10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 1
Average Mileage:
58,935 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Ford Focus:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #62

Aug 022018

Focus

  • 80,000 miles
On Thursday August 2, 2018 around 8:30. The wires in the dash board caught on fire. The card began to fill with smoke. I could smell the burning and I wasn't sure of what was happening. I could hear a spark sound and I could tell that the wires where burning. This was an extremely dangerous situation, the entire car might have caught on fire, if my boyfriend didn't come and contain the fire.

- Opa Locka, FL, USA

problem #61

Jul 172018

Focus

  • 110,000 miles
The car's fuel gauge was fluctuating, causing the car to run out of gas. While driving on highway and city streets the car would shut off (very dangerous). It is currently in the shop and we are told the fuel tank and pump have collapsed. How can this be a normal thing? we have not gotten the repair bill yet, but from what I have read it will be $1000-$2000. This should be a safety recall and covered by Ford!! this vehicle is only 5 years old. We bought a brand new car for our daughter to avoid these issues.

- Cranberry Twp., PA, USA

problem #60

Jul 172018

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
Bought this vehicle used in May 2017. The previous owner just had the fuel pump replaced which cost him $700. Had it one week and it ran out of gas, which according to the gauges, I should have had plenty of gas. My son came and put gas in and he looked underneath and noticed that my gas tank was "dented in." I just assumed the previous owner had hit something and never gave it another thought. Well in the past few months the "miles to empty gauge" is not accurate and I ran out of gas again when it said I had 70 plus miles to empty and now the gas gauge is incorrect with fluctuations from a quarter to three quarters full. Im now at the point where I have to set my trip meter to gauge when I am close to empty. I only have 80,000 miles and am out of warranty. This should be something that Ford fixes since it is obviously an ongoing problem. They issued a recall for the Fusion for the exact same issue, but not the Focus?? from what I have been told, Ford only issues recalls if the government forces them too!! this fix on this car will cost me $3000. !!!!

- Riverview, MI, USA

problem #59

Jul 092018

Focus

  • miles
Evap check valve (or purge valve) stopped working causing the plastic gas tank to begin to implode on itself. Damaging the entire canister system. To the tune of an estimated $1,800 parts and labor to get it fixed.

- Spencerville, IN, USA

problem #58

Jun 062018

Focus

  • 89,000 miles
After filling up the tank with gas, the vehicle stutters and feels like it's jumping when I am at a stop light and start to go. The gas gauge goes up while I am driving and the vehicle runs out of gas randomly. I was parked at my house and it wouldn't crank when I ran out of gas the 1st time (about three weeks ago) and the 2nd time (6/6/2018), I was on the interstate and the vehicle died due to no gas, yet the gauge was not on empty. Fortunately I was able to get off the side of the road and call roadside assistance. The vehicle is now at at Ford service repair shop and I am waiting to hear from them but the service repairman said this is a common problem, that he had the same vehicle in the week before with this same issue. Last Friday, I had a customer service representative with a Ford dealership tell me this is a common problem that occurs in this vehicle. Obviously running out of gas randomly is very dangerous. There needs to be a recall on this immediately to save lives. Ford needs to take responsibility for this manufacturing defect.

- Jacksonville Beach, FL, USA

problem #57

May 162018

Focus

  • 165,000 miles
The car is stalling and has a rough idle. Within 2 weeks my car stalled and then shut down while driving 55 mph on the highway and would not restart or stay on once I got it pulled over to side of the road. I was lucky that there was no one directly behind me on the road otherwise it would have been a really bad disaster. Gas mileage said I had over 100 miles to empty. Paid to get it towed twice and when taken to the mechanic he turned it on (after 2 hours) and the car showed empty 0 miles/fuel. He put a few dollars in gas and it ran just fine. Since then I cannot trust the fuel reading of mileage. Ford dealer says there is no recall on fuel system but they are happy to do a diagnosis for over $100 and then they can tell me whats wrong with it. Not an affordable solution at this time other than to put gas in it after I drive every 50 miles. South boston,

- Clover, VA, USA

problem #56

May 282018

Focus

  • 47,600 miles
Auto stop working and sudenly shift off un highways with unknown rasons or cause. This is exprience at lease 2 or 3 times daily. Several warning lights comes on. Then you need to stop and restart. This is dangerous when it happens in highways.

- San Juan, PR, USA

problem #55

May 072018

Focus

  • miles
My car smell like gas and after iput gas in the car im unable to start it. My front door its closing as if the latch has broken, but it looks

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #54

Mar 162018

Focus

  • 120,000 miles
Vehicle stalls while driving, rpms drop and car loses power. Check engine light, error code says check gas cap (there isn't one). Vacuum effect so strong that it is difficult to add gasoline to vehicle. Wildly varying gas gauge readings.dealer diagnostic reveals failed purge valve has resulted in collapsed gas tank and damaged fuel pump. Multiple occasions vehicle stalled was in motion and while stopped.

- Richmond, TX, USA

problem #53

Feb 142018

Focus

  • miles
Ford Focus shuts off when you press the brakes. It cranks back up fine but whenever you pull off and stop or try to slow down the car will shut down. It is happening constantly now.

- Theodore, AL, USA

problem #52

Nov 282017

Focus

  • 86,000 miles
We had he check engine light come. A check of the code showed a fuel delivery system problem. We also noticed that when trying to fuel the vehicle when placing the fuel nozzle into the fuel fill a rush of air would escape. After fueling the car would not start. Once we get the car started it would run rough for several miles. Also, the fuel gauge was wrong. The fuel gauge would show 1/2 tank but we ran out of gas. The mechanic had to replace the fuel tank, our mechanic had to replace the fuel tank, purge valve and associated hoses, fuel pump. Also, another problem arose with the instrument cluster. All of the gauges including the radio went blank and would not function. The mechanic had to disconnect the battery and reset the computer for the instruments and radio to begin working again.

- Haines City, FL, USA

problem #51

Jan 012016

Focus

  • 125,000 miles
All lights come on and the transmission jerks and hazing in moveing and the electric with the trunk and lights and the doors and the alarm. Been having problems for about a year.

- Arlington Txas, TX, USA

problem #50

Aug 032017

Focus

  • 80,000 miles
I have a check engine light that is on found out its a evap leak gas gauge not working ran out of gas can not put gas on gas tank with a gas can if I try it pours out the bottom when I start vehicle it shudders and wants to die out on me lack of power when I press on the gas pedal and ticking sound in engine also door latch on passenger back door does not unlock unless I push the button unlock 2 or 3 times

- La Puente, CA, USA

problem #49

Oct 312017

Focus

  • 75,000 miles
Vehicle would suddenly turn off while running. Happened too many times while on the freeway that almost cause accidents, even on street from the stop lights it would just turn off. One is issue is the faulty fuel gauge, it would say that the fuel tank is full but halfway empty or empty. Did some research online and found other owners have the same issue of the vehicle shutting off while running. According to some reports, other owners have had to replaced the fuel tank that was deformed due to the issue of faulty fuel gauge. Other reported of replacing fuel pump, purge valve and or emission canister. I contacted Ford about the issue and it seems like it's something they don't want to talk about but they know there an issue. They won't give me a direct answer to my questions. So far, I have not heard any reports of fatality about this issue but we were close, as recently as yesterday morning when my cousin was driving on the freeway with an 18-wheeler behind him when the car's engine just shuts off. This happens quite a few times. What's worst about this is Ford won't even talk to the owners about this issue. I tried to get some answer from them but they won't say a word. It's frustrating! the car is only 4 years old and under 75K miles, having this issue that would cost thousands of dollars to fix. It's not the owners fault but manufacturer's fault or issue. They need to own up on this problem before some gets killed on the freeway. When is Ford going to step on this" how about NHTSA, what are you going to do about this" we, the owners need answer and we need solution from Ford about this safety issue. While no one is dead yet, now is the time to assess this problem. NHTSA, please help us fix this problem.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #48

Feb 152017

Focus

  • miles
The fuel gage on my Ford Focus does not read correctly. I've ran out of gas multiple times when the miles to E read 40,72 and even 88. Since I've had the car the gas light never comes on before I run out of gas. I called Ford and was told that I would have to pay a $90 fee for them just to access what was wrong with my car. I've seen multiple posts from other people experiencing the same issue. It definitely should be added to the recall list. This problem alone has caused me to constantly use road side assistance due to randomly running out of fuel in areas I was unfamiliar with, which could definitely be a dangerous situation. I'm now afraid to drive at night alone because I'm not sure if I'll make it to my destination without running out of gas.

- Valdosta, GA, USA

problem #47

Oct 162017

Focus 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact would have to add fuel to the vehicle in order to regain power. Also, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the vehicle's purge solenoid failed and caused the fuel tank to collapse, which informed the vehicle that there was no fuel. The failure then caused the vehicle to stall. The contact was informed that the purge valve solenoid, fuel tank, and fuel pump needed the replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000. Consumer stated fuel gauge showed 1/4 to 1/8 in tank. Computer reflected 50 to 70 miles before fuel needed. Fuel light never came on. Normal driving and all of a sudden would shut down, out of fuel, ran out of gas 3 times. Updated 8/22/18

- Kernersville, NC, USA

problem #46

Oct 022017

Focus

  • 68,000 miles
Focus engine would shut off while running or at the stop light/sign, fuel says 50+ before empty but in already out of gas. Focus sometimes would not turn on when it suddenly shuts off. Also would experience lose of power or bad acceleration. Check engine light comes on due to this issue of fuel rail sensor signal. I checked online for other issues regarding Ford Focus and what I found was quite very interesting. And I also contacted Ford about this but they didn't give me any answer about this issue. Only told me sorry, I can understand your frustration, I can help you get a roadside assistance. I told him I am looking for a long time solution and not one day solution for the problem. Ford knows they have a problem but would not acknowledge it. This issue is a manufacturer's (Ford) issue and not by consumers. This has to be address and fixed as soon as possible before something bad happen while motorist are driving this car in the middle of the highway and the engine suddenly shuts off! let's not wait for that to happen. I include some links for you to look at, these are motorist who have issues with Ford Focus. Https://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Focus/2013/fuel_system/fuel_propulsion_system.shtml WW2.justanswer.com/uploads/ap/apjp02/2015-06-28_202609_1.pdf this engine shutting off, check engine light coming on, fuel sensor failed has been going on for the last 4 months now. This is a serious issue. Please NHTSA, do something before someone gets killed!

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #45

Apr 032017

Focus

  • 83,000 miles
This car excelarated on my wife jumped a curb and she ended up on a steep embankment in a pile of landscaping rocks.knocked a hole in oilpan and damaged airconditioner and compressor.it also jumps out of gear going down the highway.happened 2 times the vehicle wason the highway and jumped out of gear, you have to come to a compleete stop turn engine off restart and put it back in gear

- Plainview, AR, USA

problem #44

May 022016

Focus

  • 86,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled after refueling the vehicle, and the transmission slipped. The vehicle was taken to chuck stevens Ford (1304 us-31, bay minnette, al 36507) where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was also taken to jim cook Ford (located at 620 troy road, elba, Alabama) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

- Andalusia, AL, USA

problem #43

Aug 032017

Focus

  • 39,600 miles
On way to work, streets, check engine light came on again, took to Ford dealership. Called me back told me the fuel tank, purge valve, charcoal canister, fuel pump, and nozzle for fuel tank had to be replaced. Called warranty and they stated quite a few people had same issue with same make and model/year. Thankful had extended warranty, but a whole fuel system, this seems like a defect, not the norm.

- Garland, TX, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »