2013 Ford Focus: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Feb 19, 2025 · Transmission · NY

I have the DPS6 Transmission from the Michigan plant. My Focus SE started to shudder, jerk, didn't want to shift,. Also, acted like the car was going to stall and when in reverse wouldn't back up. I also had problems with loss of power. I didn't feel safe when driving, what happens when I'm on the road if the car won't shift when in traffic? It's a hazard !! Had a new clutch, seals, gasket, cylinder put in (2023) and now( End of January 2025) it's started again along with shift forks as I was told by the dealership. Ford FIX THE PROBLEM your DPS6 Transmission should be REPLACED !! Are you waiting for deaths to happen ? You've known about this but haven't helped your customers.

Filed May 1, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · PA

While driving at approximately 60 mph on a highway in the passing lane, the engine shut off without warning, and the following lights appeared on the dash: check engine, ABS, and traction control. The speedometer needle also went down to zero. I was in the process of passing a tractor trailer, and another tractor trailer was right behind me. I was barely able to maneuver off the highway onto the left shoulder and was almost rear-ended by the tractor trailer. The lack of power steering made it extremely difficult. This is a major safety issue. My family was in the car with me. After sitting on the side of the highway, I was able to start the engine and drive home. I arrived home and tried to back into my driveway, but it would not go into reverse. I took the car to the local Ford dealer and I was told the TCM needs to be replaced for around $750. I asked about the recall and they said that it expired in October of 2022. I did not know that recalls had an expiration date. After reading through many other complaints on the federal safety agency website for the 2013 Focus, it seems that I have purchased a lemon. I just bought this vehicle in January at 57000 miles and have only put around 5000 miles on it. I still owe $9700 on the loan and the vehicle is undriveable. The manufacturer needs to buy this vehicle back so that I can purchase a replacement vehicle.

Filed Mar 30, 2023 · Transmission · 53,611 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle would not shift gear and would not accelerate as needed. The hill assist, and parking brake fault warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over on the side on the road and waited for the vehicle to cool down. The vehicle was able to restart, and the contact was able to drive home. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnoses and the dealer stated that the TCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired since parts were not available. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 53,611.

Filed Nov 29, 2022 · Transmission · OH · crash

Transmission car will not shift gears stuck in 1st gear .. pulling code . P.O.7A5.(1/3) stored. Hood latch keeps saying open. Alarm keeps going off. Driver assist doesn't work.

Filed Nov 4, 2022 · Transmission · VA

While accelerating from a stop or low speed the engine revs and does not shift gears. Impossible to increase speed above about 30 mph. After taking my foot off the gas pedal and trying, again it sometimes works fine for awhile. Intermittent, but dangerous, since I never know when pressing the gas pedal will make the car move forward or just rev the engine with no effect.

Filed Oct 18, 2022 · Transmission · MO

I purchased a 2013 Ford Focus in the spring of 2020. I have taken my car to the dealership three times (it's about to be a fourth time) for the same Transmission Control Module issue. They keep replacing the part because it is recalled, and each time the new module stops working after roughly 5,000 miles. Today is the fourth time it has malfunctioned. The car shudders and jumps when I downshift at stoplights, and it will not shift to fourth gear to drive at acceptable speeds on the highway to my job. The car never shifts well, but this is dangerous.

Filed Mar 28, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · 187,000 miles · AZ

I was driving on the freeway at the posted speed of 65 MPH when the car engine RPM dropped to 2000 and then back up to 4000 the car immediately slowed to 50 MPH causing traffic behind me to slam in their brakes. The car wouldn't shift to speed up causing me to pull over and creep to a gas station.

Filed Mar 21, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 141,700 miles · WI

My 2013 ford focus would not randomly start the other evening, after a couple tries it started. On the way home it would not shift properly and acting like it was going to stall. My engine light came on, which never had before. So the next morning I went to go take it to auto zone to have them do a diagnostic and my vehicle started right up, however it would not go into reverse. I have read there have been several issues with the focus' transmission.

Filed Jan 21, 2021 · Transmission · 76,000 miles · NM

Automatic transmission failed after 76,000 miles. Transmission would occasionally slip every couple of weeks since initial purchase. A few days before transmission failure the vehicle started to jerk and would have intermittent transmission issues. Ultimately the transmission failed while driving and once parked, the vehicle would only start in neutral and the vehicle would not shift to reverse. The vehicle was driven for around 1-2 years and then was maintained in a storage state for 4 years and then was driven for another 1-2 years before the transmission failed at 76,000 miles. These transmissions failing is and reports say that it was a known issue from the start. Transmission issues while driving pose a moderate safety concern and could potentially cause an accident on the road in a traffic condition. Based on numerous complaints about the transmission issues on this vehicle, ford needs to be held accountable and an official recall needs to be issued for the transmission on the 2013 ford focus! The conditions for this recall should be based on meeting one (not both) of the following: less than 7/10 years, or 100,000/150,000 miles.

Filed Nov 13, 2020 · LA

I have had my focus in the shop at least 6 times for the transmission. Each time they have had to replace the clutches & seals. Now they say it needs the clutches, seals, throw out bearing and forks at a cost of $2231.00 & it is out of warranty. I have had this same problem since the car was bought new in 2013 & ford won't do anything about it. It has caused me to almost be hit several times because the transmission won't shift correctly. I would say this is a safety problem as well as mechanical.

Filed Sep 5, 2020 · Transmission · CA

The transmission doesn't shift right and these dtc's are present. P2831, p2832, p287b. I have ran the TCM adaptive relearn service and these will come back on sooner or later. I have mainly been only warming up my car and they will come back on sometimes in a few weeks. I have changed out the negative battery cable due to corrosion and I'm not sure what to do now? Is a TCM module update needed?

Filed May 27, 2020 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · MO

Vehicle will not shift correctly. Will often stall out while driving and will not engage gears even when sitting in the middle of a busy road. Will not shift into reverse. Shifts hard when it does shift. Basically been doing this off and on since shortly after buying the vehicle. However ford simply reset the PCM and charges for this. Vehicle continues to fault after this.