Overview & Reviews

For 2013, Ford has adjusted the Focus' standard and optional equipment, with the main changes being the discontinuation of the SEL trim level and SE Sport package.

• Nimble handling
• Refined and quiet ride
• Abundant list of upscale and high-tech options.
• Stylish and well-made interior
• Lively engine

• Quirky automatic transmission response.
• Infotainment controls are finicky to learn and use
• Backseat is a little short on legroom

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 118.00

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  Some good, some bad - 2013 Ford Focus
  By Dan - November 3 - 4:17 pm

  The bad: the transmission is terrible, the dual clutch system is terrible, everyone agrees this should never have existed and this alone might be a reason to stay away from the car. Additionally, the Ford Sync technology is faulty at best. It reads my phone about 1/2-2/3 of the time and has trouble switching between bluetooth, USB, or auxiliary. The good: great AC and heater, comfortable front seats. Good storage with the hatchback. Handles great, good gas mileage (on the highway, modest in the city), good price tag. Bottom line: with a different transmission I would definitely get this car. With the current one Im definitely thinking of selling.

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  The little engine that cant. - 2013 Ford Focus
  By Chris Landis - September 25 - 7:12 am

  This vehicle was my first new vehicle purchase before this, i had mostly clapped out rusty trucks. To say this car dissapoints in the power department is an understatement. Its dangerously slow and underpowered. To climb any kind of moderate grade, it needs to be in a low gear and engine screaming to maintain speed. Forget about trying to gain speed if you need to. Mine has a 5spd manual, and its dopey and clunky to shift sometimes, and others its like working a fine bolt action rifle. Depends on the day. The clutch feel is non-existent. The seats legitimately cause pain after being in them for more than 30 minutes at a time. Making long trips miserable. On the up side, its a decent looking car. Gets good fuel economy for how much you have to tramp on it to go anywhere. I dig the Ford SYNC radio set up. Even though the AUX jack is junk. Its got fair storage and the rear seats fold down. Overall though, i wish i had kept the rusty old Dodge D100 i had traded on the Focus and kept putting monies into it. At least it had power...

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  Terrible Experience for a first car purchase - 2013 Ford Focus
  By Eboni Cumberlander - September 23 - 3:00 pm

  Well I purchased this vehicle in 2012 with excitement for my first new car! What a disappointment I have nothing but problems with this cars transmission, air conditioner, clutch, electrical fuses and now the transmission mount. The transmission mount broke and cause the engine to fall/shift while driving. I was scared to death with my 1 year old son in the car and the engine falls in mid motion. This car is a joke. FORD THIS UNACCEPTABLE!!! RECALL PLEASE

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  Disappointed!!!! - 2013 Ford Focus
  By finnigan1 - November 11 - 6:39 pm

  Horrible purchase. I previously owned a 2001 Ford Escape and experienced no issues, so I figured I would stick with a Ford vehicle. I have a long commute and decided the 2013 Ford Focus would be a practical choice. 3 months after purchasing it, the heater needed to be replaced. Ford also decided to replace the clutches in the transmission as well since it was very noisy when accelerating and shifting gears. Vehicle was returned to me and the transmission problems still existed. As of right now, its sitting at the dealership waiting to have the power steering rack replaced...Ive owned this car for 18 months, and have driven 54000km....brutal.

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  What A Hassle - 2013 Ford Focus
  By husker1960 - September 24 - 4:58 pm

  Bought a brand new 2013 Ford Focus Titanium with all the options including navigation and the handling package which comes with 20,000 mile summer tires that are ridiculously expensive to replace. We had severe transmission noise from day one. The transmission was grinding really loud along with some clunking noises, people walking or riding a bicycle would stare at a brand new car wondering what was wrong with it. In 4000 miles the car was in the shop four times for transmission issues over a six month period. The local Ford dealer finally agreed to replace the transmission control computer, it took three weeks to get the part in from China, it didnt fix the problem.

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  Stay Away / Faulty Transmissions - 2013 Ford Focus
  By jack8384 - August 26 - 2:49 am

  I have the Focus SE sedan with the faulty automatic transmission. I bought it brand new and first noticed the transmission to start acting crazy around 4500 miles. Ive read many similar complaints and see that Ford wont correct the problem. They issued a TSB on these trannies only to replace the clutch pack which doesnt help. They say its the way its designed to operate and theres no fix. WHAT ? Then why issue the TSB ? When I test drove the car it didnt do this. I would have stayed away then. Car lunges forward at stops, backs up by itself without giving it gas, the shift shuttering/slipping is the biggest problem.

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  Nope - 2013 Ford Focus
  By acabaner - June 10 - 12:56 pm

  First, I realize its dumb to buy a car and not like it but I had a good test drive & it made sense due to being a good used deal. Wanted a middle ground compact car that is decent performance and economy. Cruze, Civic, Elantra werent gutsy enough and something like the Si is fun but not practical enough. I came from a 2008 Mazda 3 5spd which I now realize was amazing, but figured would change it up. Inside is cramped, the center stack is huge and has no storage. Rear leg room is poor/worse. Auto transmission (not select shift) is hit or miss can be very smooth or very stupid. Fuel economy is not as hoped. The 3 got me 25 in mostly city driving (rated 23/29) and this gets 28.5.

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  Terrible Transmission - Buy something else - 2013 Ford Focus
  By eyandell - September 3 - 6:59 pm

  The interior build quality, sync capability and low cabin noise is what attracted me to this car. Now that Ive had it for about 3 months its quite possibly the worst new car I have ever owned. The MyTouch Sync system is very glitchy and slow. The premium sound system burps when at low volume and anything with bass comes on the radio and I dont listen to rap or anything with excessive bass to begin with. The worst part is the transmission. I have had the software updated twice and Im scheduled for another appointment for a transmission that feels like its loose and slipping. I will never own another Ford product after the experience Ive had.

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  Leased 12 days ago, .... - 2013 Ford Focus
  By markmom18 - June 1 - 6:10 pm

  GRINDING TRANSMISSION. ROLLS BACK. In the shop as we speak....A.C. COMPRESSOR ORDERED, TO BE REPLACED. This is a brand NEW, 2013 Ford Focus SE. God, why didnt we research?? First were interested in Escape and Fusion,2013 models. We spoke to General Sales manager, after getting nothing but the company spiel from lease salesman. Bottom line : Transmission guy will take a look at Focus on Monday. We DO NOT want this car. Ford official stand is all the grinding, rolling backwards, etc is normal...Handles different, drive it 6 months, get used to the car.

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  UNRELIABLE - 2013 Ford Focus
  By tommycj - February 23 - 10:09 am

  Ive owned a 2013 Focus for two months now and its been back to the shop twice for bad grounding wires in two different spots. The last one was for the fuel pump so the car died in the middle of traffic without warning!! Not the reliability youd expect from a car with 1400 miles on it. The dealership just laughs it off. Ford has come a long way but their individual dealerships still has a lot to learn!! Read up on their Electronic Power Assist Steering too. Not the sales hype either, find the complaints, there is a Tech Bulletin released on the problem but once again, the service center at the dealership acts as if there is no problem. My advice ... shop elsewhere.