6,600) due to excessive multiple bearing noise. Ford, through poor customer service, would not respond to assist in the repair cost.

- Rochester Hills, MI, USA

problem #737

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 #736

Jul 232019

Focus

  • 88,000 miles

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

Power shift dual clutch transmission is jumping and seeming to go in and out of gear. It has been replaced once already but now starting to do it again after 25000 to 35000 miles. I have been noticing a shutter more and more lately. Ford knew about this safety issue and did nothing about it and not I do not feel like my vehicle is safe to drive. There are several things that I notice about this transmission that makes it unsafe. Sometimes slips out of gear, shutters on take off, and shakes at an idle. I am the 2nd owner on the vehicle, when I purchased the vehicle in Nov 2018 the prev owner told me that a new transmission was in place without this issue, but I found out that it was just the Ford fix to the transmission which many people are having issues with as it was not fixed as a long term fix but a short term fix.

- Clearwater, MN, USA

problem #735

Jul 012014

Focus

  • 3,000 miles
This vehicle has been 'fixed' multiple times. Shaking and rumbling when shifting in the transmission, lack of power when accelerating and rattling when around 50 mph.

- Waterford, MI, USA

problem #734

Nov 122018

Focus

  • 115,000 miles
Hello I'm writing this complaint regarding two things. My transmission & my radio. First my transmission has been took to a Ford dealership locate in Michigan to have an diagnostic ran on it and it was noted by the dealership that my car has two field actions on it which both have to do with the faulty transmission which happens to hesitate to take off and also jerks when I accelerate. This has been going on since this vehicle has been in my grandmothers possession. Now it has gotten worse to the point where it now drags and there is some slipping when it shifts. The second complaint I have is that my radio recently began to start to static and pop. And now for two weeks my radio have not been able to turn on, the only thing that displays is the time clock, date & temperature. I haven't gotten any audio from the vehicle. I've replaced the fuses for the radio and it still isn't playing any audio. And I currently do not have time or money to put into this vehicle any more.

- Saint Clair Shores, MI, USA

problem #733

Apr 222019

Focus

  • 95,265 miles
Since I drove the vehicle off the lot, transmission shudders, jerks, vibrates, rough up/downshifts, slips into neutral, wont shift into reverse, transmission fault warnings, transmission overheat warnings. The car does not reliably accelerate/decelerate under normal operating conditions. On multiple occasions had to push the car out of a parking spot by hand since reverse would not engage. Had to push off the road several times after violent shifts/shuddering and warning lights. Has happened numerous times since purchasing the vehicle. Initially dealership said over the phone the new technology hadn't adapted to my driving style yet and it would clear up. Eventually I took it in for repair after repair and have since taken the vehicle off the road. The last episode happened with my children in the car and it's no longer safe to Transport passengers in.

- Milford, PA, USA

problem #732

Jul 112019

Focus 4-cyl

  • 52,269 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. While driving 10 mph and/or making turns, the vehicle spontaneously accelerated and stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. Additionally, the air conditioner and radio turned on by themselves without warning. The vehicle was taken to arlington heights Ford (801 w dundee rd, arlington heights, il 60004, (888) 481-8607), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 52,269.

- Des Plaines, IL, USA

problem #731

Feb 012014

Focus

  • miles
Vehicles transmission bucking losing power slipping also stalling out this car is very unsafe I've had it to the dealership many times still no fix

- Hartville, OH, USA

problem #730

Jul 312015

Focus

  • miles
I bought this car in 2015 and ever since then the car intermittently will hesitate when doing thruway and city driving. When the Ford dealership has looked at this problem (that is who I use to service this car) on many occasions, they say it is just they way the transmission feels and it is not a safety problem. I am concerned because there are allegations that Ford knowingly sold the Focus with defective transmissions.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #729

Jul 172015

Focus

  • 18,048 miles
Transmission, shudders from a stop, Ford reprogrammed PCM and tcm and sent to hotline, 07/17/15 transmission, tac will rev up, but will not move forward, Ford replaced tcm per tsb: 15-0121. Rt 11/03/15 transmission, vehicle will rev up and hesitate, Ford replaced clutch asy, seal asy-oil, cyliner asy-clutch slave and clutch, 07/27/16 transmission, tac rev up and will not go forward, Ford replaced clutch asy, seal asy-oil, cylinder asy-clutch slave, both inner input seals and cluch, 04/06/17 transmission, tac revs up will no move forward and not shifting properly, Ford re4placed, clutch asy, seal asy-oil, cylinder asy-clutch slave, both inner seals and clutch 09/01/17 transmission, tac is reving up, jerkey srvs up when traveling at steady speeds of 30 mph, Ford replaced, cylinder asy-clutch slave, clutch asy, sealasy-oil, both inner input seals and clutch 01/17/18 transmission, vehicle hesitates and jerks upon acceleration, Ford replaced, actuator asy-clutch, tube asy-clutch, lever ast-clutch release, lever asy-clutch release, clutch asy, cylinder asy-clutch slave, seal asy-oil, clutch and input shaft seals 06/11/18 transmission, vehicle is bucking and jerking tac revs up will not move forward, Ford replaced, seal asy-oil, B cylinder asy-clutch slave, clutch asy, replaced clutch and reprogramed the tcm and PCM 02/01/19 07/22/19 we are ready to take it in again for transmission problems, this car has less than 51,000 mile on it, we bought it new and paid it off thinking that we would have this car for a long time, but it doesn't look like it, how much am I going to get for this car when I trade it in, not crap

- Northville, MI, USA

problem #728

Mar 142019

Focus

  • 61,807 miles
While driving at city speed in elkin, nc, the transmission fault light came on and the vehicle stopped. Here I am stranded in traffic. Not the safest position to be in. I shut the vehicle down and restarted it in the hopes that this might reboot the fault and solve the problem or at least let me get to a dealership. The transmission fault light was still active but I was able to move only in first gear. The transmission would not shift. I was able to get to the Ford dealership in elkin, nc where they were able to diagnose the problem. The transmission module of this wonderful dps6 transmission had failed. They had a transmission module in stock so a repair was made. I dread every time I have to get into this vehicle. I worry if I am going to get to my destination safely. I worry if I am going to get home safely. Ford is making every delay possible to slow down the legal process.

- Mount Airy, NC, USA

problem #727

Aug 222018

Focus

  • 55,216 miles
Here we go with dps6 failure #5. shudder and transmission slip became more severe. So, we scheduled a diagnostic visit to the dealer, parkway Ford in winston salem, nc. The test revealed that the clutch needed replacing again. The service consultant told me the reason for the problem was there was a leak in my oil seal. Strange that my personal mechanic did not notice any leak in the oil seal at the previous oil change. This dealership had replaced the oil seal previously. I do not trust anything this dealership tells me. I do not trust Ford Motor Company. I do not trust this vehicle to be able to get me safely to and from the places I must go. This situation has become outrageous. I am reporting these incidents to you at the advice of my attorney in the hopes that the defects in this vehicle might be noticed during the proposed senate investigations.

- Mount Airy, NC, USA

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