Print this page

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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,567 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 suspension problems

suspension problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Ford Focus:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2013 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #15

Dec 012020

Focus

  • 5 miles

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

I have seen many videos on you tube on what could of been wrong and they all had the same problem which was the steering rack and pinion very expensive and unsafe fix my child was in the car while we was driving when mine broke only 28 days after I bought the car not very happy

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #14

Feb 292020

Focus

  • 119,000 miles
The issue has happened 3 times since I have owned the car. The car was shaking when I would push on the gas. There was a delay with exceleration. I was driving on the city street and the car would not excelerate the transmission was not changing gears. I had to coast down the street to make it to somewhere I could pull over. Once stopped the car would not go into any gear and would not drive. I had the car towed to the Ford dealership each time I was told that it was the transmission control module and the clutch that needed to be replaced.

- Phoneix, AZ, USA

problem #13

Oct 192016

Focus

  • 45,207 miles
Check engine light is constantly on and the engine leaks oil. The transmission does not change gears, shudders excessively and lacks power going uphill.

- Lynwood, CA, USA

problem #12

Feb 112019

Focus

  • 124,790 miles

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

Takara recall my car is shifting weird the evap canister for fuel is clicking and my car is getting bad mpg my car clunks when going over bumps the front end clicks when you turn and feels like something might break I dont think the electrical system is working rite

- Warsaw, MO, USA

problem #11

Dec 012018

Focus

  • 100,100 miles
Takata driving on city street and my car jerked and exceller rated on its own causing me to pull over

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #10

Nov 182017

Focus

  • miles
Engine tends to falter when accelerating. Engine tends to hesitate. Shuddering and vibration regardless of whether on city street or highway.

- Blackfoot, ID, USA

problem #9

Sep 162016

Focus

  • 27,111 miles

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

Excessive rear tire wear: The vehicle made a trip from greenville tx. To louisville ky and back (approx. 1400 miles) in September of 2016 (with high ambient and road temperature). The inside shoulder of both rear tires were worn down to the cords. The tires had only around 5000 miles when it began the trip. I took the vehicle to the local Ford dealer here in greenville, and had them to assess the problem. They said it falls within Ford specifications of (-2.1 --+0.6 camber.....toe -0.01-+0.39). I called Ford consumer relations 800-392-3673 (cas-10568914-W6X6B2 on 9/16/16). Talked to jean (866-631-3788 ext. 77727) explained the problem, and she called the dealership who also told her the problem was as I had described. She did call me back and said the car was out of warranty by months however, the mileage was only 27111 and had never been on a long road trip with these conditions. Jean said the car was no longer in warranty and that I had a tire problem. I said, "no, jean, I do not have a tire problem, but Ford has a engineering problem because the alignment settings are fixed (camber and toe is not adjustable)". I then called clint (central region for Ford) and explained the problem, but also had the same consensus. After this, I ordered a pair of adjustable control arms and decreased the camber by 1.5 degrees negative, and took out of each side 1/10th toe in (both adjustment still within Ford specification range). I documented tire wear before it made a round trip to denver, co from greenville, tx (approx. 1,640 miles). Upon its return the wear was even across the tread. I am writing this memo to report that Ford has a safety problem with the excessive rear tire wear because in this case the vehicle would not have made another round trip from greenville to louisville without having tire failure.

- Greenville, TX, USA

problem #8

Apr 102016

Focus

  • 86,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the engine rpms fluctuated and there was an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure occurred on two occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it diagnosed that the tcm and PCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 15V813000 (electrical system) however the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

- Mariposa, CA, USA

problem #7

Mar 182015

Focus 4-cyl

  • 45,622 miles
I filled up my car with gas and then turned it back on to get a failure message that my eps power steering had failed. When I tried to turn the vehicle, it was very hard to turn corners or turn it at all. I tried driving it to the dealership and once there, I was notified that I would need to pay $1,500 to pay for an entire new eps system since they cannot replace just the steering module. I don't get how I pay for a like-new car in 2014 and immediately incur a $1,500 bill.

- Clearwater, FL, USA

problem #6

Sep 102013

Focus

  • miles
Pulling from red lights/stop signs is very dangerous due to the transmission stalling, shuttering, grinding. Very easily to get into accidents because stalling in transmission. Please recall this vehicle a lot of families are not safe in this vehicle.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #5

Jun 152013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 4,672 miles

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

Purchased the 2013 Ford Focus on 02/25/2013 with 5 miles. On 6/15/13, I went to the dealership after tsb 13-4-5 was released and presented it to the dealership. The dealership said that it was normal shifting and that there was nothing that they could do to fix the issue. January 2014, I took it back to the dealership for the same issue that I complained about in June, and they said what I was experience was the transmission clutch shudder and Ford is well aware of the issue and how to repair it. That was repair #1. over the next eight months, I had multiple issues but was told I would have to leave the vehicle for multiple days before the vehicle could be diagnosed for repair. I went for a second option and got the vehicle repaired on 9/24/24. Repair #2. repair #3 was made 11/4/14. Repair #4 was made on 1/10/15 and the issue is still ongoing. When speaking with Ford about the situation at hand and the issues that I was having, I was told by a senior regional manager that one resolution Ford could recommend is to trade in the vehicle. There have been multiple times were the Focus has jumped, stalled, chattered and loud grinding coming from the transmission. The same senior regional manager also told me that if they were to repurchase the Focus, that I would end up paying money to Ford for the usage!! she also said that I will never qualify for a lemon due to the first "repair" that was made exceeded what Ford would allow according to the state" Ford needs to own up for the issues they have caused the consumer and producing an unsafe and unreliable vehicle. The suspension issue is that there is a popping in the front end. Due to the popping, they have replaced top and bottom strut bearings on one side then the other side. The problem is still occurring and at this point they have replaced both strut towers, including new bushings/bearings.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #4

Jun 092014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 9,000 miles
Since I bought the car is been having a lot of issues with changing gears, I called and Ford said it was normal.but I had an incident it was very scary every time you are in traffic and the car comes to a complete stop, if you try to accelerate the car it goes hard and fast I almost crashed the person right in front of me.the other incident I was in a parking lot and had the car on reverse and the car actually went forward it was very scary I went only and see many customers complaining about similar issues I just don't understand why they are taking so long to issue a recall on this models is very dangerous they need to avoid any further incidents I don't feel safe in this car and I don't want to put someone else in danger to for something that could be avoided. I really pray and hope that they do something about it now these cars need to be off the street now.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #3

Sep 122012

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
1. the sputtering, hesitation when pressing down on the accelerator 2. after stopping the car, the extra "jolt" seems as if it could be a safety concern/issue 3.year later all this got worse and I had the car towed in to the dealership 2 times for a total of 38 days of "fixing" the problems of the transmission. 4.I've had my car back now for 3 days, the hesitation is still there, no sputtering noticed as of now.

- Universal City, TX, USA

problem #2

Apr 302014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 15,995 miles
I was going to pick up my wife from work as usual. I am a very safe driver especially around corners. I was not driving more that15 mph when the car accelerated by itself. To avoid hitting a parked car I had to turn the steering wheel to the right. I went up on the driveway area. I hit a concrete wall portion or a driveway. Totaled the entire front right. Axle is broken. Air bag never deployed. Several months back they had to put in a brand new transmission. The car is just now 1 year old. It could not go up hills, park up hills. Transmission would turn off. Now it accelerated on it's own. My wife told me from the beginning this car is a lemon. I liked it so did not want to believe it! now I have to. I am still stiff all over. I have reported this to Ford auto body and my dealer. I hope they will be honest about all this. I do not feel I should be marked badly by my insurance or have my premium go up when this is not my fault. I hope Ford will at least help me out with a new replacement car for this lemon they sold me! now they will put through a claim on my insurance to repair the damage done to the wall. I hope my insurance premium will not go up. I should not have to held responsible for this when Ford has known about this problem for years and has many complaints. This I was not even aware of!

- Sherman Oaks, CA, USA

problem #1

Jun 282013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 1,000 miles
Steering and computer aided systems along with tires that were not disclosed to be used under 40 degrees caused loss of steering input and control which lead to hitting a curb and damaging suspension components as well as the drive-ability of the vehicle is worse that before. There are known issues with the steering on the 2013 Focus St and after 6 months of going back and forth, Ford cannot remedy the situation and the care is unsafe to drive at any speed as the lack of steering control cause unnecessary movement of the vehicle, requiring nerves of steel to drive at even 20 mph. Clunking noises and grinding also coming from suspension and transmission gears.

- Mobile, AL, USA

Not what you are looking for?