2013 Ford Focus: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2013 Ford Focus: 11 recalls, 2112 owner complaints and up to 30 mpg combined.
Recalls
11 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #13V085000 · 2013 · 5,675 vehicles
What's wrong: The left rear door child lock was built incorrectly. As a result, the child lock May not engage when the operator uses normal force to activate the child lock.
Why it matters: The operator May incorrectly believe the child lock is engaged. However, the door May be opened from the inside, increasing the risk of injury to an unrestrained child.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected rear door latches, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2013.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #13V335000 · 2013 · 6,308 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to a wiring incompatability, the front side marker lamps May not function. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Without the proper illumination of the side maker lamps, the vehicle May be less visible in night time conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the headlamp assembly wiring, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2013.
Electrical Vehicle recall #14V495000 · 2014 · 133,227 vehicles
What's wrong: 0 liter engines and focus st vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to October 14, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines. Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the manifold absolute pressure (map) sensor May provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM).
Why it matters: The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014.
Electrical Vehicle recall #15V813000 · 2015 · 9,017 vehicles
What's wrong: Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the manifold absolute pressure (map) sensor May provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM).
Why it matters: The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2016.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #16V643000 · 2016 · 2,046,297 vehicles
What's wrong: A component within the door latches May break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Why it matters: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017.
Latches & locks, Body & structure Vehicle recall #16V698000 · 2016 · 64,038 vehicles
What's wrong: The hatchback of the affected vehicles May be unlatched with a single press of the interior latch release button. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 206, "door locks and door retention components."
Why it matters: With only a single press needed, the driver May accidently unlatch the hatchback, increasing the risk of injury to any unsecured passengers in the back.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2017.
Fuel system, Fuel system Vehicle recall #18V735000 · 2018 · 1,282,596 vehicles
What's wrong: 0l gdi or 2.0l gtdi engine. The canister purge valve (cpv) May malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
Why it matters: The excessive vaccuum May result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the cpv as needed. If the cpv is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began…
Fuel system, Fuel system Vehicle recall #19V515000 · 2019 · 57,488 vehicles
What's wrong: 0l gdi gasoline engines and 2013-2014 focus st vehicles equipped with 2.0l gtdi engines, previously recalled under 18v-735. The affected vehicles did not have the powertrain control module (PCM) updated as intended. Therefore, the canister purge valve (cpv) May malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system.
Why it matters: The excessive vacuum May result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the cpv as needed. If the cpv is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began…
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #20V331000 · 2020 · 2,147,323 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to…
Equipment Vehicle recall #26V011000 · 2026 · 116,672 vehicles
What's wrong: 0l engine. The engine block heater May crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Why it matters: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim…
Fuel system Vehicle recall #26V369000 · 2026 · 257,868 vehicles
What's wrong: The canister purge valve (cpv) May malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
Why it matters: An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Equipment Equipment recall #12E035000 · 2012 · 440 vehicles
What's wrong: This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by yakima products, Inc. for use on model year 2012 and 2013 Ford focus vehicles. This recall is being conducted by yakima, not by Ford. Certain combined q-tower and q128 clip rooftop rack systems, part numbers 8000124 and 8000728, do not fully contact the door frame.
Why it matters: Without proper contact of the rooftop rack clip to the door frame, there is insufficient clamping pressure and friction. The system May slide off the vehicle when loaded with accessories, possibly becoming a road hazard to other vehicles or causing injury to pedestrians.
The fix: Yakima will notify owners, and yakima or a yakima dealer will refund the purchase of the q-tower and q-128 clip system. There is no replacement system available for the 2012-2013 model year Ford focus. The safety recall began on October 15, 2012. Only vehicles equipped with the vehicle rack system…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 12 mention a fire, 28 injuries and 3 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (1102): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (655), stalls / loses power (266), noise or vibration (228).
- Engine (344): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (143), warning light on (87).
- Electrical (276): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (109), electrical failure (87).
- Steering (273): the most common themes are steering problems (258), warning light on (60).
The 2013 Ford Focus has 2112 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 20 Focus model years for complaints (1.9× the average Focus year). Complaints peaked in 2019 (360 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 53,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2012 (3769 complaints, 7 recalls), 2014 (2603 complaints, 12 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AM6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 36 | 30 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 36 | 30 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AM6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 37 | 30 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 37 | 30 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 35 | 29 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 35 | 29 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 31 | 26 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2013 Ford Focus.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2013 Ford Focus have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 11 vehicle recalls for the 2013 Ford Focus, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2013 Ford Focus problems?
Owners have filed 2112 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (1102), engine (344), electrical (276).
What gas mileage does the 2013 Ford Focus get?
EPA ratings run up to 30 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (AM6)), across 7 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2013 Ford Focus repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.