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 16-year-old daughter was driving the vehicle when it lost all power steering. Fortunately, she was not moving at a high rate of speed and was able to drive the car home. The mechanic said that the steering system had completely failed and the cost to repair it would be $2,500. He said there are numerous complaints about Ford's electric rack and pinion steering system, however they refuse to take responsibility. I called Ford's customer service, and even though they were aware of the issues with the electric steering system, they would not cover the repair. I have owned 5 Ford Explorer and 1 Ford car, but they could not care less. I will never buy a Ford again.
Driving my car a light came on and I had no power steering. It was so dangerous to be able to pull over. Come to find out there has been numerous service bulletins on this. I has no choice but to get rack and pinion fixed at the cost of $1495. Please do a recall this is very dangerous. I had my disable son in the car at 45 per hour, when the steering went please
Steering isn't working. I see that Fusion has recall but can't find one for Focus. This car has had so many issues and recalls. This steering issue seems to be a problem and should be on recall too.
This is getting out of control how Ford can sell cars with faults and bad parts and get away with it like the transmission issue and the issue with the steering fault that has the customer fork out over 2 grand because its all one unit but they did a recall on the Fusion and a few others something tells me they also know about the Focus mine is a 2012 less then 70 K on the car and have had in the dealership several times for both issues and they say nothing is wrong we did a software flash my guess they didn't even do that..someone needs to step up and force a recall on the Focus I'm having the code come up everyday just matter of time before I get in a wreck over the steering this has happened in motion twice and everyday parked before starting it takes several times turning the key off and on before fault goes away in the dash
Received a message of power steering assistt failure then wheel would not turn and got very hard I was almost in an accident. It was in motion on the highway
- Columbus, OH, USA
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I was driving on the interstate going 70mph and my power steering went out on the dash steering assist fault popped up on my dash. I fortunately was able to pull off the interstate with out a accident occurring. It was the scariest event that has ever happened to me and my children. This steering fault could have seriously injured my family or someone else. And their is no active recall but this is a common problem in the 2012 Focus I see online. I have a invoice from Firestone that it will be $2,531.50 to repair power steering rack and pinion assembly. Ford should be held responsible for this and putting my family and others in danger and the repair.
3 times, now; when I backed out of a parking spot and attempted to turn left and pull forward, the steering locked up for a few seconds and then suddenly released. Reason is unknown.
This is about recall 18S32 fuel tank deformation recall I had this car in the dealership several times and my opinion this dealership is useless I run my VIN on this site and shows this recall has not been fixed I also have another issue that seems is being looked at by fmcsa the steering fault and the steering going out I personally had a close call when the steering went out and almost caused a wreck
I turned on the car (stationary) in my parking lot and a warning light came up on display stating "steering assist fault - service required." The steering wheel was difficult to move with car under 5 mph. I turned off the car and tried again. The warning light immediately came on again and same issue was observed. The car is currently inoperable as it can not be safely moved from a small parking spot.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the power steering failed and the vehicle became difficult to steer while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to crossroads Ford of dunn benson (1700 w. cumberland St, dunn, nc 28334), and was diagnosed that the power steering control module (pscm) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated along with a loss of power steering. The contact contacted the dealer (sunland Ford address: 15330 palmdale rd, victorville, ca 92392 phone: (760) 241-7751) who was able to set an appointment 2 weeks out, however, the contact had not had the vehicle officially diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired, the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.
Intermittent, now constant epas (electronic power assisted steering) failure. My 20 year old daughter went to eat with friends after work and when she tried to leave to come home (after midnight), she found that the epas had failed. She did manage to drive the vehicle home since traffic was light, and luckily, the epas did not fail while she was driving or in heavy traffic. Without the epas working, the steering wheel is very hard to turn when the vehicle is in motion and nearly impossible to turn while stationary.
During normal driving conditions in the city I live in, my power steering suddenly went out. At first I thought that my engine had stalled, but then I realized the motor was still on. My Ford Focus suddenly lost it power steering function while I was driving it. (very scary) an engine warning light was displaying (steering assist). I drove home to see if I could read up in the internet to see if I could self diagnosis the problem. Some video indicated it was a fuse. (others indicated common problem with this vehicle) I checked my fuses in relationship to the steering. There are okay. I took my vehicle to a certified auto mechanic shop to see if they can help me. They could not, in fact they were caught at surprise that this was a non-fluid steering system.(no oil required) they recommended I go to another shop, but the results were the same. The diagnosis is replace the entire rack & pinion system. According to the internet this is a common issue with Ford Focus and Ford Fusion as well as Lincoln's. if this is in fact an issue with Ford vehicles please consider a recall for this problem. I can not provide any photos because the issue is internal, under the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for routine maintenance. The mechanic performed a diagnostic test and informed the contact that power steering module needed to be replaced. The traction control warning light was illuminated. Gengras Ford (225 new britain ave, plainville, ct 06062, (860)793-8885) was contacted and an appointment was scheduled which was still pending. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 61,091.
Power steering locked up while driving. Was going about 45mph when it initially happened. Luckily was only a short distance from home when this occurred. No damage to car or injury resulted from this incident.
I had just put the car into reverse and the steering assist came up as a malfunction and the car would not move and the steering wheel would not move. Through an internet search I have found this a major safety issue with very high repair costs that needs to be addressed by the Ford Motor Company.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the vehicle loss power steering assist and became difficult to steer. The vehicle was turned off; restarted and driven to his destination. The failure recurred twice at start-up. The vehicle was taken to murphy Ford located at 3310 township line rd, chester, pa 19013, (610) 494-8800, however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,277.
Entire power steering control module needs to be replaced. I've lost power steering multiple times almost causing a collision and now cannot cut the wheel to the right with losing power steering.
Steering assist fault failure. Wheel will not work the wheel is extremely hard to move. Car was stationary in my parking lot at home, but will not work. It has done this while on a highway as well, the steering assist fault or failure came on and I had all I could to pull over because the wheel was extremely hard to move. Used car dealer did not inform me of this issue when I bought it in February 2020.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ashburn, VA, USA