2013 Ford Focus Fuel/propulsion System Problems
Owners have filed 209 complaints with NHTSA about fuel/propulsion system problems on the 2013 Ford Focus, 10% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 75,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “purge valve” (20% of reports).
- 209fuel/propulsion system complaints
- 75,000median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $2,150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 37%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.
- Purge valve: mentioned in 41 of 209 complaints (20%)
- Fuel tank: mentioned in 40 of 209 complaints (19%)
- Engine indicator: mentioned in 11 of 209 complaints (5%)
- Gas gauge: mentioned in 11 of 209 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical fuel/propulsion system repair on the 2013 Ford Focus at $2,150, and half of them between $1,550 and $2,700.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2016–2023), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do fuel/propulsion system problems happen?
Based on 152 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 209 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 1 an injury.
Ford Focus fuel/propulsion system complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel/propulsion System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Focus | 132 | 16% | 49,000 |
| 2017 Focus | 116 | 13% | 49,450 |
| 2016 Focus | 167 | 14% | 56,223 |
| 2015 Focus | 138 | 14% | 64,000 |
| 2014 Focus | 299 | 11% | 61,339 |
| 2013 Focus | 209 | 10% | 75,000 |
| 2012 Focus | 284 | 8% | 80,375 |
| 2011 Focus | 2 | 2% | 44,000 |
| 2010 Focus | 17 | 6% | 43,250 |
| 2009 Focus | 13 | 6% | 87,500 |
| 2008 Focus | 3 | 1% | 37,000 |
| 2007 Focus | 9 | 2% | 75,000 |
| 2006 Focus | 11 | 5% | 52,000 |
| 2005 Focus | 6 | 1% | 84,500 |
| 2004 Focus | 3 | 1% | 175,000 |
| 2003 Focus | 3 | 0% | 170,000 |
| 2002 Focus | 4 | 0% | 73,000 |
| 2001 Focus | 21 | 1% | 135,000 |
| 2000 Focus | 3 | 0% | 96,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists fuel/propulsion system for the 2013 Ford Focus. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
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…
The evap canister purge valve has been a recurring problem for this vehicle. The canister was replaced in 2021, but continued having problems, as it pulled a vacuum on the fuel tank in upwards of 3/8 inch. (Documented by Murray Ford in 2023 and reassuredthere was no issue by them) the vehicle has…
I am reporting a severe vehicle safety hazard and engine stalling incident on my 2013 Ford Focus caused by an un-remedied factory emissions safety defect (related to Ford Recall 26S40 / 18S32). Due to an incomplete factory software monitoring patch, the canister purge valve stuck open and allowed…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Ford Focuss have fuel/propulsion system problems?
No. NHTSA has 209 owner complaints about fuel/propulsion system for the 2013 Ford Focus (10% 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 fuel/propulsion system?
No recall currently lists fuel/propulsion system for this vehicle.
At what mileage do fuel/propulsion system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 75,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix fuel/propulsion system problems on the 2013 Ford Focus?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,150 (half paid between $1,550 and $2,700), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel/propulsion system problems on the 2013 Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “purge valve”, in 41 of 209 complaints, followed by “fuel tank” (40).
Other 2013 Ford Focus problems
- Power Train problems (1,102)
- Engine problems (344)
- Electrical System problems (276)
- Steering problems (273)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (112)
- Structure problems (84)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (53)
- Latches/locks/linkages problems (53)
See all 2013 Ford Focus problems or fuel/propulsion system problems across all Focus years.