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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:
67,769 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 1 of 14)

problem #261

Jun 292024

Focus

  • miles

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

Unknown

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #260

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 #259

Oct 202023

Focus

  • miles
The intermittent power steering issues are now permanent and it is extremely difficult to turn the wheel.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #258

Jul 272023

Focus

  • miles

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

I was driving when my power steering went out on the highway. Ford knows this is a problem. That was the first time I seen the warning light while driving

- Shreveport , LA, USA

problem #257

Apr 222023

Focus

  • miles
The steering wheel wants to lock up as you make a turn either left or right

- Ridgeland, MS, USA

problem #256

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 #255

Nov 192022

Focus

  • miles

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

The power steering randomly fails (it was raining each time) making it difficult to control the car. It lasts from 2-15 seconds.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #254

Oct 272022

Focus

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 10 MPH, the power steering became inoperable. The message to pull over safely was displayed. The red critical warning indicator light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering control module (PSCM) needed to be replaced but the parts were back ordered. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred him to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

- Temperance, MI, USA

problem #253

Oct 152022

Focus

  • miles
I have a 2013 Ford Focus Titanium with 92k miles and have been experiencing problems with my electric steering rack. It-??s making noises when turning the steering wheel. I have not had it replaced yet as I fill this something that should recalled and covered through Ford. It has not locked on me yet but this is something that should be recalled and fixed as I-??m hearing multiple ford owners are experiencing the same issue.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #252

Oct 112022

Focus

  • 82,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #251

May 062022

Focus

  • miles

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

A few times i have been driving, or sometimes just started my car to drive and my steering would be hard. Contacted Ford and was told that was normal. I Was driving a couple months with everything working properly and suddenly the Electronic steering is gone. Nearly caused an accident with my grandchildren in the vehicle. I was fortunate enough to be able to get to the side of road without getting hit.

- Dalton, GA, USA

problem #250

May 292022

Focus

  • miles
Power steering assist failure. On the freeway. Hard to steer. Then when I made it home (thankfully) turned into the driveway, turned the car off. Then when I tried to start it later, the wheel had completely locked up. Couldn't move the car. If it would have done that on the freeway, I would have died.

- Lockport, NY, USA

problem #249

Apr 252022

Focus

  • miles
Steering rack failed while driving. Leaving parking lot steering started to make a grinding noise and almost immdeiatly locked in place when on the road.

- Export, PA, USA

problem #248

Feb 012022

Focus

  • miles
I-??ve seen multiple recalls on the electric power steering with ford and recently I lost all power steering in my 2013 Ford Focus SE and know it-??s been a problem for other fords like mine. My vehicle has 119,000 miles. I want to know why there are recalls for other ford cars for the exact same issue but not the 2013 focus

- Buckeye , AZ, USA

problem #247

Dec 072021

Focus

  • miles
Power steering assist failed while driving on the highway. I pulled over and turned off the car to investigate and the steering wheel locked up.

- Fairfield, CA, USA

problem #246

Jan 012021

Focus

  • 105,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering assist fault warning message was displayed. The vehicle lost power steering and the vehicle was difficult to steer. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the failure was corrected. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with steering control module failure. The steering control module and rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

- Lake Worth, FL, USA

problem #245

Oct 062021

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
- Steering rack and pinion failed while driving and is currently being repaired at dealership - Safety was out at risk due to the malfunctioning occurring while car was being driven. Steering became extremely difficult and felt as if wheel was locking-up. - Car was taken to dealership twice regarding the malfunction. First resolution was updating the power steering control module software. Steering was fixed for one week before the issue re-appeared while driving. During second visit at the dealership, it was determined that the steering rack and pinion will need replacing. - There was no warning messages or symptoms prior to the malfunctioning occurring.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #244

Sep 252021

Focus

  • miles
On September 25, 2021 around 11:30pm, I was driving and the steering wheel happened to lock out of nowhere and I-??m not able to turn correctly. It was a very dangerous situation and I couldn-??t turn and the car was going straight. I was very close to get into a car accident. I bought car without any issues and I-??ve been taking good care of it and out of nowhere the steering wheel locked on me and gave me a signal saying -??steering loss stop safely-?? i went to advanced parts to have it tested on a Sunday and they said I needed to replace my catalyst system efficiency which I was aware of that needed to replaced but nothing else showed besides the code they gave me P0420. The vehicle hasn-??t been Inspected or component by a insurance company or others.

- Clawson, MI, USA

problem #243

Jun 122021

Focus

  • 64,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while reversing out of the garage, the power steering malfunctioned causing the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the steering rack and pinion was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,000. Vin was not available. Consumer stated mechanic has custody of the old rack and pinion needs to evaluate it.

- Grafton,, OH, USA

problem #242

May 062021

Focus

  • 131,000 miles
Steering felt a little sticky. Last night I lost all power steering and an alert came up that said 'steering fault service now' and this morning I started it and it said 'steering loss park safely' and the steering wheel doesn't move at all. Almost went off the road when I lost power steering last night

- West Pawlet, VT, USA

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