Thinking of buying a 2013 Ford Focus SE... is it worth it?

Here’s the deal:

  • Price: $4,950
  • Year: 2013
  • Engine: 4-cylinder
  • Transmission: Automatic
  • Mileage: 130,000
  • New tires and brakes
  • No accidents, no rust, no issues (according to the owner)
  • Owner claims it’s been well taken care of

This is my first time buying a car. Is this a good deal? What should I watch out for, especially with the transmission issues people talk about?

Whatever you do, don’t get a Focus with the automatic transmission from this era. They’re notorious for problems. Save yourself the headache.

Ren said:
Whatever you do, don’t get a Focus with the automatic transmission from this era. They’re notorious for problems. Save yourself the headache.

Got it. Thanks for the warning!

Are these posts for real? People still considering these cars after all the warnings?

Micah said:
Are these posts for real? People still considering these cars after all the warnings?

I’m new to this and honestly didn’t realize it was such a big deal. Thanks for the heads-up.

@Finley
No worries, man. Just trying to save you from a bad decision.

Stay far away from it. The transmission (DPS6) is awful. I had a 2012 Focus, and the transmission caused nothing but trouble. Replaced parts, did recalibrations, and it would work for a bit, then fail again. It’s unpredictable and unreliable. You’ll spend way too much time and money trying to keep it running. Trust me, don’t buy this car.

@Bailey
Sounds like your issue is the TCM. That’s a super common problem with these. If you’re still having issues, Ford has a recall for it under their 14M02 program. You should check with the dealer; they’ll likely replace it for free.

@Emerson
That’s solid advice! Good to know they might still cover it.

@Emerson
Appreciate the info! I’ll look into taking it to the dealer.

I have a 2014 Focus SE. Love the car now, but only after figuring out all its quirks. If I’d known about the transmission issues beforehand, I wouldn’t have bought it. It’s like being in a toxic relationship—fun at first, but you know it’s going to end badly.