The 2013 Ford Focus with the PowerShift dual-clutch automatic transmission (DPS6) is notorious for one of the most problematic transmissions ever put in a mainstream car. Non-electric models with manuals are significantly more reliable, but the automatic is a category-killer issue.
PowerShift DPS6 Dual-Clutch Transmission Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-80,000 mi, but can fail earlier or later
Symptoms: Shuddering or jerking during low-speed acceleration, Hesitation when pulling away from stop, Slipping between gears, Grinding or clunking noises, Transmission overheating warnings, Complete loss of forward gears
Fix: Clutch pack replacement is the most common repair (6-8 hours labor), but many need full transmission rebuilds or replacement units. Ford extended warranty coverage through multiple class-action settlements, but post-warranty repairs are financially devastating. TCM reprogramming sometimes provides temporary relief.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500 for clutch packs; $4,000-6,500 for full rebuild or reman unit
Transmission Control Module (TCM) Software/Hardware Faults
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh or delayed shifts, Check engine light with transmission codes (P0606, P0776, P1825), Transmission stuck in gear or limp mode, Intermittent loss of reverse
Fix: Ford issued multiple TSBs and reflashes attempting to smooth DPS6 behavior. Sometimes TCM replacement is needed (2-3 hours labor). Many times this is done alongside clutch work since issues overlap.
Estimated cost: $400-900 for reflash and diagnosis; $800-1,400 for TCM replacement
Transmission Input Shaft Seal Leak
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddle under car, Burning smell from clutch area, Low fluid warnings, Worsening shift quality
Fix: Requires transmission removal to replace input shaft seal (7-9 hours labor). Often discovered during clutch replacement. If caught early, prevents clutch damage from fluid starvation.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Door Latch Failures (Recall 15S16)
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Door won't close or latch properly, Door appears closed but opens while driving, Door ajar warning light stays on, Interior lights won't turn off
Fix: NHTSA recall for latch pawl spring breakage. Ford replaces door latch assemblies (1 hour per door). Safety critical — door can open unexpectedly. Check if recall was completed on any used unit.
Estimated cost: $0 if recall applies; $250-400 per door otherwise
Blend Door Actuator Failure
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Clicking or ticking noise from dashboard, Heat only blows on one side, Can't switch between hot and cold air, Air only comes from certain vents
Fix: Common HVAC issue on Ford products. Actuator replacement requires dashboard disassembly (2-4 hours depending on which actuator fails). There are typically 3-4 actuators in the system.
Estimated cost: $300-650
Fuel System Purge Valve and EVAP Leaks
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with P0442, P0455, P0456 codes, Fuel smell around car, Rough idle after refueling, Failed emissions test
Fix: Canister purge valve sticks or leaks (1 hour). Sometimes requires smoke test to find EVAP system leaks in hoses or at fuel tank. Multiple recalls on fuel system components, so check history.
Estimated cost: $200-500
Owner tips
If buying used, ONLY consider manual transmission models or verify extensive PowerShift repair/replacement history with documentation
Check VIN for all door latch and fuel system recalls — these are safety-critical
DPS6 transmission fluid should be changed every 30,000 miles despite Ford calling it 'lifetime' — may extend clutch life slightly
Test drive must include multiple starts from stops, low-speed parking lot maneuvers, and highway on-ramps to expose transmission shudder
Hard pass on any automatic transmission model unless heavily discounted and you budget $3,000-5,000 for inevitable transmission work; manual transmission versions are acceptable budget commuters.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · 20V331000
2020-06-08 · RQ19005
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Consequence: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE · 19V515000
2019-07-05
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 and 2017 Focus vehicles equipped with 2.0L GDI gasoline engines and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles equipped with 2.0L GTDI engines, previously recalled under 18V-735. The affected vehicles did not have the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) updated as intended. Therefore, the Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system.
Consequence: The excessive vacuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began July 29, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S22.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE · 18V735000
2018-10-22
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
Consequence: The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Ford Focus hatchback vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 26, 2016 and equipped with a manual transmission. The hatchback of the affected vehicles may be unlatched with a single press of the interior latch release button. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
Consequence: With only a single press needed, the driver may accidently unlatch the hatchback, increasing the risk of injury to any unsecured passengers in the back.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C13.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · 16V643000
2016-09-06 · PE16001
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Consequence: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · 15V813000
2015-12-02
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).
Consequence: The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 · 14V495000
2014-08-11
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).
Consequence: The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING · 13V335000
2013-08-01
Ford is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus BEV vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured September 15, 2011, through May 6, 2013; and model year 2013 Focus ST vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured February 16, 2012, through May 7, 2013. Due to a wiring incompatability, the front side marker lamps may not function. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Without the proper illumination of the side maker lamps, the vehicle may be less visible in night time conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the headlamp assembly wiring, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C04.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES · 13V085000
2013-03-07
Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Focus and C-Max vehicles built from November 16, 2012, through November 21, 2012; and model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from November 14, 2012, through November 21, 2012. The left rear door child lock was built incorrectly. As a result, the child lock may not engage when the operator uses normal force to activate the child lock.
Consequence: The operator may incorrectly believe the child lock is engaged. However, the door may be opened from the inside, increasing the risk of injury to an unrestrained child.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected rear door latches, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
EQUIPMENT · 12E035000
2012-10-02
This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Yakima Products, Inc. for use on model year 2012 and 2013 Ford Focus vehicles. This recall is being conducted by Yakima, not by Ford. Certain combined Q-Tower and Q128 Clip rooftop rack systems, part numbers 8000124 and 8000728, do not fully contact the door frame.
Consequence: Without proper contact of the rooftop rack clip to the door frame, there is insufficient clamping pressure and friction. The system may slide off the vehicle when loaded with accessories, possibly becoming a road hazard to other vehicles or causing injury to pedestrians.
Remedy: Yakima will notify owners, and Yakima or a Yakima dealer will refund the purchase of the Q-Tower and Q-128 Clip system. There is no replacement system available for the 2012-2013 model year Ford Focus. The safety recall began on October 15, 2012. Only vehicles equipped with the vehicle rack system are affected. This recall is being conducted by Yakima, not Ford. Owners may contact Yakima at 1-888-925-4621.
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