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.
I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN KY, IT DONE OK UNTIL AROUND MARCH 2017. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC IT WAS THE ROTORS AND BRAKE CALIPER AND BRAKES. SO I GO TO GET A STICKER JULY 1 2017, AND I ASK THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE JERKING. AS I GO TO PULL OUT HE SAID IT WASN'T THE BRAKES AND ALL THAT BECAUSE HE PUT BRAKE SHOES ON THE 2012 FORD FOCUS. HE SAID I WOULD NEED TO GET THAT CHECKED, IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS LIKE WHAT THE HECK, I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JAN 2017. I WAS LIKE I DON'T HAVE THE DAGGONE MONEY TO DO THAT, I LIVE OFF OF DISABILITY FROM MONTH TO MONTH. HE SAID SOMETHING IS DOING THAT, HE SAID IT CAN BE DANGEROUS. I WAS LIKE: WHAT? SO NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT MUCH. I AM ALMOST CRIPPLED FROM A CAR WRECK ON 06-06-2016 THAT WASN'T MY FAULT. SO HE SAID IT COULD BE MULTIPLE THINGS, CHECK. IT SEEMS TO DO THAT WHEN I DRIVE FOR A LONG DISTANCE. I LOVE MY CAR BUT THAT ANNOYS ME BADLY. PLUS, WHAT THE MECHANIC SAID THAT COULD THE PROBLEM BE !!!!!
Car would speed up when I hit the brake before the brakes could start to work. I would lose power when turning into traffic and have a hard time getting it to accelerate. My TCM has been reset twice and replaced once and still having issues.
The transmission shudders, jerks, and shakes and makes noises upon shifting gears. The transmission often refuses to accelerate even though my foot is planted on the gas. Upon sitting at a complete stop - the transmission will almost disengage and lunch forward. The dealer refuses to fix the defect free of charge.
I brought my Focus to the dealership multiple times with concerns about the transmission and they heard the grinding noises and felt the hesitation I did, but deemed it "normal." I was in a car accident 8/15/15 when I was making a left turn and the car hesitated to accelerate. The car was T-boned and totaled.
This Ford Focus has been nothing but trouble---car has barely 60,000 miles on it and it has shuddered, stalled, even while driving! Has been towed in numerous times to Dealership for repairs and for not starting. Dealership gave lip service and Ford higher ups have been no help--told them it will take this car to kill someone in order for Ford to do right by people and admit this car is DEFECTIVE!! Paid $20,000 for this piece of sh*t...never again!!! no wonder people buy foreign make cars....BEWARE! do not buy a Focus ever!!! Just noticed there is a class action lawsuit for this issue, I am going to join!!!
- Monelle M.,
Steilacoom, WA, US
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TWO weeks after buying this pos it stalled out on a normally "busy" highway, with most driving at high rates of speed. Car just stalled for several minutes and wouldn't move. After a few minutes I was able to move on and took it in for repairs. Still waiting. Was told by the dealer " The car needs to get used to YOUR driving !! Really???? Humm, curious as to how you could ever SELL a car that only knows the owners "driving habits"!???
I'm told it needs an overhaul? Clutches and etc . Had I known about this, I would have NOT have bought it. I see I'm not alone here. However- Ford should step up to the plate on this one bc even though the trans is covered till 100,000, we all know it SHOULD go way beyond that. Never, again Ford!!!!!!!' What's Ford waiting on? Sad that the consumer always tows the line for these billion dollar business companies!
I have had this car in several times for the same problem. As recent as two weeks ago and it has started again with the transmission light on again. It was supposedly a recall... They did not get it fixed obviously! I'm sick of it!
4/27/2015 Brought car in to Santos Ford dealership in Los Banos Ca. due to transmission dropping out of gear on freeway and at stoplights car has serious power loss issues (cars honking at me thinking I'm intentionally slowing down at the crosswalk). Found out there is a recall on this exact problem. Service manager said they closed some transmission shutter as a temp fix, but there is a seal leak and the TCM (transmission control module) needs to be replaced but due to the volume of cars experiencing the same issue. The parts are on back order. He said they will call me when the parts come in but to go ahead and drive the car until the part show up.
6/1/2015 Have been experiencing the same problems but it comes and goes. Some days no problems but other days it drops out of gear or losses power on accelerating or I completely lose reverse gear. A truck almost rammed me when I made a left and the car decided to drop gear and decelerate. Finally on the 6/1 the car would not go above 35 mph and it was surging as I stepped on the accelerator.
Had car towed to Santos ford dealership. Was informed the parts still not in. Driving this car is a serious safety hazard, the dealership refuses to offer a loaner. When I told the service manager that the car acts as if is low on transmission fluid but because it's sealed I can't check but I am guessing it is due to the "Seal" leak issue he mentioned when I first brought it in. This will seriously affect the life expectancy of the transmission which I am certain they will not cover.
Transmission slippage when I attempt to accelerate, like making a left turn at a busy intersection. Has been an ongoing problem since purchase in May 2013. It has had the work under warranty, lasts a few weeks then starts up again. I have had a negative experience with the dealership, in that they are openly unconcerned after you purchase the vehicle. So I do not bring it there anymore. I am planning to get rid of the car rather than deal with the issue long term.
I have always been a Ford guy so when my daughter bought this car I was happy for her. Within one year of purchase she starts complaining about the transmission jerking and not shifting properly. Since 2013 we have been in the shop 6-7 times for essentially the same issue with the transmission. In June this year she was driving down the turnpike and the car revved up and downshifted and she had essentially had no control. Fortunately she was able to pull over and get out of traffic.
When is FORD going to own up to the problem with the dual clutch transmission? I'm so freaking tired of going in for an "update" to some stupid electronic component. The transmission is a pile of junk. It's so bad she wants to trade in the car which she/we lose money on. I'm afraid it's going to take someone getting seriously injured or killed before FORD wakes up to do something. Meanwhile most consumers are getting royally screwed on this deal. What happens when they do finally come up and admit what a bad design it is? How will we be compensated? I think there needs to be a class action lawsuit for all affected who have traded in or sold their vehicle. I told the dealership I want another transmission if you can't fix it. They say its up to FORD. You would think with all the stuff going on with GM, FORD would step up and do the right thing.
Want to know what kind of car I just bought for work and my wife? I just bought two KIA Optima's and we love them.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN KY, IT DONE OK UNTIL AROUND MARCH 2017. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC IT WAS THE ROTORS AND BRAKE CALIPER AND BRAKES. SO I GO TO GET A STICKER JULY 1 2017, AND I ASK THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE JERKING. AS I GO TO PULL OUT HE SAID IT WASN'T THE BRAKES AND ALL THAT BECAUSE HE PUT BRAKE SHOES ON THE 2012 FORD FOCUS. HE SAID I WOULD NEED TO GET THAT CHECKED, IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS LIKE WHAT THE HECK, I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JAN 2017. I WAS LIKE I DON'T HAVE THE DAGGONE MONEY TO DO THAT, I LIVE OFF OF DISABILITY FROM MONTH TO MONTH. HE SAID SOMETHING IS DOING THAT, HE SAID IT CAN BE DANGEROUS. I WAS LIKE: WHAT? SO NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT MUCH. I AM ALMOST CRIPPLED FROM A CAR WRECK ON 06-06-2016 THAT WASN'T MY FAULT. SO HE SAID IT COULD BE MULTIPLE THINGS, CHECK. IT SEEMS TO DO THAT WHEN I DRIVE FOR A LONG DISTANCE. I LOVE MY CAR BUT THAT ANNOYS ME BADLY. PLUS, WHAT THE MECHANIC SAID THAT COULD THE PROBLEM BE !!!!!
- Audrey T., Wharton, WV, US