2013 Ford Focus Fuel System Problems
NHTSA lists 263 Fuel System complaints for the 2013 Ford Focus, 12% of all complaints filed for that year, with a median mileage at failure of 80,000. Three related recalls (26V369000, 19V515000, 18V735000) cover a Canister Purge Valve defect that can cause stalling.
- Fuel System complaints
- 263
- 12% of 2,111
- Crashes reported
- 4
- Fires reported
- 3
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 80,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical fuel system symptoms owners report
- Engine stalls or shuts off unexpectedly while driving, sometimes with a fuel odor and linked to a defective canister purge valve.
- Vehicle loses power and will not accelerate beyond a low speed, forcing the driver to pull over.
- "Stop Safely Now" warning appears and the vehicle loses all motive power, requiring multiple restart attempts.
- Fuel gauge or estimated range readings are inaccurate, showing miles remaining when the tank is actually near empty.
- Fuel tank reported leaking gas, raising fire risk when combined with separate electrical wiring problems.
When 2013 Ford Focus fuel system complaints were filed
First complaint Apr 23, 2013, latest Sep 23, 2026.
Fuel System recalls for the 2013 Ford Focus
- NHTSA 26V369000Jun 9, 2026Fuel System257,868 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:evaporative emissions:canister
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
Risk: An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
- NHTSA 19V515000Jul 5, 2019Fuel System57,488 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:evaporative emissions:canister
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 and 2017 Focus vehicles equipped with 2.0L GDI gasoline engines and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles equipped with 2.0L GTDI engines, previously recalled under 18V-735. The affected vehicles did not have the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) updated as intended. Therefore, the Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system.
Risk: The excessive vacuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began July 29, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S22.
- NHTSA 18V735000Oct 22, 2018Fuel System1,282,596 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:evaporative emissions:canister
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
Risk: The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.
Fuel 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 fuel system complaints does NHTSA have for the 2013 Ford Focus?
- NHTSA lists 263 Fuel System complaints for the 2013 Focus, which is 12% of the 2,111 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2013 Ford Focus fuel system?
- Yes. Three recalls cover the Fuel System: 18V735000, 19V515000, and 26V369000. All relate to a Canister Purge Valve that can malfunction and cause the engine to stall.
- At what mileage do 2013 Focus fuel system problems typically show up?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 80,000 for Fuel System issues on the 2013 Focus.
- Did the fuel system problems cause any crashes or fires?
- NHTSA records associate this complaint category with 4 crashes, 3 fires, and 1 injury for the 2013 Focus.
- Is the fuel system issue worse in 2013 than other Focus years?
- The 2013 Focus's 12% share of complaints tied to Fuel System is lower than the 14%-23% shares seen in 2014-2018, based on NHTSA's year-by-year data.