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.
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.
- Whittier, CA, USA
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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.
Power steering fault at start up would appear then go away but now vehicle no longer has power steering at all. Seems to be a problem with other Ford cars of the same date range (Fusion, flex Lincoln mks & mkt, mkz, Mercury Milan)
Electric power assist steering total failure. Needed to replace entire steering rack. Vehicle was fortunately stationary at the time. Fault was found to be in the module unit. Vehicle becomes very difficult to steer and would be unsafe if it occurred while in motion.
Saturday morning went to the store. Got back in my car turn the car on put the car in reverse and all of a sudden the steering will got hard to turn. I check my dash and it said steering malfunction need assistance. Put the car back in drive and put the car back in the parking spot. Turn the car off turn it back on the steering went back to normal. Pull out of the park spot and as I put my foot on the gas pedal the steering malfunction need assistance went back on. Am concern for my safety and the safety of other as well.
The transmission shutters and shakes very frequently. Vehicle also periodically will almost stall while driving. Overall the vehicle just feels incredibly unsafe and unreliable while operating.
The electric power assist steering stopped working suddenly while driving. My vehicle only has 49K miles. It did this many times in the past. The advice I got from the dealer was to turn the vehicle off and restart. That worked in the past, but this time there is a warning message on the dash. I called the dealer and followed up with their offer to load new software. They told me to bring it in. I did. I also researched the topic and see that Ford recalled other makes for this problem. The dealer said the whole steering rack and pinion has to be replaced, but it is just the electric motor that is bad, just like the recall. This is totally unsafe to drive. I have complained to the dealer many times, but they never helped.
The steering assist failure has been coming on for several months when I start my car and I cannot turn the steering wheel. I have to turn car off and start it again. There is a recall #15S18 for 2012 Ford Focus but Ford is telling me my 2012 Ford Focus does not fall under this recall. Why? its the same make and model.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving, and turning the steering wheel in either direction, there was a clicking sound coming from the steering. Additionally, on several occasions the horn failed to function as designed. The vehicle was taken to auto park Ford located at 1825 centerville rd, sturgis, mi 49091, who indicated that the steering rack was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Purchased May 2019. Power steering goes out intermittently when driving and varied speeds also on startup. Sometimes it will come back after restart and sometimes not. Issue has started to become more frequent. Took to local dealer 7/24/19 for recall 18S32 in which PCM was updated also transmission control module was checked but no work done. Dealer said there were no other recalls or tsb's.this morning when started had no power steering for 10 seconds then kicked in. I called Ford customer service at 866-436-7332 twice and went through the menus to be placed on hold for 20 minutes before I was disconnected. Only a matter of time until an accident will happen, let us pray no one is injured or killed due to this known issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- St Petersburg, FL, USA