CarComplaints.com Notes: You should probably steer clear of the 2012 Focus. Otherwise, you might not be able to steer at all.
The 2012 is the first Focus to offer Electronic Power Assist Steering (EPAS). It's also the first year with massive power steering failure. These things are not mutually exclusive.
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
2012 Ford Focus. Consumer writes in regards to parts being unavailable for transmission/tcm safety recall. The consumer stated the dashboard illuminated "parking aid malfunction-service required". the dealer advised this was a recall and to contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer was contacted.
I have taken my car in 7 times for transmission issues and malfunctions always while driving on highway! thankfully I purchased extended warranty but it expired. Now I am back at the dealership for the 8th time and they want to charge me $2100 to fix a problem that was never really fixed to start with! now I am having steering problems! the steering just goes out while driving on the highway and in city. The fact that the steering just stops working is extremely dangerous it has put me in very hazardous situations! this is the second time the steering has gone out while driving! I have to pull over and shut car off for 10minutes before restarting. My wife had the kids in the car with her heading to the store and it went out and she had no clue what to do and not strong enough to force the wheel to get the car off the road so she was left sitting in the middle of the highway with the kids until the steering would work again. Its disgusting that Ford refuses to fix these problems since they are extremely dangerous!
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start while attempting to drive. The vehicle was towed to malloy Ford of charlottesville (located at 1300 richmond rd, charlottesville, va 22911, (434) 977-7960), but a failure code could not be found with the transmission and alternator. The dealer repaired the connector of the BCM. While driving approximately 50 mph and approaching a stop light, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to decelerate. The vehicle also failed to accelerate appropriately. The contact drove to her home. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to determine the cause of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
The contact owns a Ford Focus. The contact states that vehicle has difficulty accelerating from stop light. Vehicle studders upon pressing gas pedal and has trouble accelerating to full speed. The contact drove the vehicle to the dealer (varsity Ford in ann arbor, Michigan) twice for the same failure. During the first visit, it was diagnosed that the transmission control unit failed and the vehicle was repaired. During the second visit, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. Dealer and Ford say this is normal operation. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.
While making a right hand turn the Focus experienced a loss of transmission engagement power. The vehicle behaved as if in neutral even though it was in drive.
- Missio Vejo, CA, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
2012 Ford Focus. Consumer writes in regards to transmission stalling and a side door latch recall. The consumer stated after attempting to repair the vehicle on 3 different occasions the vehicle continued to stall. The parts necessary to complete the recall for the door latch were not available. The consumer requested a full refund for the vehicle.
We purchased this vehicle as my daughters first car a year ago. It looks great but has issues. The transmission/clutch feels like it slips. The car always revs high. And you touch the gas pedal and sometimes it jolts too quickly. Today, I drove on freeway and came to a stop with red light at off ramp. Light turns green and push on gas and it shuttered and then propelled forward. Felt like it couldn't get in gear? it has done this a few times while in motion and on the freeway too, slips or sputters. I'm fearful for my young daughter being less experienced of a driver in this unsafe vehicle. I'm reading other peoples complaints, and I see many, many are having the same issues. We bought the car w 86K miles April 2017. Now has 97K. We will take the car in to our Ford dealer tomorrow.
At 73,000 miles error code in dash read steering assist malfunction service needed. It is very difficult to steer my car. At 76,000 miles error code read engine too hot, stop safely and wait 8 minutes. Car shudders and high revs at low speeds and very loud engine noise. I hope that Ford recalls these issues soon!!!
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle sped up and slowed down independently due to the transmission. The contact stated that there was a hesitation when shifting from one gear to the next. Also, while stopped at a traffic light or stop sign, the engine revved while the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to pat milliken Ford (9600 telegraph rd, redford charter twp, mi 48239, (313) 731-6436) where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module (tcm) needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the tcm was replaced twice, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Issue with automatic transmission knocking and slipping at low speeds. I was made aware that this is a known issue, acknowledged by Ford, but was told by dealership, my issue was caused by oil from real seal leaking onto trans. Mechanic said transmission knock may have caused oil leak but it is not covered.
While driving down the interstate, the vehicle lost power as if it shifted into neutral the rpms rose and the vehicle stopped powering forward. No warning signals appeared on the control panel of the vehicle. Took vehicle directly to Ford dealership where they stated that there were no recorded faults and therefore they could not do anything to the vehicle.
My car constantly smells like gas when I start it up after filling the gas tank up, the car dies when driving down road I have to pull over to start it because it dies while I am on the road so I have to pull over since last year the fuel reader stopped working causing me to die on side of road because of running out of gas. The car still has transmission issues it jerks from time to time and the half shaft bearing and wheel bearings are currently going out in this car. I bought the car brand new at the Ford dealership. This is car is a lemon I have owned over 15 used cars and never had a problem as much I have had with this new car.
The contact owned a 2012 Ford Focus. While making a left turn at 15 mph, the transmission control module (tcm) warning indicator illuminated, the contact's vehicle stalled and crashed into the side of another vehicle. The contact was not injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was destroyed. Star Ford Lincoln (1101 S brand blvd, glendale, ca 91204, (818) 956-0977) was informed of the crash. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train). Additionally, the transmission control module and clutch were replaced on September 5, 2017. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000.
On multiple occasions my 2012 Ford Focus got stuck in park and would not shift into drive. The steering wheel would not turn. The shift stick would not move from park back into drive. The electrical lights 'P N D S' turned off on the dash. When I pushed on the brake the car would not shift back into drive. Last night it happened in the middle of rush hour traffic at a red light. I turned the car on and off several times. The dash board lights would come on, but 'P N D S' remained unlit and the car would not shift back into drive. After 4 or 5 times of turning car on and off and opening and closing the door (this affects dash board lights some how). The lights came back on and the car would allow me to shift back into drive while pushing on the brake.
Clutch and front seal defective causing transmission fluid to leak out thereby causing transmission bearings to fail. Ford admits to defective front seals and will replace for free but refuses to cover transmission problem that was due to their defective seals.
Transmission went to neutral while driving at 55 mph. Displayed warning that transmission overheated. Pilled on to side of road avoiding being rear ended by semi truck. Turned vehicle off waited 10 min restarted vehicle drove 1/2 mile back to dealership no warning messages. 4th time into dealership for transmission failure.
Driving on a city street when it just would not go after a red light. When I did get it to move off of the city street to a parking lot it was hard to steer. All the lights started flashing. I could not lock the doors with my remote, would not start. I had to have it towed to my house. The next morning I put my code reader on the vehicle and found about 13 fault codes which I reset since then I have had multiple instances of my vehicle shutting down, hard steering and transmission not shifting or going into gear. Displays transmission overheating, transmission malfunction service now. Wont, T go into gear. Horn stopped working and withut doing anything it suddenly started working.
Was driving car and randomly a warning came up ' power steering assist fault service required' then power steering turned off. Turn car off turn back on fix the problem. Then problem came back and has not gone away. I have no power steering. Radio has been acting strange since purchased car
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Brooklyn, NY, USA