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:
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

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 13 of 14)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #21

Dec 042014

Focus

  • 38,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the power steering assist failed without warning. The contact had to apply force to turn the steering wheel which had become extremely difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for further inspection, diagnosis and repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #20

Oct 122014

Focus

  • 50,000 miles
The contact rented a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, all the lights on the instrument panel illuminated along with the transmission and you are not in park warning lights. In addition, the brakes and power steering failed. The vehicle was towed to the rental company. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

- Washington , DC, USA

problem #19

Nov 232013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 1,300 miles
When driving at highway speeds of about 65+ mph the steering wheel will have a notchy feel when you try and turn it from the center to correct direction, which results in a jolt* that over corrects causing you to have to correct again, where the issue comes into play once again. Doing so make it feel as if you have to constantly turn the wheel between the notch points in order to go in a straight line, which makes the car handle in a very unsafe manner, when you take into account that when the wheel goes into the notch the car heads straight for the car next to you or the barrier/ditch on the side of the road. I have to take 500 mile trips every month, and this becomes a serious problem at the speeds and distances that I have to drive. * this jolt is like you have to turn over a bump, there is a point that requires more force to turn than normal, but the moment it breaks that barrier, it goes back to normal causing the wheel to turn and stick into another position/notch. There is a notch both left and right about 10-15 degrees of center, meaning once you break the initial force to move from the center, it will "clunk" into the notch at 10-15 degrees from center.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #18

Jun 012013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 7,000 miles

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

My car has had the steering fixed, the alternator replaced and the clutch fixed 5-6 times in 6 months. My transmission/clutch is still not repaired. Someone is going to die in this car and I can't afford to get rid of it so I am forced to put my life in danger every day. I have a lemon law attorney and Ford will still do nothing. I paid $1095 for an automatic transmission and I do not have an automatic transmission. Ford committed fraud with this sale.

- Desert Hot Springs, CA, USA

problem #17

Jun 262014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 13,400 miles
Warning light came on. "steering assist fault. Service required." Complete loss of power steering. Very difficult to turn wheel to get off the road. Same problem occurred again 2 weeks later.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #16

Dec 122013

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph after the accelerator pedal depressed, there was a loud noise that emitted from the driver side of the vehicle. The vehicle veered to the left and the steering wheel became difficult maneuver. The manufacturer was contacted and did not offer a remedy. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 18,722.

- Greesburo, NC, USA

problem #15

Jun 122014

Focus

  • 19,500 miles

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

The steering problems started nearly two months ago. At first it was a faint pull in the wheel... I incorrectly assumed it was a tire balance issue. Then three weeks ago, I noticed the "pull" was getting stronger, and seemed to coincide with the A/C fan or random light failing. Two weeks ago was the worst - I was on my way to the dealership and slowed down to stop at a light. My wheel was slightly to the right; and about 5 seconds before coming to a stop, the wheel all of a sudden yanked an extra forty degrees and pulled me into the turning lane. After getting back into my own lane, I noticed that the A/C fan also quit working. The car has also had random electrical problems/failures. The car has been in the dealership for 2 weeks now, and they are unable to reproduce/resolve the problem.

- Ooltewah, TN, USA

problem #14

May 012014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 9,974 miles
2013 Ford Focus St has stalled on the highway going 65+ mph multiple times, in addition to on -ramps and while coming to a stop, resulting in loss of power brakes and power steering. Multiple times has stalled without giving a check engine light, meaning the dealer wouldn't look at it despite being under warranty. Engine's idling speed is wildly erratic before and after stalling events. Have been incredibly lucky so far because this is extremely dangerous and a huge safety risk. Terrified of losing power again while turning left ahead of oncoming traffic or while merging onto the freeway. Ford has issued tsb 13-9-7 for those lucky enough to have the ECU store a code, notice the issue and get it to a dealer while still under warranty, but this absolutely needs to be a recall before someone gets hurt or killed.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #13

May 022014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 3,900 miles
The vehicle will stall upon pressing the clutch in while in gear or neutral regardless of speed at random intervals. I'll notice that coming to a stop with the clutch in the car has a hard time finding an idle then ultimately dies. This mostly happens while the car has been running for awhile and the ac is on however it has happened with the ac off. This has happened multiple times including while down shifting into a lower gear while turning. The dealership was unable to reproduce this despite showing video proof of the issue. This is an overall safety concern when the car could shut off at any given moment while driving.

- Auburn, WA, USA

problem #12

Apr 042014

Focus

  • 350 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while he drove 65 mph the steering warning light illuminated and the steering wheel became hard to turn. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage were 350.

- Germantown , NY, USA

problem #11

Feb 082014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 13,286 miles

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

I was driving on the highway at midnight 2/8/2014 at about 75mph when my car started to become stiff in the steering and lost speed rapidly. I down shifted from 5th gear to 4th gear the car would not accelerate even with my foot pressed all the way down on the accelerator, I shifted down to 3rd because of the sudden loss of speed and still nothing the cars rpms would go higher but the speed would not change. This nearly caused me to have an accident so I exited the highway and shut the vehicle off. Once the vehicle was shut off and turned back on the problem went away, I contacted Ford brought it in to their service center and they could not replicate this problem and suggested I continue to drive the vehicle until it happens again.

- Chatsworth, CA, USA

problem #10

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

problem #9

Aug 142012

Focus 4-cyl

  • 50 miles
I owned my brand new car for approximately 7 days, when the problems began! it had 4 miles on it when I purchased it new! I was driving on a local highway at approximately 45-55 mph, when the steering started to feel sticky, I felt like I was losing control of the vehicle, it felt as though I was in a major wind storm and was being blown back and forth across the highway! I was scared to death! I pulled the car to the side of the road and had my husband come drive us the rest of the way home. Also, when turning to a hard right or left, I can feel something under my feet like there's something about to rocket through the floor boards! also, when I'm stopped anywhere with the engine running and the transmission engaged, and I'm holding the brake of course, the car wants to lunge forward and it does it too, when I'm pulling into or backing out of a parking space. Its dangerous and very scary!! please Ford, please look into these issues before someone dies or is seriously injured.

- Breezewood, PA, USA

problem #8

Jul 292013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 500 miles
Steering intermittently gets 'sticky' in center position at freeway speeds. The vehicle tracks reasonably well but as it drifts slightly in the lane it is normal to make small corrections. In every vehicle I have ever owned before this requires no effort or thought. In this one it takes concentration to avoid looking like I'm driving under the influence. In other words, it resists normal micro-corrections and tends to twitch and over-correct when it finally responds to the steering adjustment. That results in my vehicle moving a foot instead of an inch which is not a lot of fun at freeway speeds and is potentially dangerous. My research suggests that this is a programming issue with the electrically assisted steering. NHTSA: Please address this with a recall before someone gets hurt or killed.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #7

Jul 212013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 8,500 miles
I was on my way back home from Chicago to Ohio. About an hour into the trip my steering started getting stiff and hard to control. I had to hold on with both hand tightly. It felt like the steering was locking up. Like a click. If I moved it ever so slightly it stuck and I had to move it back quickly. What should have taken 6 1/2 hours took me 10 1/2. my young son and I were scared. It was Sunday and I was in another state. Nothing open and on a toll road. It still gets hard to steer but my dealership said there is nothing wrong. Someone please help. I travel back and forth from Ohio to Chicago a lot.

- Hartville, OH, USA

problem #6

Apr 242013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 300 miles
Vehicle wonders or drifts at highway speeds, seems like your always over correcting the steering wheel. Vehicle makes a zig zag motion on certain road surfaces like your caught in the wind behind a semi.vehicle alignment as of this date has been changed 4 times.

- Sturgeon Lake, MN, USA

problem #5

Apr 262013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 1,200 miles
When driving at highway speeds (55-65 mph) for periods of time greater than 30 minutes, the steering begins to become jerky and sticky. The vehicle starts to wander as if the front wheels are out of alignment, making it necessary to make many very small steering corrections. This problem has occurred every time the vehicle has been on the highway under the said conditions.

- Rolla, MO, USA

problem #4

Nov 012012

Focus 6-cyl

  • 1,000 miles
When driving at highway speeds the steering becomes "sticky". when attempting to keep the vehicle in a straight line the steering sticks in its current position and to make a slight modification I have to put more effort into turning the steering wheel. Once the steering releases the car over corrects and then I need to make a correction in the opposite direction causing a "zig-zag" motion. It feels like I could lose control if I over corrected and I find myself gripping the steering wheel when driving this vehicle at highway speeds. In city driving I don't notice this happening, only highway driving it tends to "stick" in its position. I brought the car to the dealership and they mentioned it has electronic steering and that this is normal and they didn't know of any tsb's on the vehicle yet. I feel that this is a safety issue since it would be easy to overcorrect and then eventually lose control of the vehicle, or even cause an accident if there is a car in the next lane. I believe Ford needs to adjust their electronic steering to assist less than it is currently programmed to do.

- Eagan, MN, USA

problem #3

Mar 182013

Focus

  • 1,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 mph, the steering wheel seized without any warning and then resumed normally. The failure occurred when the contact was operating the vehicle in 70 degree and weather and above. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer twice for the same defect. The technician informed the contact that the rack and pinion would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000.

- Moncks Corner, SC, USA

problem #2

Jan 232013

Focus

  • 3,900 miles
Approximately 15 minutes into trip to work from home the power assist steering on my 2013 Ford Focus failed at which point the vehicle became significantly difficult to steer. Luckly I was on a straight path, had this happened in a turn, an accident would have certainly occured. At the point where the power assist steering failed a message appeared on the dashboards led display that read something to the effect that lose of power assited steering detected. After the message disappeared, the vehicle's (!) light remained lite. Vehicle was towed to dealership who after looking at it stated that the technician started the vehicle and it ran perfectly. No isses with the steering at all, but that there were some "codes" looged in the vehicle's system that they were unfamiliar with and were trying to reach the "Ford hotline" for further help.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

Read the next 1 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?