2013 Ford Focus Visibility Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11457056

Incident

Jan 13, 2021

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the windshield wipers were inadvertently activated. The windshield wipers failed to operate when the contact attempted to activate the wipers. The contact was unable to drive the vehicle when it rained due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic informed the contact that an unknown part needed to be replaced and the vehicle needed to be taken to the dealer for repair. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was not manufactured with the unknown part and the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11443360

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER PRIORITY FORD (3420 N MILITARY HWY, NORFOLK, VA 23518, (757)583-3673) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE BODY SECURITY MODULE (BSM) FUSE BOX TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

NHTSA ID

11398440

Incident

Jan 1, 2021

Mileage

145,000 mi

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PARENTS DRIVE WAY AND AS SOON AS I TURNED MY WHEEL STRAIGHT THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS STARTED GOING AND WOULD NOT STOP I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND TOOK THE KEY OUT AND THEY STILL WOULD NOT STOP AND THEN THEY STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THEY WORKED FOR 3 DAYS LIKE USUAL AND THEN THEY STARTED GOING BY THEMSELVES AGAIN AND ARE CURRENTLY NOT WORKING, I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND THEY HAD A RECALL ON THEIR WIPERS. IF IT STARTS RAINING I CAN NOT SEE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY REFUSE TO WORK, AND WHEN THEY START GOING BY THEMSELVES IT'S HARDER FOR ME TO SEE BECAUSE THEY GO FULL SPEED AND WILL NOT STOP EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND THE KEY IS OUT, THEY WENT FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHILE MY CAR WAS OFF. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY ISSUE AND IT'S HAPPENED TO MULTIPLE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AS ME AND THEY DID EVERYTHING TO TRY TO FIX IT AND NOTHING WORKED.

NHTSA ID

11397748

Incident

Feb 10, 2021

Mileage

111,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR OUT OF THE GAS STATION AND I TURNED LEFT AND HONKED THE HORN BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS STILL SITTING AT THE GREEN LIGHT. AS I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL BACK STRAIGHT THE WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES AND WOULDN'T GO BACK OFF. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR. THEY TURN ON BY THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN THE KEY IS OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE VIDEO PROOF NOT PICTURES. THEY DON'T WORK IN THE RAIN AND I'VE TRIED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I CAN TO FIX THEM BUT TO NO AVAIL. IF YOU LOOK UP WIPERS COMING ON BY THEMSELVES ON 2013 FORD FOCUS YOU'LL SEE THAT MY CAR ISN'T THE ONLY ONE DOING THIS. I'M SCARED SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET INJURED OR POSSIBLY KILLED BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T SEE WHEN A RAINSTORM SNEAKS UP ON THEM.

NHTSA ID

11360201

Incident

Jul 18, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi

WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON. THEN THEY CAN ON BY THEMSELVES, FUNCTIONED IRRATIONALLY AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEYS WERE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11351972

Incident

Aug 29, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL GO ERRATIC FOR ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. WHEN THE WIPERS FINALLY TURN OFF THEY WONT COME BACK. CURRENTLY THE WIPERS WILL NOT WORK AT ALL AFTER THIS LAST INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11301207

Incident

Nov 30, 2019

Mileage

138,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE WIPERS WILL GO OFF NON-STOP. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND IT WAS STILL ON. I HAD TO PULL THE FUSE OFF TO GET TO MY DESTINATION. AT THIS TIME, IT'S STILL HAPPENING. ALL AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11269181

Incident

Oct 11, 2019

Mileage

7 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN THE RAIN, FRONT WIPERS STOPPED WORKING CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES. REAR WIPERS CONTINUED TO WORK CORRECTLY. AFTER PARKING, WE TRIED THE WIPERS AGAIN, STILL WOULD NOT WORK. TRIED WIPERS AGAIN LATER IN DAY IN A GARAGE, THEY STILL WOULD NOT WORK. CHECKED FUSE, FUSE IS STILL GOOD. SWAPPED FUSE WITH ANOTHER KNOWN WORKING FUSE, BOTH FUSES WORKED BUT WIPERS STILL DID NOT WORK. LATER WIPERS STARTED WORKING WITHOUT PROMPT, AGAIN CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES AS IT WAS NOT RAINING, BUT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR TURN OFF. SHUT CAR OFF, REMOVED KEY FROM IGNITION AND WIPERS CONTINUED TO RUN UNTIL FUSE WAS PULLED AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11210015

Incident

May 25, 2019

Mileage

75,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON RANDOMLY, THEY WILL SPEED UP AND SLOW DOWN. THEY WILL NOT TURN OFF EVEN WHEN CAR IS PARKED AND KEY IS OUT OF IGNITION. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON BY THEMSELVES. I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL ALSO DRAIN MY BATTERY AND/OR BE A FIRE HAZARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, SITTING STATIONARY, AND WHEN CAR IS COMPLETELY OFF. I DO NOT HAVE A DOCUMENT TO UPLOAD AS I WAS DRIVING BUT I CAN TAKE A VIDEO IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ID

11180557

Incident

Feb 14, 2019

Mileage

139,000 mi

MY WIFE RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY, AT HIGHWAY SPEED, WHEN THE GAUGE SAID SHE HAD MANY MORE MILES TO GO UNTIL EMPTY. SHE DID NOT EXPECT TO RUN OUT OF FUEL AND DOING SO CAUSED A GREAT RISK OF PERSON AL INJURY AND EVEN GREATER INCONVENIENCE. THE DEALER MAY WANT TO CHARGE MONEY TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT IS MOST LIKELY THE SAME PARTS THAT I HAVE HEARD ARE ON RECALL FOR THE 2012 FOCUS. THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE A WIRING ISSUE WITH THE WIPER SYSTEM. IT WAS DISCOVERED TO NOT BE WORKING ONE DAY WHEN I WENT TO USE THE WIPER WASHER FLUID TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO FUSE PROBLEMS OR WARNINGS THAT THING MIGHT BE A PROBLEM. THIS IS ALSO MOST LIKELY A RECURRING MODEL YEAR ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BUT ALSO HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET.

NHTSA ID

11141866

Incident

Oct 12, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

WIPERS WILL NOT WORK WHEN RAINING. THEN THEY WILL COME ON ON THEIR OWN. THEN GO OFF AGAIN THEN COME ON AND NOT TURN OFF EVEN AFTER THEN ENGINE HAS BEEN SHUT OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND HAS BEEN REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES BY SEVERAL PEOPLE. 2012 WAS RECALLED FOR THIS VERY SAME THING

NHTSA ID

11074679

Incident

Feb 24, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 74 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DISPENSERS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DISPENSERS WOULD NOT DISPENSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID TO CLEAR THE DEBRIS FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS OCCURRED ONLY IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7.

NHTSA ID

11060835

Incident

Dec 1, 2013

Mileage

7 mi

FORD FOCUS 2013 SE - WHILE DRIVING (IN MOTION), DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR UNLATCHED AND SWUNG OPEN, AND WOULD NOT CLOSE, HORN STOPPED WORKING, INTERIOR DISPLAYS AND LIGHTS FLICKERED, WHEN PULLED OVER, CAR WOULD NOT START. IF WE WERE ON A HIGHWAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUSLY DANGEROUS. LATER CAR DID START, BUT DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH, RADIO WAS RESET, HAZARDS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF AT RANDOM. DOOR LATCH AND HORN WOULD NOT WORK AFTER THIS EVENT. SHORTLY PRIOR TO THIS ISSUE, HORN STARTED WORKING AT RANDOM, WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. WHEN INSPECTED, ADVISED BATTERY WAS BAD AND HAD CORRODED NEGATIVE WIRE TO BATTERY. ONE WEEK AFTER REPLACED, THIS EVENT OCCURRED. CLUTCH IN VEHICLE ALSO JITTERS WHEN INCREASING SPEED FROM FULL STOP, ALLEGEDLY CORRECTED AT FORD DEALERSHIP AFTER RECALL (2 YEARS AGO). PER RESEARCH THIS ISSUE IS BEING CAUSED BY A FAULTY CLUTCH INTERFERING WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

11010568

Incident

Jul 21, 2017

Mileage

33,800 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON BY THEMSELVES, WITH NO INPUT FROM ME. CANNOT TURN THEM OFF WITH THE SWITCH. THEY STAY ON EVEN AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY IS REMOVED.

NHTSA ID

11000886

Incident

Jun 23, 2017

Mileage

107,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CONTINUED TO STAY ON EVEN AFTER THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE CAUSED THE WIPER BLADES TO FAIL TO RESPOND AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILLY HOWELL FORD LINCOLN 1805 ATLANTA HWY, CUMMING, GA 30040 WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL BUT OFFERED TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10993464

Incident

Jun 5, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT. HAVE TO TURN CAR OFF AND ON TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS OFTEN HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON WITHOUT THE SWITCH BEING TURNED ON. THEY WILL STILL RUN EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY IS OUT OF THE IGNITION. THEY WILL NOT TURN ON AT OTHER TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN NEEDED.

NHTSA ID

10957553

Incident

Feb 28, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ID

10918501

Incident

Jul 8, 2014

Mileage

94,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE STOP WORKING IN MID WIPE. THIS MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

10906972

Incident

Sep 4, 2016

Mileage

24,000 mi

CAUSE: UNKNOWN. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A NORMAL SPEED, WITH NO KNOWN DEBRIS OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD, I HEARD A LOUD POP. SUDDENLY, MY REAR WINDOW STARTED CAVING IN, CRUMBLING FROM THE TOP-MIDDLE OF IT, BREAKING OFF GRADUALLY FROM THERE. I WAS DRIVING SAFELY (NO SWERVING, NO COLLISIONS), AND LATER INSPECTION FOUND NO FOREIGN OBJECTS THAT COULD'VE CAUSED THE WINDOW TO SHATTER.

NHTSA ID

10904933

Incident

Sep 9, 2016

Mileage

57,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ID

10865632

Incident

Jan 22, 2016

Mileage

37,000 mi

2013 FORD FOCUS WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED BUBBLES AFFECTING DRIVER AND PASSENGER VISIBILITY. BUBBLES PRESENT IN A EVENLY DISTRIBUTED PATTERN THROUGHOUT THE WINDSHIELD. BUBBLES ARE ROUGHLY 2-5MM IN DIAMETER. THE PRESENCE OF THE BUBBLES COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY, WHICH COULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10777446

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

Mileage

35,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10689679

Incident

Feb 18, 2015

THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVER'S VIEW THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I'VE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS. THE FIRST DEALER AND WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, (CRONIN, FORD IN HARRISON, OH) SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM BOTH TIMES I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. I'VE TAKEN IT THREE TIMES TO WOODY SANDER FORD IN CINCINNATI, OH. THEY SAID THERE WAS SOMETHING ON THE WINDSHIELD AND THE WIPERS WORKED FINE FOR THEM AFTER THEY BUFFED OFF THE OBSTRUCTION. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I LEFT WOODY SANDER'S SERVICE SHOP, I NEEDED TO USE MY WIPERS, AND THE WIPER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTINUED TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF MY VIEW. THE EXACT PROBLEM WOODY SANDER SAID THEY HAD FIXED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE TO DRIVE WHEN IT'S RAINING. IT ALSO OCCURS EVEN WHEN I JUST TRY TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE WIPER FLUID. I'VE TRIED TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED 5 TIMES SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648955

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

1,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FROZE IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS TO THE RIGHT SIDE WIPER BUT YESTERDAY (3/12/14) NEITHER WIPER WOULD WORK AFTER A 20 MILE HIGHWAY DRIVE DURING A MODERATE SNOWFALL. THE CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1.) THE VEHICLE IS WARMED UP AND THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTED WITH THE NORMAL AUTOMOTIVE HVAC SYSTEM. 2.) THE WIPERS ARE USED DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING AND KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR. 3.) AT SPEEDS ABOVE 35MPH, LIGHT/MODERATE SNOW DOES NOT STICK TO THE WINDSHIELD SHIELD AND VISIBILITY IS BETTER WITHOUT THE WIPERS RUNNING. AT SOME POINT DURING TRAVEL WITH THE WIPERS OFF, THE MOISTURE FROM PREVIOUS WIPER USE CAUSES THE WIPERS TO FREEZE IN PLACE. 4.) THE WIPERS ARE NEEDED WHEN SPEED IS REDUCED OR ROADSPRAY IS ENCOUNTERED AND THEY DO NOT WORK BECAUSE THEY ARE FROZE BELOW WHERE THE DEFROSTER HEATS THE WINDSHIELD. AT THIS POINT I MUST STOP AND EXIT THE VEHICLE TO FREE THE WIPERS. I'VE THUS FAR BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE ENCOUNTER SERIOUS ROADSPRAY WHILE MY WIPERS HAVE BEEN FROZEN IN PLACE, BUT FEEL IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I'M REQUIRE TO STOP IN A DANGEROUS/IMPRACTICABLE LOCATION TO FREE THE WIPERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10568943

Incident

Jan 6, 2014

Mileage

14,000 mi