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.
My Car Won't Start, Says It's In Drive Put It's Not - I have a problem with my ford focus, it's a 2013 with about 24,500 miles. I bought the extended warranty then, it stops. I had it towed to the dealership and he says it started for him. I caught him. I read on another web site, now unavailable, that it's the Electric Control Module and or the Body Control Module. When you get it to the service place they jump start the starter and tell you it works. Well I read the entire scenario and argued that this problem was reported on said website at about 61,000 miles so mine was breaking down early. I repeatedly told him to replace the Modules. He finally said that he'd run it on the diagnostic but that the part was in short supply and i'd have to wait two weeks for my car. I told him so it is the Electronic Control module, seems everyone is having the same problem huh? He knew I did my research and that I would not give in to the now it's fixed not its not plan he was trying to put me on. I'm going to call tonight about diagnostic. But don't let them tell you it's fixed and that there's nothing wrong with the car because even it it's fixed and the modes are bad, it will surly stop again, and eventually not start up until the modules are replaced.
2nd time this has happened.1st time they had me buy a battery, now there saying the electric module that controls whole car. Had car 10 months done been stranded twice. Says not covered under warranty, bullshit. I paid $12,000 for a car that's a piece of sh*t. Will NEVER own a f*cking Ford again!!
Car randomly won't start. In the beginning, it was just hesitating, then it only started at random. At first putting on a battery charger seemed to help, but now nothing helps.
New Starter, New fob battery, new car battery....still will not start.
Alternator tested, and cleared. still will not start.
Forums seem to suggest the BCM needs replacement, but wholly crap that's expensive, and not a guaranteed solution.
Called the dealership, they don't have any suggestions.
There are NO other symptoms, everything else electrical seems to be fine, no warning lights, no engine lights, it just will not work when you press the start button.
It doesn't seem to be the brake sensor, because it still starts sometimes with the remote start.
I am currently having problems getting my 2012 Ford Focus started on rainy/humid days. I drove my car to the dealership on a hot, dry day and they said it was the battery. I told them before-hand it was not the battery, I'd recently replaced it, and on top of that everything else electric would work, including radio, lights, door locks, everything! The dealership told me they ran a 1-1/2 hour diagnostic and all that came up was "bad battery". Bulls**t!! They billed me $62 for the diagnostic and told me to go get a new battery. The next day I went to a small shop near my home and after checking my battery and telling me it was good, the repair guy told me the Body Control Module (BCM) needed to be reprogrammed. He couldn't do the work there and told me to go back to the dealership and tell them to reprogram the BCM. He even told me how much they should bill me for the work so they wouldn't overcharge me. I have been trying to make an appointment and all I get is voice message and no one is returning my call. Grrrr!!!! I hope this will solve the problem if I can ever get my car to the dealership.
Does anyone know how to go about getting Ford to do a recall????
I bought this car used in November 2014 with 35,894 miles on it. Up until last week the only complaint was that the voice command system didn't recognize my southern accent. Now the whole car seems to have lost its mind. in addition to other problems, the car won't start when you press the key button. The procedure is supposed to be to press the brake and then press the start button. There is a message that comes up on the screen that says Battery Saving Off with a progress bar. After the progress bar goes away you can try again and it will start but it hesitates. We live 40 miles from the dealership and local mechanic said that according to his research, Ford has no fox for the problem. I will be taking it to the dealership in Monday. I did purchase the extended warranty when I bought it.
- mtouchtonga,
Homerville, GA, US
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Okay, another electrical/transmission problem for my 2012. One day it randomly decided it wasn't going to start anymore. The next day it started again. About two weeks later it did the same thing. And it wouldn't start for days. When the key is turned - no sounds from the engine. It COULDN'T have been the battery since I just had that replaced a few months ago. After multiple attempts to crank the car - had it towed to dealership. Started for them and they couldn't find a problem. Get it back. Did the same things. Get it to the dealer and they find "something wrong with it" and cost me $750 whatever it was. Get it home and IT DOES IT AGAIN. Get it back to the dealer and they do something else and it hasn't done it since. Apparently the transmission was not sensing that the car was in park.
After having the clutch replaced under Ford's extended warranty for my car (the engine light had been flashing and the car had a horrible shudder), I drove my 2012 Focus home. The next morning, the car wouldn't start. We tried to jump it, but it still wouldn't start. All electrical stuff was working inside the car when I tried to start the car.
I had the car towed to the nearest dealership (not the Ford dealership that had replaced the clutch). The service manager at this dealership has had the car for 4 days now without a diagnosis. I suggested TCM replacement which has been linked to no-start issues with the 2012 Focus. He said the diagnostic coding does not indicate that the TCM is the problem but he has no information for me on what the codes DO indicate. I was so frustrated, I called my son's girlfriend who had the same problem with her 2012 Ford Focus - clutch replacement followed by no-start issues. She said she had argued for weeks with her dealership last winter over the no-start issues and finally got the problem fixed (free of charge). She is sending me all the repair paperwork from her dealership to my service manager at my Ford dealer.
She gave me this advice: "Tell them (my Ford service managers) they are full of s**t and they need to replace your electronic control module as well as your body control module. It is on record with a ton of ford owners that this is the specific issue." Does anyone here know anything about this 2012 Ford Focus no-start issue following the clutch replacement? I am so frustrated with my service manager. Why do I have to do his research for him?!!!
I just recently had this problem not too long ago. I had trouble starting my car, I asked the Ford dealership what could be wrong they said it might be the battery well my husband just changed the battery on my car now its still doing the same thing. I'm afraid to go anywhere because I don't want to be stuck with my son whose 4yrs old. I've done it once to where I had to walk from where I was stuck at luckily I was near home. But its really irritating when you think you have a good car then come out to your car and it wont start. All the lights, A/C and the radio come on but there is nothing when turning the ignition key. The windows are supposed to be automatic and the doors are supposed to unlock when opening the drivers side door and nothing happens. What am I supposed to do in order for this problem to stop. I just need to get my car fixed. I have an appointment with the dealership on Friday lets see how things go. Thank you for letting me put in my comments. If anyone can comment or give me advice on what to do I sure would appreciate it. Thank you.
Car intermittently won't start. It happened last year between November/December of 2015. Turn key and silence however, all internal electrical systems work. Had to complain to higher management for them to check on the issue. After 3 days on the dealership, they said that the issue was fixed. They said that it has something to do with the transmission.
Then, on May 8, 2016,(on a Mother's Day) the issue started again. Car won't start while all the internal electrical system work. The following day, I had to take off from work to take the car to the dealership. They checked it for one day and they said that they could not duplicate the issue. The engine always starts. I told the manager that this is an intermittent issue and they have to do more research on what is going on.
Last week, it started again. May 26, 2016 while trying to get gasoline, it did not start. The following morning, it did not start again but this time, I took a video. Unfortunately, I was late for work. In the afternoon, it acted up again. I went back to Ford and but Ford shove the problem to my driving. LOL...wow.
Today, I was late going to work again because the car won't start but all internal electrical system works. I am on the verge on getting a lawyer.
Continued having the problem, would get stranded in random places for hours. Took car to Ford dealership and they kept it for over a week. They couldn't duplicate the problem (although I am sure those dupes spent around 20 minutes total trying to). Got the car back and literally 30 minutes later it won't start. Taking it to my regular mechanic today AGAIN to see if they can diagnose the problem.
We all know how frustrating it is to have a car that won't start. I thought that since I had a newer car, this would not happen to me. I was out of town and was the driver for a couple of friends. On our way back home, we stopped briefly. The car would not restart. AAA finally towed us back to our town, a distance of 70 miles. Our local mechanic identified the problem as a battery issue, which it was not. It was then determined at the Ford dealership that the problem was a faulty Body Control Module (BCM), which was not allowing the "system" to recognize my key. SERIOUSLY? My own car had turned against another part of itself. I have been waiting SIX WEEKS for my car to come back to me. The BCM has been back ordered for SIX WEEKS! I feel that Ford needs to issue a recall for this, as I understand that I am not the first with this problem. There must be lots of us if the part is back ordered for SIX WEEKS. I definitely do not think I should be charged for this. Anybody else?
Car intermittently won't start. Turn key and silence...but all internal electrical systems work. Usually happens after driving for over 20 minutes. I took it to my regular mechanic and they checked all systems but couldn't find a problem. Continued having the problem, would get stranded in random places for hours. Took car to Ford dealership and they kept it for over a week. They couldn't duplicate the problem (although I am sure those dupes spent around 20 minutes total trying to). Got the car back and literally 30 minutes later it won't start. Taking it to my regular mechanic today AGAIN to see if they can diagnose the problem.
The most recent problem with my Focus (THIS ONE REALLY TAKES THE CAKE) is that my car started hesitating to start as in I had to turn the key for a couple longer seconds to get it to turn on. Then, last week the car decided to not start at all (all inside electronics/radio etc was working).
Thinking it was the battery, I had a friend jump me off and I got to AutoZone to have the battery tested. Battery is good. Still hesitates to turn on. Throughout the next week it starts taking multiple attempts to get the car to start. I'm talking up to about 10-15 good turns of the key to get it to crank.
Yesterday, after finally getting it to crank, I notice the check engine light is on, which it had not been before. I move it into reverse and press on the gas and THE CAR GOES NOWHERE. The engine revs and that is it. I tried other gears as well. I also turned the car back off and after getting it cranked again it did the same thing. Anyways, I had to call a friend to take me to class. After getting back a couple hours later I went back out to the car to video what it did to me. And guess what? It shifts out of park now. -__- You've got to be kidding me. I've attached a youtube video of another 2012 doing what I am explaining. I finally got it to the dealership today (Friday). They said they will not get to it until Wednesday or Thursday. AWESOME. NEVER BUYING ANOTHER FORD AGAIN.
Update from Sep 22, 2015: UPDATE: THEY ALSO HAD TO PERFORM A RE-PROGRAM COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
Total crap. Mine had no gas in the aircon within 3 weeks. After being re-gassed twice, they finally found a major leak. No sh!t Sherlock!! Within 18 months a major oil seal leak was detected & the car shook vigorously whilst being driven. December 2014 the computer shut down and the car could not be started & computer part was replaced. Yesterday I had to pay $250 for a tow as the transmission has now failed. Today, April 2015, it's back with Ford again whilst they decide what's wrong. I'll tell you what's wrong. It's a LEMON.
I'm hoping someone can offer some insight...I've had ongoing issues with the transmission and clutch since purchasing new. The clutch has been replaced twice and the transmission has been reprogrammed 4 or 5 times now (within 35, 000)
Now I'm experiencing the car randomly not starting (4 times within the past 2 months.) I've had the battery tested numerous times and I'm told that all is well with the battery.
Here are the symptoms occurring:
-dashboard lights up, all symbols, etc.
-radio and heater can work
-headlights do not go on, but other lights do
-no sound when attempting to start the car, no cranking
** Car will usually start right up again the next day and run fine for a couple of weeks until next random occurrence
I've been told to have the car towed to the dealer when this happens, but unfortunately like today ( Saturday afternoon) the techs are all gone for the weekend.
My factory warranty just ran out and I have an extended warranty, buts many things aren't covered with this... and I was told that I may end up paying out of pocket for repairs if they don't fall under the extended warranty.
I could have the car towed today and left there until Monday morning when the techs are back, but more than likely my car will start right up again by then, and perhaps no symptoms for the techs to go by...
Please help with any info!!! Up to my ears with frustration over this vehicle and Ford has offered no help, just a crummy trade in on a new car...
When I turned my key, the start relay was picked up, but starter was not worked. On the 3rd or 4th time engine started. The same situation was at the service station. Couple days waiting for new starter and my Focus came back.
Car sometimes won't start. I have noticed that sometimes when pressing brakes before starting the brake lights don't come on. Also when looking on dash at the shift indicator (PRND) it sometimes does not highlight which gear you are in. I have yet to find out what it takes to fix.
Car would, from time to time, delay igniting after turning the key, but maybe only a second or so. I chalked this up to me being lazy in turning the key, for whatever reason. Today, 10/25/2014, I turn the key and car does not ignite. Engine doesn't even try to turn over. Instrument panel and all electronics in car operate perfectly (actually spoke to Ford Roadside through car's bluetooth). Spoke to dealer who said to try jump starting the car, and that this wasn't a problem he had heard of before. Jump start did not work. Had car towed to dealer, where I won't hear any diagnosis of issue for 2 days. Will cost $140 for dealer to just look at the car before any other work, which may or may not be covered under warranty.
Update from Oct 28, 2014: 10/28: Received car back from dealer. They "tightened ground" and "recalibrated PCM/TCM to the latest level as per TSB 12-5-05". Drove car off lot. 2 miles later, transmission lost power and wouldn't allow car to accelerate, hill assist unavailable" message came on along with check engine light and traction light on console. When changing gears, the console wouldn't show any change from "D" to any other driving mode, as if it was stuck in Drive, but the car was, in fact, in Park or Sport mode or Reverse or Neutral. Turned car off, took key out of ignition, re-inserted key and turned. Car would delay about 1 second before engine turned on, and all lights on console went away and car would correctly shift into whatever driving mode. Brought car back to dealer. While in park, the same issues came back. Car is currently at dealer.
My ford focus SE just won't start. took it back to the dealers was told it would cost me $95+ just to hook it up to the computer. don,t need to hook it up to tell me its not starting that,s why i was there in the first place. got it checked bye Midas for free went back told them the problem then they said my extended warranty does not cover whats wrong with my car all it needs is new starter. come on with a extended warranty it must worth something ,this is ridiculous no god only knows how much its going to cost me.
Yet again my 2012 Ford Focus will not start again! Bad battery cell. This is the worst car ever made!!!! my repairs for only 2 years old are over half of what the car cost brand new!!!!!!!!
Was leaving work, turned the key over and the engine didn't immediately turn over. Turned the key off and turned it over again, the car started but I got a warning message in the dash "hill assist start unavailable", however the car ran fine. Stopped at a store to run an errand, came out, car started fine. I drove to the next store less than a mile away, went in for approximately 15 minutes, came out and the car wouldn't start. The engine wouldn't turn over and all warning lights in the dash would come on. After trying approximately every 3-4 minutes for a total of over 30 minutes the car started and I was able to drive it home. I haven't driven it since (4days) but have periodically started or tried to start it. It's only starting about 30% of the time, the rest of the time the engine doesn't even turn over. I have an appointment at the dealership two days from now, if I can get it there...hoping it's still covered under the warranty :(
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2nd time this has happened.1st time they had me buy a battery, now there saying the electric module that controls whole car. Had car 10 months done been stranded twice. Says not covered under warranty, bullshit. I paid $12,000 for a car that's a piece of sh*t. Will NEVER own a f*cking Ford again!!
- Shellie B., Telford, TN, US