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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.

And while you wait for your steering to disappear, you'll be greeted with a transmission that shudders, vibrates or won't shift at all.

7.1

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$260
Average Mileage:
52,300 miles
Total Complaints:
18 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace motor, regulator (11 reports)
  2. not sure (6 reports)
  3. you must clean out the motors gear box - that is it (1 reports)
2012 Ford Focus windows / windshield problems

windows / windshield problem

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2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #18

Mar 042020

Focus S 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I really hate that I gotta deal with no window function in the summer. Hope Ford does the right thing and fixes this issue.

- Sara L., Homer, AK, US

problem #17

Dec 182018

Focus ES

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles

Driver's side window just stopped working. Have to open the door for drive-through service at banks, fast food joints.

- Philip J., Walker, WV, US

problem #16

Feb 172017

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,000 miles

The day after I drove the vehicle off of the lot the drivers window would not work. I called the dealership and brought it back they said they fixed it and the very next day it was not working again. It works very intermittently and sometimes not at all. I have had it back there twice.

- Elizabeth H., Hanover, US

problem #15

Apr 152016

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,272 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Bought a Ford "Premium Care" warranty (which gives coverage for 84 months or 80000 km) along with this new car in 2012. The car has around 45500km (~28270 miles) on it, and is 4 years old. Took vehicle in for warranty service since both driver side and passenger side windows stopped working. Despite premium care warranty they charges around 150 dollars to diagnose the issue, and said it will cost an additional 600 dollars to repair the issue. Looking at Ford's own brochure here, http://www.ford.ca/resources/ford/general/pdf/service/ESP_PremiumBrochure_E.pdf, the power windows motors/regulators are clearly shown as a covered component. Issued complaint with BBB and got no "good faith" answer meaning Ford will continue to refuse honoring the warranty.

SO in summary, it appears that Ford will issue extended warranties without backing them, and they will fight you for every nickel and dime to repair simple issues despite entering an agreement to do so at their own cost. Overall just avoid Ford lemon vehicles, and Ford corporate nickel and dime culture.

- Scott M., Victoria, BC, Canada

problem #14

Feb 032014

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

From the sounds of it, this is a pretty common complaint about this vehicle. It started out very intermittently then got worse and worse, then just stopped altogether for about 8 months. 2 weeks ago during a very cold snap, it worked again for about 3 hours, then dead again. Forget drive thrus, toll booths, or getting fresh air. No way this should have occurred during the first 50K miles. Its a shame. FORD, I liked the sporty looks and zippy ride, but between this, other electrical issues, de-laminating steering wheel, and other issues, I am ready to move on.

Update from May 21, 2016: Ok. Several months after I had this problem "Diagonosed" by the Ford dealer who said it would cost upwards of $500, I decided to tackle the problem head on and take the entire door apart myself to find out what the issue was. I am mechanically inclined so I enjoyed the puzzle. The Ford dealer told me I had to replace the Motor and the Regulator . . . Wrong! The issue was the motor, but what I found was that the part, made in Mexico, had water in it that caused the gear to corrode - not alot but enough to overload the circuit to make it think it was fully closed or open. Oddly enough most of the parts were plastic and the motor was sealed. I filled up the gear chamber with WD40, twisted it around a bunch to loosen it up, dumped it out, filled it up with silicone spray, put it back together with a little lithium grease and it worked perfectly. It did not cost a dollar outside of a little time. If you have the time and are so inclined, the fix is very cheap, but you have to be mechanically savvy as part of the gear part is to rewind the cables on the regulator, not hard but you have to think logically. Best of luck.

- ghosttrooper, Overland Park, KS, US

problem #13

Feb 052016

Focus 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,005 miles

PASSENGER WINDOW STOP WORKING. I HAVE SO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. THE PROBLEMS JUST KEEP REOCCURRING. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE WINDOW MOTOR?

- moma1205gt, Atlanta, Georgia

problem #12

Dec 022014

Focus 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

THE WINDOW IN MY 2012 FORD, STOPPED WORKING ABOUT TWO YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A HEADACHE, IN DRIVE THROUGH, TRYING TO PAY IN PARKING LOT, AS THIS WAS THE DRIVER DOOR.

- moma1205gt, Atlanta, Georgia

problem #11

Dec 012015

Focus SE 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,001 miles

I FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVER'S WINDOW.

- Rebecca L., Statesboro, GA, US

problem #10

Jan 152016

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Drivers side window has been temperamental for a few months before it completely stopped working. All other windows worked so I felt that it was not going to be a cheap fix. Took it into the dealership and window regulator needed to be repaired. I find it very odd that a 2012 would have this sort of issue.

- Julie H., Arlington, TX, US

problem #9

Jun 012014

Focus SFE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

I wish someone would have taken this car off my hands when my window was stuck. Window was sluggish for about 5k miles before it completely stopped working of course AFTER my warranty expired (due to mileage). The car was LESS THAN 3 years old. WHY WOULD A DAMN WINDOW MOTOR GO OUT AFTER LESS THAN 3 YEARS, FORD!?

- Julia K., Douglasville, GA, US

problem #8

Oct 052015

Focus SE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I just don't understand how an electric motor that does not get used very often fails and ford says there is not a problem. ford says its the dealers issue and the dealer says its fords issue. someone just admit that this is a POS and lets move on. Last ford that I will buy. nothing but issues from them.

- Walter T., Lagrange, KY, US

problem #7

Jan 192015

Focus SE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,500 miles

Three weeks ago I'm driving, I press the button for the driver's side window to go up, and it went up, twenty minutes later I wanted the window down a little and nothing happened.

NOW MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Pam B., Bonneau, SC, US

problem #6

Jul 012013

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Manual transmission
  • 12,000 miles

Front passenger window motor died. Car was just a little over 1yr old. Window was stuck in the down position. Window motor was replace under warranty, but really this shouldn't happen on a new car?!?!?!

- Pitoon E., Apo, AE, US

problem #5

May 152014

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

Loved leaving windows down during rain storms and work so people can steal my horrible car. Unfortunately no one took this bad boy off my hands :'(

- Holly A., Hope Mills, NC, US

problem #4

Nov 012013

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

My Focus was purchased brand new. When it was about 1.5 years old, the driver power window started intermittently working. Less than a month later, it quit working altogether. Unfortunately, I drive a lot so I was well out of warranty when the problem started. All other power windows work from the driver door switch. Since the driver window button does not make the same clicking sound the others do, I assumed the button was bad. I didn't abuse the button; in fact, I used it a lot less than I used it on previous vehicles. After purchasing a replacement online and connecting it, the problem was still not rectified. Seems the problem will only be fixed by replacing the regulator (based on online research). It is not a major issue but more than a huge inconvenience.

- nmbarber, Cookeville, TN, US

problem #3

May 122014

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

Had intermittent problem from 15K on up.

Decided to have fixed when in for transmission/check eng light as I had a great extended warranty.

Wasn't covered.

Transmission not fixed, problem reoccured 1 week later.

- Ted H., Seattle, WA, US

problem #2

Feb 012014

Focus ES

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

my drivers side window stopped working and I dont feel that buying a brand new car I should be replacing window motors already

- Amanda S., Dixfield, ME, US

problem #1

Jul 012013

Focus SE

  • Manual transmission
  • 48,000 miles

My passenger front window will not work. I took it to my local mechanic and he cannot get the parts. He found one motor and regulator from a ford dealership in Delaware, and the owner will not part with them. They are not available anywhere, seems there is a run on these parts, none are available and the producer said they will not be making any until the last week in August. So we are not sure when they will be available. There is such a run on these parts, they cannot be found. When is Ford going to recall them?

- eckertd, Front Royal, VA, US

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