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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:
7 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 2
Average Mileage:
43,849 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2013 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 3 of 17)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #289

Sep 112020

Focus

  • 84,329 miles

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

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 #288

Mar 262020

Focus

  • 121,976 miles
Ford Focus 2013 titanium in March 2020 on interstate 90 between St charles mn and eyota mn stalled without warning at 70 mph and had 32 miles to empty reading on gauge. Vehicle flatbed towed to home 35 miles away and gas was added and vehicle ran fine. August 2020 same vehicle stalled without warning on state highway at 60 miles per hour with 21 miles to empty on reading. Again vehicle flatbed towed home and gas was added and vehicle has ran fine since. I believe that the gas gauge is faulty in this model of Ford Focus as in other years but no recall yet for model 2013 year. We will make sure gas doesnt get below 50 miles as this has happened twice now within 5 months and not a coincidence.

- Rochester, MN, USA

problem #287

Aug 052020

Focus

  • 107,000 miles
I was driving along with my 3 children when my Ford Explorer 2011 suddenly turned off in the middle of a busy street almost causing an accident. Had to have the vehicle towed and was informed the water pump had failed and cause catastrophic engine problems.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #286

Jul 242020

Focus

  • miles

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

Recall performed on purge valve....still cant breath inside the cabin from the fumes...was told it the cat converter..... 1550 before tax

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #285

Jul 242020

Focus

  • 25 miles
My car is constantly having electrical issues the radio will cut off in the middle of playing it won't turn back on my car literally hass to be turned off for a certain amount of time before the radio will come back on at all and then it disconnects and makes a loud popping sound like somethings going to catch on fire in the car won't even be on nor will the key be in the ignition I feel that it is very unsafe due to the fact that that kind of annoys is a big distraction and could cause an accident. Also while driving my car has hesitated a number of times while at a stoplight or in the rain or while I'm trying to make a turn or when I'm taking off it doesn't matter it's like it doesn't get enough gas or it has problems switching with the rpms and this is a constant problem this is not just one or two times this is since I have owned this vehicle and it's a little bit ridiculous considering this car has a five star rating definitely not a five star rating car considering how many times I've been stuck out in the middle of traffic and almost gotten into car accidents because of this cari would really like for this to be investigated quickly this is a liability to anyone who owns this year make and model of car

- Culpeper, VA, USA

problem #284

May 012020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
My Ford car engine light is on whenever it rains and my Ford car stalls and I have no idea what recall issues it hash latch door check look at the sales service Ford dealership!2020

- Palm Springs, CA, USA

problem #283

Apr 032020

Focus

  • 60,000 miles

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

While driving down the expressway at 70mph my vehicle loss power entirely and stalled. I was nearly hit by the vehicle behind me and forced to pull over to the side of the road. The check engine light came on at the same time and indicated a camshaft position sensor, crankshaft position sensor, and ignition errors. I've owned this vehicle from the day it arrived at the dealership. The problem at fault has been previously identified by Ford in a tsb for the engine wiring harness chaffing on the intake manifold. Owners are not notified through mail on tsb's and this vehicle has been serviced by the dealer since the tsb was issued. I believe this should be a recall condition due to the accident potential this problem creates.

- Ira, MI, USA

problem #282

Apr 172020

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
My car keeps flashing the multiple warning lights. I can't get it diagnosed because it only flickers on for a second before turning off. It's the ABS light, the traction control light, the brake light and the information light. This only happens while I'm driving, it doesn't matter what speed I'm going. It will also restart the radio. Once I get to my destination, my whole car will turn off as if my battery died. I've taken my battery to be tested and it's fine. When I try to turn on my car, it won't turn on but it will make clicking sounds like it's trying to restart a connection. When my car finally turned on, it said I had transmission issues. This car is terrible, I don't feel safe when I drive it but I still owe money on it and can't afford to pay it off in order to get a new car. I'll never get a car made by Ford again.

- Cottonwood Heights, UT, USA

problem #281

Sep 012018

Focus 4-cyl

  • 125,000 miles
I was driving away from my boyfriends house heading to the interstate 95. As I was driving I noticed white smoke coming out of the dashboard, I the car around and headed back to my boyfriends house, I put the car in park and jumped out, my boyfriend came outside and he was able to put the fire out.

- Opa Locka, FL, USA

problem #280

Mar 292020

Focus

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact had to get the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact had to jumpstart the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who was unable to diagnose the vehicle. The contact then took the vehicle to the capitol city Ford located at (8623 E Washington St, indianapolis, in 46219, (317) 898-0700). The contact was informed that a wiring harness shifted and damaged other wires within the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- Fortville, IN, USA

problem #279

Mar 092020

Focus

  • 130,000 miles

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

The driver seat belt gets stuck alot and is very hard to disconnect, the car won't go in reverse and it is part of a clutch recall Ford won't honor it it's been replaced twice already,

- Port St Lucie Florida, FL, USA

problem #278

Dec 202019

Focus

  • miles
When driving the vehicle it causes a stuttering movement from a stop. When pressing the gas from a stopped position it starts to shake upon acceleration. The car almost feels like the transmission is slipping and may cause the vehicle to stop. I feel that I and my children are unsafe when this happens!!!

- Fairfield, CA, USA

problem #277

Feb 212020

Focus

  • 158,000 miles
While at a stop light on a busy street my car jerks and then gets quiet, when the light changes to green I hit on the gas pedal and the car does not move, no matter how hard I press, I turn on my emergency lights and after about 3 mins the car finally moves but while driving once again I hit on the gas pedal to increase speed and it does not work, I decide to turn around in a small parking lot and take it home and while doing that the car doesn't reverse, I get it back on the road and it jerks and jumps to the point where I just had to park it and call a ride. The week prior a mechanic told me I just needed coolant after the car jerked and stalled on the highway while I was going 70mph, and now every time I bring the car to a complete stop it doesn't move once it's time to accelerate, I've had it stall in heavy traffic where cars where bumper to bumper and I could not move. All of this after I had the ECU flashed to fix the codes, the entire engine and head gaskets replaced, the fuel pump system and transmission fixed by Ford. So I took it to a mechanic to get it diagnosed and they inform me of multiple problems such as a new thermostat and air bag deployment issues but the main problem is that I need a new transmission again, unfortunately the cars value is not worth what it will cost to fix the transmission again.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #276

Feb 072020

Focus

  • 107,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. While driving at low speeds the vehicle stalled and restarted independently. The transmission fault warning light was illuminated as well as the service vehicle message was displayed. The contact called. Simi valley Ford 2440 first St, simi valley, ca 93065 (805) 583-0333, however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 107,000.

- Simi Valley, CA, USA

problem #275

Dec 232019

Focus

  • 154,000 miles
On my way from work went to leave and press gas paddle car. Act like it speed up hill. Car start stuttering making a grinding noise jerking. Got half way home it start smoking.. when I first bought car I had to put in shop because of transmission problems it one thing after another ive done already had several recalls done on it. Now its given me more problems. Always on the high way

- Warrenton, GA, USA

problem #274

Feb 082020

Focus

  • 165,000 miles
My car is having issues shifting. It is an automatic car. There is issues accelerating. When stopped I hit the gas pedal and its fine until it shifts, then the car stalls for a few seconds and then catches up. It does this every time it goes to shift gears until about 35 mph. It is out of warranty to fix the transmission, but it posses a huge safety risk.

- Dagsboro, DE, USA

problem #273

Feb 062020

Focus

  • 189,000 miles
My radio has very high static and I cannot use my phone system. My fuel gauge is not reading properly. My car just shuts off while I am driving it. When I pull off the engine stalls. These issues have been on going every since I owned the car. It is a complete lemon.

- Lumpkin, GA, USA

problem #272

Sep 052019

Focus

  • 61,500 miles
When driving the vehicle it causes a stuttering movement from a stop. When pressing the gas from a stopped position it starts to shake upon acceleration. The car almost feels like the transmission is slipping and may cause the vehicle to stop. I feel that I am unsafe when this happens.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #271

Jan 112020

Focus

  • miles
While driving the lights come on the dashboard and the car stops automatically and the car doesn't turn on for while, then after two hours it turns on and I drive it for another five days and that happens again almost an in crash or I was very lucky for a very bad accident and I called a tow truck to send my car home and since then is undrivable which is parked in my house

- Blue Bell, PA, USA

problem #270

Dec 272019

Focus

  • 74,000 miles
El vehculo empeso a jolonearse en carretera Y fue perdiendo la fuerza Y a otro da ya no agarro la reversa Y para enfrente velosidad que agarraba era a 5

- Soledad, CA, USA

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