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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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,764 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2013 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #17

Sep 112023

Focus

  • miles

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

The seatbelts in these cars do not retract. After it is buckled, it sits loose on the person wearing it. Is an accident, the seatbelt will provide no help, causing me, or one of my passangers to be hurt. 3 of the 4 belts in my car are basically useless. This is not only an issue in my car. I've noticed after working on several of these cars (ide assume from the years 2012-2018) they don't work. I have several friends and relatives with a model in between those years, and it can be duplicated in their cars too. This is a major issue, and needs to be addressed in all models of this vehicle

- Howell, MI, USA

problem #16

Mar 092020

Focus

  • 130,000 miles
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 #15

Oct 032018

Focus

  • 193,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. While driving 20 mph, the driver side seat belt unintentionally unlatched. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 193,000.

- Middletown, NY, USA

problem #14

Jul 102017

Focus

  • miles

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

My driver seat belt does not retract at all when I get out. I feel like it is a safety hazard because if it doesn't retract when I unbuckle it won't restrain in a car accident. It should be a recall. Because someone could get whiplash. The dealership I took it to says it's not covered under my basic Ford extended warranty. It should be free of charge to replace.

- Owens Cross Roads, AL, USA

problem #13

Jan 092017

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
Seat belt began to be difficult to latch and unlatch and after a period of about 8months to 1 year it fails to latch at all leaving the driver unable to properly secure the belt to the latch.

- Waterford, MI, USA

problem #12

Nov 132016

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. While driving at 55 mph, there was another vehicle approaching the contact's vehicle head on. However, the contact swerved off the road to avoid crashing into the other vehicle and crashed into a poll. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy and the seat belt did not remain secured. The contact hit her head on the windshield and fractured her wrist. The dealer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

- Crandall, TX, USA

problem #11

Sep 232016

Focus

  • 55,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact observed that the front and rear driver side seat belt male connectors would not connect and lock with the female connector. The seat belt warning indicator continuously illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that the female connector needed to be replaced due to the springs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

- Cambria, CA, USA

problem #10

Aug 012016

Focus

  • 54,000 miles
The driver's side seat belt will not release properly. Problem is intermittent and a real concern should one be in an accident!!

- Mcdonough, GA, USA

problem #9

May 282016

Focus

  • 73,000 miles
The drivers side seat belt receiver broke. It will not accept the seat belt buckle. Ford is charging me $250 to fix this. I don't feel I should have to pay anything to have a seatbelt fixed.

- Stanwood, WA, USA

problem #8

Feb 102015

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
The seatbelt latch on the driver side malfunctioned after months of working perfectly. Initially, it latched only intermittently. Later it would not release when the release button was pressed. Finally, it stopped latching completely. I was only able to restrain myself using the passenger side latch. It is currently being repaired by my local Ford dealer. I could not find a recall on this safety feature yet reviewing posts online, I can see that others have had similar issues. Thank you.

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #7

Oct 202014

Focus

  • 39,450 miles

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

I had to remove my seat belt while driving to readjust it to fit better and it would not relatch. I pulled over and tried again and after many tries, the belt would not latch. I got out of the car, adjusted the seat and then it would relatch. It continues to sometimes latch, sometimes not. Other times when my seat belt is latched, the seat belt warning light will come on. Other times when the belt will not latch, the light will not come on.

- Arnold, NE, USA

problem #6

Oct 102014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 49,121 miles
Been having the transmission shudder for the past few mouths and last week I went to put my seatbelt on and it wouldn't lock.driver side seatbelt broke on the female end.

- Ohatchee, AL, USA

problem #5

Jan 162013

Focus

  • 20,000 miles
Clutch fixed 3 separate times. Needs repaired again. Seatbelt will not latch for the second time. Want to switch cars, not a Ford. Was told at herrington-yoak Ford that they would find me a Toyota rav4, Honda CRV or Honda civic. Never received a call, had to call them and was denied.

- Waverly, WV, USA

problem #4

Nov 082013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
When you drive the car from 5 - 20 minutes and when you remove the seatbelt - there is no alarming sound and no light on the dashboard. But, when you turn off the engine and start again, you can hear the alarm and the light will appear on the dashboard when you remove the seatbelt. Concerns: If the driver stop (for driving let say 5 - 3 minutes) for example and he remove the seatbelt for whatever reason, he might forgot to fasten the seatbelt as the car will not alarm and no light will illuminate on the dashboard. Note: The local dealer tested the same car model/year and having the same result - no alarm and lights on the dashboard when unbuckled after driving 5-20 mins.

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

problem #3

Dec 092013

Focus

  • miles
I generally do not have back seat passengers, I picked up my two nephews and I made them put their seat belts on. Upon arriving at our destination the boys were having trouble releasing the belts after several minutes of struggling with the belts we finally got the boys released but now the seat belt mechanism is stuck down in the harness and am unable to lock any seat belts into place.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #2

Sep 112013

Focus

  • 210 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the seat belts failed to lock correctly. The contact mentioned that the lock would not allow the seat belt to click. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where they replaced the seat belt lock. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 210. The current mileage was 3,600.

- Washington Park, MD, USA

problem #1

Aug 012013

Focus

  • 1,200 miles
My five year old son was sitting in the passenger rear of the Ford Focus ev (2013) in a booster seat (bottom only, no back). He managed to wrap the seat belt around his torso. When my wife arrived home and parked, my son unhooked the seat belt, but the belt had locked and would not release. The belt was very tight against my sons chest. We tried to wiggle him out and to release the tension on the belt, but with each try the belt tighten more. He became very scared and we cut the seat belt.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

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