2013 Ford Focus Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Ford Focus. Part of Generation 3 — 2012–2018.

20122014
Complaints
2,904
Crashes
80
Fires
20
Injuries
45
Fatalities
5
Recalls
16

Worst 2013 Ford Focus Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#11,049 complaints

POWER TRAIN

Avg mileage:47,258 mi
Crash-related:15
Fires:1
#2339 complaints

ENGINE

Avg mileage:55,403 mi
Crash-related:7
Fires:6
#3268 complaints

STEERING

Avg mileage:75,266 mi
Crash-related:6
Considering a 2013 Ford Focus?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Ford Focus.

POWER TRAIN
1,049
complaints
Crashes
15
Fires
1
Avg Miles
47,258
ENGINE
339
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
6
Avg Miles
55,403
STEERING
268
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
75,266
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
264
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
5
Avg Miles
51,227
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
204
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
3
Avg Miles
77,304
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
191
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
69,494
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
110
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
38,003
STRUCTURE:BODY
73
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
49,669
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
49
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
96,693
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
36
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
65,329
AIR BAGS
26
complaints
Crashes
18
Fires
Avg Miles
72,487
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
24
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
73,330
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
23
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
77,857
VISIBILITY/WIPER
23
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
70,134
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
57,535
SERVICE BRAKES
22
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
51,469
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
102,925
SEAT BELTS
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
56,816
SUSPENSION
15
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
48,208
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
41,304
WHEELS
13
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
33,400
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
91,109
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
20,486
TIRES
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
24,521
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:CLUTCHES/BANDS
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
65,247
STRUCTURE
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
23,488
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
92,250
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
55,000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
21,443
SEATS
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
57,367

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Ford Focus. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2013 Ford Focus

16 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~12,607,992 vehicles.

26V011000EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
~116,672 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

26V011000EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
~116,672 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

26V011000EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
~116,672 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

20V331000LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
~2,147,323 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

20V331000LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
~2,147,323 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

20V331000LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
~2,147,323 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

20V331000LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
~2,147,323 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

19V515000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
~57,488 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 and 2017 Focus vehicles equipped with 2.0L GDI gasoline engines and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles equipped with 2.0L GTDI engines, previously recalled under 18V-735. The affected vehicles did not have the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) updated as intended. Therefore, the Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system.

18V735000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
~1,282,596 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.

16V698000LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
~64,038 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Ford Focus hatchback vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 26, 2016 and equipped with a manual transmission. The hatchback of the affected vehicles may be unlatched with a single press of the interior latch release button. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."

+ 6 more recalls

Other Ford Focus Years

Wider context: See the full Ford Focus reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2013 Ford Focus

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

Check Any VIN — $4.99