Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Swollen lug nuts. They corroded and were almost impossible to remove. Lug nuts were destroyed during removal and had to be replaced. Apparently some two piece lug nut Ford used. They were original equipment.
Tire lost pressure impossible to get lug nuts off . Tire dealer said all lugs nuts were defective and needed to be replaced. Couldn’t be done middle of road very dangerous 12/12 2022
Could not get tires rotated due to "swollen"lug nuts. Also the tool to fix a flat tire will no longer fit the lug nuts due to the swelling of the lug nuts. I feel like this is a very serious safety issue and we, the owners should not have the burden of having this situation fixed!! Please help!! Thank you
There are multiple issues going wrong with my car and I have 5 children and this makes me angry and scared to drive it 1. Vehicle completely shuts down if you go under 1/4 tank and NOT on red at all! No gas light or anything 2. The hesitation from stop to go is getting worse" mechanics tell me this is normal" for a focus and now sometimes when accelerating on the highway it gets stuck in certain speeds and feels rougher 3. Now there is a chain like rattling noise upon idle that is annoying and embarrassing 4 the codes state oxygen sensor ,speed sensor,fuel valve issue, and power train and abs... It's 100.00 per issue to diagnose. How is anyone able to afford this? I'm not a mechanic but everytime I take my car in they give it back saying there's no issue or I have to pay more fees to find the issue before anything can be replaced? This is crazy! I don't feel safe driving this car with my babies in it but with student loans and my kids school costs I can't seem to save if I'm paying all these fees to try to figure out what the issues are . The front windshield is horrible because it's hard to see out of even when I clean it w auto glass cleaner, which I have never experienced before and is very dangerous.
I WENT TO HAVE MY TIRES ROTATED ON MY 2013 FORD FOCUS SE AND I WAS TOLD THAT ALL MY LUGNUTS NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY CHANGED FORM FROM THE HEAT. IN ALL THE CARS THAT I HAVE HAD THIS HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE. NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE.
MY 2013 FORD FOCUS TIRE ROD "SLIPPED OUT" AND WAS REPLACED. THE PART WAS NOT BROKEN BUT THE THREADS ON THE MALE BOLT SLIPPED OUT AND BECAME DISCONNECTED WHILE EXITING A PARKING. THE PART CAME OUT DURING THE TRANSITION FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE WHILE STOPPED AND STRAIGHTENING THE WHEEL. THE FEMALE PART ON THE TIRE ROD BECAME DISCONNECTED. I HAVE CONCERN THAT THAT IS A PART MALFUNCTION AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE PARTS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THAT SHOWS THE PART IS NOT BEEN BROKEN AND DID NOT HAVE DAMAGE. THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS. THERE IS RUST ON THE THREADS AND I FEEL THAT CONTRIBUTED TO IT COMING APART. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PART IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL, "SERVICE ENGINE NOW", AND "HILL ASSIST IS NOT SUPPORTED" WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE WITHIN FIFTEEN MINUTES. LARRY H. MILLER FORD (11595 6TH AVENUE, LAKEWOOD, COLORADO 80215, (720) 643-1545), PHIL LONG FORD OF DENVER (7887 WEST TUFTS AVENUE, DENVER, COLORADO 80123, (855) 981-0291), AND O'MEARA FORD (400 WEST 104TH AVENUE, NORTHGLENN, COLORADO 80234, (303) 254-5000) WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER UNKNOWN FORD DEALERS IN COLORADO AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE ASSESSED AND/OR DIAGNOSED UNTIL NOVEMBER 26, 2018. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERS STATED THAT THEY WERE "BACKLOGGED" WITH VEHICLES AND WOULD BE UNABLE TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,364. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHEN ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES BECAME FLAT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE SWOLLEN AND UNABLE TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
WENT TO GET TIRES ROTATED. I WAS CALLED TO MY VEHICLE TO SHOW EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON REAR TIRES. ESPECIALLY RIGHT REAR .I WENT TO FORD DEALER AS THIS VEHICLE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CHECKED AND SAID IT WAS WITIIN LIMITS. I WAS TO ROTATE MORE OFTEN. I ROTATE ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE AND ALSO RUN NITROGEN IN MY TIRES FOR SAFETY AND EXTENDED TIRE LIFE. I TOOK A TRIP AND WAS DUE FOR OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION.. THE WEAR BARS WERE SHOWING AND THE MECHANIC WOULD NOT ROTATE OR ATTEMPT TO ALIGN. HIS COMMENT WAS ALL THE FORD FOCUS VEHICLES ARE LIKE THIS AND NO MATTER HOW GOOD A TIRE YOU PUT ON; THEY WEAR OUT RIGHT AROUND 30,000 MILES. IS THIS ANOTHER DENIED DEFECT BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY LIKE MY TRANSMISSION WAS AT FIRST??? THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND INVESTIGATING WITH OTHER FOCUS OWNERS FOUND THE ABOVE TO BE TRUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I AMM SURE I DIDN'T HAVE A BLOW OUT DUE TO USING NITROGEN IN MY TIRES.
[XXX] ; MY NEWLY PURCHASED USED 2013 FORD FOCUS SE. HAD A SERIES OF THINGS GONE WRONG WITH IT. AND I KNOW IT FALLS UNDER THE STATE "LEMON LAW." ALTHOUGH I HAVE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE SEEM TO FIND MYSELF STRANDED WITH NO VEHICLE TO DRIVE TO WORK NOR GO TO AND FROM SCHOOL WITH? THIS IS WHY I HAVE CHOSE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT TOWARDS FORD MOTOR COMPANY, ABOUT MY NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM HAS PARTLY TRIED TO COMPLY BY FIXING THE PROBLEMS. WHILE ONE OTHER OF THE DEALERSHIP DEPARTMENTS CHOOSES TO AVOID ALL THE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE THIS COMPLAINT TO BE A FOREMOST LAST WARNING TO WHOM THE "REJECT VEHICLE" OPTION OR :LEMON LAW OPTION WILL BE MY NEXT REQUEST. I HAVE SPENT OVER FIFTEEN THOUSAND ON THIS VEHICLE THAT HAS DONE NOTHING BUT LEAVE ME STRANDED FOR TWO DAYS FOLLOWING FIVE DAY ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION. AND THE TWO SUB MANUFACTURING ENTITIES I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SEEM TO CARELESS WHETHER I HAVE A VEHICLE OR NOT. I WOULD CLOSE WITH THIS FINAL STATEMENT, WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO GO WITHOUT A CAR THAT IS DEPENDABLE, AND NOT BE COMPENSATED WITH A RENTAL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS GETTING REPAIRED. THAT ESP HAS SEEM TO PROVIDE ME WITH NOTHING I HAVE HAD TO PAY DEDUCTIBLE FOR REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS THIS WAY TO BEGIN WITH. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR SOME HELPFUL OPTIONS ON MY RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER. SINCERELY [XXX] SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I FILLED UP MY CAR WITH GAS AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON TO GET A FAILURE MESSAGE THAT MY EPS POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE, IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN CORNERS OR TURN IT AT ALL. I TRIED DRIVING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ONCE THERE, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT I WOULD NEED TO PAY $1,500.00 TO PAY FOR AN ENTIRE NEW EPS SYSTEM SINCE THEY CANNOT REPLACE JUST THE STEERING MODULE. I DON'T GET HOW I PAY FOR A LIKE-NEW CAR IN 2014 AND IMMEDIATELY INCUR A 1,500.00 BILL. *TR
POOR DURABILITY OF THE NEW OCCIPITAL WIPER BLADES ON MY 2013 FORD FOCUS. I LIVE IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. THE WINTER WEATHER AND THE CONSTANT FREEZING AND EVEN ZERO TEMPERATURES HAS CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THESE NEW FANGLED WIPERS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HUG THE WINDSHIELD AND REMOVE WATER BETTER. THE CHEAP PLASTIC CLIPS THAT THEY ARE HELD ON WITH HAVE FAILED 2 TIMES NOW, THIS WINTER. I JUST HAD MY THIRD PAIR INSTALLED. I JUST BROKE DOWN AND WENT TO JIFFY LUBE WHO WHICH WILL REPLACE THEM FOR FREE WITHIN 3 MONTHS IF THEY FAIL. ONCE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER BROKE OFF AND FLEW AWAY ON THE HIGHWAY FORCING US TO DRIVE FOR MILES WITH NONE. THE SECOND TIME IT JUST BROKE OFF DOWN IN THE CRACK BETWEEN THE WIPER AND THE HOOD. THEY ARE MOUNTED POORLY AND THE PLASTIC DOES NOT WITHSTAND THE STRESSES OF WINTER WEATHER OUTSIDE. I HAVE NO GARAGE. *TR
WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE IN ABOUT 5 INCHES OF SNOW, THE TRACTION/STABILITY CONTROL KICKED IN AND MADE MY CAR GO ABOUT AN 1 INCH A MINUTE. EVER SINCE THAT INCIDENT, WHENEVER I START FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE CAR WILL STUTTER AND SOMETIMES SLOW DOWN AFTER STARTING EVEN THOUGH I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM IF THERE IS NO TRAFFIC, BUT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR FAST MOVING TRAFFIC, A PERSON CAN GET RUN OVER. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC HAS HAD TO EITHER STOP OR CONSIDERABLY SLOW DOWN WHILE MY CAR IS SLOWLY GETTING UP TO SPEED. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY STATE THAT IT IS RUNNING PROPERLY. I HAVE TRIED TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE AND 1 DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BY OTHER FOCUS OWNERS. WE HAVE A FRIEND THAT ALSO HAS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, BUT IT IS AN AUTOMATIC, AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM AS WELL. SO THIS IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODEL. *TR
2 CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCONTACT TIRES HAVE SIDEWALL BUBBLES ON MY 2013 FORD FOCUS. FEAR I WILL HAVE A BLOWOUT ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
I NOTICED A LARGE BUBBLE - THE APPROXIMATE SIZE OF A TENNIS BALL - IN MY PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SIDEWALL. HAD TO CALL NUMEROUS DEALERS TO FIND A TIRE IN STOCK. TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND HE SAID THE TIRE WAS ABOUT TO BLOW. $170.00 FOR A NEW TIRE. NOT EVEN TWO MONTHS LATER, DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ANOTHER TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW. THIS ONE HAD A TEAR IN THE SIDEWALL. HAD TO CALL FORD EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE TO HAVE THE DONUT TIRE PUT ON. DROVE TO A CONTINENTAL DEALER, BUT ONCE AGAIN NO TIRE IN STOCK. HE PUT ON A TIRE AND HAD TO GO BACK IN WHEN HE GOT THE OTHER ONE. ANOTHER $170.00. TERRIFIED TO DRIVE ON THESE TIRES. CONTACTED CONTINENTAL. NO ONE RETURNS YOUR CALLS. THE TIRES ARE CONTINENTAL CONTI PRO CONTACT. VERY DANGEROUS TIRES. LITERALLY HUNDRED OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. SOME PEOPLE REPLACING FOUR AND FIVE TIRES. LOOKING TO BUY NEW TIRES, BUT NOW THE STATE OF THE ART TRANSMISSION IN MY NEW CAR IS GOING IN FOR THE SECOND REPAIR. GOT A LEMON. *TR
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. CAR HANDLED ERRATICALLY ON WET / SLICK SURFACES. ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS TRACTION CONTROL RELATED. BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND FORD SERVICE (ALL AMERICAN FORD, HACKENSACK, NJ) SAID THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS OPERATIONAL. WE SPECIFICALLY SUGGESTED IT MIGHT BE THE TIRES, AND FORD SERVICE INDICATED THE TIRES WERE NOT PROBLEMATIC / AN ISSUE (INCOMPETENCE OR DISINTEREST). SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THAT FORD INSTALLED "SUMMER ONLY TIRES" INSTEAD OF "ALL WEATHER TIRES". AUTOMOBILE WAS PURCHASED IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY. EXTREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE TO EQUIP AUTOMOBILES WITH SUMMER ONLY TIRES IN THE US NORTHEAST (IF NOT ILLEGAL, PERHAPS IT SHOULD BE). ON FEBRUARY 15, 2014, AUTOMOBILE SKIDDED OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A SNOW BANK IN PRINCETON NEW JERSEY. NO INJURIES. IN LIGHT OF THE NOW HIGHLY PUBLICIZED GM THOUGHT PROCESS TOWARDS IGNITION SWITCHES ON COBALT AND G5 MODELS, WE FEEL IT IS APPROPRIATE TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. SENT A LETTER TO [XXX] ON MARCH 6TH. TRIED TO SPEAK WITH THE DEALERSHIP ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS (NO FOLLOW UP). FORWARDED A COMPLAINT CONCERNING SAFETY AND SERVICE SUPPORT VIA THE FORD WEBSITE. NO FOLLOW UP FROM FORD HQ. REPLACED THE TIRES AT OUR EXPENSE (COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1,000) IN LATE FEBRUARY / EARLY MARCH, AND DISPOSED OF ORIGINAL TIRES. THE NHTSA SHOULD RAISE THE SAFETY MATTER WITH FORD GIVEN THEIR APPARENT DISREGARD FOR SAFETY AND LACK OF FOLLOW UP / INTEREST IN THE MATTER. IN OUR VIEW THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH POTENTIALLY PUTS LIVES AT RISK AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
STEERING AND COMPUTER AIDED SYSTEMS ALONG WITH TIRES THAT WERE NOT DISCLOSED TO BE USED UNDER 40 DEGREES CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING INPUT AND CONTROL WHICH LEAD TO HITTING A CURB AND DAMAGING SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AS WELL AS THE DRIVE-ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE IS WORSE THAT BEFORE. THERE ARE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE STEERING ON THE 2013 FOCUS ST AND AFTER 6 MONTHS OF GOING BACK AND FORTH, FORD CANNOT REMEDY THE SITUATION AND THE CARE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT ANY SPEED AS THE LACK OF STEERING CONTROL CAUSE UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE, REQUIRING NERVES OF STEEL TO DRIVE AT EVEN 20 MPH. CLUNKING NOISES AND GRINDING ALSO COMING FROM SUSPENSION AND TRANSMISSION GEARS. *TR
MAY 1ST: SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION, VEHICLE SHUTTERS WHEN SHIFTING 4TH: NO CHANGES IN PERFORMANCE. SHUTTER AND VIBRATION CONTINUES; NO WORK PERFORMED. ADVISED ALL OF THIS IS A ?NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC? OF A DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION. 10TH: SIGNIFICANT SHAKING AT IDLE CONTINUES 17TH: VIBRATION CONTINUES; TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO BUCK AND STALL. VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND WELL TO SUDDEN STOPS? SIGNIFICANT SHUDDERING AND RPM GAUGE HAS RAPID FLUCTUATIONS. GEARS STILL MAKING GRINDING NOISE. 18TH: TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FELT WORSE THAN USUAL TODAY. 20TH: VEHICLE DOES NOT DRIVE WELL. TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO CLICK/POP/GRIND; GEAR CHANGES ARE ROUGH, SIMILAR TO SOMEONE WHO CANNOT DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION 24TH: ROUGH IDLE PERSISTS; CAR SLOW TO ENGAGE IN FIRST GEAR; FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. JUNE 4TH: ROUGH IDLE CONTINUES 26TH: GEAR CHANGES ARE NOT SMOOTH AND IN FACT ARE QUITE ROUGH; CAR DOES NOT FUNCTION NORMALLY. NO IMPROVEMENT WHATSOEVER SINCE LAST UPDATE. 29TH: VEHICLE SHAKES BADLY UPON START; VERY ROUGH SHIFTING; CAR DOES NOT FEEL SAFE JULY 5TH: GEARS ARE NOT ENGAGING PROPERLY; DELAYED ACCELERATION FROM 0MPH IN DRIVE 11TH: VIBRATION IS AS BAD AS EVER; NO IMPROVEMENT. 17TH: HAD TWO CASES OF DELAYED ACCELERATION & BUCKING TODAY 19TH: VEHICLE SHUTTERED SIGNIFICANTLY TODAY; RPM GAUGE PLATING CONTINUES TO RATTLE; PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITH REMOTE KEY; BEGINNING OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS 21ST: TRANSMISSION STALLED UPON ACCELERATION AGAIN; SUBSTANTIAL HESITATION 22ND: LOUD GRINDING NOISE SHIFTING TO REVERSE; RPM GAUGE WENT TO ABOUT 2500 26TH: STALLING, SHUDDERING/BUCKING CONTINUES; GEAR CHANGES ARE NOT SMOOTH 28TH: INTERIOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM; INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE NOR DO THE A/C & RADIO LIGHTS; 29TH: EXPERIENCED A VERY HARD JOLT UPON ACCELERATION SO MUCH SO THAT IT JARRED THE ENTIRE CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE A YAKIMA BIKE RACK ON THE ROOF OF HIS VEHICLE BUT THE FRONT AND REAR CLIPS FAILED TO CONNECT PROPERLY. THE RETAILER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER ENSURED THAT THE RACK WAS ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE RACK WAS NOT REPLACED. *TR
2013 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POOR DEALERSHIP SERVICE IN GETTING SECURITY CODE CHANGED ON CAR KEYS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED DURING AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED PARTS WERE MISSING FROM THE HATCHBACK AND FOR THE REAR TRAY.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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