2013 Ford Focus Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 282 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 Ford Focus, 13% of its 2,111 total complaints. Median mileage at failure is 43,495. Three related recalls cover crimped wiring splices and headlamp wiring, tied to reported fires and shorts.
- Electrical System complaints
- 282
- 13% of 2,111
- Crashes reported
- 5
- Fires reported
- 6
- Injuries reported
- 4
- Median mileage
- 43,495 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners report dashboard wiring catching fire or smoking, sometimes filling the cabin with smoke.
- Some describe the vehicle rolling out of park after being shut off and locked, despite appearing to be in park.
- Several report sudden loss of electrical power, stalling, or the engine dying and refusing to restart, with burning smells from the dashboard.
- Owners describe erratic shifting, transmission-related fault codes (P07A3, P2872), and the car shutting off randomly.
- One owner reports a Body Control Module replacement followed shortly by a separate wiring diagnosis for windshield wiper failure.
- A few describe fires starting near the dashboard while parked or driving, in some cases after learning of a related recall.
When 2013 Ford Focus electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Oct 18, 2012, latest Sep 23, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2013 Ford Focus
- NHTSA 15V813000Dec 2, 2015Electrical System9,017 vehicles
Electrical system:wiring
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured January 11, 2012, to April 1, 2013, and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles manufactured May 03, 2012, to October 14, 2013. Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor may provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM).
Risk: The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17-S1.
- NHTSA 14V495000Aug 11, 2014Electrical System133,227 vehicles
Electrical system:wiring
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to April 1, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines and Focus ST vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to October 14, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines. Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor may provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM).
Risk: The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17.
- NHTSA 13V335000Aug 1, 2013Electrical System6,308 vehicles
Exterior lighting
Ford is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus BEV vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured September 15, 2011, through May 6, 2013; and model year 2013 Focus ST vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured February 16, 2012, through May 7, 2013. Due to a wiring incompatability, the front side marker lamps may not function. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Without the proper illumination of the side maker lamps, the vehicle may be less visible in night time conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the headlamp assembly wiring, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C04.
Electrical System complaints by Focus model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical complaints does the 2013 Ford Focus have?
- NHTSA lists 282 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 Focus, which is 13% of the 2,111 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for electrical issues on the 2013 Ford Focus?
- Yes. NHTSA lists three related Electrical System recalls: 15V813000 and 14V495000 covering crimped wiring splices, and 13V335000 covering headlamp wiring on HID-equipped Focus ST models.
- At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure among reported Electrical System complaints is 43,495 miles.
- Have the electrical problems caused fires or crashes?
- NHTSA data tied to this complaint area shows 6 fires, 5 crashes, and 4 injuries reported for the 2013 Ford Focus.