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 13 of 15

Apr 10, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

ENGINE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF WHILE COASTING OR COMING TO A STOP WITH THE CLUTCH IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10579030

Apr 4, 2014Electrical systemEngine

UPON STARTUP, THE CAR IDLES ROUGH AND THE RPMS DROP UNTIL THE ECU CATCHES IT AND THE RPMS INCREASE. THE PROBLEM BECOMES MORE FREQUENT AS THE CAR IS DRIVEN. AT TIMES, THE RPMS WILL DROP SO FAR THAT THE CAR WILL STALL. THE PROBLEM TENDS TO GET WORSE AS THE CAR HEATS UP. IT HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN COME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION OR TO PARK. FOR EXAMPLE, I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF IT SITTING AFTER 40 MINUTES OF MIXED COMMUTING AND THE CAR COULD NOT KEEP AN IDLE. IT STALLED ON ME 3 TIMES AND FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO SHAKE ITSELF TO PIECES. I FINALLY GOT IT STARTED BY HOLDING DOWN THE THROTTLE AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR. IT WAS 60-63 DEGREES OUT ON APRIL 3RD, 2014 IN SOUTHEASTERN CT WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE PROBLEM ALSO SEEMS TO GET WORSE AS THE AIR TEMPERATURE INCREASES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10577303

Apr 3, 2014Speed controlEngine

I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN A COMPLETELY FLAT SECTION OF THE ROAD AND HAD BEEN APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES IN MY JOURNEY WHEN I NOTICED MY CAR STARTED SLIGHTLY SHUDDERING. WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A MERGING VEHICLE, MY VEHICLE WENT TO OVER 5000 RPM (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BY THE WAY) AND MY SPEED DROPPED, DANGEROUSLY DROPPING MY SPEED IN A PASSING LANE TO 20 UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT. WHILE MAKING MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE THE SPEED, MY RPM'S KEPT GOING UP AND MY ACCELERATION KEPT DECLINING WITH CARS SWERVING UNTIL I COULD GET INTO THE RIGHTHAND LANE. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT OR ANY DIFFICULTY WITH MY VEHICLE AS I PURCHASED IT NEW. FURTHER, I HAVE NOTICED THAT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHEN STOPPED AT INTERSECTIONS OR LIGHTS, IF I LET UP OFF OF THE GAS AT ALL, MY CAR ROLLS BACKWARDS MUCH LIKE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD DO, WHICH NOW THAT I KNOW THE TRANSMISSION DOES THIS, I AM AWARE, HOWEVER ON UPHILL STOPS I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO NOT ROLL BACKWARDS IN SWITCHING BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATION IF A CAR IS CLOSELY BEHIND ME, STOPPED. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR IT TO BE LOOKED AT, AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP (WHERE I DIDN'T BUY THE CAR) STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES ARE COMMON IN FORD FOCUSES OF THIS MODEL YEAR -- AND FORD IS AWARE/THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE -- YET THEY "CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ACTUALLY WRONG BY GUIDELINES" FOR THE CAR. IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY! I EXPECT A NEW CAR WITH NO ACCIDENTS TO RUN SMOOTHLY! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10577231

Apr 1, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

WHEN I DRIVE IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS GRINDING AND/OR A RATTLING IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IT DOES NOT ALWAYS MAKE THIS NOISE HOWEVER WHEN IT DOES IT SOUNDS LIKE MY TRANSMISSION IS GONNA FALL OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE I AM DRIVING. I CAN ALSO FEEL A VIBRATION IN MY FOOT PEDDLE. ON JUNE 07 2017 THEY REPROGRAMMED MY TRANSMISSION HOPING THAT WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. ON ANOTHER VISIT DECEMBER 27TH 2013 THEY LUBED SOME PART OF THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. THEN ON MARCH 19TH 2014 THEY DID ANOTHER REPROGRAM ADVISING ME THIS TIME ITS MORE SPECIFIC FOR MY VEHICLE. THEY ALSO GAVE ME A PRINT OUT ON WHY MY CAR MADE THIS NOISE AND ADVISED ME IT WAS NORMAL. THEY HAVE HEARD THE NOISE ALL 3 OF THESE TIMES, THERE WERE A FEW OTHER VISITS WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO HEAR THE NOISE SO THEY WERE NOT SURE ON HOW TO APPROACH THE PROBLEM. WITH THE LAST REPROGRAMMING THEY DID SO FAR HAS HELPED THE NOISE IT IS NOT AS OFTEN OCCURRING HOWEVER NOW MY CAR IS JERKING, ALMOST LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. THEY DID ADVISE ME I WOULD NEED TO DRIVE 500 MILES TO ENSURE THE REPROGRAMMING HAS BEEN FIXED AND I AM NOT AT MY 500 MILES YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10576238

Mar 30, 2014Engine

VEHICLE JUST STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10575660

Mar 24, 2014Engine

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED WHEN COMING TO A STOP. SOMETIMES IDLE IS ERRATIC IF THE VEHICLE STAYS RUNNING. IT HUNTS TO IDLE PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10574593

Jan 28, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHE DROVE AT 70 MPH, THE PLACE TRANSMISSION IN PARK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 10561796

Jan 14, 2014Electrical systemEngine

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR JUST DIED. ENGINE SHUT OFF, HOW EVER ALL THE ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR WERE STILL WORKING. ONCE PULLING OFF THE FREE WAY, THE CAR STARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BUT THEN DIED SHORTLY AFTER. THE CAR THEN WOULD NOT WORK. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED TO QUIRK FORD IN QUINCY THEY HAD TO KEEP IT AS A CODE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT MEANS CAME UP, SO THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE CAR. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP TO THIS DAY AND THEY WONT GIVE ME A RENTAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10559841

Jan 13, 2014Engine

TODAY WHILE AT A INTERSECTION THE FOCUS ELECTRIC STARTED TO GO AND THEN SHUT DOWN AGAIN DISPLAYING THE SAFELY STOP NOW MESSAGE AND THE CAR WAS DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THIS ONE HAPPENED AFTER THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE RECALL FOR THE SAME THING. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE BATTERY AND SOME OF THE WIRING AT THE RECALL VISIT DUE TO MULTIPLE FAILURE CODES. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE LAST TWO TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED THERE WAS NEARLY A COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10559579

Dec 31, 2013SteeringTransmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,552. UPDATED 02/11/2014 *BF THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TIE ROD. UPDATED 02/20/14

NHTSA ODI 10557969

Dec 29, 2013Engine

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON 12/23/2013 AND ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR SAID ENGINE FAULT CHECK SYSTEM NOW LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN ON ME ON THE EXPRESSWAY I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES CRANKING MY CAR BUT IT WOULDN'T START SO I CALL IDOT TO HELP ME THEY CAME AND TOWED ME TO THE NEAREST EXIT AFTER AN HOUR AND A HALF MY CAR STARTED UP BUT THE ENGINE SYMBOL REMAIN ON THE DASHBOARD I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK HOME I WAITED FOR JOE RIZZO FORD TO OPEN AND THEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THEM THEY ENDED UP KEEPING MY CAR AND I HAD TO RENT ME A CAR UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS FIX JOE RIZZO FORD SAID THEY WILL CALL ME WHEN THE PROBLEM IS FIX--> THE CAR THEY GAVE ME WAS ANOTHER FORD FOCUS 2013 AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW THE FREAKING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE RENTAL CAR I HAD MY PERSONAL CAR FOR A YEAR NOW THERE IS NO WAY THAT I SHOULD BE HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS OR ANYTHING ELSE WRONG WITH THIS CAR FORD REALLY NEEDS TO GET THESE PROBLEMS FIX BEFORE AN ACCIDENT HAPPEN TO SOMEONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10557632

Dec 9, 2013Engine

TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I WENT AND TOOK IT FOR A MAINTENANCE OIL APPOINTMENT, ON DECEMBER 3 AS I STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START, IT KEPT MARKING CHECK ENGINE, IT LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE MIDDLE OF MY STREET BOYLSTON STREET, BOSTON, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT WOULD START BUT NOT GET TOO FAR. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO QUIRK IN QUINCY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10555306

Dec 2, 2013Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE MAIN SEAL, CLUTCH PACK AND FRONT SEALS HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 10554385

Nov 27, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL WITH MY GRANDSON AND THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AS WE CREPT IN THE LINE OF TRAFFIC. ALMOST SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS READY TO STALL! THIS CAR HAS JUST OVER 5000 MILES ON IT AND I ENJOY DRIVING IT BUT THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS JERKING MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO JUDGE HOW CLOSE TO GET TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU ( BECAUSE THE "SLIPPING " IN AND OUT OF GEAR SURGES FORWARD ) AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. EVEN AT SPEEDS UP TO 35-45 MPH THE HESITATION MAKES ME FEEL AS IF IT IS GOING TO STALL. SO TODAY I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND AM SHOCKED TO FIND THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP BY FORD. ALSO THE DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK PROPERLY WHEN USING AS THE MANUAL STATES. I PLAN TO BE AT MY DEALERSHIP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10554041

Nov 24, 2013Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I HAVE ONLY HAD TO CAR FOR A DAY. THE CAR MAKES AN AWFUL RATTLING NOISE AND HESITATES WHEN GOING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, TODAY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WHEN I WAS IN DRIVE I PUSHED THE GAS TO GO FORWARD AND THE CAR WENT IN REVERSE! PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR. IT'S SO UNSAFE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AWFUL TRANSMISSION. A DANGER! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10553636

Nov 7, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

DRIVING OUR ELECTRIC FORD FOCUS TO WORK WHEN LEFT-MOST DISPLAY SCREEN FLASHES, "STOP SAFELY NOW!" MESSAGE AT THE SAME MOMENT THAT ALL DRIVE POWER IS COMPLETELY CUT OFF. COASTED TO A STOP, TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED A MINUTE OR SO, AND TURNED CAR BACK ON. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED AT 5:30 AM ON A TWO LANE ROAD, SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING MY HOME, AND BEFORE ENTERING THE INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10551229

Oct 28, 2013SteeringBrakesEngine

THIS IS FOR THE FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 4 LANE ROAD IN MODERATE TRAFFIC, MY WIFE WAS SLOWING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO A 4 LANE HWY. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE CHIMED ONCE, SHOWED AN ORANGE CAUTION SIGN IN THE LEFT INFO DISPLAY THAT READ "PLEASE STOP SAFELY NOW," AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN MECHANICALLY. SHE INSTANTLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING, BRAKES OR ENGINE AND THE CAR CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP NEARLY CAUSING A COLLISION. SHE PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND TRIED TO TURN IT OFF (THE INTERIOR ELECTRONICS THAT ARE POWERED BY THE STANDARD LEAD ACID BATTERY WERE ALL STILL ON AND FUNCTIONING) AND RESTART THE MOTOR, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF. IT WAS LUCKY IT STOPPED BEFORE THE INTERSECTION, IF IT HAD HAPPENED 3 SECONDS LATER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PERPENDICULAR TO TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY THAT'S MOSTLY TRAFFICKED BY BIG RIGS AND DELIVERY TRUCKS AND SHE VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THERE WAS NO WAY FOR HER TO SAFELY GET OUT OF THE CAR, THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WHEN THERE WASN'T THERE WERE CARS HONKING AND SWERVING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. IT WAS A FAILED COOLING PUMP SO THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN THE BATTERY PACK AND EVERYTHING DRIVEN BY IT (IE STEERING BRAKES AND THE MOTOR) TO PREVENT OVERHEATING. THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE ONLY CAUSE OF THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" SIGN AND SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR. INSTANTLY CUTTING OFF THE DRIVER FROM ALL THE BASIC CONTROLS OF A VEHICLE IS A VERY DANGEROUS WAY TO DEAL WITH FAULT CODES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10549817

Oct 27, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITH A 'STOP SAFELY NOW' WARNING. SINCE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHAT HAPPENED, SO I CAME TO STOP IN MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES NOW..WITH TWO EVENTS WITHIN A MILE OF EACH OTHER YESTERDAY 10/26. YESTERDAY THE FIRST EVENT WAS AT 40 MPH AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD (LUCKILY NOT VERY BUSY AT THE TIME) AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE OTHER TWO TIMES, IT HAPPENED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ONTO THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10549680

Oct 17, 2013Electrical systemEngine

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT ANY POINT IN TIME THE CAR STARTS TO SOUND LIKE ITS GOING TO DIE ALMOST LIKE I'M DRIVING A STANDARD BUT I'M NOT. I MOSTLY NOTICE IT WHEN DRIVING IN TOWN. YET I HAVE NOTICED IT WHEN GOING FASTER AS WELL. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS BEING "NORMAL". I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN. THE PERSON WORKING ON MY VEHICLE SAID THEY DROVE IT AND NOTICED THE ISSUE. STATED THAT RESETTING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WOULD RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. YET AFTER HAVING THIS REDONE. NOT EVEN AN HOUR LATER I NOTICE THE ISSUE HAS NOT BE RESOLVED AND IS STILL HAPPENING. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL GET INTO A WRECK, NOT TO MENTION I HAVE WASTED MY MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL AS IF I AM THROWING MY MONEY AWAY COMPLETELY. WHEN TALKING TO MY SALES MAN AFTER HAVING THIS ISSUE NOT RESOLVED. HE TELLS ME THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT EVERYONE COMPLAINS ABOUT THOUGH FORD STATES THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE HAD MANY VEHICLES IN MY LIFE AND THIS IS BY FAR NOT NORMAL. IF THIS VEHICLE DID THIS WHILE I WAS TEST DRIVING THE CAR. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR EVER. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. DO WE NEED TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED FROM THE DEFECT BEFORE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE. FORD... FIX THIS!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10548229

Oct 17, 2013Speed controlEngine

STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR DASH INDICATOR ERROR "STOP SAFELY NOW" APPEARED AND THERE WAS NO ABILITY CONTROL THE CAR--DIDN'T TO RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I RESTARTED THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY WAS ABLE TO REGAIN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10548272

Oct 17, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STARTED BEEPING, AND FLASHED UP AN WARNING 'SAFELY STOP NOW'. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND HIT THE OFF BUTTON. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, BUT THE ERROR DID NOT GO AWAY, I COULD NAVIGATE AROUND THE COMPUTER A BIT, AND IT SHOWED A 'WARNING' BUT WOULD NOT LET ME SEE WHAT THE WARNING WAS. WHEN I OPENED THE CAR DOOR, NONE OF THE ACCESSORY POWER SHUT OFF LIKE IT SHOULD. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR (REMOVING THE KEY) AND LOCKED THE CAR. STILL ALL OF THE ACCESSORY POWER STAYED ON. I GOT BACK IN, AND TRIED TO START THE CAR, AND IT WOULD NOT START, AND FLASHED THE MESSAGE 'SAFELY STOP NOW' REPEATEDLY. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK. THE ACCESSORY POWER SAID ON FOR THE ENTIRE HOUR I WAITED, BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE, I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND IT LET ME START IT. IT RAN ALL THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP WITHOUT ANY ISSUE (3 MILES). SO FAR, THE DEALERSHIP IS CLUELESS ON WHAT TO DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10548302

Oct 15, 2013Transmission & drivetrainEngine

CAR JERKS ALOT! ALWAYS JERKING AT LOW SPEEDS AND USUALLY THROUGH GEARS 1-4. VERY UNRELIABLE IN CITY DRIVING AND FEELS VERY UNSAFE. I TOTALLY REGRET PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. TAKEN IT SEVERAL TIMES TO THE FORD CAMELBACK IN PHX AZ AND THEY JUST SAY ITS THE WAY THE MANUFACTURE BUILT THE CAR AND HOW THE CAR IS ABLE TO SAVE GAS. FORD NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM AND GIVE FORD OWNERS A BREAK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10547916

Oct 11, 2013Transmission & drivetrainEngine

WAS DRIVING UP MY DRIVEWAY WHICH IS FAIRLY STEEP, THE ENGINE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR (IT'S AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL, THE ENGINE WAS REVVING/REDLINING AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I QUICKLY APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND STEPPED ON THE GAS. THE CAR WAS STILL NOT IN GEAR AND CONTINUED TO ROLL BACK, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN, AND THEN THE GAS AT WHICH POINT THE CAR SHOT FORWARD, LUCKY THAT I WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE GARAGE OR ANY OBJECTS AND REMAINED IN GEAR WHEN I PULLED INTO THE GARAGE. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME ON FLAT GROUND IN A PARKING LOT ONE DAY. THE LURCH WAS LESS, BUT THE CAR STILL SHOT FORWARD FASTER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE, ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WERE NO PEDESTRIANS/CARS/OBJECTS TO RUN INTO. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND A LIABILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10547640

Oct 10, 2013Electrical systemEngineFuel system

STOP SAFELY NOW- CAR ASKED ME TO STOP SAFELY NOW WHILE DRIVING AND I PULLED OVER. AT THAT POINT, IT DID NOT RESTART. HAS HAPPENED 4 OTHER TIMES WITH MY WIFE AND 4 KIDS IN THE CAR WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEED. VERY UNSAFE AND HAVE REPORTED TO FORD. HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR OVER 30 DAYS AND THEY ARE EXECUTING A BUY-BACK, BUT WITH ALL THESE OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD, IT CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS YOU LOSE ALL CONTROL WITH AN ELECTRIC CAR. NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND FORD NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY FINDING A ROOT CAUSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10547536

Oct 8, 2013Speed controlEngine

FOR A FEW MONTHS PRIOR I HAD NOTICED A SHUTTERING STUTTERING TYPE FEELING WHEN COASTING OR AT AT STOP, ALMOST LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING TO STALL. ON 9/13 I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC GOING UP A HILL INTO A DODGER GAME WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN A WARNING POPPED UP ON THE SCREEN INFORMING ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD OVERHEATED AND I NEEDED TO PULL OVER, STOP THE CAR AND WAIT FOR 8 MINUTES. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO PULL OVER THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE, THEN IT STARTED DOING LARGE LURCHES FORWARD. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF THE TRAFFIC AND MOVE THE CAR TO SAFETY WITHOUT FURTHER ENDANGERING MYSELF, MY PASSENGERS, AND THE OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME. THE SMELL WAS SO BAD I ACTUALLY GOT OUT OF THE CAR AT ONE POINT THINKING IT MIGHT EXPLODE. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR AS I TRIED TO GET TO SAFETY. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS THE NEXT MORNING AND IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK. I GOT IT BACK AND COULD TELL THERE WAS STILL SOMETHING WRONG BECAUSE THE SHAKING WAS NOW SO BAD I WOULD GET MOTION SICK ANYTIME THE CAR WAS AT A STOP. 5 DAYS AFTER PICKING IT UP I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP. AGAIN, THEY HAD THE CAR FOR A WEEK. AFTER PICKING IT UP, THREE DAYS LATER I WAS AGAIN PULLING INTO DODGER STADIUM AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. TRANSMISSION OVER HEATED, LURCHING AS I TRY TO PULL OVER TO SAFETY AND A TERRIBLE SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR. THE CAR IS BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN, BUT I FEEL THAT MY SAFETY IS THREATENED AND I DO NOT WANT THIS CAR BACK. IN 23 DAYS, THE CAR HAS HAD TO GO INTO THE SHOP 3 TIMES, FOR A TOTAL OF 15 DAYS SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10547257

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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 →