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)

Newest first · 2,157 complaints · page 22 of 87

Oct 29, 2019Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT TO MAKE A TURN, IT LOST STEERING ABILITY AND "STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND "SERVICE RDQ,D" APPEARED ON THE MESSAGE CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTOMAX FORD (3301 E CENTRAL TEXAS EXPY, KILLEEN, TX 76543) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

NHTSA ODI 11276854

Oct 28, 2019Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) ON JANUARY 2, 2019. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART AFTER BEING FUELED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER A WHILE, BUT FAILED TO START AGAIN THREE DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED: JOHN KENNEDY FORD (888-377-1951, LOCATED AT 1403 RIDGE PIKE, CONSHOHOCKEN, PA 19428). THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE PURGE VALVE ASSEMBLY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE DAYS LATER. AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS REFILLED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK, SHUDDERED, AND STALLED. ALSO, THE BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND THE FUEL CANISTER WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,153.

NHTSA ODI 11271529

Oct 28, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHICH HAS TO DO WITH TRANSMISSION CLUTCH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SHUDDERED WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A WARRANTY RECALL PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH NYE FORD (1479 GENESEE ST, ONEIDA, NY 13421, (888) 769-0937) TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR NEARLY A WEEK, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SERVICED BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BACK AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD NO EVIDENCE OF HER SPEAKING WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT GIVEN A REFERENCE NUMBER AFTER HER CONVERSATION WITH THE INITIAL REPRESENTATIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. *LN CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO CONTACT WITH TRANSMISSION ISSUE. VEHICLE JUST TURNS ON AND OFF. *JB

NHTSA ODI 11271609

Oct 25, 2019SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WITH NO CAUSE OR WARNING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NOTIFIED ME THAT "HILL ASSIST IS UNAVAILABLE". ALSO, WHEN STATIONARY, THERE APPEARS TO BE NO POWER STEERING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT. THIS PROBLEM STOPS WHEN ROLLING FORWARD OR REVERSE. AFTER MOVING, THE PROBLEM DOES NOT REOCCUR (STOP SIGNS, STOP LIGHTS, ETC). IT DOES, HOWEVER, OCCUR AGAIN WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF, THEN BACK ON. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS BEGAN AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11271091

Oct 17, 2019Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" MESSAGE APPEARED AND THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO BRADLEY FORD LINCOLN (1690 INDUSTRIAL BLVD, LAKE HAVASU, AZ 86403) AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11269122

Oct 17, 2019Visibility & wipers

WHILE DRIVING, THE WIPERS WILL GO OFF NON-STOP. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND IT WAS STILL ON. I HAD TO PULL THE FUSE OFF TO GET TO MY DESTINATION. AT THIS TIME, IT'S STILL HAPPENING. ALL AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11269181

Oct 16, 2019Fuel system

FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED IN APRIL 2019. RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER OF FUEL PUMP RECALL ON MY 2014 FORD FOCUS VIN [XXX]. MY 2013 FORD FOCUS DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL BUT IS HAS THE SAME ENGINE, BUILT AT THE SAME PLANT, AND BUILT WITHIN THE SAME YEAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11268946

Oct 15, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE MOVED IN REVERSE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND FAIL TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORRIS FORD (901 MERRITT BLVD, BALTIMORE, MD 21222, (410) 285-0200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR CLUTCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA ODI 11268440

Oct 14, 2019

SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, RANDOM, SUDDEN THUDS BEGAN TO OCCUR ON WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE ROOF OF THE CAR; SOMETIMES A SINGLE THUD, SOMETIMES TWO OR THREE. THIS WAS WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION; AND NOT WITH THE RADIO ON. IT HAPPENED DAILY, UNTIL THIS PAST WEEKEND, THROUGHOUT THE EVENING ON FRIDAY 10/11 AND WHENEVER DRIVING ON SATURDAY 10/12 AND SUNDAY 10/13 (WITHOUT THE RADIO OR CD PLAYER ON) LOUD, SUDDEN AND PROLONGED SIZZLING AND CRACKLING/POPPING SOUNDS WOULD BREAK OUT IN WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE DASHBOARD(?) AND DOORS? MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS WITNESS TO ALL OF THIS, AND WE BOTH WERE FRIGHTENED BY IT EACH TIME IT HAPPENED (A TOTAL OF 20+ TIMES?). I CONSIDERED NOT DRIVING THE CAR AT ALL, BUT HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND LIVE IN A SOMEWHAT RURAL AREA. IT OBVIOUSLY IS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE, AND IS A PROGESSION FROM THE THUDS THAT WERE INITIALLY HAPPENING SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. WHAT ON EARTH CAN BE GOING ON THIS CAR? AGAIN, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SOUND SYSTEM, BECAUSE IT ALL HAPPENS WHEN THE RADIO HASN'T EVEN BEEN TURNED ON. I'M AFRAID THAT A WIRING BREAKAGE HAS OCCURRED SOMEWHERE AND A FIRE COULD POTENTIONALLY BREAK OUT IN THE CAB!

NHTSA ODI 11268258

Oct 13, 2019Electrical system

ALL DASH LIGHTS SUCH AS TRACTION CONTROL IS OFF STEERING ASSIST TURNS OFF ETC ALL APPEAR ON THE DASH AND THE CAR USUALLY STALLS AND VARIOUS MESSAGES POP UP SUCH AS ENGINE FAULT SERVICE NOW AND TRANSMISSION FAULT SERVICE NOW THIS HAS BEEN AN ON AND OFF PROBLEM AND IT WILL COME AND GO WHICH MEANS MY CAR IS AT RISK AT STALLING AT ANY MOMENT WHILE DRIVING AND WENT TO NUMEROUS REPAIR SHOPS AND EVEN WENT TO A FORD DEALER TO FIX A RECALL AND STILL THE PROBLEMS REMAINS THERE MY VEHICLE STOPPED IN A THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD NUMEROUS TIMES LEAVING ME STRANDED I EVEN LOST MY JOB BECAUSE OF MY CAR AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH MY GUESS IS THAT IS HAS TO BE EITHER THE WIRING HARNESS OR THE BCM OR POSSIBLY BOTH BECAUSE EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE LOSSES POWER AND TURNS BACK ON I USUALLY HOOK UP A SCAN TOOL AND SEE THE CODES AND THE CODE THAT ALWAYS POPS UP OR IT DECLARED AS PERMANENT IS "LOSS COMMUNICATION WITH TCM/PCM" I FORGOT THE NUMBER THE CODE IS ASSOCIATED WITH BUT THAT WAS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CODE

NHTSA ODI 11268202

Oct 11, 2019

THE TRANSMISSION FAIL COMES ON AND SAYS GET IT FIXED AND I JUST GOT THE CAR BACK FOR GETTING THE RECALLS FIXED ON IT NOW I'M HAVING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11267914

Oct 10, 2019Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS DETECTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARTIN DODGE JEEP CHRYSLER (2209 SCOTTSVILLE RD, BOWLING GREEN, KY 42104, (270) 216-5185) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, A DIAGNOSTIC WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11267645

Oct 10, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

MY BATTERY UNEXPECTEDLY DIED. UPON FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS MY BATTERY IS CHARGE AND IS FINE. CAR CODE READER INDICATES TCM POWER LEVEL LOW. MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT WHERE I RECIEVED A JUMP.

NHTSA ODI 11267726

Oct 9, 2019Fuel system

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING AN ERROR WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. POTENTIALLY RELATED TO RECALL ID 298189. CPV WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11267294

Oct 8, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

THE VEHICLE HAD A RECALL DONE 8 MONTHS AGO AND RECENTLY THE SAME PROBLEMS OF THE RECALL SUCH AS THE GAS TANK ISSUE AND THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES ARE STILL A PROBLEM N WENT TO FORD N TOLD WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT JUST 2 WEEKS AGO BEFORE I TOOK IT TO FORD ON A FRIDAY NIGHT I WAS DRIVING N MY CAR SHUT OFF AS I WAS ON A BUSY ROAD CARS PASSING ME BY MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF AND I PUSHED THE CAR TO THE SIDE STRESSED BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE MONEY FOR A TOW TRUCK AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG UNTIL SOMEONE SAID TRY PUTTING GAS IN IT AND I TOLD THEM MY TANK WAS HALF AND GAS MONITOR SAID I HAD 140 MILES TO GO BEFORE IT'S EMPTY BUT WHEN THE GAS WAS PUT IN THE CAR IT TURNED ON AND THE GAS MONITOR SHOWED 0 THEN IT WENT UP TO 260 AND THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE TRANSMISSION WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR STARTS TO JERK AND STALLS AND WHEN I COME TO A STOP MY RPM JUST GOES UP AS IF I'M STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATION BUT WHEN I LET GO OF THE BRAKE THE RPM DROPS N THE GOES SOUND LESS AS IF IT'S GOING TO TURN OFF THEN IT JERKS N DRIVES THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE A COUPLE OF TIMES I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM THE BACK AND WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR HAS TURNED OFF OR JERKS AND MAKES WEIRD NOISES AND I ONLY HAVE 61K MILEAGE ON IT SOMETHING HAS TO BE WRONG

NHTSA ODI 11267127

Oct 5, 2019Engine

STARTING TO DRIVE CAR HESITATES AND VIBRATES.

NHTSA ODI 11266469

Oct 4, 2019Steering

I WAS DRIVING ON A NORMAL STREET I HADE THE GREEN LIGHT TO TURN LEFT AND AS I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL GOT REALLY HARD I ALMOST CRASH TO A POLE...THEN A (POWER STEERING SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON) THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT LIGHT CAME ON I WAS LOOKING FOR SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE POWER STEERING AND IT SEEMS IM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM..

NHTSA ODI 11266201

Oct 3, 2019Steering

MY SON HAD JUST DRIVEN TO ALTOONA, PA FROM WASH DC, PARKED THE CAR, AND WENT INTO HOUSE. CAME OUT OF HOUSE, GOT INTO CAR TO DRIVE TO STATE COLLEGE , PA WHERE HE IS A STUDENT AT PSU. WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. LUCKILY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE HE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO STUCKEY FORD IN HOLLIDAYSBURG, PA. SHOULDN'T SUCH A DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION,ESPECIALLY WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES , QUALIFY AS A RECALL ? COST OF REPAIR WAS $2495.00.

NHTSA ODI 11265816

Oct 2, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

THE CAR, IS NOW , BEGINNING TO NOT START,. WHICH I SUPPOSE THAT DOESN'T MATTER SINCE THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL COMPLETELY OUT, I WISH FORD WOULD FIX IT, OR GO AHEAD AND ALLOW ME TO COLLECT ON THE SETTLEMENT

NHTSA ODI 11265532

Oct 2, 2019Electrical systemEngineFuel system

CAR STALLED ON 99 HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY WARNING LOSING ALL POWER AND UNABLE TO RESTART. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED TANK WAS NOW DEFORMED DUE TO THE VAPOR SYSTEM LOCK OF THE CPV SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 18S32 TECHNICIANS HAVE SENT PICTURES THAT THEY ARE IN POSSESSION OF AND SAID THEY COULD NOT GIVE US COPIES OF BUT ALLOWED US TO SEE AND SHOWED US THE TECHNICIANS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TANK TO ALSO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE CPV . FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTERS HAVE NOT RETURNED PHONE CALLS AFTER BEING INFORMED OF OUR CONCERNS AND STATE SPECS DUE NOT MET THERE REQUIREMENT SO THEREFOR ARE REFUSING TO PAY FOR TANK TO BE REPLACED . ALTHOUGH THE SPECIALIST STATES DIFFERENT.

NHTSA ODI 11265732

Oct 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

THE CAR, STARTED JERKING REALLY HARD. IT WAS NOT SHIFTING WELL, THEN NOT AT ALL, IT SLUNG ME INTO TRAFFIC EVEN WITH MY BRAKES PRESSED. THE CAR BEGAN TO JUST IDLE ALMOST AS IF IN NEUTRAL THEN IT SAID WARNING TRANSMISSION HOT

NHTSA ODI 11265286

Sep 27, 2019Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SLOWED DOWN WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE CAMSHAFT SENSOR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V813000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH PLANET FORD (20403 I-45, SPRING, TX 77388, (281) 719-3700) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11258641

Sep 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ODI 11257978

Sep 25, 2019

MY SON(I AM ON CAR LOAN ALSO) RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD FOR THE PURGE VALVE. HE TOOK IT TO HOPKINS FORD IN ELGIN, IL WHERE WE PURCHASED VEHICLE. THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE PURGE VALVE AND DID A FLASH PCM INSTEAD AND 3 DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR AN EVAPORATION LEAK-DIRECTLY RELATED TO PURGE VALVE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE OWNER OF DEALERSHIP, FORD MOTOR CO. TONY REINHART REGIONAL MANAGER FOR IL FORD AND NO ONE HAS RESPONDED.

NHTSA ODI 11258070

Sep 24, 2019Fuel system

RECALL ON MY CAR HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR. IT HAS BEEN 11 MONTHS

NHTSA ODI 11257773

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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 →