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

Mar 2021

STEERING ASSIST ON VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED TO ME WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE COLD. DASH READ "STEERING ASSIST FAULT. SERVICE REQUIRED." THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST. FORD HAS CLAIMED IT IS SOFTWARE RELATED. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN I AM DRIVING. I AM AFRAID OF BEING STUCK OUT SOMEWHERE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO STEER. I HAVE READ REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO MOTORISTS. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT IS WELL KNOWN TO THE ONLINE COMMUNITY. FORD HAS HAD STEERING ASSIST RECALLS ON OTHER VEHICLES IN THE PAST. THIS IS AN ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2021
Feb 2021

WHEN I FIRST START MY CAR. THE STEERING FAULT MESSAGE COMES ON AND I CAN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON. THEN IT WORKS.I'M AFRAID THAT IT MAY LOCK WHILE DRIVING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2021
Feb 2021

WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE TO PARK THE CAR IN MY GARAGE, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THERE IS AN ERROR MESSAGE ON THE CONSOLE THAT SAYS 'STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED'. I CHECKED IT THE FOLLOWING DAY, AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2021
Oct 2020

STEERING FAULT ALERT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING IN COMMUNITY TO PICK UP MAIL I.E APPROXIMATELY 15MPH. WENT TO FORD DEALERSHIP VIA THE HIGHWAY AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED ALMOST CAUSING A PILE UP!! THAT'S AT 60MPH! DIAGNOSTIC DONE SHOWED THE ENTIRE STEERING UNIT, GEAR, COMPUTER UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL OR WARRANTY PER FORD COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE AND LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. COST 2146.50 OUT OF POCKET! NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ISSSUE BUT RATHER A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. SO WHY ISN'T FORD RECALLING OR EXTENDING WARRANTY?! THEY NEED TO. IT IS VERY UNSAFE AND A COMMON FIND IN THESE CARS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2020
Oct 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HIS DAUGHTER STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE MESSAGE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER MAX MOTORS FORD LOCATED AT 2502 CANTRELL RD, HARRISONVILLE, MO 64701, WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *DT *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2020
Sep 2020

THE STEERING ASSIST KEEPS FAILING ON THIS CAR THAT I BOUGH FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER MAKING IT NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. LUCKILY THE ONE TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING IT WAS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON START UP. FOR HAS RECALLED THIS SAME STEERING ISSUES ON OTHER MODELS WITH THE EXACT SAME ELECTRONIC STEERING WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. BUT NOT THE FORD FOCUS! SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED FROM THIS IF THERE IS NO RECALL. MANY PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD 2K TO FIX IT THEMSELVES. SHAME ON YOU FORD!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2020
Sep 2020

POWER STEERING WILL NOT WORK. BEGAN HAVING ISSUES SEVERAL MONTHS AGO BUT RE-CRANKING WOULD FIX ISSUE. NOW POWER STEERING IS COMPLETELY OUT. WHAT A DRIVING HAZARD THIS IS AND IT'S OBVIOUS A BIG ISSUE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL. WHY NO RECALL? THIS IS A 2013 FORD FOCUS WITH 70,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN FINALLY WENT OUT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2020
Aug 2020

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING LIGHT AND ALSO POWER STEERING THAT'S COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. IT FIRST WENT OUT AND WHEN THE CAR WAS TURN OFF AND BACK ON, IT WORKED BUT WENT OUT AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS BEEN INOPERABLE SINCE THE SECOND LOST OF STEERING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2020
Aug 2020

STEERING FAULT CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FORD SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL THIS KIND OF CAR. I HAVE HAD ISSUES AFTER ISSUES WITH THIS 2013 FORD I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR OUT OF POCKET AND NOW THIS LESS THAN 47K THIS CAR MODEL IS A LEMON!! AS MUCH TROUBLE THIS CAR HAS CASED ME I SHOULD GET A FULL REFUND AND FORD SHOULD BUY THIS PIECE OF JUNK BACK I HAVE 4 FORDS BUT THIS FORD IS MY LAST ONE I WILL BUY A HONDA OR SOMETHING ELSE FORD IS NOT WHAT IT USE TOO BE!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2020
Jul 2020

POWER ASSIST FAULT FAILED. IT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON ALL OTHER FORD MODELS EXCEPT 2013 FORD FOCUS. I STARTED MY CAR AND POWER ASSIST FAULT APPEARED NEEDING SERVICE. I COULD NOT MOVE MY STEERING WHEEL. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS PARKED AS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF I WERE DRIVING. SINCE OTHER FORD MODELS WERE RECALLED WHY NOT THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY VEHICLE? IT IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2020
Jun 2020

"STEERING ASSIST FAULT".. "STEERING LOSS". VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND NEARLY CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSIST CAN FAIL WITH OUT WARNING, WHICH RESULTS IN LOSS OF STEERING WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION POTENTIALLY ENDANGERING THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2020
Jun 2020

WHEN THE OUT SIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS TO ABOUT 32 DEGREES OR LOWER THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILS. THIS CAN HAPPEN FROM A PARKED SITUATION AS WELL AS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING.. IT WILL LOCK UP. HAS OCCURRED ON CITY STREETS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2020
Jun 2020 Crash

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FOLLOWING FORD ERROR OR FAULT CODES WERE IDENTIFIED: U3000:49-48 AND U3000:53-C8. FORD DEALERSHIP ADVISED REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE APPROX. $2,600. VEHICLE IS A 2013 FORD FOCUS EV WITH APPROX. 60K MILES. BASED ON REPORTS READ ON NHTSA WEBSITE AND OTHER NOTABLE RESOURCES FORD HAS HAD ISSUES WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IN SEVERAL MODELS. THOUGH THIS SPECIFIC MODEL AND YEAR ARE NOT IDENTIFIED IN A RECALL, THE ELECTRIC STEERING FAILURE AND ACCOMPANYING CODES FIT THE BILL WITH ISSUES COVERED IN A RECALL. WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON DOWNTOWN CITY STREETS, TRAVELING AT AN APPROX. SPEED OF 25 TO 30 MPH WHEN THE ELECTRIC STEERING FAILED. THIS EVENT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER OFF TO ONE DIRECTION AND STRIKE A CURB WHILE AT THE SAME TIME I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO STOP OR SLOW THE VEHICLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE VEHICLE NEVER REGAINED ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CONTROL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2019
May 2020

MY ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM FAILED, I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM DOING ERRANDS, PULLED INTO MY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND THE YELLOW LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ERROR CODE CAME ON, MY STEERING LOCKED UP COULDN'T TURN STEER WHEEL, LUCKY I WAS GOING SLOW PULLED IN PARKING SPACE..THIS HAS COME ON BEFORE BUT THEN JUST WENT OFF, I CAN'T IMAGINE GOING ANY FASTER AND THE STEERING CEASE UP, I THINK ITS DANGEROUS, I GOT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP,NOW IS ON BACKORDER AND IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, THANK YOU *DT*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2020
Apr 2020

I WAS DRIVING INSIDE TOWN WHEN I BEGAN TO FEEL THE STEERING GETTING STIFF. I STOPPED TO GET GAS TO ONLY FIND OUT THAT THE STEERING GOT MUCH STIFFER AND WAS MAKING SQUEAKY SOUND. AFTER THAT IT WAS VERY TOUGH TO DRIVE BACK HOME. AFTER REACHING AND STOPPING THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL HAS COMPLETELY GONE STIFF. THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2020
Feb 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT FAILING TO STAY STRAIGHT. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KOONS FALLS CHURCH FORD (1051 E BROAD ST, FALLS CHURCH, VA 22044) AND ALSO TO STAFFORD FORD LINCOLN OF SALISBURY (1902 N SALISBURY BLVD, SALISBURY, MD 21801) AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2020
Feb 2020

ELECTRIC STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM WENT OUT. I WAS GETTING READY TO HEAD HOME WHEN THE STEERING WAS LIKE A LEAD BRICK, LUCKILY I WAS STILL IN MY WORK PARKING LOT OF NEWCASTLE HEATED STORAGE 7115 132ND PLACE SE NEWCASTLE WA 98059 WHEN IT WENT BAD. I COULDN'T CONTROL THE STEERING UNLESS I WAS A BODY BUILDER. I PARKED AND CALLED UBER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2020
Feb 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL COASTED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON WHICH FAILED TO RESUME BACK TO NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. OBAUGH FORD, INC. 13 LEE JACKSON HWY, STAUNTON, VA 24401, (540) 851-4800) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,297. *DT *DL

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2020
Feb 2020

THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST FEATURE FAILED WHEN I WAS 100 MILES FROM HOME.IT OCCURRED AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. PRIOR TO THIS IT WAS WORKING OK. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONE TIME BEFORE. WHEN IT HAPPENED BEFORE I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND CLEANED THE TERMINAL. I CHARGED THE BATTERY AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT A MONTH. TODAY I TOOK THE CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER AND HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY THIS TIME. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK ON THE FREEWAY WITHOUT POWER STEERING ASSIST.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2020
Feb 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CORWIN FORD OF SPRINGFIELD 3241 S GLENSTONE AVE, SPRINGFIELD, MO 65804, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2018
Feb 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED VEHICLE WITH DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING NEEDING AN INTERIOR GEAR REPLACEMENT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED OUT OF POCKET THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY BECAME VERY HARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE ILLUMINATED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOTTENKIRK FORD JASPER (868 GEORGIA 515, JASPER, GA,30143) TWICE, THEY DETERMINED INTERIOR GEAR REPLACEMENT NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2020
Feb 2020

POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF CITY STREET - WITH NO WARNING. THE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO REPLACE A FAILED SENSOR MODULE!!!! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2016
Jan 2020

I STARTED THE CAR AND WHILE IT WAS STILL IN PARK, COMPLETELY UNMOVING, AN ALERT CAME UP ON THE SCREEN SAYING 'STEERING FAULT SERVICE NOW' AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO MOVE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2020
Jan 2020

MY POWER STEERING SEIZED AND WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY CHILD. WE ARE SO LUCKY THAT WE DID NOT CRASH AND DIE! I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY 2013 FORD FOCUS! I JUST WANTED A SAFE CAR FOR MY CHILD AND I. EVEN AFTER I FIX IT AND PAY OVER $2000.00 I WILL NEVER FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR AGAIN! HOW CAN FORD BE OK WITH THIS. THE CAR ITSELF SHOULD BE RECALLED! POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, BRAKE LINES FAILING, RADIO HAS GONE OUT, SYNC NEVER WORKED, DOOR LATCHES FAILED, NOW I AM TOLD MY GAS TANK IS RECALLED! UGGGG!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2020
Jan 2020

POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ALERT FOR POWER STEERING. THE RACK AND PINION HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. WAS TOLD BY REPAIR SHOP THAT THIS WAS LOW MILEAGE FOR THIS TYPE OF REPAIR. CAR IS DRIVEN MAINLY ON HIGHWAY. CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED. BOUGHT VEHICLE TWO YEARS AGO. IT WAS A ONE OWNER CAR THAT ONLY HAD 29,000 MILES. I AM 50 YEARS OLD AND A RELIABLE DRIVER. THIS CAR HAS HAD TO HAVE A CLUTCH REPLACED AND STEERING REPLACED IN TWO YEARS. THE CARS STEERING WENT OUT DURING A STOP. WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP WITH HARD STEERING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2020

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.