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)

1,131 of 2,157 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 39 of 46

Jun 19, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

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 A FEW SECONDS. AT THAT POINT I HAD TO BRAKE BECAUSE IT WAS TOO LATE TO ENTER ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS VERY WORRISOME FOR ME ESPECIALLY SINCE MY SON DRIVES THE CAR AS WELL AND HE IS A NOVICE DRIVER WITH ONE YEAR EXPERIENCE. IN MARCH, I WAS TRAVELING AND RENTED A 2013 FORD FOCUS AND DROVE IT ABOUT 500 FREEWAY MILES. IT SEEMED ON IT'S BEST BEHAVIOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10604435

Jun 18, 2014Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 10604399

Jun 16, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

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.

NHTSA ODI 10598484

Jun 12, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 10597792

Jun 10, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

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.

NHTSA ODI 10597382

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

Jun 4, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

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.

NHTSA ODI 10596155

Jun 2, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

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

NHTSA ODI 10595688

May 29, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

IN MOST VEHICLES THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL DISCONNECT WHEN SHIFTING GEARS OR BRAKING. THE 2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC DOES NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED IN L TO UTILIZE ENGINE BRAKING. IT CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN SPEED REQUIRING IMMEDIATE APPLICATION OF BRAKES TO SLOW VEHICLE. CRUISE CONTROL SHOULD TURN OFF WHEN SHIFTED TO L. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10594830

May 28, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 10594592

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 & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 10593016

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 17, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 10592147

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

May 14, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

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

NHTSA ODI 10588433

May 13, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 10588080

May 9, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME IT WOULD NOT SHIFT BUT RAISED A RED FLAG. AFTER TURNING OFF IGNITION AND TRYING AGAIN IT FINALLY ENGAGED, ALL OTHER SHIFTER SELECTIONS WERE FINE; N, D. SOON THEREAFTER I BEGAN NOTICING A STRANGE GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END ACCOMPANIED BY A SLIGHT VIBRATION UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP OR WHEN NEGOTIATING A CURVE AT SLOW SPEED. WE LEFT FOR TUCSON SOON THEREAFTER TOWING OUR FOCUS BEHIND OUR MOTORHOME. THE CAR CONTINUED WITH THE SAME ISSUES AS DESCRIBED ABOVE SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER. THEY TEST DROVE AND SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO BRING IT BACK. SOON AFTER.THIS WE DROVE FROM TUCSON TO ALBUQUERQUE AND THE CAR SHUDDERED AND HESITATED WHILE SHIFTING SO BADLY I FELT IT WAS UNSAFE. RETURNED TO DEALER IN TUCSON TWO MORE TIMES WHERE THEY FINALLY "FIXED" IT. LASTED TWO DAYS NOW WORSE THAN EVER. I FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SEVERAL VEHICLES SINCE 1958 AND THIS IS MY WORSE DRIVING EXPERIENCE EVER. I WILL BE MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL DEALER TODAY TO SEE IF THEY HAVE A SOLUTION. I KNOW I AM ONE OF MANY FORD OWNERS WITH THESE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUES. FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO ISSUE A RECALL. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ FORD CONSIDERS GOOD FUEL MILEAGE MORE IMPORTANT THAN SAFETY. IF MY LOCAL DEALER CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM SO THAT I FEEL SAFE DRIVING OUR FOCUS I WILL BE GOING BACK TO TOYOTA OR SUBARU ASAP. ANOTHER "BIG THREE" FAILURE. I AM FROM MICHIGAN AND AM EMBARRASSED TO DRIVE THIS CAR ASSEMBLED IN MICHIGAN WITH A TRANSMISSION THAT IS TOTAL JUNK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10587367

May 9, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WITH A DRAGGING FEELING. VEHICLE LOSSES SPEED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS THEN CATCHES WITH A JOLT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10587490

May 8, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,600. UPDATED 06/30/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INCONSISTENT TRANSMISSION PERFORMANCE AND LURCHES DURING ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TRUSTED DURING EXPECTED QUICK RESPONSE. UPDATED 07/2/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10587198

May 5, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

WHILE DRIVING , INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS AND NOTIFICATION LIGHTS BLINKED OFF AND ON 5 TIMES CAR CONTINUED TO RUN NORMAL . ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THE TACH AND SPEED NEEDLE DROPPED TO ZERO AND THEN WENT BACK UP TO NORMAL . ALSO STARTING FROM A STOP HESITATION AND JERKING WHILE STARTING OUT FROM STOPPED POSITION AND FROM SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR . AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10586551

May 5, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

I AM LEASING THIS CAR AND GOT IT IN MARCH 2013. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES ALREADY AND THE DEALERS, 2 DIFFERENT ONES, KEEP TELLING ME IT IS JUST NORMAL. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A LONG TIME AND EVEN DROVE A 5 SPEED, BUT NEVER HAVE I HAD THESE ISSUES. GRINDING, SHUDDERING, JERKING IN LOWER SPEEDS AND I SOMETIMES THINK THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP, AS I WORK AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORTHLESS FOR ME TO TAKE IT IN. I AM NOT SURE IF I CAN FILE A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT, BUT NOT SURE WHAT ELSE I CAN DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10586619

May 4, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

THIS VEHICLE HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT HAS IT HESITATING AND LURCHING FORWARD IN THE SLOWER GEARS. IT IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN STARTING OUT AND I HAVE NEARLY HIT SEVERAL CARS, SEVERAL TIMES. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEN THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A NORMAL "FEATURE" OF THE MANUAL/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE COMPUTER WOULD "LEARN" MY DRIVING HABITS AFTER A SHORT WHILE. IT NEVER HAS AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10586459

Apr 30, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

I PURCHASED A FORD FOCUS IN MAY 2013 BRAND NEW FROM A DEALERSHIP. FOR THE FIRST 6-8 MONTHS THE CAR DROVE FINE. STARTING IN JANUARY 2014 I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION WAS GRINDING THROUGH OUT EACH GEAR WHICH IS ODD BECAUSE I DRIVE AN AUTOMATIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOUR TIMES FOR REPAIRS COVERED IN MY 36000 MILE WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THE CAR WILL VIBRATE AND SHUDDER AND JERK WHEN I'M ACCELERATING AS WELL AS THE PERSISTENT GRINDING. THE GRINDING SOUNDS AS IF SOMEONE PUT GRAVEL ROCKS IN MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE SEARCHED IN ONLINE FORUMS AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AND THAT THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HAVE ALSO BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THEM PROPERLY. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FEELS AS IF IT COULD GO OUT AT ANY SECOND. A FEW OTHERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO LEMON LAW THEIR VEHICLE DO TO THESE PROBLEMS. IF IT CANT BE RESOLVED I WONT BE PURCHASING FROM FORD AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. MY CURRENT MILEAGE IS AT 14,000 AND THE PROBLEMS ARE STILL OCCURRING. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10585714

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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 →