2013 Ford Focus Problems: Transmission / driveline (2,174 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2013 Ford Focus is Transmission / driveline (45% of 2,174 owner reports). There are 15 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 2,174 complaints · 15 recalls
What problems show up on the 2013 Ford Focus?
973 of 2,174 filings named Transmission / driveline (45% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Steering (259 reports).
There are 15 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Electrical, Transmission / driveline, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2012 has 3,792 reports on file; this year has 2,174. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Transmission / driveline 973 complaints · 44.8% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 50
- Fires 11
- Injuries 29
- Deaths 3
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 973 | 44.8% | 16 crashes · 1 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 259 | 11.9% | 6 crashes · 0 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 177 | 8.1% | 0 crashes · 3 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 151 | 7.0% | 5 crashes · 5 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 119 | 5.5% | 1 crashes · 1 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 76 | 3.5% | 3 crashes · 0 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 63 | 2.9% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) | 26 | 1.2% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 16 | 0.7% | 4 crashes · 1 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 424 | 19.5% | 5 crashes · 0 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 13V475000 was reported 364 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 13V523000 was reported 365 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 14V495000 was reported 662 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 15V813000 was reported 1,140 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 16V643000 was reported 1,386 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 16V698000 was reported 1,408 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V592000 was reported 2,120 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V735000 was reported 1,960 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 19V515000 was reported 2,216 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V331000 was reported 2,757 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V011000 was reported 4,804 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V369000 was reported 4,747 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-Q4 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2013-Q1 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2013-Q2 | Owner reports | 31 | |
| 2013-Q3 | Owner reports | 71 | |
| 2013-Q4 | Owner reports | 70 | |
| 2014-Q1 | Owner reports | 28 | |
| 2014-Q2 | Owner reports | 64 | |
| 2014-Q3 | Owner reports | 77 | |
| 2014-Q4 | Owner reports | 59 | |
| 2015-Q1 | Owner reports | 45 | |
| 2015-Q2 | Owner reports | 64 | |
| 2015-Q3 | Owner reports | 77 | |
| 2015-Q4 | Owner reports | 53 | |
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 41 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 64 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 91 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 72 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 62 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 42 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 46 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 50 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 26 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 32 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 50 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 58 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 58 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 71 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 185 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 47 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 63 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 26 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 36 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 27 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 24 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 24 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 22 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 21 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 19 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 25 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 19 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 19 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 17 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 13 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 13 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 13 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 12E035000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 13V085000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 13V335000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 13V475000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 13V523000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V495000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V813000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V643000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V698000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V592000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V735000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V515000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V331000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V011000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V369000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE13031 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE16001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE16001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ19005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ19005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP22005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ23006 |
Safety Recalls (15)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Electrical, Transmission / driveline, and Fuel system.
-
Recall campaign 12E035000
Safety recall 12E035000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- Without proper contact of the rooftop rack clip to the door frame, there is insufficient clamping pressure and friction. The system may slide off the vehicle when loaded with accessories, possibly becoming a road hazard to other vehicles or causing injury to pedestrians.
- Remedy:
- Yakima will notify owners, and Yakima or a Yakima dealer will refund the purchase of the Q-Tower and Q-128 Clip system. There is no replacement system available for the 2012-2013 model year Ford Focus. The safety recall began on October 15, 2012. Only vehicles equipped with the vehicle rack system are affected. This recall is being conducted by Yakima, not Ford. Owners may contact Yakima at 1-888-925-4621.
-
Recall campaign 13V085000
Safety recall 13V085000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- The operator may incorrectly believe the child lock is engaged. However, the door may be opened from the inside, increasing the risk of injury to an unrestrained child.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected rear door latches, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
-
Recall campaign 13V335000
Safety recall 13V335000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- Without the proper illumination of the side maker lamps, the vehicle may be less visible in night time conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the headlamp assembly wiring, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C04.
-
Recall campaign 13V475000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- Without an audible door chime, a vehicle owner may open the door and exit the vehicle without being reminded that the vehicle is still operational, leaving the vehicle susceptible to theft.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the door chime, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C07.
-
Recall campaign 13V523000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- An unexpected loss of power while driving increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the power control module, free of charge. The recall beganon November 22, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S09. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
-
Recall campaign 14V495000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17.
-
Recall campaign 15V813000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17-S1.
-
Recall campaign 16V643000
Safety recall 16V643000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
-
Recall campaign 16V698000
Safety recall 16V698000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- With only a single press needed, the driver may accidently unlatch the hatchback, increasing the risk of injury to any unsecured passengers in the back.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C13.
-
Recall campaign 18V592000
Safety recall 18V592000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120V convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S24.
-
Recall campaign 18V735000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.
-
Recall campaign 19V515000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- The excessive vacuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began July 29, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S22.
-
Recall campaign 20V331000
Safety recall 20V331000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
-
Recall campaign 26V011000
Safety recall 26V011000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy:
- Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
-
Recall campaign 26V369000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Showing 3 of 2,174 complaints · page 1 of 87
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Transmission error stating clutch A engaged. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the vehicle would not move after being stopped at the stop light or stop sign or stop during traffic.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The vehicle suffered a major mechanical and electrical failure on July 28, 2026, and was immediately towed to an authorized dealership. After a multi-day delay awaiting a senior technician's analysis, the dealership issued a single service ticket grouping two distinct issues: a failed Canister Purge Valve (active Safety Recall 26S40) and localized wiring damage. The dealership fraudulently drafted the ticket to imply that external rodent damage caused the recall component failure. However, forensic photographic proof uploaded to the manufacturer database on August 13, 2026, reveals a classic consequential engineering failure: the wiring insulation is severely bubbled and thermally fused from extreme internal circuit resistance caused entirely by the defective recall component. An adjacent plastic snack wrapper remains completely pristine and untouched, disproving the rodent narrative. The vehicle has now been held in safety detention for 57 consecutive days. A corporate supervisor explicitly confirmed on a recorded line that the manufacturer has possessed these forensic photos since mid-August but left the safety file stagnant due to an internal database text-field error. Their software is failing to match the vehicle's engine string '2.0L I4 DI Ti-VCT' to the recall applicability screen 'GDI', creating a data-entry roadblock to deny a free safety remedy. I am requesting an immediate federal audit of the manufacturer's database alignment for Recall 26S40 and a manual technical override directive to initiate repairs. Manufacturer Master Case: CHX-09386351-T9Y5H1.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
RE: FAULTY THROTTLE WIRING / LOCATION CAUSING CORROSION 2013 FORD FOCUS - RECALL NEEDED To Whom It May Concern: My 2013 Ford Focus SE Flex with VIN [XXX] lost power while traveling from [XXX] to [XXX] a couple times before completely dying. My code reader was getting fixed throttle codes 2112, 2111 and pending codes 122, 223. I switched out the throttle body AND accelerator pedal position sensor. This did NOT resolve the issue. I had the Focus towed to Downey Ford in [XXX] where they found a Technical Service Bulletin stating endless Focuses had this issue with corroded wiring, which appears to be caused by TSB 15-0036, which is regarding the wiring harness rubbing against a sharp part of the intake, which can cause shorts in the cables. This Ford Dealership repair cost me $845.80 + grief + an extended stay at my hospitable parents in [XXX]. This concern should be escalated to RECALL status as it leaves your loyal customers stranded on the roadside. My request is a full refund from Ford for $845.80 CAD. See Downey Ford Invoice # SO # XXX attached. Source: [XXX] [XXX]: Bear with me, this is going to be a bit long. TL;DR: Car will not accelerate, CEL/MTC states problem with "accelerator pedal position sensor". Wiring harness has been cut into by rubbing on intake. I want to splice it to fix it, but need advice due to length/resistance requirements. Two weeks ago, my wife was driving my 2013 Ford Focus SE Hatchback and right as she got off the freeway, it instantly lost power, a message appeared on the screen stating "Engine Fault - Repair Now", and it idled super rough. She restarted the engine and it was fine until she tried accelerating more than a tiny bit, at which point the same symptoms occurred again. She was able to limp the car home. Having misplaced my OBD2 scanner, I limped it over to the local auto parts store and they read the code as INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Ford Focus Powershift: What NHTSA Complaints Show
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2013 Ford Focus?
Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 973 of 2,174 reports (45%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2013 Ford Focus?
NHTSA lists 15 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Electrical, Transmission / driveline, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2013 Ford Focus?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.