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 40 of 46

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, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE CONTINUOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP GEARS. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER VEHICLE DRIVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR DURING DECELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE SIX CLUTCHES BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 560. JS

NHTSA ODI 10585236

Apr 26, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR MOVING POSITION IN MY CAR I GET A CRUNCHING, GRINDING NOISE AND SUDDEN JERKING. SEEMS TO COME FROM THE TRANSMISSION BUT EVERY TIME I TAKE MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE THEY REFUSE TO EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR AND SAY IT'S NORMAL AND HAND ME PAPERWORK SAYING IT'S FINE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL HARDLY EVEN ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR MOVE AS SLOW AS MOLASSES. I NEED HELP WITH THIS BECAUSE IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10585043

Apr 25, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN LAST MONTH. THE FIRST TWO TIMES, I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. THE STOP SAFELY WARNING CAME ON AND CAR QUIT WORKING. I WAS ABLE TO WAIT AND CAR EVENTUALLY STARTED AFTER I EXITED AND RESET. THE LAST TIME, TODAY, I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND AS I ACCELERATED ON THE GREEN, MY CAR STALLED AS THE STOP SAFELY WARNING CAME ON. I HAD NO ADVANCE NOTICE. I WAS ABLE TO GLIDE OVER OUT OF TRAFFIC INTO A SIDE STREET BUT NOT ABLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC TURNING. I TRIED TO GET TO THE WARNING BUT COULD NOT GET TO IT. I EXITED CAR TO TRY TO MOVE IT MYSELF WITH NO LUCK. ONCE I GOT BACK IN, I TRIED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND IT FINALLY STARTED BACK UP. I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME AND MADE APPT TO TAKE CAR TO FORD. I AM PRETTY SURE ALL MY RECALLS HAVE BEEN APPLIED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10584999

Apr 21, 2014Transmission & drivetrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE ON A HILL, IT ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA ODI 10584051

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 16, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ACCELERATED FROM A COMPLETE STOP WHEN HE FELT THE TRANSMISSION SLIP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS WARM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 10583068

Apr 16, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,700.

NHTSA ODI 10583105

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

Apr 15, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEALS AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,950.

NHTSA ODI 10582819

Apr 14, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

MY 2013 FORD FOCUS WANTS TO STALL WHEN GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND OR THE GEARS SLIP AND THE CAR STUTTERS LOSING SPEED SUDDENLY. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE MANUAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. INITIALLY IT WAS ALSO DOING IT WHILE TRYING TO REVERSE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WITH IN TWO MONTHS OF PURCHASE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE "BROKEN IN" AND CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT FOR 1500-2K MILES. I LET IT GO AND FINALLY BROUGHT IT IN THE FOLLOWING SEPTEMBER AND SINCE THAN AN ADDITIONAL 5 TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPROGRAMMED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES. IT WILL ACT OK FOR A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE REPROGRAMMING THEN SLOWLY GOES BACK INTO THE SAME PATTERN UNTIL IT HAPPENS ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. I FIND IT OCCURS MORE AFTER DRIVING HIGHWAY MILES AND THEN BEING STUCK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC (WHICH IS MY DAILY COMMUTE). I'VE SPOKEN WITH FOUR DIFFERENT FORD TECHNICIANS AND EACH CLAIM THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. INITIALLY I WAS ACCUSED OF DRIVING TWO FOOTED OR NOT KNOWING HOW A STANDARD SHOULD SHIFT. UPON EXPLAINING THAT I DO NOT DRIVE TWO FOOTED, I AM WELL AWARE OF HOW STANDARDS SHOULD SHIFT AS I AM NOT A NEW DRIVER, I WOULD BE CONNECTED WITH A TECHNICIAN. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIALLY IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10579566

Apr 12, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

2013 FORD FOCUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INCLUDE NOISE, GRINDING, SHUDDERING, LURCHING. DEALER CLAIMS THEY ARE NORMAL BUT REPRESENTS SAFETY AND FINANCIAL ISSUE (I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO SELL THE CAR) AND I DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10579370

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 8, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

IN AUGUST OF 2013 I BROUGHT MY 2013 FORD FOCUS INTO THE DEALERSHIP WITH TRANSMISSION ISSUES. I OWNED THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS AT THAT POINT WITH 6,000 MILES ON IT. CAR WAS SHUDDERING AT LOWER GEARS, TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING, AT TIMES RPM WOULD REV UP HIGHER THAN NORMAL, GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE AT TIMES, LOSS OF POWER AND A COUPLE TIMES COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHILE TRYING TO TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE CAR INTO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND A COUPLE OF SOFTWARE UPDATES WERE APPLIED TO THE CAR. THIS FIXED IT FOR MAYBE 3 MONTHS THEN I STARTED NOTICING LOSS OF POWER IN THE CAR AGAIN, AND NOW RECENTLY ALL OF THE SAME ISSUES I ORIGINALLY HAD, AND LISTED ABOVE, HAVE RESURFACED. CURRENT MILES ARE 14,000. I CAN'T EVEN GO UP A HILL FASTER THAN 25 MILES AN HOUR, THE CAR FAILS TO CHANGE GEAR AND ENGINE RPMS REV AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING EVERYDAY. MY CAR IS BACK AT FORD, THIS TIME FOR A WEEK WHILE THEY TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THIS IS NOT NORMAL OPERATING FOR A CAR NO MATTER WHAT FORD SAYS. LOSS OF POWER WHILE TRYING TO CROSS TRAFFIC IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10578361

Apr 2, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

I AM EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2013 FORD FOCUS THAT IS MAKING ME SO NERVOUS AND SCARING ME. I AM SO AFRAID IT IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE A CLEAN DRIVING RECORD AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I STOP AT A STOP SIGN, LOOK BOTH WAYS, SEE A VEHICLE SOME DISTANCE AWAY AND KNOW IT IS OK TO PULL OUT BUT THEN THE CAR STALLS AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS UPON YOU. IT SHUDDERS WHEN I START TO TAKE OFF INTO TRAFFIC OR FROM A STOP. ALSO, WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND TRY TO SPEED UP IT DOES THE SAME. SOMETIMES IT SHUDDERS SO BAD THAT I AM AFRAID IT IS GOING TO CUT OFF. IT ALSO MAKES A NOISE LIKE A RATTLE. MY CAR ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 9,000 MILES ON IT AND IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE RAN IT THROUGH THE SERVICE PROCEDURES AS REQUIRED BY FORD MOTOR. THIS 2013 FORD FOCUS HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN DECEMBER, 2012, ALWAYS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN REPAIRED. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS TOLD BY AN EMPLOYEE AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM. YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT A CAR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THIS. FORD MOTOR IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES BUT FEELS IT IS NOT BAD ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THAT IS LIKE GOING TO THE DOCTOR AND HE TELLS YOU LETS WAIT UNTIL YOU GET WORSE BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING. I AM ASKING THAT MY 2013 FORD FOCUS BE REPAIRED AS IT SHOULD BE. IF IT MEANS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION OR WHATEVER IT NEEDS THEN DO IT! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10576722

Apr 2, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ITSELF TO NEUTRAL. IT DID THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE REAR END WHEN THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. APPARENTLY, IT WAS A FAULTY COMPUTER CODE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10576807

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 14, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE FAILURE STILL RECURRED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26000.

NHTSA ODI 10569442

Mar 5, 2014SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

CAR HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE UNCOUPLING THE ENGINE FROM THE POWER TRAIN ROLLED DOWN HILL NOT ENGAGED SCARY AT FORD COULDN'T FIX SO THEY CALLED SPECIALIST WHO TOOK IT APART AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER TEST DRIVE 20 MILES WOULD NOT TURN OFF! STILL AT SHOP EXPERT TO RETURN AND TRY AGAIN TAKING APART CAR AND THEN DOING TEST DRIVE AGAIN. CHILDREN AND LIL PEOPLE TO TRANSPORT! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10567510

Feb 28, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

ON FRIDAY 2/14/2014 @ 1100, I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 5 SOUTH, WHEN MY CAR, WITHOUT LIFTING FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL, SUDDENLY LOST POWER GOING FROM 65MPH TO 30 MPH, IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. A LOW SWOOSH SOUND FROM MOTOR OCCURRED AT SAME TIME. I HAD TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AT SEA WORLD DRIVE EXIT FROM THE FAR FREEWAY LANE, MAKING FOR A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM VERY GLAD I WAS NOT REAR-ENDED AS I EXITED THE FREEWAY. AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY AND PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED THE CAR. .AFTER 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE WENT BACK TO NORMAL AND RAN LIKE NOTHING HAD OCCURRED. I TOOK IT TO THE MOSSY FORD DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY (SERVICE NUMBER R020298788). THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE INCIDENT AND TOLD ME THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY TOLD ME TO WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN, AND TO BRING IT IN AGAIN. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE FROM FORD DEALERSHIP. ON 2/25/2014, I TOOK IT INTO TUNE CRAFTERS TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH MY NEW CAR. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE, BUT DID NOTE IN WRITING THE THROTTLE IS NOT AS RESPONSIVE ON TAKE-OFF ACCELERATION, AND THERE IS A BRIEF HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT AND THROTTLE. I AM FILING A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY TODAY. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY NEW CAR ANYMORE. THANK YOU, NELLIE DOWNIE

NHTSA ODI 10567267

Feb 27, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

IN 2/13, MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A '13 FORD FOCUS FROM BREWSTER FORD IN NY. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR CAR HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY. IT RANDOMLY LOSES POWER. IT FEELS LIKE THE GAS PEDAL DOESN'T RESPOND SOMETIMES WHEN WE TRY TO ACCELERATE. OUR CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THEIR SERVICE CENTER FOR THE 4TH ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY INTERVENTION. 3 OF THE MASTER MECHANICS, SCOTTY, CARLISLE, AND ANTHONY, SAY THEY HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT REPAIRING ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THAT THEY CANNOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. 5/28/13 THE HESITATION AND NONRESPONSIVE ACCELERATION INCREASED AND WE BROUGHT OUR CAR TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND PAID FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WE WERE GIVEN THE CAR BACK AND TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM FOUND. 6/14/13 WE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE WAS AN UPDATE FOR THE COMPUTER AND WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FIXED. 12/9/13 WE CAME BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THIS TIME THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE NYS THRUWAY AND THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF. AGAIN THE CAR WAS GIVEN BACK AND WE WERE TOLD NO PROBLEM FOUND. THEY SAID THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. IT HAD BEEN ON FOR TWO DAYS PRIOR. 12/18/13 WE BROUGHT OUR CAR BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER. AFTER WE CALLED FORD CORPORATE FOR HELP, THE SERVICE MANAGER, DANIELLE GOT INVOLVED. THE GAS MILEAGE DROPPED AT THIS TIME FROM 32-27 MILES/GALLON COMBINED. OUR CAR WAS AT BREWSTER FORDS SERVICE CENTER FOR OVER 30 DAYS WITHOUT BEING CONTACTED ONCE. WHEN MY HUSBAND CALLED TO CHECK ON THE STATUS, HE WAS TOLD THEY WERE WAITING ON A SERVICE ENGINEER TO COME OUT. AFTER SPEAKING TO ANGELA, THE REGIONAL MANAGER FROM FORD, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE SERVICE CENTER IS UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND WE SHOULD AGAIN TAKE OUR UNSAFE CAR. 1/23/14 TODAY THE REGIONAL MANAGER AGREED TO APPROVE A SECOND OPINION.

NHTSA ODI 10567188

Feb 27, 2014Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainSpeed control

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2013 FORD FOCUS IN JANUARY 2013 AFTER HAVING PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2011 FORD FOCUS THAT WAS HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TOLD ME THAT THE 2013 FOCUS MODELS HAD A REDONE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS MORE EXPENSIVE AND DIDN'T HAVE THE "ISSUES" THAT PLAGUED THE 2011 FORD FOCUS. TURNS OUT IT IS THE SAME TRANSMISSION, EXCEPT WITH A COMPUTER UPDATE WHICH DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE. WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS, MY CAR WAS 'SHUDDERING' FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION WHEN ACCELERATING; THE RPM'S GO UP SPORADICALLY TO, REVVING THE ENGINE HIGHER THAN IT NEEDS TO GO. IT FEELS ALMOST LIKE IT'S GOING TO DIE AND THEN WILL CATCH THE GEAR AND GO. I HAVE TAKEN MY CURRENT CAR IN FOR SERVICE ONCE FOR ANOTHER UPDATE, BUT MY 2011 WAS IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES TO FIX THIS ISSUE, AND ALWAYS CAME BACK TO ME DOING THE SAME 'SHUDDERING' AS IT DID BEFORE IT WENT IN. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD TALK TO MY DEALER AND THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. WELL, BY TAKING CARE OF IT, THEY MEANT THAT THERE IS ANOTHER 'UPDATE'. I HAD IT UPDATED ON 8/26/13 AND I PICKED IT UP ONLY TO FIND THAT THE SHUDDERING IS WORSE. IT'S NOT SAFE TO TRY AND DRIVE A CAR THAT SHUDDERS AND LAGS WHEN YOU HAVE TO CROSS BUSY STREETS AND IN NORMAL DAILY TRAFFIC. I'M TIRED OF DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE ESPECIALLY BEING THAT I BOUGHT A NEW CAR. AND AN AMERICAN CAR AT THAT. FORD NEEDS TO HAVE SOME INTEGRITY AND FIX THIS BEFORE I DO WHAT I WANT TO DO AND GO BUY A HONDA OR NISSAN.

NHTSA ODI 10567211

Feb 27, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCHES ARE SLIPPING CAUSING MODERATE TO SEVERE (INTERMITTENT) HESITATION. DEALER SAYS THAT THE WAY ITS SUPPOSED TO BE WHEN I TOOK IT IN. WENT TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND FLUID IS LEAKING IN REAR MAIN SEAL, DEALER DIDN'T EVEN CHECK. REPLACED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AT 12000 MILES, HESITATION FROM START, 8000 MORE MILES, DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG, TAKE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AGAIN LEAKING FROM REAR MAIN SEAL. CURRENTLY WAITING FOR LOANER TO GET FIXED AGAIN. CONTACTED ATTORNEY TO LEMON LAW THE CAR IN GEORGIA AND THEY HAVE SENT NOTIFICATION TO FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10566265

Feb 27, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCHES ARE SLIPPING CAUSING MODERATE TO SEVERE (INTERMITTENT) HESITATION. DEALER SAYS THAT THE WAY ITS SUPPOSED TO BE WHEN I TOOK IT IN FIRST WEEK WE HAD IT. WENT TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR SECOND OIL CHANGE AND FLUID IS LEAKING IN REAR MAIN SEAL, DEALER DIDN'T EVEN CHECK. REPLACED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AT 21000 MILES, HESITATION FROM START, 8000 MORE MILES, DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG, TAKE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AGAIN LEAKING FROM REAR MAIN SEAL. JUST GOT CAR BACK WITH NEW SEAL, DIDN'T REPLACE CLUTCH. CONTACTED ATTORNEY TO LEMON LAW THE CAR IN GEORGIA AND THEY HAVE SENT NOTIFICATION TO FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10566267

Feb 23, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel system

THE CAR WOULDN'T START (ELECTRIC CAR). A INSTRUMENT PANEL MESSAGE SAID SEE OWNERS MANUAL ALONG WITH RED EXCLAMATION MARK SHOWED. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. WAS DIAGNOSED AT FIRST WITH A BAD HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY. THEY ORDERED ONE ($25,000 BATTERY). ONE WEEK INTO WAITING, FORD (FACTORY) SAID ITS NOT THE BATTERY AND ORDERED A GROUND CABLE FROM THE HIGH VOLTAGE TO THE ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTOR. IT TOOK 27 BUSINESS DAYS TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. ANOTHER VISIT, IN SEPT. 2012 THE CARS INTERIOR HEATER FAILED. THEY TOOK 7 BUSINESS DAY TO ORDER AND REPLACE THE ELECTRIC COOLANT HEATER PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10565513

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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 →