2013 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
69 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
5,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 64 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 69 complaints (53.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 15.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 15.9% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 14.5% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 13.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 5.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 37 |
| Electrical System | 26 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 15 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
Power Train: 37; Electrical System: 26; Engine: 16; Fuel/Propulsion System: 15; Steering: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Service Brakes: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 51 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 51; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (51). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 35 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2013: 35; 2014: 10; 2015: 5; 2016: 5; 2017: 6; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10542482 · 2013-09-08 (September 8, 2013)
I BRAKED TO A STOP AT A BUSY ENTRANCE TO A TRAFFIC ROTARY. TRAFFIC STARTED UP AND THE CAR WOULDN'T RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR. I SAW A STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE ON THE LEFT HAND DIGITAL DISPLAY. CAR WOULDN'T MOVE OR START AGAIN. HAD TO PUSH CAR OUT OF BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC. STATE OF CHARGE WAS GOOD FOR THE TRIP. PROBLEM WAS NOT EXPLAINED BY DISPLAY. OUTDOOR AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS MILD. CAR WAS FLAT-BEDDED TO MY FORD DEALER, WHERE IT STILL SITS TODAY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS IF IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY, AND I HAD BEEN SURROUNDED WIT…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10545282 · 2013-09-25 (September 25, 2013)
DRIVING AT LOW SPEED IN A PARKING LOT, THE CAR LOST PROPULSION (ONLY) AND DISPLAYED 'STOP SAFELY NOW'. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES SINCE (TOTAL OF 4) WITH 3 INCIDENTS ALSO BEING AT LOW, PARKING LOT SPEEDS. I HAD ONE INCIDENT WHERE THIS OCCURRED AT A STEADY 40MPH. THE CAR LOOSES PROPULSION ONLY. STEERING, BRAKING AND ALL OTHER ACCESSORIES ARE UNAFFECTED. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10545282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10546033 · 2013-09-28 (September 28, 2013)
TWO INCIDENTS OF "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING AND LOSS OF POWER. DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM IN FIRST INCIDENT. SECOND INCIDENT TODAY, 23 DAYS AFTER FIRST ONE. WILL TAKE (OR TOW) IT IN FOR INSPECTION MONDAY, PER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,663 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10546098 · 2013-09-29 (September 29, 2013)
AFTER DRIVING ABOUT ONE MILE FROM HOME, A TONE SOUNDED AND THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING WAS DISPLAYED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH. THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE CAR'S SPEED WAS ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN THE TONE FIRST SOUNDED. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED TWO MINUTES LATER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY WHERE THERE ARE VERY FEW PLACES TO PULL OFF AND WOULD HAVE PRESENTED A SERIOUS DANGER. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER A FEW MINUTES, DROVE BACK HOME, AND THEN HAD I…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10546103 · 2013-09-29 (September 29, 2013)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT APPROX. 30 MPH. WITH NO PRIOR AUDIBLE OR VISUAL INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING DRIVE POWER CEASED AND THE CAR CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP WITH A LOUD AUDIBLE WARNING.SHE WAS LUCKY NOT TO BE REAR ENDED..THE GREEN INSTRUMENT PANEL ICON WHICH NORMALLY INDICATES DRIVE POWER CONNECTED WAS UNLIT. SHE RECYCLED PARKING BRAKE ON, TRANSMISSION IN PARK, FOOT ON FOOTBRAKE AND PRESSED THE POWER BUTTON (THIS IS THE NORMAL START PROCEDURE) WITH NO RESULT . SHE OPENED AND CLOSED THE DRIVER DOOR AND THEN THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,336 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10546691 · 2013-10-03 (October 3, 2013)
I HAVE JUST OVER 1000 MILES ON MY 2013 FOCUS EV ... TOOK IT FOR ITS 1ST POWER CAR WASH TODAY @ DELTA SONIC ... ABOUT 10:00 MIN DRIVING AWAY FROM CAR WASH, VEHICLE ABRUPTLY "SHUT DOWN" REQUESTING AN "IMMEDIATE SAFE STOP" AND THE "YELLOW WRENCH" SHOWED ON DASH. AFTER ABOUT 30:00 MIN WHILE SCHEDULING A TOW FROM FORD ROADSIDE ASSIST, VEHICLE ABRUPTLY "CLEARED ITSELF" AND TURNED ON ... DROVE HOME W/O PROBLEM ? WONDERING IF "FLOOD SENSOR" SENSED TOO MUCH WATER AND DISENGAGED BATTERY PACK ? ... LIGHTS, RADIO AND ACCESSORIES WERE STILL OPERATIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,012 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10546858 · 2013-10-05 (October 5, 2013)
DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME WHEN WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH ON THE DASH SAYING TO CHECK OWNERS MANUAL AND TO PULL OVER. THE GAS PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND I COASTED UP TO A RED LIGHT AT A LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND STOPPED, PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS. EVENTUALLY TURNED VEHICLE OFF THEN ON AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. SECOND INCIDENT WAS ON 9/29/13, AND HAD 2863 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING TO DINNER THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON DASH, AND WE LOST POWER. THANKFULLY NOT A LOT OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SOMEWHERE SAFE …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,351 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10547138 · 2013-10-07 (October 7, 2013)
ON AT LEAST 8 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ALL OF SUDDEN AND OUT OF THE BLUE IT DISPLAYS A "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD AND THEN COMPLETELY LOSES ALL POWER TO THE DRIVETRAIN AS SOON AS IT SLOWS TO DOWN TO APPROX. 5MPH. FORTUNATELY, I'VE NOT BEEN KILLED YET AS A RESULT OF THIS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE FORD DEALER 2 TIMES SINCE THE FIRST OCCURRENCE IN APRIL TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM AND IS CURRENTLY THERE AGAIN AFTER IT MOST RECENTLY HAPPENED ON SEPT 24, 2013. IT'S NOW BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR NEARLY TWO WEEKS AND THEY AR…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547138 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V475000 · Equipment:Electrical:Anti-Theft Devices | Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
Reported: 2013-10-17 (October 17, 2013)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus Electric vehicles and 2013 C-Max vehicles equipped with the Intelligent Access Push Button Start System. In the affected vehicles, there is no audible chime when the vehicle is operational and the driver's door is opened. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Consequence: Without an audible door chime, a vehicle owner may open the door and exit the vehicle without being reminded that the vehicle is still operational, leaving the vehicle susceptible to theft.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the door chime, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C07.
NHTSA campaign record ↗13V523000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Reported: 2013-10-30 (October 30, 2013)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Focus Electric vehicles manufactured September 15, 2011, through August 23, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a powertrain control module software problem may result in a stall-like condition.
Consequence: An unexpected loss of power while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the power control module, free of charge. The recall beganon November 22, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S09. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V592000 · Equipment:Electrical
Reported: 2018-09-10 (September 10, 2018)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 120V Convenience charge cords that were supplied with and sold for use with 2013-2015 Ford C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi vehicles and 2012-2015 Ford Focus Electric vehicles. Cords with part numbers FM58-10B706-AA, FM58-10B706-AB, FM58-10B706-AC, FM58-10B706-AD, FM58-10B706-AE and FM58-10B706-AF were manufactured without thermistors, and during vehicle charging, increased resistance in the house's outlet or wiring can cause the cord to overheat and melt.
Consequence: An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120V convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S24.
NHTSA campaign record ↗