Most common 2013 Ford Focus Electric problems
Share of the 69 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Focus Electric complaints by model year
Best Focus Electric years: 2016, 2017, 2015. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2012. Compare all years →
2013 Ford Focus Electric recalls (3)
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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120V convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019.
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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the power control module, free of charge. The recall beganon November 22, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S09.
Equipment › Electrical › Anti-theft devices
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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the door chime, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2013 Ford Focus Electric:
Door Latch Failures
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.
Door Latch Failure
In January, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on consumers' allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2012-2013 Ford Focus vehicles (subject vehicles).ODI has received 464 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with over 200 claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion.One consumer…
Electric powertrain propulsion failure
In an October 28, 2013 letter to NHTSA, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a recall notice identifying a defect in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software in approximately 2,456 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 Ford Focus Electric vehicles manufactured from September 15, 2011 through August 23, 2013 (Recall No.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2013 Ford Focus Electric owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 37 →
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.
While driving the vehicle, a loud chime sounded, with a red triangle saying, "stop safely now" as well as a yellow "see manual" indication. This was very dangerous because it was sudden and while driving. The car lost all power and I had to attempt to pull of the street so I wouldn't cause an accident. I shifted to park and turned the car off and back on and it resolved the issue. However, 2 days later the same problem occurred but this time I was unable to restart the vehicle and needed to tow the car to the dealership.
Electrical system all 27 →
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.
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.
Engine & cooling
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, [phone]) 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus Electric. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the engine stalled. After restarting, the vehicle resumed normal operation. The failure recurred three times. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,900.
2013 Ford Focus Electric engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | FWD | 110 / 99 / 105 MPGe | 76 mi |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Ford Focus Electric a good car?
Based on 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Focus Electric rates avoid: 5.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Focus Electric at the same age. It is one of the Focus Electric years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Ford Focus Electric?
The transmission & drivetrain — 37 complaints, 54% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (27) and engine & cooling (16).
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford Focus Electric have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2013 Ford Focus Electric, the most recent from September 10, 2018 (electrical). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Focus Electric?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2017 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014 and 2012. See the full Ford Focus Electric years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford Focus Electric problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 6,000 miles; 89% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.