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2013 Ford Focus
Would like to hear about other 2013 Ford Focus owners experiences with their vehicle.
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This was built in Michigan where I used to live and it wouldn't pass the muster at all in any winter. Not especially happy to have to take this in already.
On the rear there is an embedded de-icer which is simply a grid of heater wires fused to the glass that melt the ice (which generally skids down the window and out of sight. The rear de-icer would have no effect on the inner glass surface fog (air conditioning would be required to do that---to dry out the air inside the car).
Does the new Focus have ducts that deliver defrosting air to the rear window?
It was 21 degrees out and the wind chill factor was 15 degrees.
Any airdales on here have any thoughts? :confuse:
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Read starting from lowest to the highest and I think you'll get the real picture. :lemon:
Note: if car purchases were completely dependent on the worst ratings given by the public, NO ONE would purchase a car from anyone.
I am averaging 30 miles per gal in May ( see fuelly.com). I have a horrific commute from SF east bay valleys to San Francisco. Not true highway miles. I Like the three tone interior as opposed to all black but the upholstery and support could be a little better.
For the price this beats the competition - for me - the Mazda 3, Subaru impreza, and VW golf. Happy driving.
Check your tire pressures and bring them up to the levels recommended on the sticker in the door frame. The TPMS system on my Versa resets itself. poking around a bit, it looks like the Focus may need a "procedure" performed to reset the light, but the dealer or a competent tire shop should be able to do that for you.
So, yesterday here is what my dealership did:
Reprogram the PCM/TCM
Inspected for transmission fluid leak
Perform IDS Transmission Clutch Adaptive Learn
Road Test and record PIDS
Review and Perform Calculations
I was told that this "should" smooth everything out, but some of that rattle was probably always going to be there. WTF? Car is making noise and by design then?
So I've been driving it all day and the car behaves really no differently than it was prior to yesterday's analysis. Perhaps that is the problem - no one at the dealership actually knows how to work on cars and is relying on this computer stuff to fix a problem that requires physical work??
I'm thinking about my options, but I now have ZERO confidence that the dealer can and will solve the issues. Thinking about taking it to a transmisson shop I took my old Mazda 3 to who did wizardry and fixed what one mechanic called a complete transmission job with two parts and the low, low price of $250.
I'm still under warranty at only 14000 miles. Any suggestions as to how to go about this? Already inconvenienced me for a whole week of time with 4 total trips to the dealer's service department.
They told me they were going to do the same procedure as you have listed, reprogram, it'll always be there a bit, etc. However, they informed me that 3rd gear is essentially destroyed. The won't release the vehicle to me until the "rush" parts come in a few weeks from now.
I recommend everyone with the transmission problems, have the dealer actually physically look at the parts. It seems to be something they aren't doing, and they should be.
I'll put an update on here when I get it back, as to what it's doing after an actual fix.
In another online forum, I actually had a Ford customer service rep contact me in a private message and is sending my case to a regional CSM. We'll see if anything actually comes of it, but HIGHLY disappointed that the mechanics at the dealer can't do what they are paid to do and not have me keep coming back.
Personally, I would demand they inspect it properly. The fact that my mechanic at Ford will not even release the car to me says that the underlying problem is a very real safety hazard, not just an inefficient shifting issue.
I hope your escalation gets you somewhere, because this whole thing on Ford's part is unacceptable. I don't blame them for putting something out that wasn't perfect, it happens. I know some of the 2012 owners got recall notices on theirs. I've received none personally for my 2013. I just can't believe they would stick to telling people it's normal, when they can't possibly still not know that it is not.
As an update, I have driven 2 other Focus cars a 2013 and a 2014 both without the SelectShift. The 2013 is my rental, 1 shudder in about 1000 miles of driving it. The 2014 owner doesn't have the problem either.
I know the bolt pattern (5x108) and believe the 15-inch rims are 7 inches wide. Does anyone know the "offset" or "backspace" for 15-inch rims?
I purchased a 2013 focus hatchback last March, always feel a little jerking. Then last week, I heard loud noise when accelerating. Take it to dealership, and they said the clutch in transmission needs to be replaced. It's kinda pity, and nervous. Anyone else has this problem? Is it common? What may I do next? Thank you.
My 2013 Focus with under 11k miles has been in the shop three times for transmission problems. At Thanksgiving time was told that there was a leak, immediately given a rental, said was unsafe to drive. At the time was told was replacing clutch. End of December car acted up again, brought to dealer. Said was leak in clutch seals, waited 3 weeks for part. Again two days with a rental. Now is April, car again lurching, rumbling etc. Dealer says prior visits nothing replaced, clutch only cleaned. In a rental again, dealer now says replacing the clutch. Bought this car for the long haul, very upset cant afford a car that will continually have problems. Ready to call to see if I can in-act the lemon law.
When I started this post I was very high on my purchase and thought many of you were unlucky. Eh, we are all unlucky. I took my vehicle in 6 days ago and after the first business day they called to tell me my clutch was leaking fluid into the transmission and that the seals for the clutch need to be replaced, and the transmission "cleaned" of the leaking fluid. I don't have a status report yet. Based on the recent comments I know I'm in for a lot of BS and more repairs. I hope to be trading this in around Memorial Day when car deals start to roll. FYI shortly before I took this in to the shop I read in consumer reports this vehicle has the worst possible rating for reliability. I need my vehicle for commuting and need reliability. My bad for not doing research first. They wouldn't give me a loaner since I didn't buy the extended warranty which included loaners in cases like this...Stay tuned for updates.
BTW, I have just over 17000 miles on this thing..
Almost sounds more like a quality control issue with assembly and seals rather than a mechanical issue
I own a 2012 Focus SE hatch. I have the sunroof, winter package, convenience package and winter package. The only problem I had was the transmission jerking issue. I had the car reprogrammed at about 10,000 miles and not had an incident since. I average 34.7 MPG per the computer. This car is fun, sporty to drive. Once you learn how to use the sport shift it is actually pretty quick. I now have over 26,000 miles with no other issues. I would recommend this car.
I have a 2013 focus hatchback will just over 20,000 miles. It has been in and out of the shop 4 times in the last 30 days. This last time they had it for a week. The time before that, a week also. They have reset the TCM twice, replaced the TCM, replaced the clutches, and replaced the actuators. When driving with the technician yesterday, my car was making grinding noises, shifting hard and shuttering. He told me that was normal operation for this transmission. I asked him if he thought Ford purposely designed a transmission to perform horribly and require major service at 20,000 miles. He laughed. I think Ford is aware there is a problem, but they have not come up with a fix. I hate having passengers, because its just embarrassing. I went on a road trip last weekend, and even if my car wouldn't have been in the shop there is no way I would have driven it any long distance. This car has proven to be horribly unreliable and unsafe.
Drove 3 different Foci at work yesterday and they all shudder at lower speeds and I do not understand why. Honestly, every Focus I have ever driven has driven the same and I wonder why can't Ford fix this problem? People buy these things so does this issue not register or do they just learn to live with it? I'm at a loss here and even though I do like the looks, I never even considered it when I was looking. Honestly, my '06 Civic drove so much nicer than these Foci!
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Any specific conditions that seem to be causing the shudder? BTW... love my Versa hatches too.
No clue as to why they all seem to do this, must be something to do with the auto tranny they use but I know I'd never ever buy one with this issue. Was just too annoying and I'm used to my Hyundai which shifts seemlessly!
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
So upset with FORD all around. We have bought Ford vehicles for the past 10 years, like some of you on here. You would think they would listen to their loyal consumers, that have made them "#1". These design flaws in the transmission need to be owned and dealt with, not giving the run around BS!!! Maybe a class action would encourage them to rectify the problem.
Yep, I have a 2013 Ford Focus Hatchback with the "manual" automatic transmission (as my dealership calls it). Purchased it in October 2013, brand spanking new. It now has 8000 miles on it. To date, I have taken it in for the transmission 3 times ; the strut tower bearings (only one side and not the mount) to be replaced, now 2 times!!!! I do not like wasting my time on this BS. I thought I was buying a cost effective, new, reliable car..........BOY! WAS I WAY WRONG
I contacted the Ford Customer Service department, explained the issue-he emailed me back "after investigating my claim" and told me to talk to the dealer's service department. What??? I explained that since the problem persists, I was contacting them. His reply,
****Thank you for your reply. I apologize that my original response did not resolve your concerns.
As previously communicated, your vehicle is operating within Ford specifications.
At this time, we recommend you speak with the Service Manager of your servicing dealership for further explanation on the condition of your vehicle.
Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company.
Sincerely,
Chris
Customer Relationship Center
Ford Motor Company
**
yep, they care about their customers!
**
Drove a couple more Foci yesterday and that tranny issue...still there. Hertz has a bunch in their fleet at present time so I have no choice but to drive them whenever the lead driver throws me the keys and funny, I do like the hatch design and would've put it on my short list last year when I purchased my new vehicle. But this tranny issue is crazy annoying and I could never put my hard earned money on an inferior problem like this.
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)