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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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,554 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 wheels / hubs problems

wheels / hubs problem

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2013 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #13

Jan 082024

Focus

  • miles

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

Swollen lug nuts. They corroded and were almost impossible to remove. Lug nuts were destroyed during removal and had to be replaced. Apparently some two piece lug nut Ford used. They were original equipment.

- Longmont, CO, USA

problem #12

Dec 122022

Focus

  • miles
Tire lost pressure impossible to get lug nuts off. Tire dealer said all lugs nuts were defective and needed to be replaced. Couldn-??t be done middle of road very dangerous 12/12 2022

- Mt. Pleasant , MI, USA

problem #11

Sep 202022

Focus

  • miles
Could not get tires rotated due to "swollen"lug nuts. Also the tool to fix a flat tire will no longer fit the lug nuts due to the swelling of the lug nuts. I feel like this is a very serious safety issue and we, the owners should not have the burden of having this situation fixed!! Please help!! Thank you

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #10

Jan 132021

Focus

  • miles

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

There are multiple issues going wrong with my car and I have 5 children and this makes me angry and scared to drive it 1. Vehicle completely shuts down if you go under 1/4 tank and NOT on red at all! No gas light or anything 2. The hesitation from stop to go is getting worse" mechanics tell me this is normal" for a focus and now sometimes when accelerating on the highway it gets stuck in certain speeds and feels rougher 3. Now there is a chain like rattling noise upon idle that is annoying and embarrassing 4 the codes state oxygen sensor, speed sensor, fuel valve issue, and power train and abs... It's $100 per issue to diagnose. How is anyone able to afford this" I'm not a mechanic but everytime I take my car in they give it back saying there's no issue or I have to pay more fees to find the issue before anything can be replaced" This is crazy! I don't feel safe driving this car with my babies in it but with student loans and my kids school costs I can't seem to save if I'm paying all these fees to try to figure out what the issues are. The front windshield is horrible because it's hard to see out of even when I clean it w auto glass cleaner, which I have never experienced before and is very dangerous.

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #9

Aug 012020

Focus

  • miles
I went to have my tires rotated on my 2013 Ford Focus SE and I was told that all my lugnuts need to be replaced because they changed form from the heat. In all the cars that I have had this has never been an issue. Numerous people have had the same issue.

- Medford, MA, USA

problem #8

Mar 112019

Focus

  • 84,000 miles
My 2013 Ford Focus tire rod "slipped out" and was replaced. The part was not broken but the threads on the male bolt slipped out and became disconnected while exiting a parking. The part came out during the transition from reverse to drive while stopped and straightening the wheel. The female part on the tire rod became disconnected. I have concern that that is a part malfunction and this should not happen. I have a video of the parts at the time of the incident that shows the part is not been broken and did not have damage. This car has not been involved in any accidents. There is rust on the threads and I feel that contributed to it coming apart. I believe that this part is a manufacturers defect.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #7

Jun 252015

Focus

  • 31,000 miles

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

Went to get tires rotated. I was called to my vehicle to show excessive tire wear on rear tires. Especially right rear.I went to Ford dealer as this vehicle still under warranty. They checked and said it was witiin limits. I was to rotate more often. I rotate on a regular schedule and also run nitrogen in my tires for safety and extended tire life. I took a trip and was due for oil change and tire rotation.. the wear bars were showing and the mechanic would not rotate or attempt to align. His comment was all the Ford Focus vehicles are like this and no matter how good a tire you put on; they wear out right around 30,000 miles. Is this another denied defect by Ford Motor Company like my transmission was at first"?" this is a safety hazard and investigating with other Focus owners found the above to be true with their vehicles. I amm sure I didn't have a blow out due to using nitrogen in my tires.

- Bangor , ME, USA

problem #6

May 012015

Focus

  • 61,575 miles
[xxx] ; my newly purchased used 2013 Ford Focus SE. Had a series of things gone wrong with it. And I know it falls under the state "lemon law." Although I have purchased the extended warranty. I have seem to find myself stranded with no vehicle to drive to work nor go to and from school with? this is why I have chose to file this complaint towards Ford Motor Company, about my newly purchased vehicle. The dealership in which I purchased the vehicle from has partly tried to comply by fixing the problems. While one other of the dealership departments chooses to avoid all the problems arising from the car. I would like this complaint to be a foremost last warning to whom the "reject vehicle" option or :lemon law option will be my next request. I have spent over fifteen thousand on this vehicle that has done nothing but leave me stranded for two days following five day on a different occasion. And the two sub manufacturing entities I have been working with seem to careless whether I have a vehicle or not. I would close with this final statement, why should I have to go without a car that is dependable, and not be compensated with a rental while the vehicle is getting repaired. That esp has seem to provide me with nothing I have had to pay deductible for repairs on this vehicle when it was this way to begin with. Please contact me for some helpful options on my rights as a consumer. Sincerely [xxx] sincerely [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Grover Beach , CA, USA

problem #5

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 #4

Aug 132014

Focus

  • 25,000 miles
2 Continental contiprocontact tires have sidewall bubbles on my 2013 Ford Focus. Fear I will have a blowout on the freeway.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #3

Mar 212014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 14,000 miles

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

I noticed a large bubble - the approximate size of a tennis ball - in my passenger side tire sidewall. Had to call numerous dealers to find a tire in stock. Took the car to a local Ford dealership and he said the tire was about to blow. $170 for a new tire. Not even two months later, driving down the road and another tire sidewall blew. This one had a tear in the sidewall. Had to call Ford emergency road service to have the donut tire put on. Drove to a Continental dealer, but once again no tire in stock. He put on a tire and had to go back in when he got the other one. Another $170. Terrified to drive on these tires. Contacted Continental. No one returns your calls. The tires are Continental conti pro contact. Very dangerous tires. Literally hundred of complaints on the internet. Some people replacing four and five tires. Looking to buy new tires, but now the state of the art transmission in my new car is going in for the second repair. Got a lemon.

- Brookfield, OH, USA

problem #2

Feb 152014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 5,000 miles
Vehicle was purchased brand new. Car handled erratically on wet / slick surfaces. Originally thought the problem was traction control related. Brought the car in for service and Ford service (all american Ford, hackensack, NJ) said the traction control was operational. We specifically suggested it might be the tires, and Ford service indicated the tires were not problematic / an issue (incompetence or disinterest). Subsequently learned that Ford installed "summer only tires" instead of "all weather tires". automobile was purchased in northern New Jersey. Extremely irresponsible to equip automobiles with summer only tires in the us northeast (if not illegal, perhaps it should be). On February 15, 2014, automobile skidded out of control and crashed into a snow bank in princeton New Jersey. No injuries. In light of the now highly publicized GM thought process towards ignition switches on cobalt and G5 models, we feel it is appropriate to report the incident. Sent a letter to [xxx] on March 6th. Tried to speak with the dealership on various occasions (no follow up). Forwarded a complaint concerning safety and service support via the Ford website. No follow up from Ford hq. Replaced the tires at our expense (cost of approximately $1,000) in late February / early March, and disposed of original tires. The NHTSA should raise the safety matter with Ford given their apparent disregard for safety and lack of follow up / interest in the matter. In our view this is a serious safety issue which potentially puts lives at risk and should be addressed. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, 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

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