Used 2013 Ford Focus Consumer Reviews
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2013 Focus SE
sts_pa, 02/10/2015
updated 02/20/2018
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
73 of 75 people found this review helpful
I bought this 2013 Focus SE hatch new 2 years ago and have experienced zero issues with it. Chassis is sublime and engine provides adequate power while returning >30 mpg and easily over 40 on the highway. Interior has too much hard plastic, but that's expected at this price. I love the cloth seats and the hatch holds tons of stuff. The powershift automatic has unpleasant characteristics at low speeds (chattering, lurching), but works great when pressed. Ford seems to deliver the best driving compact in the segment at this price IMHO. Hoping the reliability stays good going forward. I sold my Focus after 4 years so this is the final review for 45000 miles of ownership. Ford rebuilt the powershift transmission which helped, but did not eliminate the occasional shuddering issues. This is the only bad thing about the car (considering the price) and only problem I encountered. The ride/handling was very good, the engine had decent power and the mpg was outstanding. The back seats are tight, but the hatch holds plenty of cargo and the layout and controls are good. Seat comfort was great and the car was actually pretty fun to drive.
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The Focus SFE is a Fuel Sipper
cadrvr4, 10/25/2012
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
47 of 50 people found this review helpful
We purchased a 2013 Ford Focus SFE in September 2012 and have driven it 1,200 miles so far. No problems at all. This model is a Focus with SE trim to which the optional SFE (Super Fuel Economy) package is added. For 2012 the SFE package cost $495. For 2013 the SFE package adds only $95 to the cost of the vehicle making the additional fuel savings over the SE a no-brainer. We recently got 42 MPG on 70-mile highway trip. 32-33 MPG is typical for our combined driving. The dual clutch transmission (DCT) drives like an automatic transmission but is actually a fuel-saving automated manual transmission. Great materials, inside and out: best in class. LLR tires by Continental handle very well.
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Junk, Stay away from buying
Richard Bowen, 09/29/2016
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
26 of 27 people found this review helpful
We have owned the car since 2014 and have nothing but problems with the transmission. There was a recall and the car has been in the shop four times already and it still has problems shifting and making grinding noises. The car only has 40,000 miles and the A/C has stopped working. Ford has basically told us its our problem and the dealer has told us that the car will always have problems with the transmission. The dealer can fix it but it messes up again a few thousand miles later. Stay away from the 2013 2014 Focus.
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Focus Continues to Impress
staypuftman, 08/23/2013
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
26 of 27 people found this review helpful
I've had this car over a month, put about 2,000 miles on it and have nothing but good things to say. The handling is superb, road noise is low and the gas mileage is incredible for a non-hybrid (about 39-40 MPG @ 70 mph, 34-35 MPG @ 75 mph) - literally 25-30% higher than my similar sized 07' Mazda3. The automatic transmission gets a lot of bad press but it's a dual clutch system, which causes adjacent gears to spool up before being engaged. This creates some vibration feedback that's consistent with most manual cars I've driven. I'll take the efficiency gains this setup provides, plus you can drop the car into 'S' sport mode and the tranny responds with sharper shifts.
Transmission Problem Fixed!
Brian, 10/15/2015
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
54 of 58 people found this review helpful
We own a 2013 Focus SE & Focus Titanium - both have had the transmission problems as many have experienced. A few weeks ago my dealer informed me of the TCM recall for both - had them both done and car shifts and drives 110% better - I can squeal the tires on take off (huge improvement from the sluggish, hesitant shifting between 1st & 2nd gear).
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Steer clear of new automatic transmission focus's.
Mr. Willoughby, 10/16/2015
updated 04/17/2018
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
20 of 21 people found this review helpful
Dont buy one with an automatic trans. They are very unreliable. Dual clutched, paper weights is about all they're worth. May as well put a lemon badge on the front grille. I bought my 2013 SE flexfuel sedan with 13 miles on it. Ive got over 90k now, but ive been in the shop 5 times due to trans. My car is actually on its 3rd. transmission since new. Still getting the issues as the first 2 did. Guess i should've bought a foriegn car. Atleast they're a lot more reliable. Thank you FORD for ruining 1/3 of american automotive reliability. The worst part is that most car lots wont even give a fair trade in on these automatics because they are aware of focus' transmission problems... ughh! **UPDATE....** mileage 99K -Now my stereo, horn and rear backup sensors dont work. Tried to get it fixed, but was told it "MIGHT" be wiring harness issue and it would cost about $2,000 out of my pocket.
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2013 Titanium Focus
rringo, 01/21/2015
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
43 of 47 people found this review helpful
It's hard to believe that people who have written bad reviews have the same car as I do. Yes the tranny can be a little quirky sometimes but this may have a lot to do with the driver. I have owned a lot of vehicles, Mercedes, BMW, Toyota Nissan etc all of which I liked. I love this car and feel it is the most for the money I have ever owned. Runs great, drives great, looks great and is comfortable with great mileage. I've taken trips of 3000 miles. Sorry those other folks didn't get one like mine.
Some good, some bad
Dan, 11/03/2015
updated 05/05/2017
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
34 of 37 people found this review helpful
The bad: The dual clutch transmission on this model was a shaky at first, literally. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the clutch and the car has been running great since. Additionally, the Ford Sync technology is faulty at best. It reads my phone about 1/2-2/3 of the time and has trouble switching between bluetooth, USB, or auxiliary. The good: great AC and heater, comfortable front seats. Good storage with the hatchback. Handles great, good gas mileage, good price tag. For a 4 cylinder it's really fun to drive. Bottom line: with a different transmission I would definitely get this car. With the current one I'm definitely thinking of selling.
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Stay Away. Loaded with features, poor execution
E Man, 11/28/2016
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
The "automatic" transmission gives a terrible feeling of no confidence, makes the car hard to drive and requires updates and warranty appointments. We've had many excuses on fixing the issue including that our new transmission parts were given away to others, and then told we did not qualify for the warranty transmission repair. Even when fixed, driving this car is erratic and just not good. Other poor quality items likes interior water leaks and getting stuck from push button start make this a car to avoid. Pick any Honda, Toyota, Mazda and avoid these poor quality issues. We bought the car thinking it would be a great car for our kids, but it is not.
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Ford Focus NOT RECOMMENDED!
franklo, 09/19/2014
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
51 of 58 people found this review helpful
I disposed of my 2013 Ford Focus on 9-15-14 at a loss. I experienced all of the transmission issues already mentioned including almost getting struck when entering an intersection and the transmission simply stopped giving forward movement. I was always told it is suppose to run like that. At a 35000 mile oil change I was told a seal between the transmission and engine had failed an oil had leaked from the engine. It was repaired and I was then told about a surprise extended warranty on the part and associated parts from Ford only Ford did not say anything until a week after the repair. All of the shuddering eventually started back up again and on 9-14-14 I noticed a burnt rubber smell from
The Kelvinator
49warthog49, 02/06/2013
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
21 of 23 people found this review helpful
Bought this car as basic transportation for commuting. It's an SE hatchback with the 5-speed manual transmission (although I was not able to select this model configuration from the review menu) and the 202A package--alloy wheels, power windows/locks, cruise, and SYNC. The car is extremely well-equipped for the price and drives nicely. Have had moderate success with programming the SYNC system to recognize my phone book, and the menus and sub-menus that need to be navigated for basic radio functions is maddening, but after a few weeks I am getting used to it.
My 2nd Ford Focus
TNugent, 08/02/2015
updated 08/04/2017
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
My 2013 Ford Focus SE hatchback is a terrific vehicle. We still have our 2001 Ford Focus ZX3 hatchback - 250,000+ miles and still a very reliable vehicle. Both are manual 5-speed transmission. The 2013 performs well in acceleration, road handling and on ice/snow. The only complaint i have about the 2013 SE hatchback is the quality of the "cargo cover". It's been falling apart (on the ends/connection) since a few weeks after I purchased the vehicle in August, 2013. I sent a note to Ford Motor Co; never received a response. It gets 28-35 mpg normally; the max mpg was about 50 mpg when driving a country highway for 30-40 miles at 50 mph. Overall, I like the head room/leg room for driver/front passenger, sunroof works well; I purchased the winter package. i have moved 6' tables, a large TV, appliances, etc. and able to close the hatch - wow. Overall satisfaction is 9.5 out of 10.0 (due to a faulty cargo cover; I ended up using duct tape to fix it where it connects to hatchback door on both sides (it's tacky looking but better than paying $$ to replace it).
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Ford Focus
Kristin, 12/13/2017
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
14 of 15 people found this review helpful
I bought my Ford Focus in 2014. It’s been three years that I’ve had it now and the car has given me nothing but problem after problem. I’ve put numerous water pumps on the car , replaced coils number times, had my transmission worked on numberius times and now a cylinder needs to be replaced. This car is a lemon and I know many other owners of the same car that say the same thing. I’ve waited thousands of dollars trying to fix it and keep it running good, but once a fix one problem another arises. The car has sat for almost a year in total with all the repairs needed. I wouldn’t recommend the purchase of this car to anyone.
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Love the car, except............
50somethingtoo, 02/10/2013
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
18 of 20 people found this review helpful
I fell in love with this car the moment I sat in it. For the most part, it is very well designed, the handling is incredible and it is a great value. It is a quiet ride and a very fun car to drive around town. But, there are a couple of opportunities for improvement (see Suggested Improvements). I'm getting about 24MPG on short, in-town trips this winter.
Xero Gas
xeroblu, 04/05/2013
2013 Ford Focus Electric 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
16 of 18 people found this review helpful
First off I'm a car guy, and I can appreciate all brands and models. That said I absolutely love this car. A good friend bought a 2013 leaf a week prior to me picking up this baby and his range drops like a rock on highway, where as the Focus hangs on. I have no range anxiety due to the fantastic suite of driver aids, Ford did an excellent job here. The ride is taught smooth, and the power when you want it is instantaneous due to the single speed tranny and electric motor. Stealing spots in traffic is a breeze even when a Mustang GT is trying to close the gap.
Short ranger
ampwatt, 05/23/2013
updated 05/23/2016
2013 Ford Focus Electric 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
16 of 18 people found this review helpful
Good solid car but no back seat and nearly no truck space. Range is the main issue, especially when you need heat. Will be overtaken by GM's Bolt and Tesla.
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Mediocre car with a fatal flaw
John Serrao, 04/18/2018
updated 04/25/2022
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Leave it to Ford to get almost everything right about an affordable hatchback and then blow it with this god-awful transmission. The car handles like a dream, outstanding fuel economy (sometimes over 40mpg on the highway), room for days with the hatch and was pretty top-of-the-line tech when I bought it back in '13. Downsides are the car is slow off the line (but has a little go after 3500 rpm), transmission needs a new clutch every 10-15K and the leg room could be better. If you hunt around in the aftermarket, find a cheap 2012-13 because Ford extended the transmission warranty out to 100K on those (but not the 2014 and after). Update 2022-04: Car is at 100K miles. I've had 8 clutch replacements, yowza, plus a slave cylinder replacement in the transmission. To Ford's credit, they've covered all of that. It is clear to me this will never be fixed completely. Other routine maintenance: tires @ 50K, brake job + new air filter @ 60K, new battery @ 70K, inner tie rods on suspension and front wipers needed replacing @ 75K. Headlights and another set of tires at 90K. The car definitely has a rattle or two but no other showstoppers besides the transmission. Overall, it's much the same story: great little city car with outstanding fuel economy but that damn transmission. Get the ST with the manual, wish I had.
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Love My Focus
jharlan68, 12/22/2012
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
20 of 23 people found this review helpful
I read a lot of reviews about the 2012 Focus before deciding to buy the 2013. The transmission does shift different than your normal automatic, but it doesn't bother me since I drive a commercial truck with a standard for a living. I love the style, the features and especially the gas mileage of my Focus, especially since I came out of a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I've only had it for a week, but I've been around cars long enough to know what works well and what doesn't, and I must say that the Ford Focus doesn't just work well, it excels.
Very fond of this car. 1,000 miles on it.
pastuszak, 05/07/2013
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
About a month ago my 2012 Mazda 3 got totaled. I loved the car, but the ride was too firm and the A/C wasn't the best. So I went with the Focus hatchback titanium. MyFord Touch takes time to get used to. It has a bit of lag delay. However, I prefer MFT. The car has good handling and acceleration while maintaining a smooth ride. Many people have complained about the transmission. It feels different, for sure, but it's a very good transmission. In sport mode, it will happily downshift when you accelerate and retain decent MPG. Currently I'm getting 32 mpg combined. I'm a little disappointed by the 35ish mpg highway I've gotten. Not getting near that 38 no matter how I drive.
I Love this Car!
Nile, 08/24/2015
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
15 of 17 people found this review helpful
Okay a lot of people harsh on this car because it had a clutch recall, but seriously people if you take your [non-permissible content removed] to the dealrship the replace it for free! For free people! Once you have that done the car is great! Mine gets in the 40's mpg. I drove a round trip from Salt Lake City to the grand canyon and got 43.5 mpg average. The bluetooth system rocks! Its so great taking calls hands free! The car is zippy and I have driven it through a blizzard in the middle of Wyoming. When I traded my subaru for this car I was a bit timid. In fact I named my focus subi in hopes that some of my old cars reliability would wear off on it. This is by far the best car I have owned. I have put 40,000 miles on it in one year and it has treated me so good through it all.
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Complete junk!!
Bri, 10/25/2015
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
15 of 17 people found this review helpful
So in 2011 I bought a new ford fiesta and after having it for one year the transmission went out. I figured that car was just a lemon and traded it for a new 2013 focus se...big mistake!! After having it for a couple months it started jerking and shuttering very badly. Took it to the dealership and they said it was not supposed to do it all the time just every once in a while. For two years after that I complained about the car and took it into the dealership and all they would do was reprogram it or say there is nothing wrong. Finally in July of 2015 the dealership replaced the clutch and it stopped shuttering almost entirely. It's been 3 months and I have only felt it shutter twice, huge improvement, but of course something else went wrong. Then one day my car did not want to go into reverse and the engine light came on as well. Then it would not drive after putting it in gear. I had to have it towed to the dealership and the transmission control module had to be replaced. This was before ford sent out the letter about the problems with the tcm. Now I am having another problem! Yesterday when I turned my a/c on it made a loud whining noise,the entire dashboard started vibrating, and no air came out. I turned it on and off and the same thing happened. The third time the a/c came on and no more noise. This car is a pile of crap that needs to be recalled but we all know Ford doesn't want to take responsibility for it. Do not buy this car PLEASE!!! Everyone I've known with one has had problems. It is a waste of money and unreliable.
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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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FORD Focus Electric Super Batteries
eaa, 09/27/2014
updated 03/27/2019
2013 Ford Focus Electric 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
I have had a FORD Focus Electric for 3 years now. In the Phoenix heat most batteries loss capacity from the extreme heat. The FFE seems to have beat that with their Tesla like liquid cooled battery pack. I have not lost even 1 % by checking with my SCAN GAUGE from Linear Logic in the OBD2 port . The only issues I have with this great EV is they still don't have a DC Fast Charge port so on trips charging can only be done with a J-1772 at 240 volts that takes 2 to 3 hours versus 20 minutes. It also has an old compressor type Air conditioner that uses 2 to 4x the energy of an efficient heat pump found in the KIA SOUL EV or LEAF. Too bad FORD never stocks or sells the Focus EV. I'd love to try one with the new CCS Fast Charge port and I think they also added a little more range. I've never seen one in stock in the entire state of Arizona.
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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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Great cheap used car for short trips.
Bill Gernert, 10/01/2016
2013 Ford Focus Electric 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
This is a great second car. Driving it made me realize that all cars will be electric sooner than you think.
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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.
Disaster on wheels
Krystal, 03/05/2016
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
16 of 19 people found this review helpful
One of the happiest days of my life, getting rid of this piece! I had the transmission replaced 5 times. It continuously tore holes in the oil tank, so that was replaced too. But don't worry, Ford will give you a 100,000 mile warranty and replace it over and over because they acknowledge that their engineering is below standard. It's really fun to drive along with the transmission jerking you around. And, you never know how the car will take off from a stopped position, so many surprises in an accident just waiting to kill someone. The navigation starts about 5 minutes after you need it to. Once, I was in a parking lot, clicked the unlock button on the key fob, and the car began to make a lovely loud sound just like that of a boiling kettle. Everyone in the parking lot ran because we were sure that car was about to blow up. I bought the car brand new but have learned the valuable lesson; never buy a Ford!
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A great zippy one compare to Leaf
firstelectric, 02/13/2014
2013 Ford Focus Electric 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I test drove 2013 leaf a few time and did not like the drive dynamics of that and its power with smaller electric motor. The focus has bigger electric motor or 143HP vs 105HP of nissan but yet it has the same range as nissan (76 vs 75 miles). The drive dynamic and cornering are both solid, reminds me of the 3 series. My other car is a 535 xdrive so this is mostly for commute and free charge at work lots of location in Bay area, CA. Both the interior build and cabin noise are much better quality than Nissan Leaf but either one you can't go wrong with a lease deal. I'm getting the 240v installed at home for $1000 from a slingshot company flat rate.
Lemon
Sharon Lee, 10/21/2015
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
12 of 14 people found this review helpful
I have a 2013 Ford Focus I bought it new. I have had it in to the Ford Garage to fix the shaking and shuttering twice now and here I am a year later having the same issue. I just called the Dealership that I bought it from and they tried to tell me this is "normal"!! It's definitely NOT normal!! Do not buy this car... run as fast as you can away from it!!!
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Little Did I Know
Jack, 04/16/2016
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
12 of 14 people found this review helpful
I bought a Ford because I had driven a Ford rental and found it an extremely comfortable drive. I make frequent trips of over 100 miles and my previous car just wore me out- it was so uncomfortable. The Focus front seats are very comfortable, as is the steering wheel. Then I discovered the shuddering joys of the dual-clutch tranny. I couldn't believe a car manufacturer would knowingly produce thousands of cars with such clearly defective and dated technology. Especially as they were trying to make a comeback in the car market. Anyway, I got used (believe it or not) to the shudder I experienced when starting up and just appreciated the comfortable ride, the bluetooth technology, and being able to listen to my ipod while driving. The car gets decent gas mileage (approx. 31 highway/26 city) and has been very reliable. I've mostly just taken it in for regular maintenance. The interior storage is the worst I've ever experienced resulting in there being hardly any. The glove box is most poorly designed glove box I've ever seen (no sides), to the point where it's almost useless. I ended up putting a squarish bag in there just so all my stuff wouldn't fall out. I hate to think what I'll get for my Focus in trade or resale.
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Good and Bad
Brian in Florida, 10/28/2015
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
This car is well built and very nice looking. Easy to clean. Logical controls are easy to use. Surprisingly roomy. Surprisingly nice handling, and adequate power. A fun car to drive. By using the cruise control as much as possible I could get well over 40 mpg. However the driver's seat is a deal breaker. The seat is NOT height adjustable. The back part of the seat surface does adjust up and down but the front part - which touches the backs of your knees - does not adjust. This is a problem for anyone shorter than 5'6". And the seat back is narrow and curved which pushes your shoulders forward. There is no lumbar support at all. The headrest, even when pushed all the way back, leans forward too much and prevents you from holding your head so that your eyes look straight ahead at the road. This poorly designed seat will cause you to need frequent chiropractic care. After 19 months of trying different adjustments and different types/sizes of seat cushions I could not take sitting in that seat anymore and I traded the car for a Taurus. A few other dislikes - the glove box has no lock and no interior light. The headlights cannot be turned on unless the engine is running. No cup holders for the rear seats. No heated mirrors, which affects visibility in the rain or cold weather. The switch for the dome light is illogical: the button closest to the back turns on only the front light, whereas the button closest to the front turns on the back and front dome lights. This means that a rear passenger can turn on the front dome light but not the rear one, unless he loosens his seat belt and leans forward and reaches the front switch that is close to the front passengers. The driver and front passenger can easily turn on the rear dome light, but in order to turn on both lights he'd have to reach back to the rear switch. Trade in value is not good because these cars are so common, "a dime a dozen" so to speak. Used car dealerships are flooded with these. The are so many great things about this car, but the few not-so-great things outweigh them. I was glad to get rid of this car even though I still had 43 payments left.
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Stay Away / Faulty Transmissions
jack8384, 08/26/2014
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
I have the Focus SE sedan with the faulty automatic transmission. I bought it brand new and first noticed the transmission to start acting crazy around 4500 miles. I've read many similar complaints and see that Ford won't correct the problem. They issued a TSB on these trannies only to replace the clutch pack which doesn't help. They say it's the way it's designed to operate and theres no fix. WHAT ? Then why issue the TSB ? When I test drove the car it didn't do this. I would have stayed away then. Car lunges forward at stops, backs up by itself without giving it gas, the shift shuttering/slipping is the biggest problem.
Worst Car in the World
Katelyn Saucedo, 09/27/2018
2013 Ford Focus S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
Do not buy this car! A complete rip off. Our car is in the shop every week. Problems with the computer cause issues with the rest of the car and it’s all downhill from there. It is a money pit and I advise anyone wanting to save time and money, DON’T BUY THIS VEHICLE. I will never own a Ford again.
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trust me don't buy one. I'm a professional driver
mark lacroix, 08/02/2015
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
12 of 15 people found this review helpful
Let me first start off by saying I'm a professional truck driver for over 20 years I've owned my own trucks and I know how to get the most out of vehicles . This car has severe transmission problems. I naught a Ford focus 2013 to reduce fuel and to have a little fun in it. I put 122000 miles on it . Yes that wasn't a typo. 122,000 miles. Comuting to sanbernadino to hinckley daily 94 miles one way. First I experienced at around 80 thousand miles the computer module completely went out left me stranded in the middle of the dessert for hours. Towed it back. They fixed. 2nd time at 122 thousand going up the mountain towards big bear dam near killed me and 5 people behind me transmission said it was overheating and went to crawl mode and completely disengaged while cars behind me were spinning put to try to avoid me there was no turn out to get the car too. Finally got it back to dealer and same problem but this time that computer module actually prematurely wore out the clutch witch they wanted 1800 to fix the computer module was still under warranty but they would not fix clutch. I tied to trade it in they would only give me 2500 credit to the car. Yes you Hurd me write 2,500. they know that car is a pile [non-permissible content removed]!!! I had a 2003 ford ficus with 267,000 miles on it and it ran like a top same motor same clutch. Someone T boned it sadly. So I thought I would get same mileage out of new one. Another thing is suspension it wore out to quick and gave tires flat spots witch led to a bummpy ride. Please take it from me get rid of this car as fast as you can. There menu more problems with this car but I don't feel like writing a book about it.
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Dont buy 2012 or newer focus or fiesta from Ford
Alex, 08/31/2016
updated 03/01/2017
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I drive 2013 focus SE and I had been driving it for a about 40,000 miles on it even though the transmission was making noise crank and shudder I figured I will just keep driving it and disregarding the noise as long as it drives but now it is at 59,xxx miles and when i got underneath to do an oil change i noticed transmission leaking. Called dealer and they cannot cover any repairs since the car has branded title. Now i'm stuck with this car that needs lot of time and money to get a repair. Worst of all is that this is a common issue for years 2012-2015 and even after repair people been saying they keep failing after short periods of time. Will never buy another ford and would like to warn anyone from buying these mechanically poorly designed vehicles.
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Don't buy this car!!!
Cass, 03/19/2017
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Don't buy this car!! I bought a 2013 ford focus 2 years ago without doing any research on it and it was the biggest mistake I could have made. Within a few days of buying it I noticed a loud grinding noice everytime I accelerated. After calling the dealership I was reassured that it was "normal" because it was a automatic and manuel transmission. Well after a few weeks the grinding only got worse so I took it back in. I was told the clutch was probably going bad but they could reset the computer and it should fix the problem. I was told to try it 1,000 miles and the problem should go away. Well, it didnt. The grinding got worse and the car began to shutter. Took it back in and had the clutch completely replaced and within a few months it did it again. Within the 2 yrs that I owned that car I had the clutch replaced 3 times, 1 new water pump and 2 new fuel pumps(which werent covered under warrenty) this car is nothing but problems after problems!! I just traded the piece of junk in for a 2016 Hyundia and am so much happier! I no longer have to worry about my car breaking down on me every single day!
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Should have stayed with Honda
tamie45, 08/25/2014
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I bought a pre-owned 2013 Focus SE on June 18th 2014. I was initially impressed by the styling and that it was loaded with tech. Unfortunately, all the tech in the world could not make up for the DCT and how awful it was to drive. Even the tech left a lot to be desired. While I initially liked it, I found the controls for the infotainment system to be very hard to use while driving. The saving grace was that it had voice commands to bypass the very convoluted menu setup. It took less than two months to see the writing on the wall about this car and I traded it in for a Honda Civic. I ended up losing money because I traded it in so soon but it was the best decision ever!!
Don't buy this car.
Samuel, 03/10/2017
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
The car is one issue after another. I have it in the shop every other month. I pay more in repairs than the payments. I'm getting ride of it next week for a different car. I will never buy ford again.
Please don't buy this car
Cotton Wildbrook, 03/28/2016
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
16 of 21 people found this review helpful
We bought this car used with less than 50K miles on it. We had it serviced twice in the first month of ownership because the transmission studdered while shifting. We were told that was normal behavior for the car and that the transmission was designed to learn your driving style and thus not be suitable as a car for multiple drivers. How foolish is that? They reprogrammed the TCM both times, which did absolutely nothing to fix the problem. The car had to have new wheel bearings put on at 60K miles at a cost of $700! Finally we got a recall notice about the obviously faulty transmission, so back it went for more repairs. Again, this did NOTHING to correct any of the problems. In fact, after we had that done, the car died en route to work with no warning whatsoever. It literally lost 100% power while merging onto a 50 mph road. We had it towed to the dealership where they said it needed a new wiring harness that wasn't covered under warranty and wasn't related to the bad transmission (they said). That was a $500 job. After owning it for only 9 months we traded it in for another vehicle at a loss of $5000.00 Honestly, we're just happy to be rid of it. It was too big of a risk to drive. You never knew if you were going to get to your destination alive.
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I'm never buying a Ford again!!
NTK, 09/09/2016
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
11 of 14 people found this review helpful
My 2013 Ford Focus has been in the shop numerous times for the transmission shuddering, which is NOT normal no matter what Ford says. A car should not sound or feel like this when driving normally. Now it's in the shop for a broken steering column, which broke 1970 miles after the 36000 warranty, and Ford refused to pay for it or acknowledge that it is a faulty steering mechanism. Now there is another recall for the door latch which opens while driving. Great! This car is the worse car I've ever had. I've owned it for 3 years and it has been more work, hassle and headache than my mother's Subaru of the same year, and my 2003 Suzuki, which was not the greatest car, but it was only in the shop once! Now the Suzuki is looking so much better, I should have never turned it in for this terrible Ford Focus!!!
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'13 Focus = serious issues
AGGambler, 08/18/2015
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Research before you buy! Nothing but issues. Transmission trouble resulting in 4 dealer trips until recall replacement. Speakers emitting a high frequency noise (with cracking and popping) causing safety concern which Ford will not fix. I would caution against this vehicle. Too many complaints.
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What A Hassle
husker1960, 09/24/2014
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Bought a brand new 2013 Ford Focus Titanium with all the options including navigation and the handling package which comes with 20,000 mile summer tires that are ridiculously expensive to replace. We had severe transmission noise from day one. The transmission was grinding really loud along with some clunking noises, people walking or riding a bicycle would stare at a brand new car wondering what was wrong with it. In 4000 miles the car was in the shop four times for transmission issues over a six month period. The local Ford dealer finally agreed to replace the transmission control computer, it took three weeks to get the part in from China, it didn't fix the problem.
Piece of junk
aaamadre, 12/29/2014
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2013 Titanium new, mainly to have a reliable car. Horrid transmission that jerks and hesitates. Not safe for merging. Also it randomly won't start. I'm trading it in this week.
Big mistake ever
Milad shakir, 11/03/2018
updated 11/12/2024
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
10 of 13 people found this review helpful
Car is junk its shame on such international company like ford to manufacturer for such a kind of cars battery location for our industry this car is a joke cannot be real transmission failure always cut off and leave you stranded on the highway with a transmission defect expensive maintenance has a clutch shrudder issues tcm issues and clutch motor B actuater issues and beware of buying this car. Major transmission issues. you've been warned please stay away .
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Ford has stepped their game up
weelman13, 10/07/2012
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
25 of 35 people found this review helpful
Let me start at my previous vehicle:2006 audi A3 manual. I loved my audi, save the electrical gremlins, interior hardware, $90 oil changes, etc. I wanted a compact car and I like hatches. I did test drive a 2013 Honda Civic SI and 2012 focus hatch SEL. The honda was a nice car, but very vanilla inside. The focus (MFT and sync) is so much content! I have only owned the car for a couple of days, so this is just an initial review: My 2013 automatic titanium has the moonroof and the 18" tire/handling package. The car feels very planted and not too stiff, the 17" do ride alittle smoother. The MFT works pretty good, mostly bug free. The sync is awesome, just need to learn the standard commands.
Stunning but NOT in a good way
Model T, 08/14/2015
updated 08/16/2019
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
9 of 12 people found this review helpful
25,000 miles, Just picked up from dealership for the 4th time after transmission repair. It will go back for fifth time as soon as they can get a new clutch to install. Told by dealership it will take 4 to 8 weeks for part to come in as Ford has 30,000 on back order. I confirmed the backorder story with another local dealership and my coworker who is also waiting on a clutch. Tried to get Ford to buy back and the Dealership offered me $2900.00 less than Edmunds and NADA say is Fair Market Value. By my count the Dealership had sixteen 2013 and 2014's on their used car lot.......the whole ordeal is just stunning to me. I have read that Ford has no fix for the problem. They have the audacity to say this is not a safety problem yet the car stutters so bad when you try to accelerate it jerks you in your seat like a bumper car at a circus. I guess we will have to wait until people start dying ala the ignition switch issue another American car manufacturer ignored. Do not buy this car if you do you will regret it. UPDATE: 42000+ miles just had 5 clutch replacement. They refused to fix when I brought into the dealership in November 2016...... said it fell within their parameters.....total joke. They finally repaired a few weeks ago, has jerked a couple of times which makes me believe I am headed down the dreaded rabbit hole of repair. I have submitted paperwork to have Ford buy back as part of the class action lawsuit arbitration process. Hopefully I will be rid of this nightmare soon. Ford bought the lemon back in October 2018.....now driving a 2018 Honda Civic and could not be happier. I had such a terrible experience with Ford and customer service I will NEVER buy another. My secretary was also able to get Ford to buy back her Focus, same exact problems. She now drives a Rogue and likes it very much.
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Great Car
angel8050, 10/07/2012
2013 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
Whoever does not give this car at least 4 stars is a [non-permissible content removed]!!!!! We bought this Focus Sedan SE about a month ago, it gives me about 40 miles a gallon on the freeway driving at around 70 mph. I tried the jetta s, did not like it nor has any power, I had a 2011 Toyota Corolla and this focus is smoother than it. I think the new re design focus is a great buy!!! I would say the only bad thing is that sometimes at low speeds, when you first take off I think the transmission gets a little confused, but other than that its perfect. I love the sync, the bluetooth, the voice recognition.
Avoid The 2013 Focus Automatic At All Costs
Realist, 10/08/2015
2013 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
I almost lost count of the trips to the dealer for warranty work on the infamous dual-clutch transmission. After a recent update, the car stalled out while in slow-and-go traffic on I-95 in Virginia. I traded it two days later. Not safe, not reliable.
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