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.
Car has 122k miles. At the end of August 2021, the electronic power steering failed while my son was driving home from work, making the car difficult to steer while driving. The car displayed a notification of power steering failure. The dealer has had the car for two weeks, they confirmed a complete failure in the electronic power steering module. The dealer said they have to replace the entire steering rack at a cost up to $2500. I see this similar failure has led to a recall on the same year Ford Fusion, but not on the Ford Focus. Clearly this has to be a manufacturer defect. 900 complaints in NHTSA for this issue and no recall issued.
Power steering was intermittent starting in 2014, usually on hot days or when driving for an extended period of time. By intermittent, I mean it would have power assist, then none, while driving with only a dash indicator "i". Finally, in 2016 the power steering utterly failed. Ford was unable to diagnose the issue if the car was not currently in the failed state. Ford wants the entire electronic power steering module replaced. Forums have indicated this is a known deficiency in heat-shielding the electronics within the module and failures while driving could lead to accidents and death.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While the contact's wife was making a turn, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle veered off the road. The power steering assist fault warning indicator illuminated. The contact's wife, who was eight months pregnant, struck the steering column and sought medical attention. The dealer (george waikem Ford, 4321 Lincoln way E, massillon, oh) was called and stated that the vehicle had no recalls. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
- Brewster, OH, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Murrieta, CA, USA