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.
While coming to a stop, the stop safely now warning chimed and vehicle lost all power. It would not go into park, or neutral to allow it to be pushed off the road. After several minutes of powering it on and off it eventually restarted and worked without incident until recently on 8/15/13 the same message occurred at a stoplight and the car again lost all power. After about 2 minutes it started and ran ok.
Was sitting at a stop light after leaving work and the "stop safely now" message appeared. Car would not move. After several cycles of turning the car on and off, opening and closing the driver door, locking and unlocking the car, it managed to reset itself and work again, only to have the problem recur about 5 minutes later, requiring the same steps to resolve the issue. The car worked normally the rest of the day after I arrived at my destination.
Our 2012 Ford Focus electric totally shutdown after receiving the stop safely now warning alert. Car shut down in traffic within 30 seconds of receiving the warning. We had no time to react or pull the car safely to the side of the road. This is clearly a safety issue.
Incidence occurred twice in 2 day period. "stop safely now" error occurred while driving the vehicle. 1st instance was while breaking as approaching a stoplight. 2nd instance was while accelerating on freeway onramp. Both instances I lost all engine power and could no longer accelerate. I had to coast to a safe spot to put the car into park and turn off the vehicle but was able to restart it and drive to dealership for repair. Serious safety concern with this vehicle as driver may not have ability to coast to safe stop while driving on freeway or busy traffic. After researching online, there is rampant occurrence of this exact failure being described on vehicle owner forums for Ford Focus electric both 2012 and 2013 models.
I was driving down a bumpy road at 40mph this morning, came to a stop at a stop sign, attempted to turn right and merge onto a busy highway with an 50mph speed limit, the car started to go and then all power cut out without warning and the "stop safely now" and "refer to owners manual" warnings came up on the left screen! luckily, I was not fully into the traffic yet as there were several semis coming. I veered to the shoulder and stopped. If I had got going even for a second more I would have been out in traffic in the path of a semi coming at over 50mph. It took a few minutes of trying to turn it off. Eventually I opened the drivers door and that seemed to free it up to turn it off. I was then able to start it back up again and carry on with my day.
- Surrey, WA, USA
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Repeated problems with transmission "slipping", lack of power, surging when finally does shift, extremely unpredictable acceleration from stop (e.g., pulling into traffic at intersections, or up hill at highway speeds). Did not display problems during test drive, but at approximately 1,000 miles up to current mileage (about 2,200) it occurs every time I drive. Have had three near miss accidents due to unpredictable acceleration from stops, also on highway under hill load. Had dealer service check three times, first time updated software in PCM/tcm, second time with same dealer returned "no errors", tried different dealer, also "no errors" but was told other customers complained and "that's how it's designed". sent Ford Motor Company demand for refund under California lemon law, Ford customer relations center called and stated they will not pay refund at this time but requested opportunity to send special technician to local dealer. Have not heard back to schedule with special technician after one week.
I put my 2012 Ford Focus in park and left the motor running. I got out of my car to remove a box of donations at a local salvation army when the car started to roll forward. I jumped back into my car to stop it from rolling into the person in front of me and turned the wheel while practically standing on the brake with my right foot and had my left leg outside the vechile. The car would not stop until I eventually side swiped the persons car in front of me then crashed into a pile of donated furniture and curbing in front of the building. Once the car finally stopped I was able to shut the ignition off. It was just luck that I did not hurt anyone or myself.
I was stopped, at a parking lot exit, waiting to enter a thoroughfare, engine idling, with my foot lightly on the brake. Suddenly, the car accelerated forward, into the traffic lane, as though someone had pressed the accelerator pedal to the floor, or nearly so. I took a 45 mph "T" bone on my driver`S side door. I was shaken, but not injured and my elderly wife suffered a severe heart bruising from the seat belt. I was wearing a tight-fitting baseball cap, which was laying on the back seat. I figure the air bag saved me from a serious injury. I was not ticketed, but I lost about $10,000 on the deal and I am paying a small fortune for my insurance now, through no fault of mine. I have an excellent driving history, up to this point.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while making a left turn and depressing the accelerator pedal, the pedal abnormally traveled to the floorboard. The engine rpms increased excessively for approximately two seconds before the vehicle responded to acceleration attempts. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who stated that the failure could have been caused by the driver depressing the brake and accelerator pedals simultaneously. The dealer performed a diagnostics test but could not generate a diagnosis nor duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified who stated that a representative would contact him within twenty-four hours. The contact never received a return call. The failure mileage was 19,000.
My boyfriend and I bought a 2012 Ford Focus SE hatchback on September first. After driving the car for a couple of days my boyfriend noticed that the transmission was not right but he thought this was happening just because the car was new. Then, when driving to work I noticed that when I stopped on any incline street between taking the foot off the brake and placing it on the accelerator, the car rolled back quite quickly to the point that I almost hit the car behind me. Days later, I started to feel that the steering required both hands at all times. It was constantly wandering and shaky specially during turns. To top it off on September 27th something terrible happened. I was in the drive way, I shifted from reverse to drive and the car took off at a lurch. The car accelerated so rapidly even with my foot on the brake pedal. I lost complete control of the vehicle. The car failed to slow down hitting two cars and tearing down a fence. I could finally stop the car when I quickly shifted to park. I do not understand how Ford sells this car with all these problems risking people's lives. This is a serious issue. How many fatalities are they waiting for" are they going to do something ever about these malfunctions" this is ridiculous if I have known all these issues with this car, I would have never bought it for sure.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while sitting at a stop sign on a hill, the vehicle began to roll backwards until he engaged the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission control module needed to be reprogrammed. The failure recurred. The transmission control module was reprogrammed by the dealer again. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who stated that they would address the issue at a later date. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 1 and the current mileage was 7,000.
When accelerating car jumps or hops violently. Engine makes grinding/chattering noise when changing gears. Experience roll back when on a slight incline. Power shift 6 speed is not safe. Have trouble crossing lanes of traffic for the jumping/launch judder problem.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact started the vehicle and the vehicle accelerated rapidly even with the brake pedal engaged. The vehicle failed to slow down and crashed into a cement wall. There were no personal injuries. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. In addition, the manufacturer issued a customer satisfaction program under reference number 123B7 (transmission control module) and after the recall repair was performed, the vehicle rolled away with the gear in park. In order for the vehicle to remain stationary, a block was placed against the two rear tires. Also, a strong antifreeze odor emitted inside of the vehicle and an oil leak was visible on the ground. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 12,917. Updated 08/23/12 updated 09/24/2012
When car started it was at a higher idle then normal, around 1,200 rpms.. upon driving 1 mile at 45 mph I then came to a stop at a light and it would then rev from 700 rpms about to aprox 2,600 rpms and I had the engine malfunction service now light come on.. I only had the car rev when on the brakes.. in park and or neutral it was worse.. I then went to drive on green. The throttle did not respond at all and the car then speed up on its own.. it took about 20 seconds to get to 15 mph and it refused to go past that.. I then took it into the dealership for the 8th time, this time they are looking at it as before they would just reset the computer and send me off.. Ford dealers have not been taking action on this beware if buying a Focus that computer resets will not fix it..
I bought a 2012 Ford Focus sedan a couple weeks ago the next day I noticed slow jerky shuttering accerleration when at a complete stop then trying to acclerate. I did not think of anything was wrong until I researched it online finding similar complaints this is a problem and now the car is at the dealership and they currently have it. Next there is a grinding noise while driving and turning sounds an example would be metal to metal on the brakes is the sound and last loose mirror when lifting the tab down to look at my daughter in the back seat the whole mirror goes down istead of slightly moving.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While traveling 22 mph, the contact noticed that the vehicle had suddenly began to accelerate on its own. In order to stop the acceleration, the vehicle had to be shut off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 2,000.
The contact test drove a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while the vehicle parallel parked with the active park assist system engaged the vehicle suddenly accelerated in reverse and crashed into a parked vehicle. The contact stated the brake and accelerator pedal were not depressed. The manufacturer filed report case number 0401301881. The failure and current mileage was 10.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated the vehicle would stall without warning. In addition, the contact experienced sudden acceleration. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told there was a problem with the computer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 600.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Oceanside , CA, USA