How common are transmission problems in the 2013 Ford Focus?

NHTSA lists 1,101 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Focus, which is 52% of all 2,111 complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2013 Ford Focus transmission?

No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain area on the 2013 Focus.

At what mileage do 2013 Ford Focus transmission problems usually start?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this area is 39,000 miles.

Have transmission complaints on the 2013 Focus led to crashes or injuries?

NHTSA data tied to this complaint area lists 17 crashes, 10 injuries, and 1 fire.

2013 Ford Focus Transmission & Powertrain Problems

Transmission & Powertrain complaints account for 1,101 of 2,111 total complaints (52%) on the 2013 Ford Focus, with a median failure mileage of 39,000 miles. No related recalls are listed for this area. NHTSA logs 17 crashes, 10 injuries, and 1 fire tied to these complaints.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints: 1,101; 52% of 2,111
Crashes reported: 17
Fires reported: 1
Injuries reported: 10
Median mileage: 39,000 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

Owners report the PowerShift transmission shuddering, lurching, and slipping during acceleration, sometimes requiring repeated clutch replacements over the vehicle's life.
Some drivers describe the transmission slipping or skipping without warning while driving at unspecified speeds, tied to sensor failures.
Several owners report the vehicle jumping out of gear on the highway, forcing them to stop, shut off the engine, and restart to re-engage gear.
Owners describe the vehicle rolling away unexpectedly after being parked, including on a hill, despite believing it was in park.
Some report a loss of forward power or the transmission refusing to go into reverse, with shaking and unusual noises preceding the failure.
A few describe sudden unintended acceleration or surging when pressing the gas pedal after the vehicle initially failed to respond.

When 2013 Ford Focus transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 30, 2012, latest Sep 2, 2026.

1101 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q3 (117).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2013 Ford Focus

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Focus model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

201045 (16%)
201120 (18%)
20121,445 (38%)
20131,101 (52%)
20141,576 (61%)
2015558 (55%)
2016673 (57%)
2017452 (50%)
2018319 (38%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems in the 2013 Ford Focus?: NHTSA lists 1,101 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Focus, which is 52% of all 2,111 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Ford Focus transmission?: No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain area on the 2013 Focus.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford Focus transmission problems usually start?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this area is 39,000 miles.
Have transmission complaints on the 2013 Focus led to crashes or injuries?: NHTSA data tied to this complaint area lists 17 crashes, 10 injuries, and 1 fire.