2013 Ford Focus Steering Problems

Steering wheel became hard to turn and then no steering and steering loss Stop safely came on the instrument panel, had car towed home and have had no one look at it yet

NHTSA ID

11725902

Incident

Mar 17, 2026

During recent freezing weather, upon starting the car and attempting to turn, I realized that the steering wheel was frozen solid. While researching what could have happened, the war warmed up enough to melt the water in the electric power assisted steering motor, allowing the vehicle to turn. Now, the EPAS is seized up completely. If I had been driving when it locked up completely, it could have proved fatal. The problem has not been reproduced, as it just happened in the last couple of weeks. I never got any check engine light pertaining to this issue. OBDII showed not errors for the EPAS.

NHTSA ID

11717304

Incident

Feb 8, 2026

While driving, the electric power steering went out. I purchased this vehicle on Aug 15 2025 and the Carfax report did not have any information pertaining to an issue with EPAS. To have this repaired will cost me over $3k which I was not prepared for. Being that other Ford vehicles have this EPAS recall, shouldn't a recall be made on the 2013 Ford Focus as well.

NHTSA ID

11681687

Incident

Aug 16, 2025

The vehicles power steering assist has failed and there are active recalls from the same manufacturer and year but not my specific VIN.

NHTSA ID

11639374

Incident

Mar 1, 2024

Power steering malfunction. Wheel not working on low temperature.

NHTSA ID

11634061

Incident

Dec 21, 2024

Electrical Power Steering. While driving the steering suddenly locked up. There was no prior indication. Upon having a Master Mechanic check the vehicle, it was stated that it is a common problem seen by mechanics and after researching online searches, the Ford Focus vehicles from 2010-2014 have experienced the same issue. This is an absolute hazard. The cost to repair will be close to $4, 000. I am requesting that an immediate recall she be mandated by Ford. This was a close call for me on a main Freeway.

NHTSA ID

11607623

Incident

Jul 16, 2024

Power steering assist pump stopped intermittently, than stop completely

NHTSA ID

11603026

Incident

Jul 16, 2024

UNKNOWN

NHTSA ID

11597717

Incident

Jun 29, 2024

My Ford Focus has a Steering Assist Fault. It failed in October 2022, and now I'm having to pay for replacement of the system because there is no recall on it for the Focus, unlike other models.

NHTSA ID

11560214

Incident

Oct 9, 2022

The intermittent power steering issues are now permanent and it is extremely difficult to turn the wheel.

NHTSA ID

11550960

Incident

Oct 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering column became inoperable; however, the contact's son was able to safely drive the vehicle to his residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11540081

Incident

Aug 22, 2023

Mileage

140,000 mi

I was driving when my power steering went out on the highway. Ford knows this is a problem. That was the first time I seen the warning light while driving

NHTSA ID

11538849

Incident

Jul 27, 2023

The steering wheel wants to lock up as you make a turn either left or right

NHTSA ID

11519196

Incident

Apr 22, 2023

Electric power steering goes out without any warning. I took my car to the dealership to get rotors and tire rods put on.Go pick up my car, soon as I pull off the lot get down the road my car is pulling to the pulling to the right. I keep driving, it's pulling to the left. I took the car back and told them my car is doing something weird. The tech gets in the driver seat and I get in the passenger seat. We driving and he said yeah that is weird. Now, when I took my car there for repairs, it wasn't doing this. They do some testing and they tell me my Electric power steering is going out. Without any warning.I don't know if they did something to it or it just went out. It's a safety hazard because there was no warning light or anything. That's an accident waiting to happen.

NHTSA ID

11511356

Incident

Mar 9, 2023

The power steering randomly fails (it was raining each time) making it difficult to control the car. It lasts from 2-15 seconds.

NHTSA ID

11494244

Incident

Nov 19, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 10 MPH, the power steering became inoperable. The message to pull over safely was displayed. The red critical warning indicator light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering control module (PSCM) needed to be replaced but the parts were back ordered. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred him to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

NHTSA ID

11491990

Incident

Oct 27, 2022

Mileage

92,000 mi

I have a 2013 Ford Focus Titanium with 92k miles and have been experiencing problems with my electric steering rack. It’s making noises when turning the steering wheel. I have not had it replaced yet as I fill this something that should recalled and covered through Ford. It has not locked on me yet but this is something that should be recalled and fixed as I’m hearing multiple ford owners are experiencing the same issue.

NHTSA ID

11489447

Incident

Oct 15, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID

11488833

Incident

Oct 11, 2022

Mileage

82,000 mi

A few times i have been driving, or sometimes just started my car to drive and my steering would be hard. Contacted Ford and was told that was normal. I Was driving a couple months with everything working properly and suddenly the Electronic steering is gone. Nearly caused an accident with my grandchildren in the vehicle. I was fortunate enough to be able to get to the side of road without getting hit.

NHTSA ID

11474450

Incident

May 6, 2022

Power steering assist failure. On the freeway. Hard to steer. Then when I made it home (thankfully) turned into the driveway, turned the car off. Then when I tried to start it later, the wheel had completely locked up. Couldn't move the car. If it would have done that on the freeway, I would have died.

NHTSA ID

11468869

Incident

May 29, 2022

Steering rack failed while driving. Leaving parking lot steering started to make a grinding noise and almost immdeiatly locked in place when on the road.

NHTSA ID

11463633

Incident

Apr 25, 2022

I’ve seen multiple recalls on the electric power steering with ford and recently I lost all power steering in my 2013 Ford Focus SE and know it’s been a problem for other fords like mine. My vehicle has 119,000 miles. I want to know why there are recalls for other ford cars for the exact same issue but not the 2013 focus

NHTSA ID

11450883

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

Power steering assist failed while driving on the highway. I pulled over and turned off the car to investigate and the steering wheel locked up.

NHTSA ID

11443763

Incident

Dec 7, 2021

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering assist fault warning message was displayed. The vehicle lost power steering and the vehicle was difficult to steer. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the failure was corrected. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with steering control module failure. The steering control module and rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA ID

11440205

Incident

Jan 1, 2021

Mileage

105,000 mi

- Steering rack and pinion failed while driving and is currently being repaired at dealership - Safety was out at risk due to the malfunctioning occurring while car was being driven. Steering became extremely difficult and felt as if wheel was locking-up. - Car was taken to dealership twice regarding the malfunction. First resolution was updating the power steering control module software. Steering was fixed for one week before the issue re-appeared while driving. During second visit at the dealership, it was determined that the steering rack and pinion will need replacing. - There was no warning messages or symptoms prior to the malfunctioning occurring.

NHTSA ID

11436925

Incident

Oct 6, 2021