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 driver side front door will not latch light and dinger comes on the door will shut but won't latch L. you can pull door right open. The vehicle was stationary when this happened I was on my way to work and stopped at store it was fine when I got back in it wouldn't latch drove to work holding door shut.
I entered the vehicle through the drivers side door while it was parked in my driveway, when I went to close the door the door latch did not engage and the door just bounced back open. I contacted my local for dealer who suggested that I tether the door down so that I could drive it to their location. Once I arrived at the dealership they proceeded to tell me my car is no longer under warranty and that yes there is a recall on some door latches my car did not qualify. They then proceeded to write up an estimate for the work for a bill totaling more that $450.
Front driver's side door suddenly failed to stay closed. We have to use bungee cords to keep the door shut while driving down the highway. Also, when parked the lights stay on draining the battery. We had this problem last year with a different door on the same car and had to replace the latch. This is clearly a systematic problem and Ford needs to address this. As it stands right now I no longer feel safe driving my Ford Focus. This is also getting very expensive for us fix.
455000 miles - driver side door latches/locks/linkages failed to secure/latch the door. The incident occurred while backing out from parking space, and presented dangerous conditions as the door swung open in parking lot traffic. The latches/locks/linkages will require repair as the door cannot be secured. This is a second occurrence of failed door latches/locks/linkages for the vehicle. First occurrence reported on 03/02/2016 (NHTSA id number: 10839377) involved rear driver side passenger door (currently the door is fastened by ratchet straps). It is matter of time before the remaining passenger side doors latches/locks/linkages fail.
September 28 2015 the passenger side rear door would not stay closed. I paid $335 for the rear door latch to be replaced. Today, June 19, 2016, my driver side door will not stay closed. I commute to work and do not feel safe driving with this defect.
- Port Orange, FL, USA
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Car was stationary, when rear passenger door was opened for someone to enter, it would not close. Latch seems broken, door must be secured with cords. It is susceptible to theft thus.
During normal operation of the front passenger side door while the car was stationary, a defect in the engineering and manufacture of the door latch assembly occurred. The door will no longer stay closed on its own. This presented an immediate danger upon leaving the parking space, as the door swung open when turning the vehicle. The vehicle cannot be safely driven in this condition.
Rear passenger door on driver side will not latch in the closed position. Required door to be secured with rope from the inside to prevent door from opening while operating vehicle. Vehicle is now susceptible to theft of contents or vehicle itself since door will not secure in a locked position.
This complaint is for a second door latch malfunction. The first complaint was on the front driver side door (ODI# 10818622 ). this one is for the drivers side back door of the same car. It malfunctioned while our daughter was driving on a highway and it flew open. If there had been a child in the back seat that had taken of the seat belt (we know how children can be) that child would have fallen out.
Failed door latch on drivers door. Was pulling out and chime sounded indicating door was ajar. Tried to close but latch was not engaging. Had to drive home while holding the door to prevent it from flying open in traffic. This is my 2nd latch incident in five months. I had the passenger door repaired for the same issue. This should not be happening twice on a car with less than 35,000 miles (or any mileage). Ford needs to address this potentially dangerous situation and issue a recall.
Door latches not working. First started with right rear door failure, then migrated to driver's door flying open on driver when making a right hand turn. Ford will not cover this because the car is out of warranty.
Door latches don't seem to be broken but passenger door wont close at all or stay shut. I was driving on the highway when suddenly the door just blew open.
This is concerning my 2012 Ford Focus sedan. About two weeks ago as we were departing from peter pepper pizza, on a turn my rear left door opened by itself. My family was on the back and where put in danger if they were leaning against the door or incoming traffic was coming and could have hit the door or my family could have been ejected. Like seat belts I believe door latch failure is a serious safety issue. I drive now with a ratchet tie down that hold both doors together, preventing the door to swing open and cause damage. Now I can't drive with my baby car seat and rear passenger seating is useless due to this door latch failure.
Came out of the store, loaded groceries into car, opened driver door and got in. Tried to close door and it bounced back open. Attempted to reset the door latch, but the door would not latch. Had to drive the car home while holding the door closed. Door will not close. Shows door ajar warning unless I push it very hard and leave it.
My wife and 6 year old daughter had gone to the store in our 2012 Ford Focus. When they arrived they parked the car and they both got out of the car - my wife from her side (the drives-side front) and our daughter from her door - the drivers-side rear (left side of the car), where she usually sits. They each closed their doors and went in to do their shopping. When they returned to the car 15 minutes later, my wife got in her driver's-side door (front); our daughter got in using the passenger-side rear door (on the right side of the car), climbed into her booster seat and put her seat belt on. As my wife started the car, she noticed the "door ajar" indicator showing on the dashboard, noting that our daughter's door was not closed properly. After drawing this to our daughter's attention, our daughter tried to close the door but could not get it to latch. My wife got out of the car and tried herself to close the door, but also was not able to get the door to latch. My wife called me immediately and I drove out to meet her. When I arrived, I also tried to get the door to stay latched shut, but was unable. I tried activating and activating the child lock, moving the latch open and closed manually, but was still not able to get the door to latch. I secured the door closed using the seat belt and took my daughter home in our other car, while my wife took the Ford Focus to a nearby dealer. The dealer examined the latch and confirmed that there were no signs of tampering, and then confirmed that the latch had simply given out - much like the latches in the Ford Fusion and Ford fiesta vehicles that had been subject to recall. This is a serious safety concern, and am thankful that the "door ajar" indicator was working, because this defect could have cost us our daughter's life. The dealer installed a new latch, costing us over $700.
The drivers side rear door flew open while driving. Door latch broken. I had the passenger front door two month ago do the same thing with someone in the front seat at the time this happen. I filled a complaint with your department about it then. Here it happen again & Ford said that there is no recall for this problem yet. What will it take for something to be done with this safety issue. Someone could fall out of the vehicle when this happened, if there was a child in the seat he or she could have reached for the door to try to close it and could have gotten hurt with the door or even falling out of the vehicle and maybe lose there life. What about if the vehicle was involved in an accident & the door did not stay closed? the person at that door could be ejected from the vehicle and lose there life also or become disable for life because of this problem. Never mind the cost to fix this problem to the consumer because the parts are not cheap to repair. The last door latch I had to pay $239.17 for the part & had the car down for several days while I waited for the part to come in because its not an item that the dealer stocks locally. I am a mechanic by trade my whole life which puts me in the business for over 45 years. What about people that have to pay someone to fix this problem because they are not capable of doing it them self. The cost is quit high for a defect in the vehicle that should have a recall. Ford has recall for other models with the same problem with door latches that wont latch closed.this is in reference to a 2012 Ford Focus sel model.
Driver's door latch failed, causing the door to remain unlatched and swing open freely. I had to tie the door shut in order to drive it to the dealer to be repaired. The repair cost me $585.70. Ford has been making cars for over 100 years, literally all of which have had doors. You would think that they would have a solid design for a door latch by now. Luckily this happened to break when the car was parked, but I imagine it could have caused an accident or injury if it had happened while the car was driving. I still have three other doors with presumably the same faulty latch design - how long until those fail as well? I now have to carry a rope in my trunk in case it happens again while I am away from my home.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the rear driver side door latch became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was acknowledged that the drivers side rear door latch had failed and would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000. The VIN was not available.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bryson, TX, USA