AI Damage2013 Ford Focus Electric: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Ford Focus Electric filed 69 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 69
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 54% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 39% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 23% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 22% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 13% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 7% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 8 Electronic stability control 4% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 37 complaints (54% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 27 complaints (39% of all).
- Engine: 16 complaints (23% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 15 complaints (22% of all).
- Steering: 9 complaints (13% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 69 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 37 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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 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.
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
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, [ZIP], [phone]) to be diagnosed, but the failure could not be duplicated. Repairs were made, but the failure recurred.
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 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.
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.
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, [ZIP] [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the steering wheel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 4,461 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 12% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Focus Electric has 30 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 69, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford Focus Electric?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 69. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: loss of power / limp mode (17%), warning lights, check engine (14%), infotainment or screen glitches (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Ford Focus Electric?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2013 Ford Focus Electric from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2013 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.