Home · 2013 Ford Focus Bev · Complaints

What 2,157 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Focus Bev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (2,157)Crash / fire / injury (63)Transmission & drivetrain (1,131)Engine (355)Electrical system (295)Steering (279)Fuel system (270)Speed control (115)Body & structure (83)Latches & locks (52)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (39)Visibility & wipers (29)

355 of 2,157 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 12 of 15

Sep 9, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

CPSC: I1490081A. 2013 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATED THE CAR STALLS, STUTTERS AND ALSO LURCHES BETWEEN SHIFTS. *LN

NHTSA ODI 10632844

Aug 20, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemSpeed controlEngine

THE CAR IS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT SHUDDERS AND BOGS DOWN AS I AM ACCELERATING, AND OFTEN LURCHES FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CAR MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING THROUGH GEARS. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN IN LOW GEARS, BUT I AM NOW EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AT ALL SPEEDS, INCLUDING LURCHING FORWARD. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. I AM AFRAID THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE GRINDING OF THE GEARS WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS OF MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10626894

Aug 18, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL (WHILE DECELERATING/BRAKING) WILL INTERMITTENTLY CAUSE ENGINE RPMS TO RAPIDLY DROP, RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE/STALL. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE ARE TYPICALLY SUCCESSFUL, ALTHOUGH OCCASIONALLY REQUIRING MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, DUE TO ENGINE RE-STALLING. KEY FACTORS SEEM TO BE ENGINE OIL TEMPERATURE, AND BRAKING/DECELERATING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10625991

Aug 11, 2014Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

I BOUGHT MY 2013 FOCUS SE PRE OWNED WITH 19500 MILES IN MARCH OF 2014. WITHIN A MONTH THE CAR WAS SHAKING HORRIBLY AT STOP AND AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 0-30MPH, WHILE GRINDING-LIKE NOISE CAME FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I AM IN FEAR OF MY WIFE AND MY SAFETY, I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY A BIG 1 TON DIESEL TRUCK BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FROM STOP. I TOOK IT THE DEALER AND THE CAR WAS "REPAIRED" BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM. AFTER TAKING IT HOME 2 WEEKS LATER I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK BECAUSE THE SAME PROBLEMS WERE OCCURRING. FORD SERVICE ASSURED ME THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. ME BEING A CHEMICAL PLANT WORKER WORKING OVERNIGHTS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR A THIRD TIME DURING THEIR BUSINESS HOURS. FIRST CHANCE I GOT I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP A MONTH LATER TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN. I TALKED TO THE DEALER MANAGER AND HE GUARANTEED ME HE WOULD HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE, HE TOOK ME TO THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER JUST FOR HIM TO TELL ME "ITS NORMAL" FOR THAT CAR TO DO THAT. THEY SAID ALL THEY COULD DO IS SOME COMPUTER RESET TO THE CAR AND GAVE IT BACK TO ME. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THE CAR WILL START SHAKING AGAIN EVENTUALLY AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX THAT PROBLEM BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION WAS DESIGNED. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF FILING A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT AGAINST FORD. WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10621511

Jul 28, 2014Engine

I PURCHASED MY 2013 FOCUS TITANIUM, AUTO TRANSMISSION, IN SEPTEMBER 2013. AFTER A FEW DAYS, I NOTICED HESITATION/SHUDDERING, JERKING, AND GRINDING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STAND-STILL/"OFF THE LINE" AS WELL AS WHEN THE CAR WAS DOWNSHIFTING FROM HIGHER GEARS. I CALLED MY DEALER, NAZARETH FORD IN NAZARETH, PA, TO REPORT THE ISSUE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL" FOR THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS A "MANUAL AUTOMATIC" TRANSMISSION. I WAS SKEPTICAL, BUT I WAS ADVISED TO DRIVE 500 MILES AND SEE IF THE PROBLEM CORRECTED ITSELF. I WAS DISCOURAGED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, SINCE THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE "NORMAL" AND I HAD NOT REACHED 500 MILES YET TO SEE IF IT WOULD IMPROVE. IT NEVER DID AND HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. LAST WEEK AFTER ALMOST A YEAR AND 17,500 MILES WITH NO IMPROVEMENT, I WAS FED UP. I CALLED THE DEALER TO MAKE AN AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR TWO DAYS AND REPORTED THAT THEY REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION. I PICKED THE CAR UP LAST SATURDAY AND AFTER 15 MINUTES OR LESS, THE ISSUES RETURNED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN AND THE PERSON DID NOT RETURN MY PHONE CALL. I VISITED IN PERSON AND WAS ADVISED AGAIN THAT I SHOULD DRIVE ANOTHER 500 MILES SO THE REPROGRAM COULD TAKE EFFECT. THE DEALER COMMENTED THAT A NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS HAVE COME BACK FOR PREMATURE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS, WHICH DID NOT LEAVE ME WITH A GREAT FEELING. THIS ISSUE HAS PROVED TO BE POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, SUCH AS COMING TO A STOP AT THE END OF AN INTERSECTION, RED LIGHT, OR HIGHWAY RAMP BEFORE ACCELERATING BACK UP TO SPEED AND CLIMBING ANY SORT OF HILL. JERKING AND GRINDING PREVENTS THE CAR FROM ACCELERATING SMOOTHLY. WHILE I AM OTHERWISE HAPPY WITH THE FEATURES OF THE CAR, THIS IS A DEAL-BREAKER. WITH THE NUMBER OF MILES THAT I DRIVE, I AM SCARED THAT THIS IMPROPER FUNCTIONING WILL CAUSE A COLLISION IF LEFT UNRESOLVED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10616920

Jul 27, 2014Engine

WHEN TURNING A CORNER AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE CARE SHUDDERED AND MADE LOUD NOISES. IT PROGRESSED TO SHUDDERING EVERY TIME I ACCELERATED...CLIMBING SMALL GRADE, CHANGING SPEED ZONES ETC. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC CAR. I HAD IT INTO SHOP WHERE THEY CLEANED CLUTCHES AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND NOW THERE WAS SHUDDERING WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BACK DOWN A SMALL DRIVE WAY INCLINE. THE CAR CONTINUES TO SHUDDER AND MAKE NOISE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME THE CAR NEEDS TO LEARN MY DRIVING STYLE....BS. THIS IS EMBARRASSING AND FRUSTRATING NOT TO MENTION THAT I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING A CAR WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT MORE, BUT I REFUSE TO DRIVE A BRAND NEW CAR WITH THESE ISSUES. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10616620

Jul 25, 2014Engine

I WAS STOPPED IN LINE AT A LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED I PUSHED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE- IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE WAS STUCK IN NEUTRAL. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THAT'S WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES AS THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG-AFTER TWO DAYS I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO AN UPDATE THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO THE ENGINE SOFTWARE AND THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EITHER THE BASIC WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I HAD THE SAME VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A SOUND IN THE ENGINE ON 6/30 AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING! I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD THE SAME ISSUE WHEN HIS CAR WAS A MONTH OLD AND THEY COVERED THE COST OF HIS REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10616197

Jul 23, 2014Electrical systemEngine

AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, AT LOW RPM'S THE CAR WOULD STUTTER AND STALL. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, I WAS TOLD THIS IS COMMON. ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALER THE CAR STALLED LEAVING A GREEN TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I WAS ALMOST HIT IN THE REAR END. THE CAR FINALLY LITE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT 3 WEEKS LATER. DEALER CHANGED AN O2 SENSOR AND 4 DAYS LATER IN JULY CAR WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" IN FIRST GEAR AS I WAS LEAVING A RESTAURANT. THE CAR HESITATED AND STALLED IN TRAFFIC, I WAS ALMOST HIT IN THE REAR OF THE CAR AGAIN. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE AN ACTUATOR CONTROLLING THE RADIATOR VENTS IS BAD, BUT THIS SHOULD NO HAVE CAUSED THE CAR TO GO INTO LIMP MODE. FORD HAS A TSB FOR A WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM, THE NUMBER IS TSB 13-9-7 THAT EXPLAINS THE ISSUES OF STUTTERING AND STALLING, BUT UNLESS 2 CODES ARE READ ON THE COMPUTER THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. THE PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON FORDFOCUSST.ORG WEBSITE. HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF CARS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT ONE DAY SOMEONE, IF NOT MANY PEOPLE, WILL BE SERIOUSLY HURT DUE TO THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10615632

Jul 21, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE DEALER ADVISED IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OUT OF PARK ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI 10614931

Jul 16, 2014Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

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

NHTSA ODI 10610884

Jul 9, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

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

NHTSA ODI 10609185

Jul 8, 2014Engine

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

NHTSA ODI 10608838

Jun 23, 2014Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

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

NHTSA ODI 10605144

Jun 23, 2014SteeringBrakesEngine

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

NHTSA ODI 10605462

Jun 12, 2014Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI 10597938

Jun 5, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

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

NHTSA ODI 10596273

May 22, 2014SuspensionFuel systemEngine

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

NHTSA ODI 10593382

May 22, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

FOCUS ELECTRIC BEV (NOT HYBRID) - WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WARNING INDICATION LIGHTS UP ON DASH STATING "STOP SAFELY NOW". THE CAR HAS NO POWER TO ACCELERATE ANYMORE. THE ONLY CONTROL THE DRIVER HAS IS TO BRAKE OR PULL OVER. ON FREEWAYS OR OTHER HIGHWAY WITH TRAFFIC WHEN THIS OCCURS THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS ANOTHER VEHICLE CAN PLOW INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR BECAUSE YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PULL OVER IF THERE IS A CURB OR IN A LANE OTHER THAN THE RIGHT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. UNDERSTAND THAT THE CAR HAS NO POWER AND YOU CANNOT USE THE ACCELERATOR AT ALL UNEXPECTEDLY. THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS BRAKE AND/OR STEER BASED ON THE MOMENTUM OF THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE WARNING. YOU CANNOT CLEAR THE ISSUE UNTIL YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. TURN THE CAR OFF BY PRESSING THE IGNITION BUTTON, WAITING A MINUTE OR TWO, THEN STARTING THE CAR BACK. AT THAT TIME, IT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK. SOMETIMES WHEN THIS PROCEDURE DOES WORK, YOU MAY ONLY GET A MILE OR TWO DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE IT DOES IT AGAIN. THIS FIRST OCCURRED ON APRIL 17/18 AND TAKEN TO A DEALER TO REPAIR ON A CURRENT RECALL NOTICE OF WHICH SYMPTOMS INCLUDE THE CAR "LOSING POWER" AMONG OTHER RELATED REASONS. AT THE TIME, THIS EVENT DID OCCUR AND I EXPLAINED THAT TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF WITH THE RECALL REPAIR. AFTER RECEIVING THE CAR BACK, IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON APRIL 29. IT WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER THIS TIME. THEY ATTEMPTED TO FIX AND GAVE ME THE CAR BACK THE NEXT DAY ON APRIL 30TH. UPON LEAVING THE DEALER ON THE 30TH, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN ON THE AWAY FROM THE DEALER LESS THAN 3 MILES AWAY. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT HAPPENED 3 ADDITIONAL TIMES IN THE 3 MILES BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONTINUES TO ATTEMPT REPAIR AND HAS NOT RETURNED THE CAR TO ME. I HAVE FORD AND BBB CASE NUMBERS.. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10593466

May 21, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

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

NHTSA ODI 10593088

May 21, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

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

NHTSA ODI 10593096

May 16, 2014SteeringTransmission & drivetrainBrakesEngine

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

NHTSA ODI 10588796

Apr 28, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION THE FIRST WEEK I BOUGHT MY '13 FORD FOCUS. I WOULD HEAR A SHUDDERING AND GEARS GRINDING WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE AND MY TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT BUT WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL AND NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AND SENT ME ON MY WAY WITHOUT EVEN TAKING A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD. I INFORMED THEM I WAS WORRIED ABOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH IT AND THEY SAID THAT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE AND IT WAS OF NO CONCERN. ON FRIDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2014, AFTER DRIVING 40 MINUTES TO WORK, I STARTED MY CAR UP AGAIN AND TURNED ONTO A MAIN CITY ROAD FROM A PARKING LOT THEN ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET. THERE, I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION LIGHT HAD TURNED ON AND MY CAR WAS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME SHIFTING GEARS. THE RPMS SKYROCKETED AND THEN PLUMMETED. I WAS GOING ABOUT 20MPH-25MPH AND MY DASH IS READING 4RPMS. I THEN TURN ONTO ANOTHER MAIN ROAD WHERE MY CAR STARTED CHUGGING ALONG, IT FELT, WHILE REVVING MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY OWN VEHICLE. ABOUT A MILE OR TWO AWAY, I REACHED MY DESTINATION. I PARKED AND THEN STARTED TO DRIVE AGAIN WHERE MY CAR THEN STOPPED AND I HAD TO DECLARE IT INOPERABLE. THE NEXT DAY, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. COME TO FIND OUT, THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS I COMPLAINED ABOUT TO THE DEALER WERE NOT NORMAL AND ANY DAY MY CAR WAS GOING TO QUIT ON ME. APRIL 25TH, 2014 HAPPENED TO BE THAT DAY. MY CAR IS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE LEMON LAW AS I PURCHASED IT LAST JANUARY. FORD IS HESITANT ON HELPING ME AND GETTING MY CAR BACK AND RUNNING. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, THEREFORE, I DID NOT PURSUE THE PROBLEM ANY FURTHER. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10585184

Apr 28, 2014Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ODI 10585308

Apr 19, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED TWO DAYS OR SO AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR. HEARD GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR AS IF METAL WAS DRAGGING ON ASPHALT. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED IT WAS NORMAL. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY RAN A TEST AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND RESET THE COMPUTER. A WEEK LATER, MESSAGE COMES ON THE SCREEN IN THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES. LIFTED THE HOOD AND STEAM WAS EMANATING FROM THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND THE LID HAD COME OFF DUE TO THE PRESSURE. I HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY RAN ANOTHER TEST AND FOUND THAT THE RADIATOR FAN HAD FAILED AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT. MORE REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE GRINDING TRANSMISSION BUT TO NO AVAIL. IN APRIL 2014, I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE VIOLENT SHUDDERING AND JERKING, ALONG WITH THE GRINDING, AND AGAIN TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD MY HUSBAND NOTHING WAS WRONG BECAUSE THEY DID NOT EXPERIENCE IT WHEN HE CAME IN. TOOK IT BACK THE NEXT DAY, THEY RAN A TEST AND FOUND THAT I WAS IS FACT RIGHT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THE CLUTCH WAS BEING LEAKED ON BY SEALS ABOVE IT. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD ORDERED THE PART AND WOULD CALL ME WHEN IT CAME IN. I WAS NOT TOLD TO LEAVE IT THERE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THE PART CAME IN. THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN SHIFTING AND SHUDDERS HORRIBLY. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND NOTHING SEEMS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10583711

Apr 15, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

ON MY 2013 FORD FOCUS ST I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A STALLING ISSUE WHILE MOVING. CAR WILL STALL WHEN CLUTCH IS PRESSED WHILE SLOWING DOWN. FORD HAS A TSB ISSUED, BUT WILL NOT PERFORM REQUIRED WORK DUE TO NO CODE BEING PRESENT. THE ISSUE WILL COME AND GO. UPON BROWSING INTERNET THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOLD FORD WILL NOT PERFORM THE FIX. SO THERE ARE NUMEROUS FORD FOCUS ST ON THE ROAD HAVING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. IT IS AFFECTING THE CURRENT YEAR AS WELL. HERE IS A LINK TO A DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC HTTP://WWW.FOCUSST.ORG/FORUM/FOCUS-ST-MAINTENANCE/5514-YOUR-CAR-RANDOMLY-STALLING-IDLING-WIERD-READ.HTML AS YOU CAN SEE IT IS PRETTY MUCH MORE THAN 50% OF CARS SOLD SEEM LIKE THEY WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE THIS ISSUE. IT'S A MATTER OF LUCK IF IT WILL THROW A CODE. PEOPLE HAVE RESORTED TO FIXING IT THEMSELVES. THIS IS ABSURD. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE MADE PUBLIC SINCE FORD SEEMS THEY ARE TRYING TO SAVE MONEY BY SAYING THEY NEED A CODE PRESENT. I BRAND NEW CAR SHOULD NOT BE STALLING WHILE MOVING OR ANY TIME YOU DON'T PHYSICALLY SHUT IT OFF. IT'S CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TT

NHTSA ODI 10582797

← NewerOlder →

Working with the data? Download all 2,157 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 23, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Ford Focus Bev verdict →