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2013 Ford Focus consumer reviews

$16,200 starting MSRP
side view of 2013 Focus Ford
(323 reviews)
57% of drivers recommend this car
Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 3.9
  • Interior 3.9
  • Performance 3.3
  • Value 3.5
  • Exterior 4.3
  • Reliability 3.3
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Poor transmission and electronics Titanium LOADED

!st-When we got the car in August 2012 the day after I had to take it on a long trip. As I entered the car noticed something shiny on the (leather) driver seat and when to wipe it away. I was glass and cut me. I then noticed tiny glass sheds ALL over the car! On the dash, in the CD player, in the seat seams......everywhere! Called the dealer and had no idea what I was talking about! Wound up cutting the leather on the seat. They apologized and replace the seat cover and made note incase anything else went wrong due to the glass. 2nd-On another long trip we were using the navigation system (part of the Sync) and the whole Windows based computer SHUT DOWN! NOTHING...no navigation, no stereo, no phone, no climate control!!!! After messing with it for like an hour (added to our already 12 hour trip) it decided to work again. This reoccured several times in the first 4 weeks of owning it. 3rd- We had to have the dealer install the FORD remote starter system....a week later and a Tech from Detroit coming to MA to install it...it was done, but now we had TWO key fobs instead of the ONE we wanted.....it was the whole purpose of getting the FORD remote start! 4th-Was the take off LAG!!!! I had just missed getting into an accident SEVERAL times due to stepping on the gas from an intersection going into traffic and the car would just barley roll. After about 5 ft of that I would have to slam on the brakes and back out of the situation because I wasn't sure the car was even going to go at all! Brought it back to the dealer AGAIN and they said it needed to LEARN???? They also reprogramed the computer so it would accelerate sooner....kind of? 5th-And probably not the last for the car was the TRANSMISSION!!!! After complaining about the jerkiness the dealer once again told us it needed to LEARN and that it was a "DRY CLUTCH AUTOMATIC"?????....Okaaaay? So after about 5k miles of this, it then started slipping and making chumping noises like a low tone grind but loud! Took it back to the dealer SEVERAL times for this and basically told us we were nuts! They had a tech on the phone to Detroit several times and we would get it back several times with no change! We are now beyond the MA lemon law guide lines and...well, we traded it in with a HUGE!!!!! LOSS!!!! BUYER BEWARE!!!!!! DO NOT BUY THIS CAR!!!!! Ford Focus Titanium with Sync!!!!!!

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 3.0
  • Interior 3.0
  • Performance 1.0
  • Value 1.0
  • Exterior 3.0
  • Reliability 1.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does not recommend this car
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Unsure about it????

I purchased brand new 2013 SE Ford Focus in January of 2013. At first I was unsure about buying a Ford, but I got such a good deal and my father is a retired from Ford and thought it would be a great car for me as this will be my first brand new car with only my miles on it. As well as my parents both own ford Fusions 2008 & 2011. I was really shocked at the pick up it had for a 4cylder as well as the great gas milage I was getting. Love the interior look as well as the exterior. Now the back seat room is not very roomy, but can deal with that. I would recommend this car to a friend only if they fix this transmission issue. My issue is with the transmission . After about a month or so I started to notice that is was driving like it maybe a stick shift. I started to hear grinding sounds when taking off, rolling when on hill, the jerking as if wasnt in gear, really slugish when switching from gears, really when come to complete stop and getting ready to take off again. At times I thought I was going to stall or the person behind me would rear-end me cause it hadnt kicked into gear. I took in to Ford Dealer and was told that nothing was nothing wrong with it and have to wait to the car get use to my driving. Well Iam now at 1100miles and Iam still feeling the same things as well as the grinding ,if not worse now. Iam planning to take in to the dealer again and if this doesnt resolve the issue I will be writing a letter to the consumer report as well as the corporate office for Ford. Not sure if that will help but I would hate to not have this made aware and me sitting at a light getting ready to take off and the car stall and someone rear-end me.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 3.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 3.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does recommend this car
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Two Break downs in 9 Months!

I thought I bought a great car, good value, style and mileage. The mileage is okay (32 mpg), but I was expecting the 37, 38 mpgs as advertised. On a trip out west, 3 months of ownership, the car would not go in reverse or drive faster than 5 mph! The computer needed new protocols set and I was on my way from Topeka, Kansas! Then, 7 months later, same thing, breakdown, 20 miles from home! Still waiting on repair, but it is the transmission, again!

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 3.0
  • Performance 1.0
  • Value 2.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 1.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Having fun
  • Does not recommend this car
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Not sure on this yet, have only had it three weeks

Having gone from a larger vehicle to a smaller one my only complaint is not having room for a box of tissues near me, I have allergies. I wish the back seat headrests were removable, I am short, and they obstruct my vision a little..

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 3.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Does recommend this car
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Disappointment

This is my second ford focus and I am really disappointed in the performance of my Focus 2013 hatchback. I have over 10000 km on it and I am still waiting for the vehicle to learn how to drive. The car makes noises when shifting, lags some times when your turning, it can be quite dangerous if you need a quick response, the car clicks when you put the car in park, makes noises when you open the doors and I have already put it into the dealership twice to find out the transmission is a automatic standard.....what is that.....(oh their response is the car is driving normally) This car was expensive.. and now my prayer is that GOD will make the car run properly. Shame on Ford.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 2.0
  • Value 2.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 3.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Does not recommend this car
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Great car

FOR ALL THE SILLY PEOPLE OUT THERE saying stuff about the transmission. let me tell you that at first the car makes noises, THAT'S NORMAL, the car will get used to your driving habits and all noises will go away. I was about 900 miles when they go away. if you want a car to last long then drive it nicely. if not ANY car will give you lots of problems even if they are new. I managed to get 52mpg driving at 60mph. average in city for me is 35. right now It has 13k miles and STILL LOVE IT. People FIRST have to read LOTS of reviews to buy a car, specially a new car. I highly recommend a Ford Focus. finally Ford is bringing European models to the US.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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2nd Most relaibel car I have owned in 30 years.

I've driven older versions of this Focus in Europe and was pleasantly suprised at its fine handling and comfort and gas sipping. . Great vaue, well constructed and a real Challenger to Korean flimsy, cheap contenders flooding US Market and aimed at College kids and unsuspecting new buyers...

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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Decent car

I had this as a rental for ten days. I definitely prefer it over some of the other rental models available in this class. I would even consider buying this model as it was very easy to get used to and seemed pretty solid. At first I really disliked the interior styling. After I drove the car for awhile the very ugly center console revealed itself as easy to use with the right hand. Despite its odd looking insect like configuration the controls you use most are in easy reach and easy to identify. I grew fond of the slightly retro drivers display with its turquoise needles in the gauges. I also appreciated that the displays were cool blue, not angry red. The main interior drawback was the seats were hard to adjust. Also, the extremely raked windshield gives a huge dashboard. It's impossible for a short armed woman to reach the distant inside surface of the windshield while seated. The ride on this car is good and feels solid. It steered well, nice and responsive, and brakes were good. The transmission was not so great. The Ford transmission was very jerky at low acceleration from a stop, especially on a hill or around the transitions between 10 and 35 miles per hour. It would shift when you stepped on the gas, just not smoothly. The car was nicely fuel efficient. The rear seats were a little cramped when the front seats were pushed back. The trunk was spacious for a car this size. A few controls required the engine to be running, or the car to be in park, or both. We had a minor panic trying to remove a backpack at school drop off when the trunk would not release. This is presumably a safety feature, but with all the electronics and displays it could have given us an error message to explain what was happening. Overall this was a very decent commute vehicle and I would not hesitate to rent again. I had test driven a Focus a few years ago and was not impressed, but this model was much more acceptable.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 3.0
  • Performance 3.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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2013 Ford Focus Doesn't Have Automatic Transmissio

Bought a 2013 Ford Focus "automatic". Jerky unreliable transmission, poor gas mileage. Ford won't make it right or stand behind the warranty. Took a hit and got rid of it and bought a Camry - smooth transmission and better gas mileage than the jerky Focus. Did some research and discovered that what was sold to us as an automatic transmission is actually labeled an "automated manual", which I guess means that it will never shift smoothly like a real automatic transmission. Save your money and buy a real car - not a Ford.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 1.0
  • Interior 2.0
  • Performance 1.0
  • Value 1.0
  • Exterior 3.0
  • Reliability 1.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Does not recommend this car
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Great performance and Gas Mileage

"I don't understand what people are complaining about, the car ride is very quite and its very fast. The transmission does its job, it allows the the car to have performance and still get 30 - 40 mpg consistently. The price point is very good, good room inside, great performance, great mileage, bluetooth hands free standard, what more do you want? I have over 7000 miles and several trips without any problems. I have a 2011 Prius and I prefer to drive the Focus."

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Does recommend this car
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