FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC · model year

2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC

120 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2013FORDFOCUS ELECTRIC carries 120 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2013 FOCUS ELECTRIC is power train with 37 filings, followed by electrical system (26) and engine (16). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2013 FOCUS ELECTRIC. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

120
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

120 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN37
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM26
ENGINE16
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM15
STEERING8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
SERVICE BRAKES4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
STEERING:COLUMN1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY1

Recalls (3)

13V52300030/10/2013

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Focus Electric vehicles manufactured September 15, 2011, through August 23, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a powertrain control module software problem may result in a stall-like condition.

13V47500017/10/2013

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus Electric vehicles and 2013 C-Max vehicles equipped with the Intelligent Access Push Button Start System. In the affected vehicles, there is no audible chime when the vehicle is operational and the driver's door is opened. Th

18V59200010/09/2018

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 120V Convenience charge cords that were supplied with and sold for use with 2013-2015 Ford C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi vehicles and 2012-2015 Ford Focus Electric vehicles. Cords with part numbers FM58-10B706-AA, FM58-10B706-AB, FM58-10B706-AC, FM58-

Recent Complaints

20240226ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus Electric. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start while the battery was fully charged. The message "Stop Safely Now" was displayed. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under Ford Campaign Number: 15N03 because the campaign had expired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

20210805ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus Electric. The contact stated while turning off the vehicle, the lights and radio remained operational which resulted in the battery being drained. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

Mileage: 45,000

20190711POWER TRAIN

CAR STOPPED ON MOTION WITH AN ALARM STOP SAFELY NOW, WHEELS LOST POWER, STEERING WHEEL WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION SO CAR HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Mileage: 24,000

20190403ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SO I WAS DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT IN THE RAIN AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS JUMPING AROUND A LITTLE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL FLASHED A COUPLE TIMES AND I THOUGHT 'OH IT'S JUST CAUSE THE RAIN' WELL TODAY THE SAME THING WAS HAPPENING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THEN I GOT A WARNING LIGHT SAYING 'LOW BRAKE FLUID' AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS DOING 30MPH. IT WENT AWAY AND DROVE FINE BUT IT WILL POP UP EVERY 4 MILES OR SO SAYING LOW BRAKE FLUID

Mileage: 91,500

20190403POWER TRAIN

SO I WAS DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT IN THE RAIN AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS JUMPING AROUND A LITTLE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL FLASHED A COUPLE TIMES AND I THOUGHT 'OH IT'S JUST CAUSE THE RAIN' WELL TODAY THE SAME THING WAS HAPPENING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THEN I GOT A WARNING LIGHT SAYING 'LOW BRAKE FLUID' AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS DOING 30MPH. IT WENT AWAY AND DROVE FINE BUT IT WILL POP UP EVERY 4 MILES OR SO SAYING LOW BRAKE FLUID

Mileage: 91,500

20190403VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SO I WAS DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT IN THE RAIN AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS JUMPING AROUND A LITTLE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL FLASHED A COUPLE TIMES AND I THOUGHT 'OH IT'S JUST CAUSE THE RAIN' WELL TODAY THE SAME THING WAS HAPPENING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THEN I GOT A WARNING LIGHT SAYING 'LOW BRAKE FLUID' AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS DOING 30MPH. IT WENT AWAY AND DROVE FINE BUT IT WILL POP UP EVERY 4 MILES OR SO SAYING LOW BRAKE FLUID

Mileage: 91,500

20181130ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STOP ENGINE NOW WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VANCOUVER AUTO GROUP (6804 NE 40TH ST, VANCOUVER, WA 98661, 360-992-7285) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000.

Mileage: 41,000

20181022STEERING:COLUMN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A SIDEWALK AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

Mileage: 69,000

20180418STEERING

WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND STATIONARY, I TURNED ON THE CAR AND THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT OPERABLE AND THE STEERING WENT INTO MANUAL MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. AFTER THE MECHANIC EVALUATED THIS, IT WAS DETERMINED THE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE PART ALONE IS $1100 AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR. RATHER COSTLY. THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS FOUND ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE WITH A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH. OTHER FORD CARS HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL ON THIS PART. IT SEEMS PARTICULARLY ODD AND EXTREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE ON FORD'S BEHALF TO NOT CONCEDE TO THE DEFECT ON THIS PARTICULAR YEAR/MAKE/MODEL AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.

Mileage: 105,000

20180417ENGINE

TAKATA RECALL. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING SO WHEN I DRIVE IT JERKS AND FEELS AS IF IT DOESN'T WANT TO GO. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT IT WAS BECAUS THERE'S A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE UNSERVICEABLE. I WAS GOING TO A LEAST GET THE FLUID CHANGED IN THE TRANSMISSION BUT THERE'S NONDIPSTICK AND I WAS TOLD IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE CHANGED AND IT'S THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD BY MORE THAN ONE PERSON THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND I'VE ONLY OWNED THIS YEAR FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND OWN 10,000 ON IT.

20171208ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THIS CAR, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HELP FOR A LONG TIME AND IT SEEM LIKE NOT ONE HAS HEARD ME , NOT EVEN THE DEALER, AND NOW HEAR IT IS MY CAR IS HAVING TROUBLE LIKE THE TRUNK WONT OPEN AND WE TIDE A STREAM ON IT AND THE LIGHTS STAY ON OVER A HOUR. AND CAR JERK WHEN TAKEING OFF IN SPEED WHEN CHANGE GEARS.

20171208ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THIS CAR, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HELP FOR A LONG TIME AND IT SEEM LIKE NOT ONE HAS HEARD ME , NOT EVEN THE DEALER, AND NOW HEAR IT IS MY CAR IS HAVING TROUBLE LIKE THE TRUNK WONT OPEN AND WE TIDE A STREAM ON IT AND THE LIGHTS STAY ON OVER A HOUR. AND CAR JERK WHEN TAKEING OFF IN SPEED WHEN CHANGE GEARS.

20171208POWER TRAIN

THIS CAR, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HELP FOR A LONG TIME AND IT SEEM LIKE NOT ONE HAS HEARD ME , NOT EVEN THE DEALER, AND NOW HEAR IT IS MY CAR IS HAVING TROUBLE LIKE THE TRUNK WONT OPEN AND WE TIDE A STREAM ON IT AND THE LIGHTS STAY ON OVER A HOUR. AND CAR JERK WHEN TAKEING OFF IN SPEED WHEN CHANGE GEARS.

20171128ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT HONDA IN ARLINGTON OFF OF 20 HWY IN 2013 I TOOK IT BACK WHEN I BOUGHT IT THAT WAS PRE USED , AND THEN IT SEEM LIKE THEY DID NOT WANT IT BACK AND NEVER WANT TO FIX IT . AND THE TRANS MISSION IS NOT WANT TO PUT DUE TO A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN THE TRUCK WANT OPEN AND THE LIGHT WANTED GO OFF AND THE ALARM WANT COME ON, TAKEN TO DON DAVIS AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME AND I AM DISABLE, AND I HAVE MY LITTLE GRANDCHILD THAT IS 6 MONTHS OLD AND SHE RIDE EVERYDAY AND I HOPE WE DON'T GET IN THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP US I HAVE PUT THIS ON MANY TIMES. THE DOOR WAS A RECALL AND WHEN TO DON DAVIS AND THEY ARE HAVE WAY FIX. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!

20171128FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT HONDA IN ARLINGTON OFF OF 20 HWY IN 2013 I TOOK IT BACK WHEN I BOUGHT IT THAT WAS PRE USED , AND THEN IT SEEM LIKE THEY DID NOT WANT IT BACK AND NEVER WANT TO FIX IT . AND THE TRANS MISSION IS NOT WANT TO PUT DUE TO A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN THE TRUCK WANT OPEN AND THE LIGHT WANTED GO OFF AND THE ALARM WANT COME ON, TAKEN TO DON DAVIS AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME AND I AM DISABLE, AND I HAVE MY LITTLE GRANDCHILD THAT IS 6 MONTHS OLD AND SHE RIDE EVERYDAY AND I HOPE WE DON'T GET IN THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP US I HAVE PUT THIS ON MANY TIMES. THE DOOR WAS A RECALL AND WHEN TO DON DAVIS AND THEY ARE HAVE WAY FIX. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!

20171128EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT HONDA IN ARLINGTON OFF OF 20 HWY IN 2013 I TOOK IT BACK WHEN I BOUGHT IT THAT WAS PRE USED , AND THEN IT SEEM LIKE THEY DID NOT WANT IT BACK AND NEVER WANT TO FIX IT . AND THE TRANS MISSION IS NOT WANT TO PUT DUE TO A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN THE TRUCK WANT OPEN AND THE LIGHT WANTED GO OFF AND THE ALARM WANT COME ON, TAKEN TO DON DAVIS AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME AND I AM DISABLE, AND I HAVE MY LITTLE GRANDCHILD THAT IS 6 MONTHS OLD AND SHE RIDE EVERYDAY AND I HOPE WE DON'T GET IN THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP US I HAVE PUT THIS ON MANY TIMES. THE DOOR WAS A RECALL AND WHEN TO DON DAVIS AND THEY ARE HAVE WAY FIX. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!

20171024STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL INADVERTENTLY LOCKED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCLAUGHLIN (950 N MAIN ST, SUMTER, SC 29150 (803) 773-1481) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

Mileage: 6,000

20170913ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1898

Mileage: 63,580

20170913ENGINE

1898

Mileage: 63,580

20170511CrashPOWER TRAIN

THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED WHILE PARKING PERPENDICULAR IN A PARKING STRUCTURE; DRIVER HAD SLOWED/BRAKED, TO 5 MILES OR LESS, TO PARK AND TAKEN HER FOOT OFF THE GAS AND PRESSED THE BRAKE. ABRUPTLY THE CAR ACCELERATED AND THE CAR CRASHED INTO THE WALL IN FRONT WITH THE DRIVER AIR BAGS ACTIVATED AND FRONT BUMPER CRUSHED.

Mileage: 38,000

Compare 2013FORDFOCUS ELECTRIC to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC have?
The 2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC has 120 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC?
Yes, the 2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM). Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC?
The most-complained component for the 2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC is POWER TRAIN with 37 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and ENGINE.
Is the 2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.