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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.

And while you wait for your steering to disappear, you'll be greeted with a transmission that shudders, vibrates or won't shift at all.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,378 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 3 of 23)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #415

Jul 142022

Focus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle needs PCM and TCM replacement. Stalls while braking or apply pressure to gas peddle while driving, faulty gear changing mechanism has issues switching to proper gear due to the underlying problems above. It has turned off while driving on the interstate without warning. May instantly stop while applying minor pressure to brakes. Has been inspected by mechanic and AutoZone employees confirming the issues. It is unsafe due to the instant stopping or applying to breaks behind another driver almost hitting them or causing someone to hit from behind. Furthermore, inaccurate gear changing causes an increase rapidly in speed or very slow in speed which could lead to accidents.

- Mooresville, NC, USA

problem #414

May 312022

Focus

  • miles
I had regular service done on my vehicle 5/27/2022 to which the battery needed to be replaced. That was done without issue however 3 days later as I was on my way to work the check engine light came on and my engine began revving then stalling/losing power as well as shuddering. This was especially concerning as I was on the highway traveling at 70 MPH when suddenly I lost engine power and my vehicle began lurching. I was close enough to home that I was able to turn back and drive very slowly as it was apparent there was an issue in the gears turning over when accelerating. I could not get my vehicle in for service as the dealership could only schedule me later the following week to get it diagnosed. I was able to drive it, again very, very slowly - to the dealership. I was told it was the TCM; 14MO2 Extended Coverage Warranty. The dealership assured me this would be covered yet now continues to tell me that this is not being accepted and that I have to pay out of pocket for this repair. I'm unsure of what to do at this point as my daily commuter has been at the dealership since June 9th 2022.

- Harker Heights, TX, USA

problem #413

Oct 222018

Focus

  • miles
Back in October 2018, (& during the time Ford was settling their class action lawsuit against them regarding transmissions, clutches, the Powertrain Control Module, and more), I received another recall described by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as: "NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 18V735000 October 22, 2018 Ford will notify owners & dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes & replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect & replace the carbon canister, fuel tank & fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall is expected to begin December 10, 2018. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full." I brought the vehicle in to have the recall taken care of and after a day of servicing the vehicle, I was told that the PCM was reprogrammed & the issues were fixed. A week or 2 later, I received notice that the issue hadn't been resolved & a new recall was issued regarding the very same thing. As reported by the NHTSA: "NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 19V515000 July 5, 2019 Ford will notify...(same text as noted above)" Then added, "(Ford) is recalling certain vehicles...previously recalled under 18V-735. The affected vehicles did not have the PCM updated as intended. Therefore, the Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system." Consequences are an excessive vacuum resulting in an engine stall while driving, w/o warning & w/o the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Plus, uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons into the atmosphere. I've now failed emissions inspection due to an illuminated check engine light (OBD2 error code P1450) and I therefore cannot get my car registered. The dealerships now deny my vehicle ever being part of these recalls & state I musn't be taking care of the vehicle.

- Keansburg, NJ, USA

problem #412

Jan 082022

Focus 4-cyl

  • 162,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, a message stated that the transmission was overheated and to pull over and let the engine cool down was displayed. The contact also stated that the automatic clutch was slipping, and the vehicle was difficult to start. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed a failure with the transmission control module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 162,500.

- Montoursville, PA, USA

problem #411

Jun 092022

Focus

  • 77,000 miles
The contact called on behalf of his grandmother who owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his grandmother was driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle erroneously shifted in and out of gear. The driver safely pulled over to the side of the roadway and turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine and transmission warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission was defective and needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000.

- Crosby, TX, USA

problem #410

May 312022

Focus

  • 10,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while parked in the driveway when the check engine light illuminated. The contact attempted to turn the vehicle on however the engine only revved. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the crankshaft failed and banded the transmission. The vehicle was involved in a previous recall for the same failure and was remedied previously. The mechanic stated the failure was caused by the same repair as before however the vehicle had not been repaired again. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

problem #409

Nov 012021

Focus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission has spontaneously went from overheating to not while driving, gears are slipping have speed and when it goes to shift all power lost, then it kicks back in. It was coded with transmission control module failure. The module and both actuators have been replaced now car will not relearn shifting patterns. Spontaneous overheating transmission messages just when car is turned on. Transmission control module has been programmed by dealership but all problems continue to exsist.

- Berthoud, CO, USA

problem #408

Sep 292021

Focus

  • miles
Ok when I start the car and turn the key to on but I have to wait a second and during that second inside the engine it's like it sounds like when u change disc song on a jukebox and then when it does that then I could start the car but as of now nothing works or drives and barley bought it not even month ago from personal owner, but some advice and help please thank you.

- Arvin, CA, USA

problem #407

Sep 152021

Focus

  • 126,300 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the contact continued driving to work with no further issues. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who connected to the vehicle to diagnostic machine which diagnosed the failure as a malfunction of the canister purge valve. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,300.

- Rehoboth Beach, DE, USA

problem #406

Sep 082021

Focus

  • 152,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 - 40 MPH, the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the fuel gauge was not working properly, moving from full to empty. The vehicle lost motive power. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the failure with code P1450, and the fuel pump and canister valve were replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN that was related to the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

- Leesburg, FL, USA

problem #405

Jun 112011

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought the car in 2012. It has not run properly since that year. We took it in for computer flashes and the recalls each time they asked and several times more because the lurching, shuddering, and delayed acceleration would always come back. I had to readjust how I drove the Ford Focus compared to any other car knowing that it sometimes stuck or delayed in acceleration. It also would sometimes jolt forward. It rolls back once at a stop sometimes while the car is running. I would have to adjust how far ahead I pulled from people in lines to make sure they had enough space between parking or in line so I didn't roll back and hit them. My car died in the middle of the road on way to get gas back in 2017. We took it in to get looked at and cost hundreds of dollars to fix a fuel tank that suctioned in on itself. We found out a year later there was a recall for that same issue. It was supposed to fix the fuel gauge reading issues too but even after being "fixed" it still never read right. I could never tell what the actual contents of my fuel levels were which is dangerous especially on long road trips. The struts started to leak and go bad well before they should have. This car is totally unsafe between the constant transmission/computer issues, the fuel tank system, door latch recalls (2 of them). We had to have the radiator replaced because one of the Ford Service Centers screwed something up when they did the clutch recall. It broke down while driving the day after the clutch replacement and was overheating. They admitted their fault and replaced it for free thankfully but why did they have to be in there in the first place? Ford needs to finally recall all of these vehicles and make it right. My family has been lifelong Ford vehicle owners and I'm about at the end of my rope with this car.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #404

Aug 162021

Focus

  • miles
My car randomly started stalling out while driving. A check engine light came on, and when I took it in to get read, the mechanics told me they were the codes pertaining to the recall on this car for the purge valve malfunction. The local dealer will not grant me an appointment to look at it and complete the recall for another 5 weeks.....my appointment isn't until October. In the meantime, I dont have a safe vehicle to drive, as the chances of me getting rear ended are high. The vehicle stalls out 6 to 7 times every 40 miles.

- Willow, AK, USA

problem #403

Jun 172021

Focus

  • miles
I had bought this car a little over a week ago and it has shown zero issues until yesterday June 17 2021, I was driving home when the car forced its self into neutral and the screen said transmission malfunction service now. I-??ve called Ford and talked to them about the 14M02 recall/ campaign that was posted for this car and they said they-??re unable to do anything because it-??s out of the required parameters. I spent all my savings on this vehicle and now am out of a ride for work and I can-??t even have a problem I didn-??t create fixed? When they knew it was an issue.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #402

Aug 142020

Focus

  • 89,000 miles
I'm still making payments on my 2012 Ford Focus SE. 3 days after buying it the check engine light came on said catalyst coverter is plugged up. Now the transmission is missing up. It has never one time passed the emissions control test since owning it. There isn't a day that goes by that this car hasn't throw me a different code from the check engine light. I got screwed. The car isn't safe to drive idk how many time my daughter and I have almost got hit because of the car not moving when giving the gas too it. I took it to the Ford dealership to get all my recalls done and they only did 1 recall and that was the tcm. They said that would fix the transmission problem im having. What lies

- Middlebourne, WV, USA

problem #401

Apr 112021

Focus

  • 66,000 miles
The contact called on behalf of his son who owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated his son was driving to the airport when the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to his residence. The following day the vehicle was towed to charles gabus Ford (4545 merle hay rd, des moines, ia 50310) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the tcm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, several months later the failure recurred with the transmission warning light illuminated. The contact stated that a message on the instrument display suggested that the vehicle be shifted to park. The vehicle was shifted into park, restarted, and driven to a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was then towed to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.

- Cary, IL, USA

problem #400

Mar 292021

Focus

  • 66,500 miles
For years my car has randomly shut down while driving and has been needed to be towed twice. It and has had 10 recalls performed, including the transmission. My car shut down again on Monday night coasting along a flat road at 45 mph so I decided to call Ford today and ask what new recalls have come out and they stated my car has a field service issue for the transmission that is common but they have not recalled it. Why? they also mentioned that they have to look into whether or not I would have to pay to fix this commonly reported problem.

- Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

problem #399

Jul 012019

Focus

  • 128,000 miles
I few day after getting this car I felt a hesatats going in to 2 gear shortly later I took it had it diagnosed but they said it would be about $70 unless it was a recall on it so they did the said the tcm was out and it has a recall on it but also I need a clutch and that was $4000. So they fixed it and it's it all good now about 2 no. Later I was stopped at a red light with a SUV in front of me I had my foot on the brake and it started fellow writing in that shop for you made me hit the SUV in front.of me, it started doing the other stuff again I felled my gas up and tried to start it but it would start I seat the a lil the tried it again if stared just when I started driving it was jerking really bad I stop at the closest place I can get a diagnostic brand on it the said it was something in the gas tank so I took it back to the Ford place cause the was a recall on something to do with the gas tank they fixed it ones again but shortly after that more started going wrong the hazard light wouldn't warm, put it reverse it would do anything but set there and raise my RPM's, but then it started working again so we kept on driving it, it would just do all these things off and on other than the hazard light never worked again, driving down the road want about 5miles it was running hot so I pulled over and killed it and called my dad he checked all the fluids the where fine but I tried to start it it wouldn't start seat the a lil the it started so I took it to the shop I always used on some of my cars the said it was my fan it was $400. Going down the hwy 70mp it stoped accelerating the rpms went down to little past one like I was sitting idling pulled over on the side of the highway without causing an accident I had to turn the car off then I restarted and then shifting down the road again but still haven't all kinds of problems this car is probably a death trap

- Texarkana, AR, USA

problem #398

Mar 042021

Focus

  • 64,500 miles
I was driving my 2012 Ford Focus and then it started to not shift when I was on a busy road with the speed limit 50 mph and going up hill. When the car stopped shifting I only went 20 mph or less. The car only has 64,500 miles and the mechanic says it's a bad clutch and computer. There's no reason for a car with that many miles to break down like that even if it's 9 years old. There's a flaw in the design of the transmission and everyone is letting Ford get away with it. I don't have the money to do this, doesn't Ford make enough money. They should've at least gave me the warranty for it.

- Newbury, OH, USA

problem #397

Jan 142017

Focus

  • 70,000 miles
My car fails to accelerate without shuddering even after the clutch was replaced and computer reprogrammed. It first started having transmission issues when it had only around 60,000 miles on it and was around five years old. Even after being fixed, my cars transmission light came on and it coasted to a stop at the side of a busy road. I was able to drive it at jarringly loud low gear home. Because I was told it was out of warranty the second time, I took it to another mechanic who reset the computer and told me he suspected the transmission itself is bad. It drive ok, but with astonishingly low power and dangerous freeway merges for another two years. Now the shuddering is bad again and the transmission groaning in between low gear changes. Additionally the cpv on this car was bad once, and it warped the gas pan. The dealership reset the computer codes controlling the valve but now the engine code for that problem is on again too. This car feels unsafe, but I have little alternatives. I have now way to get to work without it.

- Burbank, CA, USA

problem #396

Jan 012021

Focus

  • 40 miles
SE desconecta la velocidad mientras est en marcha el vehculo (SE queda en neutro)N

- Hollywood, FL, USA

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