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.

2.9

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,135 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous 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 (Page 7 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #66

Jun 182017

Focus

  • 32,000 miles

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

Car latch on Ford focus2013 wont let car door close. I left the store and noticed that the air was coming into the car as if a window was open. When I got home my door would not close.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #65

May 262017

Focus

  • 52,000 miles
Moon/sunroof shattered while driving- no vehicles, rocks or other obstructions were near

- Lincoln, AR, USA

problem #64

May 112017

Focus

  • 43,990 miles
This car experiences sudden loss of power leading to the inability to accelerate or even move the vehicle for varying lengths of time. This is left me stranded in dangerous situations three times. Twice I was in traffic (coming off the I-95 North and needing to merge my exit, then when stopped at a red light in a left turn lane). Most recently the vehicle would not start up after being in a parked. In the latter episode jump-starts did not help. While the dash lights eventually came on, and the windshield wipers were able to move one to two times and then died, the engine simply would not turn over. Initial evaluations by the dealer for an engine light gave an "overspeed code" which was not relevant to driving conditions.

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #63

Mar 162017

Focus

  • 100,000 miles

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

Clutch kit replacements, electronic transmission module replacements (three times), after all this I still have a car that shudders the engine light comes on and off. I took it to auto zone they put there machine that tells you what is wrong with it on and the error code is P090C which is the clutch position circuit. I put in gear to go after backing up but it wouldn't move until I put in gear S. I took it to eby Ford goshen in to have it fixed.

- Vandalia, MI, USA

problem #62

Sep 022016

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
There's nothing wrong with my vehicle. My vehicle has never been driven by anyone but me. No one has ever been hurt or injured in my car. Any reports like the one that on your site under VIN#[xxx] is false, and should be investigated *search of complaint database on April 24, 2017, shows that this is the only complaint filed on that VIN*smch information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Ukiah, CA, USA

problem #61

Oct 092015

Focus

  • 49,000 miles
The vehicle's clutch has been replaced twice it stutters/hesitates, makes grinding noises, etc. And still does since second repair, radio made popping, static skrecking sounds that got worse over time to the point of happening all the time and made radio useless, purge valve failed and could have destroyed gas tank and fuel pump if not dealt with which thankfully I did. These are all known issues with this vehicle thousands of similar complaints online.

- Medford, NY, USA

problem #60

Jul 072016

Focus

  • 52,000 miles

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

Transmission is slipping really bad and gets up to 3,000-4,000 rpms then jerks really hard.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #59

Mar 192017

Focus

  • 2 miles
Over the past 1 + years my radio would randomly make a hissing and cracking sound followed by a loud pop and stop working. Both the radio and blue tooth capabilities were disabled. Restarting the car would solve the problem. I have tried several times to update the sync/radio, but have not been successful. As per the Ford sync web site, I used well above the minimums storage (2gb) and had a properly formatted usb device, but the vehicle would not recognize the device for an update. Yesterday the radio completely stopped working and would continue to hiss and crack, even with the car turned off and keys out of the ignition. I have tried to reset the radio, but it is still not functioning and have no blue tooth capability.

- Bradley Beach, NJ, USA

problem #58

Mar 092017

Focus

  • 87,000 miles
Vehicle shudders when accelerating after a complete stop. I took it to the dealership and they replaced the clutch. I am still having the issue. The shuddering happens everyday.

- Red Bluff, CA, USA

problem #57

Jan 162017

Focus

  • 63,300 miles
The Ford Focus hatchback that I purchased from auffenberg dealer group, 1708 new car drive, O'fallon, Illinois on December 13, 2016 constantly jerks when I accelerate. The car does not accelerate properly, as if it is not getting enough gas. (strangely, I did not sense this while test driving the vehicle. During the test drive on December 13, 2016, I did mention to the sales person that I heard a sound coming from the car that sparked my concern but was told he heard nothing. There's something wrong with the reaction of the wheels on the car when acceleration is slowed. My greatest concern is the car acts as if it will stop in traffic. This can prove dangerous to me and other motorists. No one mentioned or discussed with me on December 13, 2016 these problems although I've since seen a paper lacking my signature concerning the same. The car indicate a danger while in motion to me and other motorists.

- Venice, IL, USA

problem #56

Oct 032016

Focus

  • miles

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

Side door latching (safety recall) still not repaired. I have been to the dealer for two times already since Oct 2016 but they only say that parts are not available.

- Lakewood, CA, USA

problem #55

Oct 012016

Focus

  • 97,000 miles
The door no longer latched, they refused to fix if for 3 weeks. Then finally fixed it, when I went my seat belt also stopped latching and they refused to fix it, both driver and passenger seat belt stopped latching. They will not fix until in becomes and actual recall. I see many complaints about this.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #54

Nov 082016

Focus 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
I have had my pre-owned vehicle for 1 1/2 years and have had continuous issues with my trunk popping open randomly. It opens anywhere and at random times. I've had it open while driving down the interstate, which is a huge safety hazard, potentially having things from trunk fly out and hit another motorist. It has been looked at twice by baxter Ford in omaha, ne. They can never seem to find the issue or have it "duplicate" on their time. This definitely sounds like a manufacturer defect.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #53

Dec 152012

Focus

  • miles
I purchased a 2013 Ford Focus SE for my daughter back in 2012, and after a few months of driving the vehicle, she started experiencing some issues with the transmission/clutch. Whenever she stops at a stop light and tries to accelerate at take off, she feels jerking, and hesitation when driving. We took the car back to the dealership and was informed there had been issues with the vehicles dual clutch that was redesigned on the car. The clutch was replaced and deemed okay to drive per dealer. We picked up her vehicle and everything appeared to be running smoothly, until a few months later she started having the same issues. This time the car started to jerk more often and was getting worse. We took the car back to the dealership, car was placed on computer and we were informed by the service advisor that no issues were found. We were then sent on our way and were told that this would be an ongoing issue with this vehicle due to the change in the new clutch design. My daughter has had her vehicle for a little over 2 years now, and we are still going through this problem. The engine light is now coming on while she is driving. This vehicle is unsafe and could cause someone to get seriously hurt while driving in traffic. Something needs to be done to get these vehicles off the road, since the problem is not able to be corrected at our local dealerships. This is very frustrating and I feel deceived that this information was not provided at the time of purchase. I myself drive a Ford and never have experienced anything like this before, but I think after my experience with her car, I wont be returning to a Ford dealership anytime soon!!!

- Farmersville, TX, USA

problem #52

Oct 242016

Focus

  • miles
The powershift transmission contains one or more design and/or manufacturing defects that cause problems and unsafe conditions, including, but not limited to, suddenly lurching forward, delayed acceleration, and sudden loss of forward propulsion. The transmission has a very sluggish shift between the first and second gears and the upshift bogs down like the vehicle might stall and erratically shifting in second and third gear as well, continue to experience transmission defect, including, but not limited to, bucking, kicking, jerking, harsh engagement, and delayed acceleration and lurching. This is a serious matter that needs to be addressed before this defect causes fatalities.

- Nogales, AZ, USA

problem #51

Oct 052016

Focus

  • 84,000 miles
Problem with the transmission has a very delayed shift from 1st gear to 2nd gear and it is an automatic. Can hear the gears slip and grind when trying to change lower gears... especially going up any type of hill.could cause a wreck when pulling off a side street to main road or when going up a hill it can't almost feel like the engine is going to drop out the bottom of the car and the car to rolling backwards.

- Charleston, WV, USA

problem #50

Sep 052016

Focus

  • 50,000 miles
Many problems with this Ford Focus.1st problem I had was a year after I bought the vehicle the fuel pump was leaking.I notice because my car was parked and it smelled like gasoline inside the vehicle.2nd incident happened a year later. I was driving home from work when car just shut off on the road. I was so scared.I was in notion barely move to the side of the road on rt 50.that was so scary I could have died.I had to tow the car to get serviced at sheehy Ford. They gave me the car back again and it happened again on the road on my way to work. At that time I towed it again but to koons falls church.looked at the vehicle and didn't find anything either until I got upset and they told me to go for a test drive with the mechanic and it happened while on the test drive. The mechanic stated to keep the car running so he can plug in the machine that reads the problems on the vehicle. He also stated that once you turn of the car and you turn it back on that it would reset it self and that's why they didn't know that tcm or tmc control needed to be replaced. This was very scary for me.now for the passed 3 weeks I have been dealing with a static /popping noise /sound that comes from the vehicle when I'm driving & when the vehicle is parked, the key is out the ignition.I took it to sheehy since that's where I bought the vehicle. They provide the worst service on the vehicle. Bcuz they had my car for 4 days and didn't provide me with a loaner and had the audacity to tell me that the master tech was on vacation and I would have to wait still with no loaner vehicle.the radio is completely off and they want me to pay out of pocket to fix it.it has just given me problem after problem is manufactured problems.I had so many safety issues that scared me.car shutting off on the road and now making loud popping/ static noise where I thought I might be electrocuted.

- Annandale, VA, USA

problem #49

Jan 012016

Focus

  • miles
I have heard there is a recall on the door latch on the back door. I have heard nothing from the company I bought the car from.

- Shawnee, OK, USA

problem #48

Sep 092016

Focus

  • 37,000 miles
One Dec 24 2015 driving down the freeway my car had full loss of steering, the engine light came on, the pedals stopped working and I nearly crashed the car. After pulling off the freeway I turned the car off and it would not start back up. Moments later I could start the car, I ran a vehicle health report to prove to Ford that something had happened. I then drove my car which was stuck in 1st gear to my destination. The steering was very heavy, the pedals were not working well at all. After leaving it parked for 30 minutes I turned the car on and the check engine illuminated, but the problems had cleared. This feature is very deceiving, as some may assume the car is now safe. I took the car in for repair, and they simply reprogrammed the car. I continue to this day to have transmission issues, and have had the clutch only replaced one time dispite bringing it to them constantly for repair. In January of this year my cars clutch and transmission failed, the car seemed to make a loud acceleration noise and then become forced into 1st gear. This made steering heavy or hard, & the pedals not work with the usual weight on them. I drove my car to Ford like this, stuck in 1st to show them finally that the whole time I knew something was wrong. My various other complaints of this vehicle include regular acceleration between 1st and 2nd gear, there is the standard shudder. In addition, my visiting family became stuck in the back seat with indoor latches not working - the child locks were off. I feel as though I was sold a "dud" car & that the salesperson lied to me about the transmission. If I had known it was an "electronically controlled manual car" I would not have purchased it. Now I can't get my car appraised, no dealer is willing to buy this car form me. Kbb states my current value is at around $9000 and 12 months ago I paid $16000, close to $17000 including financing

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #47

Feb 072016

Focus

  • 37,000 miles
The automatic transmission slips when shifting gears, most noticeably the lower gears but it has happened with higher gears on occasion. The automatic transmission also "spudders" or "chugs" when acceleration is applied, and does not matter how aggressively or gently the acceleration is applied, it still struggles, sometimes hesitating, or sometimes "chugging, " then usually slams violently into gear. These occurances are ongoing and are most prevalent when accelerating from a stop or from slow speeds.

- Milwaukie, OR, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?