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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:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,773 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 lights problems

lights problem

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2013 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #13

Aug 272019

Focus

  • miles

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

The system has not failed yet, but the exterior lights of this car are a safety concern to me and my family. There is no visibility at night, when it is raining, or any tough conditions on the road. With no proper illumination, the risk for an accident is higher. These exterior lights need to be replaced with better quality lights. I called the Ford dealership where I bought the car and I gave them my car pin number, and they told me there are no recalls for this vehicle regarding exterior lights.

- Inverness, FL, USA

problem #12

Oct 192021

Focus

  • miles
This car started to make loud engine noises which caused the car to shut off then it restarted on it's on I finally got it to parking lot when I cut it off it still was rattling and clacking like I was cranking it up on the left side of engine so I waited till about 30 minutes what ever it was it killed my battery then it started back up again but then through a check engine light on but when I got it checked it wouldn't read any codes so the display on board of the car read transmission shift in reverse but I wasn't in reverse so it was stuck in transmission mode and could not drive it I got it at a shop which they only would say a transmission, but they only wants to put a transmission in with out checking if it could be anything else like a electrical problem but he says no a transmission so now I'm only at 150k miles and this goes out without notice, I even asked about the transmission acuator but he says no the whole transmission, I just got the car like 3 months ago, and that is no good

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #11

May 292020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 68,531 miles
Power to dashboard went off, no exterior lights including head lights, tail lights, brake lights, flashers, speedometer, directional S. the only thing that worked was the ac. Car was stationary. This is the second time this occurred. If this had happened while driving, it could have created a hazardous situation for me and other motorists.

- Jefferson, GA, USA

problem #10

Jun 102019

Focus

  • 94,438 miles

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

Brake lamp bulb fault, replace both brake lamp bulbs with new ones, they both work but every time the car is started same message comes

- Monroe, NC, USA

problem #9

Dec 312013

Focus

  • 30,000 miles
Passenger side tail light is out (brake light bulb fault warning light is on). After several bulb changes, the brake light either does not come on or it burns out very quickly. An on-line search revealed that this is a common problem and Ford has done nothing about this safety concern. I do not know when this problem first started because it may have been a long time before someone else noticed it and alerted me. The problem is present as soon as the key is turned on.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #8

Apr 032019

Focus

  • miles
The transmission has been slipping badly but warranty is only 100K miles and car has 105K so Ford dealer says I have to pay repairs. This is a know issue. Dashboard display is damage and shows no information - millage - and can not pass emission testing since can not determine millage. Dealer want $800. Vehicle just shut-off in middle of driving - very scary - disconnect and connect battery and worked but scary and dangerous. All these three issues -transmission, display & shutting off- should be a recall because car can not be use.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #7

Jan 012016

Focus

  • 125,000 miles

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

All lights come on and the transmission jerks and hazing in moveing and the electric with the trunk and lights and the doors and the alarm. Been having problems for about a year.

- Arlington Txas, TX, USA

problem #6

Apr 282017

Focus

  • 25,000 miles
There is a group of electrical cables in the trunk of the vehicle on the passenger side that controls all the lights that are attached to the trunk lid. This includes the brake lights. When opening and closing the trunk, this group of cables rubs up against a metal bar. Eventually this can cause the electrical cables to lose their protective tape and possibly cut the cables, leading to a complete loss of brake lights, reverse lights, and turn signal lights. Additional details can be found at the following link. www.focusfanatics.com/forum/MK3-Focus/312776-sedan-owners-watch-potential-wire-failure-trunk.html I have contacted my local Ford dealer, but they did not seem to care. They have made obtaining appointments to fix other recalls extremely difficult and it almost seems like they wish to ignore NHTSA recalls instead of making vehicles safe.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #5

Mar 012017

Focus

  • 53,000 miles
In motion rear brake lights sometimes do not work. In motion. Trunk unlatches unintentionally forcing myself to stop and pull over and close the trunk lid.in both situations the vehicle has warning that correctly warns of the occurring error. On more than 3 occasions recently in March of 2017.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #4

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 #3

May 142013

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while sitting at a stop sign, she depressed the accelerator pedal to drive but the vehicle hesitated to move for a few seconds before surging and accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that they could not diagnose the cause of failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80. Updated 11/19/13 the consumer stated the brake issue was repaired. The brake light continued stay on when the brake was not depressed.

- 386-212-2665, CA, USA

problem #2

Oct 312012

Focus 4-cyl

  • 500 miles
When you turn on the headlights or if you turn on the front windshield wipers, the instrument cluster gauges, get "very dim". when the head lights are turned to off, all of the gage lights get brighter. This makes it very difficult to drive and see the speedometer during the daytime. I would like to drive with my running lights "on" during our travels in the daytime. But the gauges get to dim to read in the daylight, so we travel with our running lights in the "off" position. Our local Ford dealer says that is the way they are designed at the present time. The local dealer does not have a "fix".... this is a safety issue for me and my wife.

- Lake Wales, FL, USA

problem #1

Oct 102012

Focus

  • 500 miles
My 2013 Ford Focus hatchback, in the daytime you can not read the speedometer gage in the cluster panel. The gage lighting needs to be brighter. The speedometer gage is set back in the dash and the dim lighting make it very hard to see how fast you are traveling. We live in sunny Florida and the bright sun during the day makes it very difficult to tell your mph. The instrument dimmer switch is adjusted to the highest setting. On a cloudy day or at night it is not a problem to see & read. I drove 2 other 2013 Ford Focus hb and they all have the same problem. The Ford dealer said there is no known fix. This is a serious hazard, if one can not clearly read the speedometer gage. I sure hope at some point in time, this can be corrected. Thank you.

- Lake Wales, FL, USA

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