Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
This is the second failure of the door latch we've had. 1st time was drivers door. Today was passenger door. Ford dealers refuse to fix it. Carthage ford sold me the parts and I paid my mechanical c to fix the drivers door. $200 for the door latches $200 to install. Now I have to do the passenger door. I was under the impression this should be free as it's a recall I've contacted ford corporate and didn't get anywhere with them either. They were supposed to get something set up with a local dealer but never heard back from them. This is a huge safety issue. Please help me either getting reimbursed for the earlier repairs and parts and maybe getting the others fixed or at least pay the bill if I have to get them done
Issue happened in November 2016. The glass sunroof exploded while driving NE on I-44 just SW of Springfield MO. The reason I am reporting this now, is that I saw a news article about this happening often. Until I saw the news article I thought it was a one of event. We did not witness anything hitting the car/sunroof. I don't expect anything from this report. I just wanted report that a Ford Focus experienced this type of event.
At approximately 2:30 am this morning 12/31/16, our Ford Focus burst into flames while stationary in a parking lot. Thank god we and our 11 month old were not in the car at the time. We have had this car into the shop at least twice for transmission problems then our entire multi information screen including radio quit working, they refused to fix because we were out of warranty. We have barely had this car for one year and have had nothing but problems. Now we have no car because it is totaled from the fire. The police based on initial investigation said it was an electrical fire. I have seen another 2013 Ford Focus catch fire in australia and other places. I would like this to be investigated so this does not happen to other people.
I was entering a car port that has a slight 2 degree downward slope to the front of the car port. The vehicle's engine seemed to accelerate slightly while depressing the brake and go through the car port front overhang. The current driving conditions adequate (the weather -very cold, snowing but carport was clear underneath) before and since the repair the transmission seems to hesitate to engage momentarily on deceleration and acceleration operations.
Last night I hit a deer going 70 miles per hr. On the highway. My leg airbags deployed but my steering wheel did not only the clips came out. Due to knee airbags I have huge bruises on both legs. I feel that the steering wheel has a defective airbag since it did not deploy. If I had hit a tree instead of a deer its possible I would not be here to file this it did not protect me at all.
I was going to pick up my wife from work as usual. I am a very safe driver especially around corners. I was not driving more that15 MPH when the car accelerated by itself. To avoid hitting a parked car I had to turn the steering wheel to the right. I went up on the driveway area. I hit a concrete wall portion or a driveway. Totaled the entire front right. Axle is broken. Air bag never deployed. Several months back they had to put in a brand new transmission. The car is just now 1 year old. It could not go up hills, park up hills. Transmission would turn off. Now it accelerated on it's own. My wife told me from the beginning this car is a lemon. I liked it so did not want to believe it! Now I have to. I am still stiff all over. I have reported this to Ford auto body and my dealer. I hope they will be honest about all this. …
This past Monday, July 4th, I arrived home from house sitting and unloaded the back seat of my car. I closed the passenger side door, locked the car and turned the alarm on. I went out to my car 1/2 hour later to run an errand and I backed out of my parking space, put the car in drive and started to drive. A message came across my dashboard that said "passenger side door is ajar". I stopped the car and got out to look at the door and close it and it wouldn't close. I tried many times to close the door and it would just open back up again. The door isn't latching and closing all the way. I tried locking and unlocking the doors many times and it still will not close completely and latch and lock. I researched online for any information and found that some Ford Focus' from 2013 have a recall and took it to the dealership hoping to get it fixed. …
Tl* the contact leases a 2013 Ford Focus. While driving 25 MPH, the hatchback independently opened and the trunk ajar warning indicator illuminated. Additionally, while driving, the vehicle suddenly stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted and was able to drive normally. The contact drove the vehicle to her residence. The contact took the vehicle to wild west Chevrolet (located at 750 w goldfield ave, yerington, nv 89447)to be diagnosed, but a failure code could not be found. The dealer informed the contact that the code was erased. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed by the dealer that they called the manufacturer and were informed that the vehicle was safe to drive. The contact also stated that the failure previously occurred and the vehicle was taken to an auto parts store. …
On two separate occasions, the driver side rear door and passenger side rear door of my 2013 Ford Focus have swung open whilst driving due to a faulty door latch. It occurs after I have closed the door fully with no hazard lights on the dash to warn of any problems, such as the door ajar message. Due to the forces of turning the vehicle and or simply driving the door flies open without warning. This could potentially harm the passengers in my vehicle. Not to mention other vehicles or pedestrians my door could hit. This is the second time this has happened, each time it leaves my vehicle immobile due to the door chronically refusing to latch. This is a two year old vehicle. It is frankly unacceptable that this absurd a problem should persist to endanger myself, my family and others. …
The fuse that controls the instrument panel in front of the steering wheel will not stay in. It does not "blow" and when this happens you have no speedometer,heat or gas gauge,turn signals, ect. I believe this to be a valid safety issue. When this fuse does not allow the current to get to the instrument cluster then the mpg readout returns to 30.7 in lieu of what was being shown at the time of the failure. Anytime your signal lights will not work that is a recallable situation. I believ fomoco knows about this. Also the sticker on the door jamb in regards to tire pressure reads 30 psi. Right now I have 30 psi in my tires and the "low tire" light is constantly on.when I contacted my dealer he said to put 35 psi in each tire to eliminate the problem. If the tire manufacturers wanted more than 30psi in their tires then why does the door sticker not say so and also the tire booklet.
Body complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2013 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 84 complaints about the body & structure of the 2013 Ford Focus, 4% of the model year's 2,112 complaints. The component named most often is body (74 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Ford Focus body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2013 Ford Focus, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford Focus body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.