2013 Ford Focus common problems

Clutch packs or valve body wear out early on this build. The transmission slips, shudders or drops gears, and the repair is a rebuild or a replacement unit.

How the $3,800-$6,500 adds up: 5–9 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus a remanufactured transmission at $3,250–$5,150 at the counter.

146 matching complaints

Oil starvation or bearing wear lets the rotating assembly contact the block. The engine locks, and the only repair is a replacement engine.

How the $5,000-$8,500 adds up: 7–18 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus a remanufactured engine at $4,230–$5,800 at the counter.

7 matching complaints · recalls 26V011000

Fuel delivery, sensor or throttle body faults cut the engine without warning. The car stalls in traffic, which is a safety problem before it is a repair bill.

How the $600-$2,400 adds up: 2–5 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus the pump, throttle body or sensor behind it at $380–$1,650 at the counter.

311 matching complaints · recalls 26V011000

Electric power steering units and tie rods fail, and the driver feels it: a heavy wheel, a clunk, a pull.

How the $400-$1,600 adds up: 2–3 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus the assist unit, rack or tie rods at $180–$1,150 at the counter.

242 matching complaints

High pressure fuel pumps and injectors fail early on some engines. The car cranks but will not run, or runs rough under load.

How the $700-$1,600 adds up: 2–4 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus the pump or injectors at $480–$1,000 at the counter.

38 matching complaints

Air bag modules, sensors or inflators fail two ways: they do not deploy when needed, or they deploy without impact. Open recalls on this component are corrected free at a dealer.

How the $900-$2,500 adds up: 2–6 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus the module, sensor or inflator at $680–$1,600 at the counter.

35 matching complaints

Catalytic converters, EGR coolers and related parts are expensive to replace and rarely covered after the emissions warranty ends.

How the $1,400-$2,900 adds up: 3–6 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus the converter or EGR cooler at $1,070–$2,000 at the counter.

9 matching complaints · recalls 26V011000

Turbo bearings, wastegates and boost control fail on smaller forced-induction engines. Oil and coolant lines feed the turbo, so one leak can take the unit with it.

How the $1,800-$3,800 adds up: 3–8 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus the turbo assembly at $1,470–$2,600 at the counter.

1 matching complaint · recalls 26V011000

The cylinder head or block casting lets coolant reach the combustion chambers. The cylinder fills with coolant and the engine stops turning — hydro-lock — which destroys it.

How the $5,500-$7,500 adds up: 15–19 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus a remanufactured engine at $3,850–$4,650 at the counter.

0 matching complaints · recalls 26V011000

The DPS6's dry dual clutches wear from low-speed engagement and shudder in 1st and 2nd from a stop, worst when the transmission has heat-soaked in stop-and-go driving. The shudder gets progressively worse until the clutches are replaced; owners report clutch life consistently ending around 120k, with some cars eating clutches under warranty far earlier.

How the $1,500-$2,500 adds up: 4–6 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus a dual-clutch kit with new forks at $1,060–$1,600 at the counter.

0 matching complaints

The DPS6 transmission control module fails without warning rather than degrading, dropping the transmission into neutral and stranding the car, most dangerously during highway entry and exit. Dealers replace the module and reflash it, but replacement units have been on backorder through many revisions. This is separate from the clutch shudder; a module death does not mean the clutches are worn.

How the $900-$2,000 adds up: 2–3 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus a transmission control module plus reflash at $680–$1,550 at the counter.

0 matching complaints

Battery drain, alternator, wiring and sensor faults cluster here. Individually small, they strand the car and mask other failures.

How the $150-$900 adds up: 1–2 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus the alternator, battery or sensor at $40–$600 at the counter.

306 matching complaints · recalls 15V813000, 14V495000

Latch and hinge faults can leave a door ajar while driving. Annoying, loud, and cheap to fix once identified.

How the $200-$800 adds up: 1–2 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus the latch or hinge assembly at $90–$500 at the counter.

67 matching complaints

Screens freeze, cameras go black and control modules reboot. Costly to diagnose, rarely dangerous.

How the $150-$700 adds up: 1–3 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus the screen, camera or module at $40–$250 at the counter.

53 matching complaints

Wiper motors, defrost grids and glass faults cut visibility in rain. Complaints cluster around sudden wiper failure.

How the $120-$450 adds up: half an hour to an hour of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus the wiper motor or glass at $65–$300 at the counter.

37 matching complaints

Coils and plugs on this build wear early. The engine misfires, runs rough and flashes the check engine light before it strands you.

How the $200-$800 adds up: 1–3 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus coils and plugs at $90–$350 at the counter.

12 matching complaints

Something pulls current with the car off. Owners replace batteries two and three times before anyone finds the draw — the battery is rarely the fault, it is the victim.

How the $220-$660 adds up: 1–2 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus the battery and a parasitic-draw diagnosis at $110–$360 at the counter.

6 matching complaints · recalls 15V813000, 14V495000

The tempered sunroof glass can shatter without impact, usually at speed. Owners describe a bang like a tire blowing, then glass in the cabin.

How the $500-$1,500 adds up: 2–4 hours of labor at $110–$150 an hour plus the glass panel and moldings at $280–$900 at the counter.

4 matching complaints