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.
My 18yr old daughter just purchased this car and drove it for 2 weeks when the transmission went out. IT STOPPED WORKING MID TURN!! LUCKY SHE DIDN'T GET HIT BY ANOTHER Vehicle. Now it has been towed to a Ford dealership that is stating the part is on "back order" so this car that she saved her own money to purchase is sitting, out of commission, for who knows how long!
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle would not accelerate as needed. The contact stated that the Service Transmission or Transmission Failure warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was jerking however, she was able to drive home safely. The vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact was informed that the vehicle warranty would not cover the repair. The failure mileage was 156,000.
The car would not go out of first gear when driving it home and put my son in a dangerous position on the road. We had to have it towed to the dealership(Hiller Ford) from our house. It was determined that it was the TCM (transmission control module) needed replacing and the car thinks it is in gear so it would then not even start. It is undrivable. This is a known problem by Ford and they did a customer satisfaction 10 year extended coverage if something happened which expired on our car 7/2/2022. The TCM is on back order with some stating they have been waiting 6 months and still not arrived. We bought the car used from a Ford dealership with a certified pre-owned warranty. We never received anything from Ford regarding this issue and it was never recalled. There was a class action lawsuit but we did not receive any information from Ford on this. I talked to Ford and they opened a case, but said there was no recourse. The dealership also told me that they have had cars with the TCM replaced that failed again and required further transmission work. There were no warning messages or problems prior to the failure.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel started to vibrate increased while accelerating. The contact stated that steering wheel continued to vibrate abnormally while decelerating. The contact stated that no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the failure was related to the transmission shudder. The independent mechanic informed the contact to take the vehicle to a local dealer for an accurate diagnostic test and to contact the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle decelerated and downshifted independently. The contact stated that the shift action warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park the vehicle safely and after 5 minutes the vehicle was restarted and driven to his destination. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,821.
- Laurel, MD, USA
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The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as designed. The contact stated that the vehicle was losing motive power while driving. The contact stated that after driving for several minutes the vehicle started to operate normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the transmission module was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was unavailable.
My dad n me bought a used 2012 ford focus titanium from a local ford dealer. Had some odd noises when we got it figured from sitting. Well it's been in the Dealership for the noise n other problems. The one service guy said they were going to replace the clutch due to throw out bearing and clutch n other things going bad with in 45 days. We brought it back 2 more times never could figure it out, then finally the 3rd time which we pay for an extended warranty from fords 3rd party company called GWC warranty company and said they would not replace anything with trans or clutch or assy due to it being external which they want $1700. But the guy who we spoke to (don't recall name) said they take care of it but now no one wants to fix it they already got money out of us for down time n rental and other fixes. It was a pre existing condition and we want someone to fix it and pay for it. They kept giving running around for a different car more money down and we are living day by day with money. Ford or this dealer doesn't seem to care about safety or people getting hurt if someone does or car breaks. So we're looking to see what can be done. Which it's been a big problem for years with these cars and the TCM has been flashed and replace two times the roof leaked, dash has mold.. etc, we needed a car we already put new tires, brakes, many other parts into it and the one thing they won't do is fix what they said. And the clutch connect on other side of transmission it's the power shift transmission
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the check transmission warning light illuminated. The contact drove off of the highway and pulled into a parking lot, placed the vehicle in park(P) and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who diagnosed and determined that the clutch assembly, clutch lever assembly, and Transmission Control Module (TCM) needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the transmission failure had been a recurring failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while stopped in traffic, the vehicle lost motive and electrical power. The contact stated that the Transmission Failure message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission control module (TCM) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and a case was filed. The failure mileage was not available.
I bought the car in 2019. Up until recently I have had no problems with it. One day I went to leave home and noticed a studdar when I pressed on the gas. It only did it at take off from a stop. Then today I went to back out of the driveway and now the car won-??t go in reveres. A red light popped up and told me the transmission is overheating turn off car and wait 5 minutes. I waited 15 minutes, started my car back up and it said transmission malfunction..
TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE I called for and they now claim my vechile cant be covered because it's out of this stated warranty by a few months. We hThe car has been in for service regarding the transmission on this car multiple times. We have broguht in for service as well as call for many years, over and over again, we've been told there is nothing wrong with the car. even though it has a warning for tranmission malfunction service now. ave been trying to get this resolved since my dad bought the car in 2012! weve been turned away. I need to have this fixed.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle started operating normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the clutch needed to be replaced and resealed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under warranty and the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was 129,475.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started to shudder and the transmission independently shifted to neutral(N). The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the input control to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
The transmission is shuddering and making noise on 1st gear and changing to 2nd gear. The reverse gear is also making noise. There are class actions and recalls for this model but I didn-??t see recalls on my car.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact also stated that the traction control and check engine warning lights were intermittently illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the Transmission Control Module (TCM) needed to be replaced. The mechanic called the dealer and was informed that parts for the repair were on backorder. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
My daughter was leaving work at the DSM hospital and heading back to college/campus at ISU and her check engine light came on and the vehicle RPMs would increase but wouldn't go. She was able to get pulled off on the side of the road and called for help. She was stranded and had to get a tow back to the nearest shop near Johnston. I live 2 hours away and she was unable to get back to college/work. We had her vehicle towed to the nearest repair shop(All Pro Service-515-278-2059) and was diagnosed to be the transmission control. The shop stated there was a recall on the Focus for this and advised us to contact Ford. I have had her vehicle at the shop now since being towed there on 6/29/22 and the shop is still waiting on the part to come in. She is without a vehicle and as I mentioned I live 2 hours away and commute to work daily and can't be without my vehicle either. I rented a car and let her use my vehicle for 2 weeks as Ford told the shop the part was to be in July 8th. I returned the rental on 7/13 and was told Ford said the part was on back order and unsure of ship but that would be covered by recall since her vehicle is under 150k. It has now been 7 weeks and still no part and having to rent a vehicle at $300/week or arrange rides for my college/night shift working student from 2 hours away! I am asking for the Ford Focus transmission control recall to this vehicle to cover the part and make this horrible situation right with us!! She has had this car for 2 years and it has 145kI have been trying to get ahold of Ford Motor Company/dealership to speak with someone regarding my complaint/recall and for 7 weeks now I get "lines are busy due to high call volume, please try again later". My daughter is now back in school and works nights and is in need of her vehicle. To say I am frustrated/upset with Ford is an understatement. I am looking to trade off our truck and another car and will not use Ford after this!
The car shutters and vibrates so hard when starting at times. When driving in stop and go traffic, the car lurches forward because of the clutch and transmission. It struggles to get into the next gear because of Ford putting a manual transmission in an automatic car. The car needs a new clutch and seal/harware kit
Purchased car, there was no known recalls on car, after driving for several miles. The clutch failed in the car. Looked up recalls of ford focuses within my cars year and found that the exact part that-??s dialing on my car had a recall/ settlement but when I called ford about the car they said they can-??t do anything for me because my vin number isn-??t under the recall. But the exact party is failing and faulty in my car and I can no longer drive it.
-Loss of power from the pedal, not able to accelerate from a stop. RPM rides high until it shifts. "Transmission Malfunction. Service Now" notice. -Unaffected by other traffic but not able to properly maneuver traffic. -Problem has re-occurred but not taken to a service center. -No inspection conducted yet. - No warning lamps appeared until issue occurred a few times.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Monroe, MI, USA