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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.

7.1

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
24,550 miles
Total Complaints:
13 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (13 reports)
2013 Ford Focus transmission problems

transmission problem

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2013 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #13

Jun 112015

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,000 miles

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

The transmission modular fails to shift properly. The transmission lags and shifts roughly, often jerking and grinding in 1st and 2nd gear. This makes the car extremely dangerous, especially when taking off out into traffic. I have almost been hit multiple times because of the transmission failing to shift properly. Ford has offered no solution. Ford dealership also will not take responsibility. They have turned me away multiple types denying the issue. I have been stuck paying for this lemon every month for the past 5 yrs. Come to find out Ford has a long history ignoring safety issues and ignoring recalls when needed. They should be held reasonable under their strict product liability and reimburse owners. I would NEVER purchase another Ford in my life or recommend their shady company to anyone. Time for transparency Ford!

- Atlas S., Parish, NY, US

problem #12

Jun 112015

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,000 miles

The transmission modular fails to shift properly. The transmission lags and shifts roughly, often jerking and grinding in 1st and 2nd gear. This makes the car extremely dangerous, especially when taking off out into traffic. I have almost been hit multiple times because of the transmission failing to shift properly. Ford has offered no solution. Ford dealership also will not take responsibility. They have turned me away multiple types denying the issue. I have been stuck paying for this lemon every month for the past 5 yrs. Come to find out Ford has a long history ignoring safety issues and ignoring recalls when needed. They should be held reasonable under their strict product liability and reimburse owners. I would NEVER purchase another Ford in my life or recommend their shady company to anyone. Time for transparency Ford!

- Atlas S., Parish, NY, US

problem #11

Mar 062018

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,711 miles

I bought my car as my 21st birthday present to myself. My Honda CRV was about to bite the dust. I purchased my car from them April 18, 2017, two days later I spent my 21st birthday getting a ride to work, and the rest of my evening at Enterprise trying to get a rental because my car wouldn't start the day before. If I had to do it over again, I would have returned the car the day after I bought it when it did not start.

Now, my transmission slips, and grinds. I purchased my car from the guy who owns Heritage in Columbus and Heritage of Bedford (now closed.) He won't admit to being the owner but I have his name on two different documents. He was the owner of the lot I purchased my car from.

I am stuck with this awful car that has constant problems and there is nothing anyone can do for me because the dealership I "bought" it from is now closed. Not to mention, I was supposed to receive TWO YEARS of free oil changes when I got the car. The salesman even told me they wouldn't be at "that location" for long. No one ever said anything about it "closing" and me losing $60 every 3 months on oil changes.

They do business dirty, and very minimal customer service to those who give them "trouble." The man that owns the franchise of Heritage should be ashamed of him and his business.

Now my car is literally slipping and shuttering every time I take off from the traffic sign/light, or pull out of my driveway, and grinds when switching gears.

- Rhainnin B., Orleans, IN, US

problem #10

Apr 282015

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

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

The car would make a grinding noise especially when turning a corner or taking off from a stop light. The local Ford dealer could not find anything wrong. I took them for a ride and it made a TERRIBLE sound when I backed out of the parking space. They still could not find the problem but did make a comment that there was a leak in the clutch but that could be fixed later. Recall on the car in May (I believe) and the computer was updated. Fixed for some time but then noise started again. Took it back to dealer in January of 2016 to see about the leak and had to have the clutch replaced (I submitted complaint about that incident also).

- Gloria M., Urbana, OH, US

problem #9

Aug 012015

Focus

  • CVT transmission
  • 50,000 miles

This Focus has a TERRIBLE transmission issue. It stalls, grinds, rolls back, and ultimately, STOPPED STARTING. The techs reprogrammed the transmission control module last year, and the problem persisted, but I was told it was "normal" and there wasn't anything they could do. Finally, the module completely failed, and my car would not start at all.

- Katie R., Fort Worth, TX, US

problem #8

Oct 212015

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,321 miles

I just purchased this car at Gilboy Ford in Whitehall,Pa. I had it for about a week and the trouble has started with the DPS6 auto transmission. Shudder....my ass ! This clutch/trans is total junk. I have been back to the dealer and tech says it's within Ford specs...but, they'll take a look at it. Well...I spoke with John Gilboy about it and he says that they will make SURE that the problem is fixed and Ford will will "Make It Right". I'll let you know how this goes as appt. is on Tuesday 11-3-15. Just a word for anyone thinking about buying a Focus...research the model,motor and trans it comes with !!!

Update from Dec 6, 2015: WELL.....had the car back to GILBOY FORD in WHITEHALL,PA . And guess what....they found the trans leaking onto the clutch. They did the usual "lets go cheap" fix...replace the leaking imput shaft seal and clean the clutch with 2 cans of brake cleaner. Now....2 days later....nothing has changed ! FORD...and...GILBOY know what needs to be done, ie: replace the clutch with the NEW # F, NEW # D seal, and reprogram the pcm/tcm....or...buy back this total piece of crap and get me into something SAFE to drive. I've written to FORD and they said they would elevate my case to their CSM (John) who I cannot seem to get n touch with (go figure)...SO...we'll see what FORD will do next. ps...does anyone remember " QUALITY IS JOB #1 " ...I pretty sure FORD has forgotten !!

- robert_pa, Whitehall, PA, US

problem #7

Jun 162014

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,000 miles

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

I didn't like it. When you go driving through a parking lot, it sounds like your car is going to fall out. I bought a new car to sound smooth. I take it there and they look at me like I am making stuff up. I tried to get it fixed before my warranty and nothing. All in my head.

- dntstaley, Brandon, FL, US

problem #6

Dec 052014

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,000 miles

So I purchased this car on a great deal from a used car dealer because it only had 14,500 miles on and it was a 2013 with no vehicle report of damages. Everything was fine until about two weeks after we purchased it, we started to hear grinding noises while shifting and while driving uphill. We took it to the local Ford dealer shop since it is still under warranty, but they said all they could do was update the software saying the problem was common but not bad enough. As we've had it for a few more months, it has been getting progressively worse and sounds like the gears are grinding as if I were trying to shift to a lower gear while driving at a high speed.

All in all, Ford knows about this problem and the only thing that they said was that they have extended the warranty out to 100,000 miles for the engine problems. That's great, if there is a warranty extended, but it does nothing if I can't ever get it fixed...

- Austin B., Orem, UT, US

problem #5

Jun 162014

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

This complaint is actually about two 2013 Ford Focuses....I financed a gently used 2013 Focus in February 2014. No major problems with my car except it rolling back on hills as I let off the brake. The car was a victim of two car accidents(none transmission related, texting driver and a drunk driver) and wound up being totaled out.Anyways, I rented another 2013 Focus because I missed my Focus so much. On the rental, with had about 15,000 more miles than my Focus, was running very shaky, and the transmission made a rattling noise as I'd go from a stop or make a turn while accelerating, like aluminum cans being crushed and rumbling. I researched the symptoms (cause I was gonna get another Focus since mine was totaled out) and saw many others have been having the same problem. I had a transmission problem with my 05 Taurus too, which was in the shop 3 times and still kept acting up. I've always loved Ford but now I'm wondering if those Chevy lovers are right about Ford transmissions. I didn't want to take the risk of getting another Focus for this reason. For the 1st time, I went against Ford and purchased a Hyundai instead.

- Kristin B., Highland, IN, US

problem #4

Mar 142013

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,500 miles

New car - took back to dealer who said couldn't recreate the problem.

- Stephen H., CHICAGO, IL, US

problem #3

Mar 192013

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,200 miles

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

This car was brand new. I bought it in February. I drove it off the lot and not even a month later it starts making this grinding noise when you accelerate and turn. A few weeks go by and the noise is now every time I drive the car. Not even just when turning, it was all the time. I take it to the Ford dealership and what did they say? That this was normal!! Last time I checked, brand new cars are not supposed to make any type of noise whatsoever! Especially not some grinding noise coming from the transmission! My whole Ford experience was terrible because they wouldn't even test drive the car when I told them about it, which was more than 3 times. I get my paperwork back at the end and they say "Yes, we test drove your car and everything was normal." Well why was my mileage in # the exact same as my mileage out # if you test drove it?

Then I go to trade the car in to the dealership and get a paper in the mail from the AIM inspection company. It said that there was a stain on the front seat which would be extremely hard to do with 2, not 1 but 2, seat covers on both front seats! I know it looked stupid but it was to prevent things like that! I didn't think anything about it because the paper said "this is not a bill. No further action is needed on your part." So I just filed it away. Two weeks later I get a bill in the mail from the same company, for the same "problem" saying that I owe $75! If your gonna send me a bill, just do it and don't tell me that no further action is needed if you know that it will be! So then I call the company and complain about the seat "stain." I even told her about the 2 seat covers but of course she didn't even care what I had to say (which seems pretty common for Ford workers). I then give in to pay the bill because she says that it will go against my credit. I pay the bill and look online at my statement and she charged me 3 different times! What the hell?! I go to call back and every time I do, nobody answers.

Ford's are pieces of cheap, plastic junk and some (I'm not saying all, but definitely some) of the people that work for them are too. They are not willing to take fault for their problem cars and the employees I dealt with just shoved it off as if it was normal. I went to trade my car back into them and was talking to one of the guys that works there. He begins to mention how I was the 4th person that day to have the same issue! Obviously there was a problem. My friend at work also had the same car and guess what.... the same problems! After that I will never, ever buy a Ford again in my life.

I have purchased a Subaru and am very impressed with the build quality as opposed to Ford. Guess what? This car is about 2 years old now and it doesn't make any noises! If anyone is reading this and thinking about switching their car brand from Ford to something else, my advise... Run. Run as fast as you can from them and never look back!

- Lori R., lagrange, OH, US

problem #2

Jan 222014

Focus LX 1.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,400 miles

Realy i am very upset because i got brand new ford focus 2013 that i dont need to hear any noises like used cars & allways going to workshop to fix it.brand new means for 3 to 5 years u dont have to go to workshop but when i heard noises in the car i called the dealer & they gave me appointment at 16 march 2014 & they send enginer with me to drive the car & he told me its only a noise & its in all ford focus.then i shouted on them that i will pay 100k for this car i can not expact this car. then they called there workshop manger he drive the car & he started to explane that its simple if u buy manual u will heard the same noise & the transmition for ford foucs is build like a manule & when it shift it makes a noise & if we change the transmitions clutch the noise will go for some time & it will come again ,it means there is a manufactur foult.i asked the workeshop manger that if u pay 100k for the car do u like to hear any noises in the car he sayed no i told him if u dont i wont either.now my car is with the dealer because there is another noises they r trying to fix it but i wont leave them like this .i will go every day & disturb them till they give me another car with out noises.

- malikkhan, Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

problem #1

Mar 082013

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,500 miles

The grinding noise of my Ford Focus is annoying and disturbing. It happens randomly and I could not replicate it in the test drives with Brien Ford and Kirkland Ford's technicians.

In 06/2013, I joined and reported my car's problem on focusfanatics forum and was contacted by Ford's local service rep. who sent me to Ford of Kirkland for another test drive. However, I had to be out of the country at the time. When I had time to get back to her in 12/2013, she never returned my call.

So, after finding out that the noise could be easily replicated by going up steep hills, I found a steep hill and requested another test drive with Kirkland Ford on my own but was told that the issue is a known one and Ford engineers are trying to find a software fix for the problem. The service adviser could not tell me when the fix will be available but assure me that the noise should be considered "normal operations".

If I knew that this grinding noise was "normal", I would have never bought the car. I bought for this 2013 Focus as a commuter car after a very good experience with my 2011 Ford Flex. However, Ford disappointed me with a disappointing product and bad service.

I hope that by reporting this problem on carcomplaints.com, I could get some help in solving the problem of my car. On the other hand, I hope that my experience will help others make the right decision when they consider buying a Ford Focus.

- phongski, SAMMAMISH, WA, US

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