2013 Ford Focus Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 276 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2013 Ford Focus, 13% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 43,495 miles. The words owners use most often: “stop safely now” (8% of reports).
- 276electrical system complaints
- 43,495median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 26%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Stop safely now: mentioned in 21 of 276 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 210 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 276 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 3 an injury.
Ford Focus electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Focus | 49 | 6% | 41,323 |
| 2017 Focus | 36 | 4% | 27,050 |
| 2016 Focus | 82 | 7% | 51,800 |
| 2015 Focus | 64 | 6% | 50,000 |
| 2014 Focus | 245 | 9% | 60,000 |
| 2013 Focus | 276 | 13% | 43,495 |
| 2012 Focus | 352 | 9% | 64,500 |
| 2011 Focus | 25 | 22% | 48,000 |
| 2010 Focus | 43 | 15% | 61,000 |
| 2009 Focus | 45 | 20% | 83,162 |
| 2008 Focus | 57 | 23% | 83,000 |
| 2007 Focus | 85 | 22% | 54,944 |
| 2006 Focus | 47 | 23% | 58,608 |
| 2005 Focus | 113 | 26% | 69,961 |
| 2004 Focus | 183 | 47% | 53,000 |
| 2003 Focus | 522 | 53% | 60,000 |
| 2002 Focus | 277 | 29% | 63,488 |
| 2001 Focus | 496 | 28% | 64,639 |
| 2000 Focus | 1,343 | 36% | 62,000 |
| 1999 Focus | 2 | 18% | 166,508 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Electrical system:wiring
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system:wiring
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The vehicle suffered a major mechanical and electrical failure on July 28, 2026, and was immediately towed to an authorized dealership. After a multi-day delay awaiting a senior technician's analysis, the dealership issued a single service ticket grouping two distinct issues: a failed Canister…
RE: FAULTY THROTTLE WIRING / LOCATION CAUSING CORROSION 2013 FORD FOCUS - RECALL NEEDED To Whom It May Concern: My 2013 Ford Focus SE Flex with VIN [XXX] lost power while traveling from [XXX] to [XXX] a couple times before completely dying. My code reader was getting fixed throttle codes 2112, 2111…
I purchased a 2013 Ford Focus from Boucher Ford of Menomonee Falls, WI in February, 2026. A few months later, Ford issued a recall on this car that requires the Powertrain Control Module to be reprogrammed to avoid issues like a collapsed fuel tank or stalling while driving, potentially causing an…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Ford Focuss have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 276 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2013 Ford Focus (13% of the 2,112 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Ford Focus electrical system?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 43,495 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2013 Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “stop safely now”, in 21 of 276 complaints.
Other 2013 Ford Focus problems
See all 2013 Ford Focus problems or electrical system problems across all Focus years.