Page 38 of 43 · complaints 1,851–1,900 of 2,112

2013 Ford Focus complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2013 record →

Power Train
Filed Jul 21, 2014NC

I HAVE HAD MY 2013 FORD FOCUS AT THE DEALER THREE TIMES NOW FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THEIR DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION INCLUDING EXCESSIVE NOISE DURING ACCELERATION, HESITATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC, AND JERKY ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE CLUTCH AND REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED - THE NOISE AND HESITATION RETURNED WITHIN A DAY OF THE REPAIRS. I SIMPLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AS I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO FAIL TO ACCELERATE. FORD INSISTS THESE ISSUES ARE NORMAL, BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE A CAR THAT SOUNDS LIKE THIS AND FAILS TO SHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC IS "NORMAL". *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 19, 201413,000 milesWV

TRANSMISSION IS GRINDING CAR IS SHIMMING ACTS AS IF IT WANTS TO STALL. I HAVE HAD IT TO BERT WOLF 2 TIMES THIS YEAR AND ITS STILL NOT FIXED. IM AFRAID CAR WILL STALL WHEN TURNING IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 18, 201425,500 milesMI

TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2YR OLD CERTIFIED 2013 FORD FOCUS SE A WEEK AGO. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE CAR TRANSITION SLIPS SIMILAR TO A DRIVER LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN ACCELERATING AND TURNING A CORNER THE CAR WITH STUDDED AND JUMP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME THIS WAS PART OF THE DUAL CLUTCH DESIGN OF THE CAR. APPRECIATE THE OTHER POSTS TO VALIDATE THE SITUATION. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 17, 2014300 milesOH

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY BRAND NEW 2013 FORD FOCUS I NOTICED AT ACCELERATION FROM A STOP THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS "SLIPPING" (SHUDDERING, LURCHING INTO GEAR ETC.). I CONTACTED MY SALESMAN ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HE TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS "JUST BREAKING IN" AND IT WOULD GO AWAY. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT STOP AND EVENTUALLY GOT WORSE TO THE POINT THAT I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON MY OWN TO COMPLAIN. I WAS TOLD TO BRING MY CAR IN; THEY WERE GOING TO USE A "SPECIAL" CLEANING SOLUTION ON THE CLUTCHES IN THE TRANSMISSION TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IF THAT DID NOT WORK THEN THEY WOULD REPLACE THE CLUTCHES ALTOGETHER. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CLUTCHES WERE REPLACED. THIS OCCURRED AT THE END OF JUNE OF THIS YEAR (2014); HERE IT IS NOT EVEN A MONTH LATER AND MY CAR IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. ALSO DURING THIS TIME PERIOD MY CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY ROLL BACKWARDS ON AN INCLINE. *TR

Engine
Filed Jul 16, 20149,000 milesIN

AS I WAS WAITING A TRAFFIC LIGHT MY ENGINE REVS DROPPED SO LOW THE ENGINE QUIETLY DIED. WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE FROM THE LIGHT I REALIZED THE CAR HAD STALLED AND HAD TO RESTART THE CAR. IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE MORE IN THE NEXT MONTH AND A HALF, THEN HAPPENED THREE TIMES YESTERDAY. THE LAST TIME THE CAR STALLED I WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT DURING THE RUSH HOUR COMMUTE HOME. THE CAR DID START UP AGAIN, BUT IT STRUGGLED TO TURN BACK ON AND SOME DASH LIGHTS FLASHED UP ME (I BELIEVE THE CEL FLASHED ON.) I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION DURING RUSH HOUR FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS WITH A DEAD CAR. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 16, 20142,000 milesSC

APPROXIMATELY 1/4/-1/3 OF THE TIME, UPON ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CAR WILL EITHER SHUDDER INTO GEAR WITH LITTLE ACCELERATION, OR WILL LURCH INTO GEAR SO BADLY THAT THE CAR ALMOST COMES TO A STOP DURING ACCELERATION. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME, THEY DID A COMPUTER CODE RESET, WHICH WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS THEN THE ISSUE CAME BACK. THE SECOND TIME THEY CHANGED SOME SEALS, AND THAT WORKED FOR A WEEK OR SO BEFORE THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIMES, I WAS ESSENTIALLY TOLD THAT "THIS WAS NORMAL" AND THERE WAS NOTHING THE DEALER COULD/WOULD DO ABOUT IT. AFTER RESEARCH, I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY DRIVER WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND IT HAS CAUSED ME TO QUESTION THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN NEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN AGAINST TRAFFIC. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 15, 201412,000 milesIL

TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. CAR WAS JERKING BACK AND FORTH AT LOW SPEEDS. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND NOTICED SEALS WERE LEAKING. WE ALSO OWN A 2014 FOCUS AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THAT TRANSMISSION. *TR

Steering
Filed Jul 13, 201413,400 milesPA

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. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 10, 201417,800 milesMO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION INDEPENDENTLY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED BACK INTO THE DRIVE POSITION AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,200.

Steering
Filed Jul 10, 2014NC

TL* 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.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 9, 20147,100 milesCO

ENGINE STARTED IDLING ROUGH WHILE DOWN SHIFTING, ONCE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED (RPMS) AND THEN STALLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED QUITE A FEW TIMES, BUT IS INTERMITTENT. ENGINE STARTED IDLING ROUGH WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH A CORNER AND DOWN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 2ND, AT THAT TIME THE CLUTCH WAS PUSHED IN AND THE CAR STALLED. I LOST POWER STEERING AND SLIGHTLY TRAVELED INTO THE ON COMING LANE OF TRAFFIC AT 25 MPH. THE STALLING WHILE DOWN SHIFTING HAS HAPPENED QUITE A FEW TIMES, BUT IS INTERMITTENT. ENGINE IDLES ROUGH WHILE AT STOPS OR DOWN SHIFTING, BUT DOES NOT STALL. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST ALL THE TIME, DOES NOT ALWAYS STALL, BUT IS ALSO INTERMITTENT. HILL ASSIST SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT AS TO WHEN IT WANTS TO WORK OR NOT WORK. AFTER PERFORMING A TSB ON MY CAR THE CLUTCH STUCK TO THE FLOOR. AFTER I PUMPED THE CLUTCH A FEW TIMES IT STARTED ACTING NORMAL. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 9, 201411,000 milesCA

THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND IT CONTINUOUSLY BOGS DOWN EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AT TIMES WHEN IN A STOPPED POSITION AND I GO IT WILL LURCH FORWARD. WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY IT WILL PULL BACK AND NOT WANT TO SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO FORD ABOUT 5 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR AND THEY DO NOTHING. THEY TELL ME THAT IS NORMAL FOR THE THIS TRANSMISSION. IF IT IS NORMAL WHY DIDN'T IT DO IT THE FIRST 6 MONTHS WE OWNED IT. I GET NO WHERE WITH THEM. THE SERVICE GUY EVEN TOLD THAT THEY ARE HAVING ISSUES BUT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE FORD WONT FIX IT. *TR

Engine
Filed Jul 8, 201410,293 milesPA

FORD FOCUS ST (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) STALLS REPEATEDLY WHEN COASTING TO A STOP. ONCE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHICH IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. SOMETIMES THE IDLE DROPS VERY LOW (500 RPM) BUT DOESN'T STALL. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CEL). DEALER SAID WITHOUT CEL THERE IS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. FROM ONLINE RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH 2013 FOCUS ST. *JS

Power Train
Filed Jul 8, 201434,037 milesMO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND WHEN THE GEARS ENGAGED THE STARTED TO SHAKE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR CONTINUOUSLY OVER A PERIOD ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,037.

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 7, 201420,000 milesWV

CLUTCH FIXED 3 SEPARATE TIMES. NEEDS REPAIRED AGAIN. SEATBELT WILL NOT LATCH FOR THE SECOND TIME. WANT TO SWITCH CARS, NOT A FORD. WAS TOLD AT HERRINGTON-YOAK FORD THAT THEY WOULD FIND ME A TOYOTA RAV4, HONDA CRV OR HONDA CIVIC. NEVER RECEIVED A CALL, HAD TO CALL THEM AND WAS DENIED. *JS

Power Train
Filed Jul 5, 201435,720 milesPA

ERRATIC SHIFTING DURING A COLD START RESULTING IN RIDICULOUS JOLTING OF THE CAR. MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL FROM THE FORCES APPLIED DUE TO THE ERRATIC SHIFT PROGRAMMING. THE SEAT BELT KEEPS MY BODY FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM THE RESULTING MOVEMENT EACH AND EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 3, 20148,000 milesIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO INCREASE IN SPEED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONTINUOUSLY FOR SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 1, 20147,600 milesNY

THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE 2013-2014 FORD FOCUS ST WHERE THE CAR WILL IDLE ROUGH AND SOMETIMES STALL FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND HAS HAPPENED TO ME 2X ALREADY, BOTH DURING LEFT TURNS. I WAS ABLE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BOTH TIMES. I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS A FIX YET, BUT THERE IS A TSB ANNOUNCED. I AM TRYING TO GET IT DONE NOW BUT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM SIMILAR TO THE CURRENT GM RECALL. PEOPLE CAN DIE FROM THIS MALFUNCTION IF ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHILE TURNING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 1, 2014IN

WE PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IT SHIFTED VERY ROUGH AND RATTLED SKIPPING FROM 1ST TO 2ND VERY HARD AND WE HEARD A SOUND LIKE DRAGGING CARDBOARD. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY SAID "IT WAS NORMAL" AND THAT THE CAR HAD TO GET ADJUSTED TO OUR STYLE OF DRIVING. THEY DID COMPUTER CHECK AND NOTHING WRONG. WE THOUGHT THIS WAS RIDICULOUS, BUT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH SAME SOUNDS, SOMETIMES MORE THAN OTHERS. WE HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO 2 DEALERS WITH BOTH SAYING BASICALLY THE SAME THING, THAT FORD MESSED UP WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND IT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS, NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND IT IS SAFE. OUR DAUGHTER DOES NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR WHEN IT LURCHES FORWARD OR DOESN'T SHIFT GEARS WHEN SHE IS TRYING TO ACCELERATE INTO SPEEDING TRAFFIC. WE WANT SOMETHING DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 28, 201438,530 milesNC

WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND BEGIN TO ACCELERATE THE CAR STALLS AND JERKS RAPIDLY WHEN THROWING ITSELF INTO 2ND GEAR. ONCE IT FINISHES THE JERKING AND STALLING MOTION IT MAKES A LOUD RATTLING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN IN GEAR AND ACCELERATED GOING TO 35-55 IT WILL STALL THEN THE RPMS WILL GO HIGHER AND IT WILL JERK BACK INTO GEAR ACCELERATING FASTER THAN I WAS GOING. SOMETIMES IT WILL BARELY GO FROM A STOPPED POSITION TO TRYING TO ACCELERATE THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN JERK INTO GEAR. *TR

Steering
Filed Jun 26, 201419,500 milesTN

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. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 25, 201410,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 5 MPH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR WAS IT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

Power Train
Filed Jun 25, 201415,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE VIBRATED AND CAUSED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED ITS NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,300.

Engine
Filed Jun 23, 201413,258 milesMD

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN SEPT 2013 BRAND NEW WITH 23 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NO MEDICATION DONE TO MY CAR, AND FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS I'VE NOTICED A SMALL MISS EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED GETTING WORSE AT TIMES MY CAR WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT ME PUSHING THE THROTTLE. ON 21 JUNE 2014 THE PROBLEM GOT MUCH WORSE AND STARTED TO STALL WHEN I AM IN NEUTRAL, AND THE THROTTLE IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP, THIS PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET, WITH QUITE OF FEW 2013 FORD FOCUSES EFFECTED THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEED TO BE RAISED. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN THAT IF LEFT UNTREATED COULD RESULT IN SOMEONE LOSING THEIR LIFE. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 23, 20149,500 milesKY

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MAY IT DROVE FINE FOR 2 WEEKS. THEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HESITATING, SHUTTER NOISES, AND VIBRATING. I TOOK IT TO FORD 2 DAYS LATER IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. THE CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. I WAS NOT DISCLOSED THAT INFORMATION WHEN I PURCHASED IT. NOW I HAVE A UNRELIABLE CAR, THANKS FORD! *TR

Engine
Filed Jun 23, 20149,974 milesOH

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. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 19, 20143,930 milesCA

I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR REVS AND TENDS TO BEHAVE LIKE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I OWNED A CELICA WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION YEARS AGO. HOWEVER, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THIS FOCUS HAS DECELERATED, PAUSED AND THEN LURCHED FORWARD AND I WAS POWERLESS TO ACCELERATE IT OR ALTER ITS "LURCH". IT TENDS TO MAKE A WIND UP NOISE ON THESE OCCURRENCES. IT OCCASIONALLY HESITATES WHEN I APPLY THE ACCELERATOR FROM STOPPED. SOMETIMES THE HESITATION IS LONGER AND MORE PRONOUNCED THAN AT OTHER TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN THIS FOCUS TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013 AND IT IS DIAGNOSED WITH A CODE 7000 AND THE DEALER HAS TO KEEP THE CAR OVERNIGHT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED FROM FORD HEADQUARTERS AS I UNDERSTAND IT. THE DEALER ALSO MAY PERFORM A DRUM ADAPTIVE LEARN STRATEGY AND ADAPTIVE LEARN DRIVE CYCLE. WHEN I LEAVE THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE "SETTLED DOWN" AND RUNS MORE SMOOTHLY AND QUIETLY. IT ALSO GETS SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER MPG. ON APRIL 2, 2014, AT 17,995 MILES, I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE IT WAS HESITATING ON ACCELERATION AND JERKING AND NOISY. THE FOCUS HAD A CRACKED MOTOR MOUNT. AND AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION WAS GIVEN ITS USUAL COMPUTER UPDATE FROM FORD. CURRENTLY, THE FOCUS MILEAGE IS AT 21,300 AND IT'S WINDING ITSELF UP, JERKING ME AROUND, HESITATING AND LURCHING. TWO DAYS AGO, I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC AND, AS I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO PULL OUT, THE FOCUS DID NOT RESPOND FOR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 18, 2014CA

CAR HESITATES AT TAKE OFF AND TAKE OFF WHEN MAKING TURNS. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jun 16, 201410,000 milesAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND MADE A RATTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP AND ERRONEOUSLY ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE HAD TO LEARN HIS DIFFERENT DRIVING HABITS. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

Power Train
Filed Jun 12, 2014100 milesWA

VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 3 TIMES, FIRST TIME WHEN THE CAR WAS 2 DAYS OLD (TO ME). VEHICLE LAGS, GRINDS, OVER-REVS, UNDER-REVS AND STUTTERS ON HILLS AND SOMETIMES FLAT LAND TOO. PARTICULARLY BAD WHEN TURNING. 3 ATTEMPTED FIXES, NO REAL IMPROVEMENTS, ONLY DIFFERENT ISSUES GOT BETTER WHILE OTHERS GOT WORSE. FIRST ATTEMPTED FIX CLAIMED A SECTION OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, SECOND THEY FOUND A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION ALTHOUGH I FOUND NOTHING IN MY GARAGE AND 3RD WAS MY COMPLAINING OF THE ISSUES NOT BEING RESOLVED YET. AFTER 3RD FIX, CAR IS AS BAD AS EVER. *TR

Wheels
Filed Jun 12, 201414,000 milesOH

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. $170.00 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 $170.00. 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. *TR

Engine
Filed Jun 12, 201423,787 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHCNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS LONG AS THE CHECK ENGINE SENSOR LIGHT WAS NOT FLASHING. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAIURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,787.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 10, 201418,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS A HESITATION AND VIBRATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

Power Train
Filed Jun 5, 20148,000 milesCT

CAR IS LAGGING AND BOGGING CONSISTENTLY; TURN ACCELERATION IN UNPREDICTABLE, FREQUENT TRANSMISSION SHUDDERING OCCURRING, UN-SMOOTH SHIFTING, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE. LOW GAS MILEAGE 20-24. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jun 4, 201412 milesWA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SURGED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING AT EXTREMELY LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT AND THAT THE UNEXPECTED SURGE WAS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 2, 2014600 milesMO

WHILE SLOWING DOWN ON A TURN, THE CAR LOOSES POWER, AS IF ITS GOING TO STALL, THEN RECOVERS WHEN ACCELERATING, THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, MUCH MORE TRICKY ON ICY AND WINTRY DAYS, ACCELERATING IN A CURVE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM STALLING. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE CAR ROLLS BACK ON HILLS, FOR AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, NOR IS IT SAFE. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jun 2, 201422,400 milesIL

JUST PURCHASED A USED FORD FOCUS SE 2013. THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD UPON ACCELERATING AND THEN THE RPMS DECREASE WHILE ACCELERATING, THEN INCREASE FOR A MOMENT, THEN DECREASE AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS ANY TIME I ACCELERATE. THE CAR JERKS FORWARD THEN STOPS. WHILE THE RPMS ARE INCREASING, THE CAR MAKES A REVVING SOUND ALMOST AS IF I'M IN THE WRONG GEAR (THOUGH IT'S AN AUTOMATIC), THEN IT SOUNDS AS IF IT'S STOPPING WHILE THE RPMS DROP. I HEAR AN INTERMITTENT GRINDING SOUND THAT SEEMS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS BEING OVERTAXED OR DAMAGED. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 29, 2014300 milesFL

FIRST INCIDENT ...WAS MAKING A TURN FROM A STOP POSITION AND CAR HESITATED(TRANSMISSION). SECOND INCIDENT .. PARKED CAR ON AN INCLINE AND CAR ROLLED BACK ENOUGH TO HAVE SOMEBODY BEHIND ME CALL IT TO MY ATTENTION. THIRD INCIDENT ? GOING UP ON MY DRIVEWAY THE CAR HESITATED AND SHAKES A LOT WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP POSITION. NOTE= WHEN MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR ON A TEST RUN.. NONE OF THIS PROBLEMS SHOWED UP. THAT IS BECAUSE THE ROUTE WE TOOK WAS ALL ON FLAT SURFACES(IN FLORIDA). WE BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HANDED US A PAMPHLET, THAT EXPLAINED TO US THAT WE DID NOT REALLY BUY A CAR WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, IT IS A STANDARD TRANSMISSION WITH SOME KIND OF GEAR SET UP TO SHIFT AS IF IT IS AN AUTOMATIC. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO TOLD US TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER IF WE WANTED TO MAKE A COMPLAIN. WE HAVE A TWO YEAR WARRANTY, BUT I AM THINKING THAT WE MIGHT HAVE SOME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS A LOT SOONER, BUT WHO WANTS TO DRIVE A NEW CAR WITH THAT PROBLEM PENDING OVER YOUR HEAD. I HOPE THAT WE ALL COMPLAIN LOUD ENOUGH FOR FORD TO TAKE SOME IMMEDIATE ACTION, AND COME UP WITH A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION. *TR

Power Train
Filed May 28, 20145,000 milesOR

THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS, SHAKES, GRINDS AND HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING THROUGH LOW GEARS AND WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW IN JULY 2013. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE FORD DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PERSON WITH WHOM I SPOKE SAID MOST OF THE ISSUES THEY'VE SEEN LIKE THIS ARE "WITHIN THEIR TOLERANCE LIMITS." THAT IS NOT OKAY! *TR

Engine
Filed May 22, 2014TX

1. THE SPUTTERING, HESITATION WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR 2. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, THE EXTRA "JOLT" SEEMS AS IF IT COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN/ISSUE 3.YEAR LATER ALL THIS GOT WORSE AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED IN TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 38 DAYS OF "FIXING" THE PROBLEMS OF THE TRANSMISSION. 4.I'VE HAD MY CAR BACK NOW FOR 3 DAYS, THE HESITATION IS STILL THERE, NO SPUTTERING NOTICED AS OF NOW. *TR

Power Train
Filed May 21, 2014500 milesNY

THE CARS TRANSMISSION STUTTERS, SHAKES, AND HESITATE BETWEEN 1 AND 2 GEAR CAUSING LOSS OF POWER , GRINDING NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION, THE CAR ALSO WILL ROLL BACK WHEN ON ANY TYPE OF HILL. *TR

Power Train
Filed May 21, 20145,192 milesKS

THE VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUDDERS WHEN SHIFTING THROUGH LOWER GEARS. TO AVOID THE ISSUE YOU HAVE TO ACCELERATE AT A FAIRLY HIGH RATE FROM A STOP SIGN. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING CORNERS. HAVE TAKEN INTO THE DEALER ONCE SCHEDULED FOR SECOND TRIP THIS WEEK. THEY SAY IT IS WITH IN THEIR TOLERANCE BOUNDARIES. *TR

Engine
Filed May 21, 20145,250 milesKS

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED 65 WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED THE VEHICLE FEELS AS IF THE ENGINE IS CUTTING OUT OR ENGINE BRAKING IS BEING APPLIED THE RPM'S DROP FROM 2.5 TO 2.25 FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS PULSING. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 21, 20141,400 milesMI

WE WERE DRIVING HOME AND HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD USING CRUISE CONTROL FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 HOURS WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY GOING FROM 70 MPH TO NO POWER OR ELECTRICAL. WE WERE FAST LANE ON I-75 NORTH AND THE CAR WAS WITHOUT ANY POWER OR HAZARD LIGHTS. WE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY IT STARTED AFTER 5 MINUTES. LUCKILY A CAR STOPPED AND HAD THEIR HAZARD LIGHTS ON. SINCE THEN OUR CAR FUEL HAS DECREASED TO 12 MPG IN THE CITY AND 22 ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN YOU TAKE OFF CAR BOGS DOWN AND YOU HAVE TO MASH HARD ON THE GAS TO GET IT TO MOVE. THE IDLE IS ROUGH AND YOU CAN FEEL IT RUNNING ROUGH. WE HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES AND SINCE CAR DOES NOT CODE THEY WILL NOT WORK ON IT PER FORD'S POLICY. THUS, WE HAVE THAT FORD HAS ADVERTISED WILL GET 28 IN THE CITY AND 40 ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH WE DID GET THE FIRST MONTH BEFORE IT DIED ON THE HIGHWAY. SINCE THEN WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE USING CRUISE ON A TRIP. *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed May 18, 201438,000 milesMI

THE FOCUS WAS STOPPED AT THE SCENE OF ANOTHER ACCIDENT WHEN IT WAS REAR ENDED AT HIGHWAY SPEED (55 MPH APPROXIMATELY) BY A DRIVER WHO DID NOT SEE IT STOPPED. THE CAR WAS PUSHED INTO THE REAR END OF THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF IT. THE REAR HATCH OF THE CAR WAS PUSHED IN PAST THE REAR AXLE AND THE FRONT END SUSTAINED HEAVY DAMAGE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS YET NONE OF THE AIR BAGS, FRONT OR SIDE DEPLOYED. I SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE WHEN I WAS THROWN BACKWARDS AFTER HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS

Power Train
Filed May 17, 2014FL

VEHICLE'S POWERSHIFT TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING AT LOWER SPEEDS. TRANSMISSION ALSO SURGES +/- 200 TO 300 RPMS DURING PERFECTLY STEADY ACCELERATOR POSITION. VEHICLE HAS ATTEMPTED TO STALL NUMEROUS TIMES IN BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE. VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITS UNPREDICTABLE POWER RESPONSE (IE VERY LITTLE POWER WHEN ACCELERATOR APPLIED OR WAY TOO MUCH POWER WHEN ACCELERATOR HARDLY PRESSED), RESULTING IN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF NEAR COLLISION. VEHICLE ALSO SHUDDERS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TURNED AWAY AND TOLD ALL CHARACTERISTICS WERE "NORMAL". VEHICLE IS ,IN MY OPINION, VERY UNSAFE AND WILL NOT BE DRIVEN OTHER THAN OUT OF NECESSITY UNTIL IT IS EITHER RECALLED, FIXED, OR BOUGHT BACK. *JS

Engine
Filed May 16, 20143,900 milesWA

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. *TR

Power Train
Filed May 14, 201412,000 milesCA

THE VEHICLE EVER SINCE ABOUT 8 MONTHS POST PURCHASE AND TO DATE HAS A VERY UNCONTROLLABLE, JERKY TRANSMISSION, OFTEN TIMES LUNGING FORWARD AND EVEN VIBRATING DURING ACCELERATION. IT ROLLS BACK ON HILLS AS WELL. IT SHIFTS UNPREDICTABLY A LOT OF THE TIME AND SOMETIMES GEARS WILL SLIP AND THEN CATCH VERY ABRUPTLY. HOW IT'S AVOIDED RECALL FOR THIS LONG IS BEYOND MY UNDERSTANDING... *TR

Power Train
Filed May 13, 20141,200 milesIA

WE PURCHASED A 2013 FORD FOCUS WITH THE DCT. BY 1200 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION WAS GRINDING AND STUTTERING TO THE POINT OF ALMOST STALLING DURING ACCELERATION. FORD PERFORMED A REPAIR AFTER FINDING THE CLUTCHES BURNED UP AND BEARING FAILURE. THIS FIX LASTED FOR AWHILE BEFORE THE PROBLEM RETURNED. DURING THIS PERIOD WE HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING FORD DEALERSHIPS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, WITH MY BABY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT, THE CAR WOULD SURGE, HESITATE, NEARLY STALL, AND OTHERWISE POSE DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATIONS. EVENTUALLY FORD PERFORMED A SECOND REPAIR FINDING CLUTCH FAILURE AGAIN AND THEN WHEN THAT REPAIR LASTED LESS THAN 500 MILES REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. BUT NOW, EVEN WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION, THE PROBLEMS HAVE RETURNED. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE INSISTS THAT NEARLY STALLING AND OBNOXIOUS STUTTERING IS NORMAL AND POSSIBLY THE RESULT OF MULTIPLE DRIVERS CONFUSING THE COMPUTER. WERE NOW AT 14000 MILES AND PROBLEM REMAINS. *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed May 13, 201457,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM WHIPLASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2013 Ford Focus → · Every Focus year → · How the figures are calculated →