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 24 of 87

Sep 6, 2019Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE AT A NEARBY FUEL STATION AND THEN DROVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI 11253749

Sep 5, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

NEEDS ANOTHER CLUTCH REPLACEMENT AND TCM STILL SHUDDERING.

NHTSA ODI 11253491

Sep 5, 2019EngineFuel systemCrash1 injury1 death

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE CONTACT'S SON STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT'S SON DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE CANISTER PURGE VALVE (CPV). LATER THAT DAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND A FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 68 MPH, IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE STEERING SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT'S SON DIED INSTANTLY AND THE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. ANOTHER MOTORIST OBSERVED THE CRASH AND CALLED 911. THE PASSENGER WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR THEIR UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE CONTACT'S SON WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD ON THE SCENE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11253504

Sep 2, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

PRIOR TO INCIDENT, VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHUDDER ON TAKE-OFFS. INCIDENT INVOLVED VEHICLE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF A LARGE METRO AREA WHEN ALL POWER TO WHEELS WAS LOST. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. ENGINE WOULD REV WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED, BUT CAR ACTED AS IF IN NEUTRAL. CAR COASTED TO A STOP. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF NEUTRAL UNTIL AFTER THE CAR SAT FOR OVER AN HOUR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) HAD FAILED AND A NEW TCM WAS INSTALLED AND CAR NOW WORKS MOST OF THE TIME, BUT INTERMITTENT SHUDDER ON TAKE OFF STILL OCCURS, THOUGH LESS FREQUENTLY THAN BEFORE.

NHTSA ODI 11252800

Aug 29, 2019Speed control

WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR USED FEBRUARY 2017 AT 70,000 MILES, I WAS GIVEN A CARFAX STATING THE ONLY ISSUE WAS WITH THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH. LESS THAN A MONTH IN, I SEEMED TO BE LOSING POWER SO I TOOK IT TO TOWN & COUNTRY FORD IN MADISON, TN. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE AFOREMENTIONED RECALL ISSUE AND I DROVE IN RELATIVE SATISFACTION FOR ALMOST AN ENTIRE YEAR. THEN I TOOK IT INTO TWO RIVERS FORD (MT. JULIET) FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE SERVICE GUY WAS VERY AMICABLE AND EVEN ARRANGED FOR ME TO HAVE A LOANER CAR WHILE THEY HAD MINE. THE SAME ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT WITH AN ADDITIONAL FIX. I PAID $125 FOR SOME PART NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL WARRANTY BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT IF IT WERE TO MALFUNCTION AGAIN, IT MAY NOT BE COVERED. THE THIRD TIME I TOOK IT IN (BACK TO MT JULIET) THEY LOOKED AT IT, DETERMINED IT WAS THE SAME ISSUE, AND SAID I'D HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE THE RECALL WARRANTY WAS ONLY GOOD FOR 100,000 MILES. I COULDN'T AFFORD $2300 QUITE TO FIX IT SO I RETURNED THE LOANER AND CLAIMED MY VEHICLE, BUT NOT WITHOUT MAKING IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT WASN'T SATISFIED WITH HOW THE SITUATION WAS HANDLED.

NHTSA ODI 11252137

Aug 29, 2019Fuel systemTransmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WRAY FORD (2851 BENTON RD, BOSSIER CITY, LA 71111, (318) 686-7300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM SOFTWARE CRASHED AND NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED PER THE RECALL DUE TO THE MILEAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS 23983015. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11252201

Aug 28, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE IN USE. TRANSMISSION WILL LAG, HARD SHIFT, VEHICLE WILL GET "STUCK" WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND SHUDDER GOING AROUND SLOW TURNS OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. IN TRAFFIC, THE ACCELERATION LAG AS WELL AS SHE SHUDDERING ARE DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLES BRAKES DO NOT RESPOND AS WELL WHEN SHUDDERING. FORD INSISTS THAT ALL VEHICLE PARTS ARE OPERATING CORRECTLY. IF THAT IS THE CASE, FORD HAS DESIGNED AN INCREDIBLY UNSAFE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11251916

Aug 28, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WRAY FORD IN BOSSIER TESTED IT, SAID IT WAS A PCM SOFTWARE AND THAT IT WILL COST ME 1600 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I GAVE FORD THE RECALL NUMBER. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR IS OVER 150,000 MILES AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. NOW THIS IS MY SECOND RECALL ON MY CAR, THE FIRST RECALL WAS THE LATCHES, MY DOORS WOULDN'T STAY CLOSE, FORD REPLACE ALL 4 OF MY DOORS, AND BRUCE LEE TOLD ME I HAD ANOTHER RECALL THAT I NEEDED TO GET FIX BUT I HAD TO BRING IT BACK. NOW MY CAR WILL NOT START. AND FORD IS TRYING TO CHARGE ME FOR THE RECALL

NHTSA ODI 11252126

Aug 27, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION MAKES A METAL TYPE NOISE CONSISTENTLY AND SURGES WHEN WARM. THERE IS A RANDOM CLICKING NOISE UNDER HOOD. TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11251869

Aug 26, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY MAXWELL FORD (5000 S IH 35 FRONTAGE RD, AUSTIN, TX 78745, (512) 443-5000). AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER BACK AND WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH FAILED PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIR. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

NHTSA ODI 11246435

Aug 23, 2019Electrical systemFuel system

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STUTTERING WHILE DRIVING. AC IS OUT. MULTIPLE ELECTRIC ISSUES

NHTSA ODI 11246017

Aug 22, 2019Speed controlEngine

WHILE TURNING A CORNER MY CAR VIBRATES AND SHAKES AND HEAR AS IF METAL IS HITTING UNDERNEATH. WHEN PUSHING ON GAS TO GO, THE CAR WILL JERK. DOESN'T WANT TO REV LIKE IT NEEDS TO. WILL SHAKE AGGRESSIVELY WHEN BRAKING. HAVE TO LET OFF GAS THEN PUSH BACK DOWN ON IT TO MAKE IT STOP SHAKING. ALSO VIBRATES WHEN IN PARK INTENSELY

NHTSA ODI 11245634

Aug 22, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND SHUDDERED WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED A FEW TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO CRANE FORD (4601 COLONEL GLEN PLAZA DRIVE, LITTLE ROCK, AK 72210) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN FAILED AND AN UNKNOWN PART WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11245879

Aug 22, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS IN EXCESS ON TAKE- OFF, WHEN COMING OFF A STOP AND JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11245926

Aug 20, 2019EngineFuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRAND PRAIRIE FORD (LOCATED AT 701 E PALACE PKWY, GRAND PRAIRIE, TX 75050, (972) 975-9621) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ODI 11245245

Aug 19, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

JUST PICKED UP YESTERDAY AFTER 4TH TRANSMISSION VISIT. CAR WAS HARD SHIFTING IN LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR WILL HESITATE AND LUNGE. WON'T DRIVE DISTANCE OR ON FREEWAY ONLY GOOD FOR LOCAL SMALL ROUTES.

NHTSA ODI 11245111

Aug 18, 2019Fuel system

WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM A STOP THE CAR SHUTTERS/JERKS. FEELS LIKE STRONG TUMBLE STRIPS. ALSO ALMOST LIKE WHEELS ARE LOCKING AND TRYING TO GRIP. I HAVE BEEN SCARED AT I INTERSECTIONS AS WITH HESITATION THE CAR DOESN'T HAVE MUCH POWER. ONCE IT SHIFTS (I HAVE AUTOMATIC) IT'S FINE. DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME EITHER.

NHTSA ODI 11244722

Aug 18, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

BOLT SHEARED OFF IN THE TRANSMISSION WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL OUT & BE UNABLE TO GO INTO ANY GEAR, GATES FOR THE GEARS SEEMED TO BE GONE AS SHIFTER KNOB COULD MOVE FREELY AROUND. IT DID RE-START ONCE, JUST LONG ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY, THEN IMMEDIATELY STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. GOT THE BOLT REPLACED WITH A FORD BOLT, IT SHEARED OFF AGAIN WHILE DRIVING DOWNTOWN WITHIN 4 DAYS, HAD IT REPLACED AND BOLTED THROUGH A 2ND TIME, AND IT SHEARED OFF YET AGAIN WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, 2 OF THE THREE TIMES THIS HAPPENED CAR WAS ABOVE 30MPH, ONE TIME I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 15MPH. CAR IS STILL NOT FUNCTIONAL & FORD HAS STATED THUS FAR, THEIR SUGGESTION IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A TEMPORARY FIX, AS EVERYONE ELSE WHO I KNOW/HAVE LOOKED UP THAT'S HAD THIS DONE ONLY GETS THE VEHICLE WORKING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN THE VEHICLE STOPS WORKING AGAIN WHEN THE BOLT SHEARS OFF. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR THE 2012-2016 FORD FOCUS, THOUGH I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST MANUAL OR BOTH MANUAL & AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11244758

Aug 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER OUT OF PARK, THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND FAILED TO FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HUNTINGTON BEACH FORD (18255 BEACH BLVD, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92648, 714-842-6611) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DUAL CLUTCH SYSTEM INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND THE RPMS INCREASED. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE, THE ACTUATORS, BOTH CLUTCHES, THE ENGAGEMENT BEARING, AND THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A WARRANTY EXTENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,906.

NHTSA ODI 11244520

Aug 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

DAILY DRIVER AFTER MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION REPAIRS STILL SHUDDERING EVERY TIME, JERKY TRANSMISSION HESITATES WITH LACK OF POWER.

NHTSA ODI 11244524

Aug 15, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

CAR STILL SHUDDERING INTERMITTENTLY, IN ALL SCENARIOS.

NHTSA ODI 11244175

Aug 15, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

HESITATION ON ACCELERATION AND GRINDING SOUND; TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACK; CLUTCH HAS EXCESSIVE SHUDDERING AT LOW SPEED. VEHICLE WILL NOT START

NHTSA ODI 11244286

Aug 15, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

VEHICLE HESITATES, SHAKES, AND SHUDDERS WHILE MOVING FORWARD AND STOPPING. IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE CAR IS DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. STALLED COMPLETELY IN AN INTERSECTION.

NHTSA ODI 11244296

Aug 14, 2019Body & structureEngine

2013 FORD FOCUS JERKS WHILE ACCELERATING, WAS TOLD RECALL WAS FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY VIA KINDLE FORD. ALSO THE TRUNK NO LONGER OPENS, BUT BEEPS WHEN CAR IS ON SAYING THE TRUNK IS OPEN. WAS TOLD THIS WAS A RECALL IN 2017 THAT WAS FIXED BEFORE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT NOW IT'S UP TO US TO PAY FOR IT.

NHTSA ODI 11243835

Aug 14, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

TRANSMISSION IS OVERHEATING; LIGHT COMES ON WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE CAR SHIFTS HARSHLY, MAKES GURGLING NOISES, HESITATES AND JERKS. ROARING AND CLUNKING COMING FROM ENGINE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING.

NHTSA ODI 11244024

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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 →