Used 2013 Ford Focus Consumer Reviews
Used Focus for sale
Mix of strengths and weaknesses
GB, 03/28/2016
updated 05/23/2024
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
18 of 21 people found this review helpful
UPDATE May 2024 - 137k miles now. Have dealt with a significant number of transmission and seal issues (clutch, transfer case leak, flange wear out), plus new front struts. The latest is a leaking timing cover seal. Still like the car, but don't know if I want to keep repairing it. UPDATE Nov 2021 - 105k miles.. no issues to report besides a blown fuse. Has been very reliable. Also replaced the spark plugs and noticed a dramatic improvement in clutch performance (!)... Car is getting louder inside the cabin, which may be expected. UPDATE April 2021 - 99.5k miles, no issues. Have been doing some gas tank fillups and calculations, have determined that the Focus gets a few less mpg than it's built in mileage calculator claims... mine averages ~ 32 mpg, not the 35 it says. UPDATE Oct 2020 - 97k miles. No issues to report besides typical squeaks and vibrations. The vehicle has been very dependable, and I am happy I have the stick shift as the Focus' automatic transmission is supposed to be terrible. ... UPDATE: I've now owned the Focus for about 2 and 1/2 years. It now has 58k miles. It's been quite reliable, no issues to speak of except a few annoying squeaks. It has adequate pep, gets good mileage, and fits a decent amt of stuff in its trunk. Areas it could have been better? The road noise is way too loud (have replaced the tires with well-rated ones. Almost no difference), the stock stereo is garbage (replaced it), and the ride is too harsh for a regular little car (this is not the Mustang, so why is the suspension so stiff??) ----------------------------- I bought my 2013 SE 5-speed manual with 2.0 engine used w/ 18,000 miles a year ago. It's a small, snazzy car that does most everything you need, but with flaws. Handles very responsively, but the ride is too stiff. Good engine and wind noise isolation, but significant road noise. Great gas mileage if you take it somewhat easy. Decent power from the 2.0L, like a go cart on the highway. Strengths: + Gas mileage (average 33-34, can get 40 on the highway) + Power from standard 2.0L engine + Stick shift (short throws) + Trunk size + Stability around turns + Interior (buttoned down, but... read below) + Steering feel (not numb, you can actually feel the road) + Engine and wind noise (not much of either) + Driving range (can get 400 miles on the highway) + Cruise control works excellently + Nice that it has auto-headlights and ALSO allows you to manually turn them off Weaknesses: - Ride (stiff! like a sports car) - Clutch (very tricky from 1st to 2nd, etc) - Road noise (LOTS of it) - Low-speed driving dynamics (wtf...) - Ergonomics (Ford doesn't get it) - Gear spacing on 5-speed - User interfaces (instrument panel, radio...) - Stereo (standard. May be the worst sounding, tinniest stereo I've heard in a car, ever. Reception is also very disappointing) - Oversteers (very touchy, you can be in a ditch if you're not careful) - Back seats don't fold flat - Seat comfort (front seats seem experimental and wear on you) - Too much vibration at idle Ford got so many things right here - bravo for that. Great gas mileage. Decent power for a small car, though like most small engines, when you *really* punch it... nothing happens. Mostly good visibility. Buttoned down interior styling. Very nice shifter. Good road feel through steering (though perhaps a little too much feel). No lumbar adjustment, but seems to be Ok w/o it. Reliability has been good through 33k miles, only had the a seat belt retractor replaced for slight stickiness and a rattle fixed. Headrests are adjustable - a big deal for some. Happy with trunk space. The cruise control is one of the smoothest I've ever seen. Steering wheel is excellently sized and has good grip material. Dash is Ok on the eyes. Unfortunately, Ford also got many things wrong, too. Ergonomics are off - I can't really get comfortable. E.g., place your left arm on the door rest and it's too low, but place it on the window ledge and it's too high. Seats are not flat bottomed but have a strange cavity design that eventually cuts off your circulation. Right arm rest doesn't extend fwd far enough, can barely anchor my elbow to shift gears. Stereo and basic control menus are inconsistent and make little sense. Stereo has tons of good stuff like USB, Bluetooth connection, etc, but ... it just sounds terrible. It's reception is, I must say, a joke, actually took it in to the dealer for a look (they said it's operating as designed). Noise levels for engine and wind are very low but way too loud for road noise... changed tires, somewhat better now, but still quite loud. Turning the dome light on/off is unnecessarily complex. Ride in first gear is VERY jerky, is NOT fun driving through a parking lot. Suspension is just too stiff, resulting in a harsh ride like a Mustang (do people really want that in a basic car like the Focus? I doubt it). Low beam headlights simply don't illuminate well enough, feel like I might hit something at night. Burns some oil, ~ 0.7 quart every 1000 miles, which is surprising given it only has about 30k miles. Finally, watch driving at night when you might be drowsy - the steering is very touchy. This is good at slow speeds in a parking lot, but steering *should* become LESS sensitive at highway speeds - it does not.. you could be off the road with 1/8 to 1/4 of a wheel turn.
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Don't lose your Focus!
Michael Friedhoff, 08/11/2015
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
Great little car! 38,000 miles so far and no issues. Looks great! Handles great! MPG could be better (average 28 mpg), but I'm a little heavy on the accelerator...
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Never buy a ford again
FoundOnRoadDead, 11/20/2015
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
33 of 40 people found this review helpful
2013 ford focus is a joke. Bought the titanium edition with all bells and whistles, got the nice lcd touch screen with navi (2500$ option). After about 1 year and 38,000 miles the lcd touch screen stopped working rendering the navi and most other options useless or a complete inconvenience to use. Ford says sorry, but warranty ended at 35,000 miles and it is an 800 dollar repair, sorry about your luck. Did I mention on my second oil change dealership noticed a transmission leak. Then there were Multiple trips to dealership for reprogramming, cleaning clutch plates. Recently at 80,000 miles vehicle wouldn't switch out of 1st gear. Ford says just needs computer update,that should do it. Two weeks later as I'm attempting to accelerate onto freeway tach goes to 7000 rpm and I can't get out of first gear as the vehicles jerks and sputters. Left me stranded about 50 miles from home. Had to get it towed off the freeway. Now ford says it just needs a new control module, that will fix everything. Yeah right!!! Do not buy this vehicle, you will be sorry!! Ford is not stepping up to the plate to get these issues fixed. I will never buy another ford vehicle!!!!!!
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Worst car ever
Lena, 03/14/2018
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Had a 2013 Ford Focus Titanium for 2 years and had nothing but problems. It started when it felt like it, was stranded many times and had to have it towed, Ford said they had never heard of this problem, not true, then it started shuddering, back to the shop, manager had never heard of this problem before...replaced the TCM. Shuddering again and the clutch was replaced. Was driving on the interstate when it suddenly lost power then surged forward, scared me to death, the 02 sensor needed to be replaced, when the mechanic....not Ford....took the 02 sensor out it was burnt. Then the engine light came on and the convertor was in trouble. Mechanic...not Ford, said he could clear the code and if it were him get it traded in NOW!! 2 days later we traded it in for a Hyundai, I slept like a log that night in total peace. Got $7500 towards a trade in and figured that was not that bad considering these cars have depreciated so badly. Do yourself a favor and trade the car in as there is no fix for the issues, it will be one thing after another and you'll spend thousands just trying to get it on the road. Never had such problems with a vehicle before, shame on Ford as they know these are faulty transmissions.
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Leased 12 days ago, ....
markmom18, 06/01/2013
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
GRINDING TRANSMISSION. ROLLS BACK. In the shop as we speak....A.C. COMPRESSOR ORDERED, TO BE REPLACED. This is a brand NEW, 2013 Ford Focus SE. God, why didn't we research?? First were interested in Escape and Fusion,2013 models. We spoke to General Sales manager, after getting nothing but the company spiel from lease salesman. Bottom line : Transmission guy will take a look at Focus on Monday. We DO NOT want this car. Ford official stand is all the grinding, rolling backwards, etc is normal...Handles different, drive it 6 months, get used to the car.