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 57 of 87

Jun 21, 2016Body & structure

FRONT DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE. IT SEEMS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LATCH. IT DOES NOT LATCH CLOSE. THE DOOR WILL OPEN FREELY.

NHTSA ODI 10875700

Jun 21, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND IT CONSTANTLY SHUDDERS. EACH TIME I GO TO FORD THEY DO A "SOFTWARE" UPGRADE BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MORE RECENTLY MY CLUTCH WENT OUT AND NEARLY KILLED SOMEONE WHEN IT JUMPED BACK INTO GEAR. THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH BUT NOT THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED IT. SO WHEN DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FOR FORD TO RECALL THE VEHICLE? IT STILL SHAKES AND SHUDDERS.

NHTSA ODI 10875710

Jun 13, 2016SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

VEHICLE WAS PARKED. I WENT TO TURN ON THE CAR, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THE ELECTRIC STEERING RACK AND PINION HAS FAILED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 1,497.00. IN ADDITION, THE CAR HAS ALSO HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE THE VERY FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE. THE CAR WILL VIGOROUSLY SHUDDER AT RANDOM TIMES. THE SHUDDERING OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR AND IT CAUSES THE CAR TO VIOLENTLY JERK FORWARD. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR ALL OF THE SERVICE UPDATES/RECALLS, AND THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS STILL PERSIST. THE COMPUTER SCREEN ALSO WILL TURN OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. ONE TIME WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE CAR DIED. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10873988

Jun 13, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

THE 6-SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION, WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS THAT THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH CAUSES HESITATION AND SHUTTER ON TAKE OFF. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND THE ELECTRONIC CLUTCH HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED ON RECALLS. THE ELECTRONIC CLUTCH ENGAGES ERRATICALLY, CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUTTER AND LARCH FORWARD AS IT ENGAGES. WHEN CHANGING OIL IN THIS CAR, THE OWNER TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR UP A RAMP IN L RANGE ON THE GEAR SHIFT , THE ENGINE WOULD INCREASE IN RPM'S BUT THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT ENGAGE FULLY TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO GO UP THE RAMPS, LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO CHECK THE THE GEAR SHIFT, THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN NEUTRAL, IN WRONG SHIFT POSITION. WHEN EXPLAINING THIS TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR CAN NOT GO UP A RAMP, THE TRANSMISSION IS DESIGNED FOR HIGH SPEED TAKE OFF. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS ONLY INTENDED TO BE LIFTED, NEVER IN MY 58 YEARS HAVE I EVER SEEN A CAR THAT WOULD NOT GO UP A RAMP, THE RAMP TO ME WOULD ONLY SIMULATE GOING UP A STEEP INCLINE, WHICH CAUSES MORE CONCERN WITH MY 19 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE TO AND FROM COLLEGE. FORD KEEPS TELLING US THAT THIS CAR IS OPERATING LIKE IT IS INTENDED TO, THEY ACUALLY GAVE US A PRINT OUT HOW THE CAR SHOULD FEEL AND REACT. ONE COMMENT READ THAT THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS PULLING A TRAILER, WHO WANTS A CAR THAT FEELS LIKE IT IS CONSTANTLY PULLING A TRAILER? THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP EIGHT TO TEN TIMES, WE GET THE SAME EXPLANATION EACH AND EVERY TIME NOW. IT IS WORKING THE WAY IT IS INTENDED TO, THEY SAY IT DOES NOT SHUTTER OR LARCH ON TAKE OFF. NUMEROUS TIMES MY DAUGHTER HAS HAD SOMEONE WITH HER THAT HAS EXPERIENCE THE SHUTTER AND RECENTLY THE CAR NOT GOING UP THE RAMP WITHOUT THE CARS ENGINE RACING AND THE CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING ALLOWING THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW,

NHTSA ODI 10873992

Jun 13, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

HORRIBLE TRANSMISSION SHUDDER / SLIPPAGE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THROUGH THE FIRST FEW GEAR CHANGES. ONGOING ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10873999

Jun 9, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE "TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK PLEASE SELECT (P)" MESSAGE APPEARED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY IN PARK. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI 10873389

Jun 8, 2016Steering

WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD MY STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY TIGHT AND FELT AS IF IT LOCKED UP. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THEN THE LIGHT WENT ON SAYING POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE CAR BECAUSE EXTREAMLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN I WOULD TRY TO TURN THE WHEEL I WOULD HEAR ALMOST LIKE A GRINDING SOUND AND THE WHEEL WOULD FEEL LIKE IT WAS ALMOST PUSHING BACK AGAINST ME TURNING IT. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND HAS NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES UNTIL THIS.

NHTSA ODI 10873321

Jun 7, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CLUTCH MADE A LOUD NOISE WHILE SHAKING FORCEFULLY. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MANUFACTURER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

NHTSA ODI 10873005

Jun 6, 2016

ON 6/2/16 I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET IN MY 2013 FORD FOCUS AND THE DRIVERS DOOR FLEW OPEN. AFTER BEING INSPECTED IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE DOOR LATCH HAD BROKEN. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE HEARD FROM MULTIPLE OTHERS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM AS WELL

NHTSA ODI 10872716

Jun 6, 2016

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH DID NOT LATCH WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO SANTAN FORD IN GILBERT AZ. THEY CHARGED ME $618.37 TO REPAIR THE CAR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS NOT ON A RECALL AS OTHER FORD VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED. THE CAR HAS 42K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 10872818

Jun 4, 2016Body & structure

I DROVE THE CAR AS USUAL TO WORK AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I HAD A CHEK UP APPOINTMENT TO GO TO AND I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE WORK. WHEN I WAS LEAVING I NOTICED MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. I THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS OBSTRUCTING IT BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT PREVENTED THE DOOR TO FULLY CLOSE PROPERLY. ALREADY IN A RUSH I JUST DUCT TAPED MY DOOR CLOSE AND LEFT, THE WHOLE TIME DRIVING MY INTERIOR SYSTEM KEPT NOTIFYING ME THAT THE DOOR WAS OPEN. AFTER MY APPOINTMENT I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME AND HAVE NOT USED MY CAR. THE DRIVER SIDE STILL WILL NOT CLOSE OR LOCK WHICH MEANS I CANT LEAVE ANYTHING IN THE VEHICLE OR USE IT.

NHTSA ODI 10872504

Jun 2, 2016Steering

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, AND HAD NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL WAS KIND OF TIGHT, AND MAKING LITTLE ADJUSTMENTS DIDN'T FEEL NORMAL. I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, AND THE CAR COULDN'T MAKE A SMALL CURVE, I HAD TO SWERVE INTO THE NEXT LANE, ALMOST HIT THE CONCRETE WALL. MY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE IMMEDIATELY . I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE AS I DID THERE WAS A HORRIBLE GRIDDING SOUND AT ANY LITTLE TURN OF THE WHEEL. THE STEERING BECAME COMPLETELY USELESS, THE CAR WAS DRIFTING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WOULDN'T TURN AT ALL. I PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF, WHEN I TURNED IT BACKED ON THE ERROR HAS CHANGED TO COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 10872062

Jun 2, 2016Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE SCREEN DISPLAYED "PULL OVER". THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE 12 VOLT BATTERY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

NHTSA ODI 10872227

May 31, 2016Seat belts

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RECEIVER BROKE. IT WILL NOT ACCEPT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. FORD IS CHARGING ME $250.00 TO FIX THIS. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING TO HAVE A SEATBELT FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 10871694

May 30, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

REAR MAIN SEAL FAILURE CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ENGINE OIL, THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UNEXPECTEDLY,LEAKAGE NOTICED AND THIS HAS REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF SEAL AND CLUTCH 3 TIMES IN PAST 15 MONTHS

NHTSA ODI 10871428

May 28, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE HAD 5 TRANSMISSION FAILURES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE LAST 3 FAILURES OCCURRED IN LESS THAN 3 WEEKS (AND LESS THAN 30 MILES ON THE ROAD!) AND, WHEN THE LAST ONE HAPPENED, MY WIFE AND I HAVE ALMOST CRASHED. WE WERE DRIVING DOWNHILL ON A VERY STEEP ROAD AND SUDDENLY THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED AND WENT TO NEUTRAL RIGHT BEFORE A CURVE. I THINK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY FORD

NHTSA ODI 10871358

May 24, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. AFTER SHIFTING INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND THE RPMS REVVED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH MODULE AND CLUTCH PACKAGE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10870483

May 23, 2016Transmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND CLUTCHES IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ODI 10870316

May 23, 2016Steering

STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CAUSED STICKING STEERING AND A DRY GROUNDING SOUND. PROBLEM OCCURED WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC SAID IT COULD SEIZE UP THE STEERING.

NHTSA ODI 10870329

May 23, 2016Body & structure

DRIVERS DOOR LATCH JUST STOPPED WORKING. THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED AND FORD SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL AT THIS TIME. IT IS AN ESTIMATED $700 FOR THE REPAIRS WHICH I FEEL IS OUTRAGEOUS SINCE THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE MULTIPLE OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10870366

May 23, 2016Transmission & drivetrainEngine

THE CAR SHUDDERS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!

NHTSA ODI 10870367

May 18, 2016Visibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ODI 10865632

May 17, 2016Body & structure

RIGHT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH DOESN'T STAY LATCHED ANYMORE. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THIS IS CLEARLY UNASAFE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR PART.

NHTSA ODI 10865484

May 17, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING IN A LOW GEAR, THE CAR WILL HESITATE, SHUDDER, SHAKE, JUMP VIOLENTLY, STALL, GRIND GEARS, AND/OR MAKE OTHER NOISES AT VARYING LEVELS. WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN MAKING A TURN FROM A STOP SIGN. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FRONT DRIVERSIDE TIRE RUBBING THE WHEEL WELL AS THAT WAS THE TYPE OF SOUND I WAS HEARING. I THEN STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SHUDDERING AND STALLING BEHAVIORS. I ALSO BEGAN HEARING NOISES THAT SOUND LIKE THE GRINDING OF GEARS LIKE MAY OCCUR WHEN DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND MISSING THE GEAR. MOST ISSUES OCCUR DURING CITY STREET DRIVING. THIS WENT FROM AN OCCASIONAL OCCURRENCE TO AN EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR SITUATION. THIS IN NO WAY FEELS NORMAL OR SOUNDS NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI 10865530

May 15, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND AT SLOW SPEEDS THE ENGINE STALLED, AND JERKED ESPECIALLY IN CONGESTED HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SUCH AS STOP AND GO SPEEDS. AFTER A NEW CLUTCH WAS INSTALLED BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, THE ENGINE NOW SURGES AND HESITATES AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHEN IN THE PASSING MODE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE ENGINE KEEPS ACCELERATING EVEN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED.

NHTSA ODI 10864998

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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 →