2013 Ford Focus problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2013 Ford Focus include 3 fatality reports, 49 crashes and 12 fires across 2,109 filings.

2,109
Complaints
12
Recalls
49
Crash reports
12
Fire reports
28
Injuries
30.5
Severity index

Severity index 30.5 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 30.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 142 of 145 by severity index among 2013 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 2% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2013 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 1,101 complaints (52.2%)1,101 52%EngineEngine: 343 complaints (16.3%)343 16%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 274 complaints (13.0%)274 13%SteeringSteering: 273 complaints (12.9%)273 13%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 208 complaints (9.9%)208 10%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 195 complaints (9.2%)195 9%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 111 complaints (5.3%)111 5%StructureStructure: 84 complaints (4.0%)84 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN1,10152.2%
ENGINE34316.3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM27413.0%
STEERING27312.9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2089.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1959.2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1115.3%
STRUCTURE844.0%

Complaints filed per year

01803602012: 52013: 1542014: 2182015: 2352016: 2632017: 1942018: 1622019: 3602020: 1532021: 902022: 942023: 842024: 522025: 312026: 14 (partial year)121314151617181936020212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20125
2013154
2014218
2015235
2016263
2017194
2018162
2019360
2020153
202190
202294
202384
202452
202531
2026 (year to date)14
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (167 against 337).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V73500022/10/2018FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGEFord 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.
19V51500005/07/2019FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGEFord 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 Modul
16V64300006/09/2016LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching
16V69800028/09/2016LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCKFord 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 interi
15V81300002/12/2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRINGFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured January 11, 2012, to April 1, 2013, and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles manufactured May 03, 2012, to October 14, 2013. Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the Ma
14V49500011/08/2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRINGFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to April 1, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines and Focus ST vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to October 14, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines.
13V33500001/08/2013EXTERIOR LIGHTINGFord is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus BEV vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured September 15, 2011, through May 6, 2013; and model year 2013 Focus ST vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufact
12E03500002/10/2012EQUIPMENTThis recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Yakima Products, Inc. for use on model year 2012 and 2013 Ford Focus vehicles. This recall is being conducted by Yakima, not by Ford. Certain combined Q-Tower and Q128 Clip rooftop rack systems, part numbers 8000124 and 8000728, d
13V08500007/03/2013LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESFord is recalling certain model year 2013 Focus and C-Max vehicles built from November 16, 2012, through November 21, 2012; and model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from November 14, 2012, through November 21, 2012. The left rear door child lock was built incorrectly. A
20V33100008/06/2020LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHFord 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 recal
26V01100015/01/2026EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATERFord 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.
26V36900009/06/2026FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTERFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.

Other Ford Focus model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 7 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-07. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.