Ford · Known Issues
2013 Ford Focus Problems: 14 Known Issues
2013 model year · 24,886+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2013 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2013 model year · 24,886+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2013 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 24,886+ owner reports, the 2013 Ford Focus has 14 documented known issues, with 5 rated critical. The most serious are DPS6 PowerShift Dual-Clutch Transmission Shudder, Hesitation, and Failure ($0-$4,500 repair), Side Door Latch Failure - Door Opening While Driving (Recall 16V643) ($0-$0 repair), DPS6 Transmission Control Module (TCM) Internal Electronic Failure - Sudden No-Shift / Loss of Motive Power ($0-$1,400 repair), Focus Electric High-Voltage Battery Contactor Failure - Vehicle Will Not Charge ($600-$3,000 repair) and Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) Rack/Motor-Sensor Failure - "Power Steering Assist Fault" Message ($900-$2,500 repair). The most commonly reported issue is DPS6 PowerShift Dual-Clutch Transmission Shudder, Hesitation, and Failure with 18,500 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $30 to $4,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Fusion vehicles equipped with a 1.6L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission and 2015-2016 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission. Also included are four 2017 Ford Focus vehicles that had clutch replacements with potentially affected parts. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 24,886+ owner reports, the 2013 Ford Focus has 14 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: DPS6 PowerShift Dual-Clutch Transmission Shudder, Hesitation, and Failure, Side Door Latch Failure - Door Opening While Driving (Recall 16V643), DPS6 Transmission Control Module (TCM) Internal Electronic Failure - Sudden No-Shift / Loss of Motive Power. Of these, 5 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2013 Ford Focus has 14 known issues documented across 24,886+ owner reports. 5 issues are rated critical: DPS6 PowerShift Dual-Clutch Transmission Shudder, Hesitation, and Failure and Side Door Latch Failure - Door Opening While Driving (Recall 16V643) and DPS6 Transmission Control Module (TCM) Internal Electronic Failure - Sudden No-Shift / Loss of Motive Power and Focus Electric High-Voltage Battery Contactor Failure - Vehicle Will Not Charge and Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) Rack/Motor-Sensor Failure - "Power Steering Assist Fault" Message. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Ford Focus issues range from $0 to $4,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, DPS6 PowerShift Dual-Clutch Transmission Shudder, Hesitation, and Failure, typically costs $0-$4,500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
The DPS6 PowerShift 6-speed dual-clutch automated transmission fitted to 2012-2018 Ford Focus (and 2011-2019 Fiesta) is widely considered one of the worst transmission designs in modern automotive history. The dry dual-clutch design was fundamentally unsuited for stop-and-go driv… Repairs typically run $0-$4,500. Severity: high.
The 2012-2015 Ford Focus is included in Ford's massive door latch recall (16V643 / 14S17) covering 2.38 million vehicles. The pawl spring tab inside the side door latches can fracture, particularly in hot and humid climates. A fractured pawl spring tab causes the door to fail to… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
Separate from the clutch shudder that made the PowerShift famous, the DPS6's mechatronic Transmission Control Module - the electronic unit that drives the two shift actuators inside the case - suffers its own solder-joint and internal circuit failures. Failure is usually abrupt r… Repairs typically run $0-$1,400. Severity: high.
On the battery-electric Focus, the high-voltage pack's main positive and negative contactors (relays) fail - either welding stuck closed or burning their contacts open. When a contactor faults, the on-board charger cannot close the HV circuit, so the car reports a charging fault,… Repairs typically run $600-$3,000. Severity: high.
The 2012 Mk3 Focus was the first Focus with a fully electric rack-mounted power steering assist (EPAS). The torque/position sensor and motor assembly inside the rack, and the power steering control module (PSCM) integrated with it, fail intermittently - often heat-soaked on long… Repairs typically run $900-$2,500. Severity: high.
The 2.0L GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) and 2.0L EcoBoost engines in 2012-2018 Ford Focus accumulate carbon deposits on the intake valves over time because direct injection fuel never washes over the valve faces. Oil vapors from the PCV system coat the intake valves and harden i… Repairs typically run $400-$900. Severity: medium.
The Mk3 Focus uses a three-mount layout: a fluid-filled hydraulic mount on the passenger side, a solid transmission mount on the driver side, and a rear torque strut ("dogbone"). The passenger-side hydraulic mount is the weak link - the rubber cracks, the damping fluid leaks out,… Repairs typically run $180-$450. Severity: medium.
The Mk3 four-cylinders use an RTV-sealed aluminum front cover rather than a gasket. The RTV bead fails at the cover-to-block joint and around the variable cam timing (VCT) solenoid bores, letting oil weep down the front of the block onto the subframe and, on the ST, onto the turb… Repairs typically run $600-$1,600. Severity: medium.
The washer reservoir and pump seal leaks, and washer fluid runs down the pump's wiring. Capillary action carries the fluid inside the wire insulation the full length of the harness to the BCM connector in the passenger footwell, where it corrodes the pins and the module itself. T… Repairs typically run $250-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) behind the center stack runs MyFord Touch / SYNC 2. Its internal flash memory and processor board fail, producing a permanently black screen, endless reboot cycles, freezing, or a system that boots but loses audio and the rear-view c… Repairs typically run $300-$1,200. Severity: medium.
On the 2.0L EcoBoost Focus ST the plastic charge pipe couplers between the turbo, front-mount intercooler, and throttle body are held by spring clamps and blow off or work loose under sustained boost, especially after any tune or intercooler change. The stock bypass/blow-off valv… Repairs typically run $60-$450. Severity: medium.
The 2012-2018 Ford Focus with the 2.0L GDI engine experiences frequent canister purge valve (CPV) failures that cause rough idle, stalling, difficulty starting (especially after refueling), and fuel-related DTCs. The purge valve sticks open, allowing fuel vapors to flood the inta… Repairs typically run $80-$250. Severity: low.
The Focus door ajar switch integrated into the door latch assembly fails, causing the dash to display a door ajar warning when all doors are closed. This also keeps the interior dome lights on, which drains the battery overnight. The latch switch corrodes or wears out, sending a… Repairs typically run $30-$200. Severity: low.
On non-MyFord-Touch Mk3 Focus cars the factory head unit has no switched 12V accessory wire; the Audio Control Module wakes and sleeps entirely on CAN bus messages. The CAN interface section of the ACM board fails - solder joints and the power-control circuit - so the radio never… Repairs typically run $120-$650. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.