212 complaints reported

2013 Ford Focus Steering

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
212
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STATE COLLEGE FORD LINCOLN (3140 WEST COLLEGE AVE, STATE COLLEGE, PA 16801, (814) 238-5041) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2017
Dec 2017

MY POWER STEERING ASSIST MODULE WAS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY THROUGH OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016. FINALLY IN DECEMBER 2016 IT DECIDED TO FAIL COMPLETELY. LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE ROAD, IT FAILED AFTER PARKING THE CAR AND HAS BEEN UNDRIVABLE EVER SINCE. I CAN START IT, ROLL IT FORWARDS AND BACK IN A STRAIGHT LINE, BUT THE STEERING IS LOCKED AND WON'T BUDGE. I HAVE A LITTLE OVER 39000 MILES ON IT AND IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THAT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2016
Dec 2017

WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE I RECEIVED A "STEERING ASSIST FAULT" NOTIFICATION ON MY DASHBOARD. I HAD TO MISS ANOTHER DAY OF WORK FOR THIS ISSUE. I SAY ANOTHER BECAUSE I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP OVER 20 TIMES FOR OTHERS ISSUES ON TOP OF THIS. I PURCHASED MY FOCUS IN 2013 BRAND NEW AND 4 YEARS LATER MY STEERING GEAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED? SINCE I'M AT 70,000 MILES I'M WELL PAST ANY COVERAGE AND THEY WANT ME TO SHELL OUT 1600 DOLLARS TO REPLACE IT. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES WITH THIS CAR SINCE DRIVING OFF THE LOT (TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, SEAL LEAKS) AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER NOTCH ON MY FORD VEHICLE OWNER BELT!! NOT HAPPY AT ALL WITH THIS PURCHASE AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE A FORD VEHICLE AGAIN!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2017
Dec 2017

RECEIVED A "STEERING ASSISTANCE FAULT" WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH DISPLAY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT EXTREME EFFORT.. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR, IT RESET AND BEGAN FUNCTIONING. APPROXIMATELY A WEEK LATER IT HAPPENED ONCE MORE AFTER STARTING THE CAR, AND ONCE AGAIN IT RESET AND WAS DRIVABLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS CONDITION AND POSSIBLY DEADLY IF NOT CORRECTED. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY INSTANCES OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER FORD PRODUCTS SUCH AS FUSIONS, EXPLORERS, LINCOLNS AND MANY OTHERS THAT DID HAVE A RECALL. WHY HAS THE FOCUS NOT BEEN RECALLED WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND EXPEDITED TO MAKE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS AT THEIR COST AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED TO SAVE LIVES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2017
Dec 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER (CROWN FORD, 555 CYPRESS AVE, REDDING, CA 96001) DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2017
Nov 2017

UPON BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO DIRECT MY VEHICLE IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT EASILY TURN, AND A GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS I PULLED FORWARD THE STEERING WOULD STICK, RESISTING CHANGES IN DIRECTION, THEN BREAKING LOOSE ON OVERCORRECTING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2017
Nov 2017

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPORTED FAILED EPAS. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD VEHICLES AND HAS BEEN RECALLED ON CERTAIN MODELS, BUT NOT THE FORD FOCUS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2017
Oct 2017

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE INDICATED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL AND FULL LOSS OF ANY STEERING ASSIST. STEERING REQUIRES/REQUIRED LOTS OF MUSCLE TO MAINTAIN ANY FORM OF ACTIVE DRIVER INTENDED STEERING CHANGES. RESULTED IN NO INJURY, BUT VERY FRIGHTENING OCCURRENCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WILL TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER IN THE MORNING, VEHICLE MILEAGE IS 90K. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2013 FORD FOCUS, SO WHY NO RECALL?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2017
Oct 2017

BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT, THE POWER STEERING DEFAULT LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST. MY CAR HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. I AM MORE THAN TICKED OFF BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. LAST YEAR IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION COMPUTER THAT WENT OUT. THERE WAS A RECALL AND IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION PERFORMANCE. THEY SAY BUY AMERICAN MADE, BUT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD OF ANY KIND.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2017
Oct 2017

COUPLE WEEKS AGO I GOT INTO MY CAR TO COME TO WORK AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. SO I LOOKED DOWN AND I SAW "STEERING ASSIST FAULT - SERVICE REQUESTED". UNTIL THIS DAY MY FIANCE AND I HAVE ADJUSTED OUR SCHEDULES TEMPORARILY SO THAT HE CAN DRIVE ME TO WORK. I DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO EVEN TURN THE WHEEL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2017
Oct 2017

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE AND WOULD NOT MOVE EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. FORTUNATELY I WAS STOPPED FOR THE SIGNAL. I HAD TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO ABOUT HOLDING UP TRAFFIC. FINALLY I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I WAITED APPROX 10 TO 15 SECONDS. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND WHEN I STARTED I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN PROCEEDED DIRECTLY TO MY MECHANIC VERY CAREFULLY. HE TOLD ME WHAT HE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MECHANISM. I THEN WENT DIRECTLY TO THE FORD DEALER, EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM AND LEFT THE CAR. HE CONTACTED ME LATER , SAID HE HAD TO ORDER THE PART AND WOULD LET ME KNOW WHEN THE CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. THE COST? WOW. THE NAME OF THE PART WAS STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY, REPROGRAM SYSTEM WITH THE COMPUTER. SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE TOTAL COST WAS $1,972.19.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2017
Sep 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND WENT INTO MANUAL MODE. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (CAUSEWAY FORD LINCOLN, 375 NJ-72, MANAHAWKIN, NJ, 08050) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DUE TO THE COST, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-13195872. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD COVER HALF OF THE COST. NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000. *LN UPDATED 7/23/18*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2017
Sep 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BOLTON FORD (1500 E COLLEGE STREET, LAKE CHARLES, LA 70607) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2017
Sep 2017

THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE MOVING AND WILL NOT TURN AT ALL.. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT IS LOCKED IN A STRAIGHT FORWARD POSITION.. CITY STREET GOING THRU LIGHT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2017
Sep 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,850.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2017
Aug 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT CONTINUED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER (REYNOLDS MOTOR CO, 1900 AVENUE OF THE CITIES, EAST MOLINE, IL 61244, 1 (888) 602-3869) WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE ABNORMAL NOISE CONTINUED TO COME FROM THE STEERING AREA AS THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS STORED FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2013
Aug 2017

MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD WITH ME AND MY 7 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR. I WAS GUIDED TO THE SIDE BY THE POLICE AND HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE RACK AND PINION HAS FAILED AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY $1800 FOR REPAIRS. AFTER RESEARCHING, IVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2017
Aug 2017

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND SERVICE IS REQUIRED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON DURING START UP. TURNING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 52,749 MILES

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2017
Aug 2017

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE - THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ACROSS MANY DIFFERENT FORD MODELS, AND THEY HAVE RECALLED CERTAIN MODELS DUE TO THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2013 FORD FOCUS. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2013 FORD FOCUS, SO WHY NO RECALL?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2017
Jul 2017

I RECEIVED A "STEERING ASSIST FAULT" WHILE TURNING ON MY CAR (IT WAS PARKED AT THE TIME) STEERING ASSIST FAULT. THE MILAGE IS 64K AND THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE. HOWEVER, WITHOUT WARNING NOR FORESEEABLE CAUSE TO THIS ISSUE. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, I HAD LITTLE CONTROL OVER THE STEERING. UPON RESEARCH THERE ARE ALREADY VARIOUS COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE ALL OF WHICH HAS HAPPENED EITHER THE CAR IN MOTION OR MERELY PARKED. THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS PROVEN THROUGH VARIOUS SOURCES IS UNETHICAL. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE MONETARY LOSS TO MYSELF, AND HIGH RISK NATURE OF THIS ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE POSSIBLE INJURY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2017
Jun 2017

I DROVE MY CAR TO PICK MY GRANDSON UP CAME PARKED CAR WENT TO GET BACK IN IT TO LEAVE STEERING ASSIST FAILURE FLASHED ON AND I HAD A HARD TIME STEERING IT AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THE STEERING IS ALL MESSED UP AND IT'S GOING TO COST OVER 2000 TO FIX.IVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 4 MONTHS AND THIS MAKES THE SECOND TIME IT'S BEEN IN THE GARAGE. FIRST TIME THE KEY FELL APART. NOW THE STEERING IS GONE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2017
Jun 2017 Crash

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST INDICATOR HAD BEEN COMING ON AND OFF A DIFFERENT INTERVALS. WHEN I WOULD COME ON THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP AND GO INTO MANUAL MODE AND WOULD HAVE TO ME MUSCLED WHILE DRIVING UNTIL THE INDICATOR WHEN OFF. MOST OF THE TIME THIS WOULD HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS ON A STREET IN A DENSELY POPULATED SUBURB NEIGHBORHOOD. THE INDICATOR CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO MANUAL MODE AND CRASHED INTO A NEIGHBORS CAR. FORTUNATELY ENOUGH NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE BUT BOTH CARS WERE DAMAGED. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL OF THE NEIGHBORS' CAR THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND QUARTER THE TIE OUTER TIE-ROD IS SEVERELY DAMAGED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2016
May 2017

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND 'ASSISTED STEERING FAILURE' NOTICE CAME UP ON DASHBOARD

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2017
May 2017

WARNING THAT POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS FAILED AND SERVICE IS REQUIRED. COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. HAPPENED WHEN STARTING THE CAR. TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON. NO MESSAGE AND STEERING WAS WORKING. I MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME BUT NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2017
Apr 2017

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE INDICATED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL AND FULL LOSS OF ANY STEERING ASSIST. STEERING REQUIRES/REQUIRED LOTS OF MUSCLE TO MAINTAIN ANY FORM OF ACTIVE DRIVER INTENDED STEERING CHANGES. IT MAY FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70 OR ON VEHICLE STARTUP. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FIND A SAFE PLACE TO STOP AND FORTUNATELY RESET THE POWER ASSIST WITHOUT ANYONE BEING INJURED OR KILLED. RESTARTING VEHICLE RESET THE PS ASSIST MODULE FOR A FEW MONTHS BUT THE SYSTEM IS NOW FULLY NONWORKING. THE STEERING GOES OUT WHENEVER IT DESIRES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP WITH A POSSIBLE RACK-AND-PINION REPLACEMENT OR A STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT ONCE THE PROBLEM IS FULLY DIAGNOSED. THIS WILL ALSO REQUIRE A VEHICLE ALIGNMENT AND POSSIBLE COMPUTER RESET AND RE-FLASH ACCORDING TO THE SHOP. COST WILL BE AT LEAST $2500. THANKS FORD FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR YOUR CORPORATE STRUCTURE AND OFFLOADING YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND COST FOR YOUR POOR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN TO THE VEHICLE OWNER. POOR ENGINEERING AND LACK OF WILLINGNESS TO FIX A PROBLEM IS SURE TO GAIN YOU A LOYAL FOLLOWING. I AM ALMOST ASHAMED TO SAY I AM FROM THE DETROIT AREA AND HAVE BEEN A PROPONENT OF BUYING FROM THE BIG THREE. I WILL UPLOAD THE REPAIR RECEIPT ONCE THE REPAIR ACTION IS COMPLETED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2017

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Ford Focus has 212 Steering complaints on file. 5 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.