Problems · by component

2013 Ford Focus electronic stability control (esc) problems

39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Focus cite electronic stability control (esc), 2% of all 2,157 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
39
2% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electronic stability control (esc)

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I JUST BOUGHT IS CAR WEDNESDAY THE 09TH 2020 AND ON THURSDAY THE 17TH I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM THE GARAGE AFTER GETTING IT INSPECTED, I GO BACK TO WORK AND LEAVE AROUND 730PM I WENT TO DROP MY FRIEND OFF AT HER HOUSE, HER HOUSE IS LOCATED ON A HILL, ONCE I TURNED THE CORNER AND HIT THE GAS, THE CAR BACKFIRED AND FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL, EVERYTIME I STOP THE CAR IS HESITANT TO MOVE EVERYTIME I TRY AND TAKE OFF. ALSO WHILE I WAS ON MY WAY HOME I HAD TO TAKE A ROAD WITH A HILL AND WHAT A MISTAKE I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP THAT'S WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 18, 2020Electronic stability control (esc), Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11355704
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET AND AN ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND INSTANTLY POWER STEERING STOPPED WHILE I WAS IN MOTION. I HAD TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE CAR BACK TO THE HOUSE WHICH WAS 10 MINS AWAY AND PARK IT WHICH OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT EASY CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES. FORD STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON ELECTRICAL OR POWER STEERING FOR THIS MODEL BUT I HAVE SEEN THAT SOME OTHER MODELS HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND ITS CONCERNING. LUCKILY, I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR AND MY CHILDREN WERE NOT PRESENT. I AM ALSO THANKFUL I WAS NOT ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS OCCURRED AS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS OCCURRED YESTERDAY, 8/26/2020 IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2020Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11351533
“WHILE DRIVING A FULLY-CHARGED 2013 FORD FOCUS BEV, THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE APPEARED, RESULTING IN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING AS I SLOWED THE CAR. CAR HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING TO PARK ONCE STOPPED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2020Power train, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11330336
“MY FORD CAR ENGINE LIGHT IS ON WHENEVER IT RAINS AND MY FORD CAR STALLS AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT RECALL ISSUES IT HASH LATCH DOOR CHECK LOOK AT THE SALES SERVICE FORD DEALERSHIP!2020 *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2020Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11324733
“CAR JERKS DURING ACCELERATION, CPU WAS UPDATED AT FORD DEALERSHIP BUT JERKING IS PERSISTENT, TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING SIGNAL APPEARED, CHECK ENGINE SIGNAL APPEARED, CAR REVERSE GEAR FAULTY. ALL HAPPENED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION IN A BUSY STREET. AFTER CAR SHOWED THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING SIGNAL IT SHUT DOWN AND I WAS CLOSE TO GETTING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR FROM THE REAR END AS IT SHUT DOWN SIMULTANEOUSLY. CALLED TOWING SERVICE RIGHT AFTER BECAUSE CAR WOULD NO LONGER DRIVE WHEN ON GEAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 7, 2020Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11323760
“FUEL SYSTEM/ GASOLINE: STORAGE-CAMPAIGN #18V735000 (01/19/2019)-FUEL SYSTEM/ GASOLINE: STORAGE-CAMPAIGN #19V515000-(01/29/2019)-LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES: DOOR LATCH-CAMPAIGN #16V643000-01/27/2017)-LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES: HATCHBACK: LIFT GATE LOCK CAMPAIGN # 16V698000-(11/16/2016)-STRUCTURE: BODY HATCH BACK/ LIFT GATE CAMPAIGN # 16V691000 (11/16/2016)- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING CAMPAIGN # 15V813000-(01/07/2016)”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2020Structure, Electronic stability control (esc), Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11322778

Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.