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 car is having transmission problems, and loses power and has a hard time shifting sometimes. I got a recall notice at one time and lost the paperwork, and the Ford dealership refused to look up the recall and said I needed to have the paperwork to get it looked at.
On long trips (over 160 miles) with consistently high speeds, the engine torque and tachometer gauge level rises/whines, indicating a shift should be made in the automatic transmission, but the automatic transmission lags behind, causing the hover/forward stall due to engine torque, much like when you increase the torque causing the engine to "roar" before shifting in a manual transmission. This usually happens while accelerating on higher speed roads and highways at higher speeds, usually 40-70 mph range and mostly when on a long trip w/O stopping, except for gas. Car is always in motion and there is no change in engine temp and no warning lights lit.this problem has occurred many times in the past 18 months. The date indicated was the most recent date.
Car always shudders when accelerating from stationary zero mph. This car has a sel option and is driven only in automatic transmission. I have never used the sel option! the shudder causes sloppy acceleration delays from zero starts, lights and stop signs, just like a manual shift being driven by a driver unskilled clutch/shift coordination. The same thing occurs when braking for a light, then at low speed, the light turns green and you change to accelerating instead of completely becoming stationary.
Car jerks and bucks when proceeding from stop to accelerating. It's been doing this for the last year or so and seems to be getting worse. I have only 25000 miles on the car.
Car shudders failed multiple times taken to Ford dealer for recalls clothes replaced flashed tcm module multiple repairs by dealer and serviced by dealer also purchased service program for vehicle all documented had to get towed to delearship because of stationary failure said not to drive
- Wakeman, OH, USA
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Stop safely now - Ford Focus electric I have had this Ford Focus since new and have had at least 5 incidents of "stop safely now" warning which renders the car powerless for at least a few minutes. This has occurred in situations such as in left hand turn lanes which is a hazard to me and other cars. Ford did a recall -- customer satisfaction program 15N03 and 15B23 which was an inspection of the high voltage wire harness. This inspection was performed on 10/26/2016. There was another occurrence on May 1, 2017, after this inspection. My wife was turning left on a busy street and got the message "stop safely now". she could not operate the vehicle for about 5 minutes. I don't feel safe operating this vehicle and my wife refuses to drive it.
I was driving my 2012 Ford Focus out of town while I was away for work and the clutch went while I was driving and almost caused me to go off the road.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving at unknown speeds with the cruise control activated, the rpms accelerated. Additionally, the clutch was slipping without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (Ford of clermont located at 1101 E highway 50 clermont, fl 34711 800-313-9787) where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module, electronic control module, and clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer opened case number: Cas12559345 and referred the contact to the dealer. The failure mileage was 51,691.
Help me understand why the NHTSA has not forced a recall concerning the major issues found with these transmissions" has Ford pulled the wool over the eyes of NHTSA just as they have with their very own customers" my car sits at the dealership because im not convinced the mechanic has determined the true cause of the trans to cause a loss of power while I was driving about 20-25mph the trans seemed to slip into neutral but when pressing the gas ped the engine wouldnt rev nor would the car go any faster. I was 1/4 mile from my house & turned around to go back, I shut the car off & back on, the engine revved & back to idle, I put in reverse & it hesitated to move but did, I put in forward & it revved up 2X again while I to coast to my driveway. My car has shuddered at times & seemed to hesitate to know what gear to go into although I figured it to be normal since I owned the car since 9/2016 & the more I drove the more I assumed it was a type of trans that acted like a manual when it changed gears, I have only recently learned of all the major problems while doing research. I am concerned for my safety after reading just a small amount of customer complaints. The check engine light was on when I experienced the loss of power and codes P2831 P2832 & P287B were present. The mechanic said the "mechanical mechanism" is "stuck" keeping the clutch applied. He made this assumption with the transmission still installed & not checking the internal components; he must be pretty darn good to do all that! he checked the tcm per notification 14M02 which surprising passed. To the best of my knowledge notification 14M01 was not checked which would require the trans be removed from what I read. Tsb 15-0121 also calls out a potential cause. They want me to pay $2500 to replace the clutch just to be able to further diagnose potential problems without fully diagnosing the problem. 78000mi
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 40 mph, the "transmission malfunction service now" indicator illuminated. The vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate. The vehicle was towed to academy Ford (13401 baltimore ave, laurel, md 20707) where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module and transmission clutch failed and needed to be replaced. The module was repaired, but the clutch was not. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the issue was "in the process of being recalled" and transferred the contact directly to NHTSA for a "status update." The approximate failure mileage was 98,500.
2012 Ford Focus. Consumer writes in regards to transmission slippage, sunroof leakage and requests a repurchase. The manufacturer advised due to the age and mileage of the vehicle they would not be able to review the vehicle for repurchase or replacement.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. Within two weeks of purchasing the vehicle, it failed to start and the key was not recognized in the ignition. Also, the 6 speed automatic transmission failed to shift appropriately and the contact had to turn the vehicle off and back on due to the failure. There was also a sudden loss of eps and the steering assist fault warning indicator flashed. The vehicle became difficult to steer intermittently. The dealer (dave knapp Ford Lincoln, 500 wagner ave, greenville, oh 45331, (800) 717-3673) was unable to diagnose the cause of the failures. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V643000 (latches/locks/linkages) and two manufacturer service campaigns (transmission clutch shudder/transmission input shaft seal - 14M01, transmission control module extended coverage). The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 08/03/17
I was driving the vehicle on the highway and suddenly the transmission failed and the car speed dropped suddenly from 70 M/H to 30 M/H. the car behind me almost hit me.my kids and I were very close to die. Called Ford and told me there is a recall on the transmission. Took it to the dealership and they said my car is covered by the extended warranty but they don't fix it because it's a salvage title. They said this recall program doesn't fix salvaged vehicles. Few weeks before they fixed the door latch because there was a recall on it. They never mentioned salvaged vehicles. What salvage title has to do with the transmission. I understand if the car was hit at the transmission site, then you don't have to fix it. However, if a car was hit at the door or had hail damages and the insurance company changed the title to salvage, why don't you fix the transmission? Ford people don't care if I or my family die on the road because of their fault. All what they care about is to save few dollars. Please investigate this issue and see how they can put unrealistic terms for the recall. How come the company makes fatal mistakes and they still put their rules what to fix and what not to fix. I'm asking you to investigate this recall program. I'm asking you to watch the recall program and make sure that these companies are making vehicles to take us places not to take us to hell.
When taking off from a dead stop there is a slight shutter feeling. I proceded to google this issue and its a very common issue with these cars. Dont understand why there is not a recall. The dealershp told me its a bad clutch in the automatic transmission. Why would that be the consumers fault? I have a receipt from them stating that with a charge of $50 I had to pay also.
The car would get shaky at times when driving, and then yesterday, it wouldn't go into reverse. Later, I tried to start it, and it wouldn't start. I disconnected the battery and reconnected it, then the car started and went into reverse. Later, it went into reverse, and then it wouldn't go into drive. It has an automatic transmission. I took it in and was told it needs a whole new transmission. Apparently this is a common problem with these vehicles. The vehicle was not in motion when this happened.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While at a stop light, the vehicle jerked violently and the service transmission warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired five times per the same recall for the clutch pack assembly failure. The vehicle was not repaired this time. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The recall information was not provided. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.
Our family took part in the recall campaign that was due to defective transmissions Ford sold previously. (this campaign was not easy to discover). The car would stop in the middle of traffic randomly, and still does after the dealership applied the fixes Ford suggested. My mother experienced total power loss twice and was almost in two accidents because of that. (the problem still persists). There are only 54,000 miles on the car and it is in great physical condition.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that there was a progressing failure with the transmission clutch. The vehicle was taken to the dealer more than five times, but they were unable to replicate and diagnose the failure. While driving at highway speeds, the vehicle independently reversed while being operated in the drive gear. The vehicle was unable to be driven due to the failure. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.
Car was parked. Started the car and put it in reverse to pull out of parking spot. The car rolled forward, the steering locked and all brakes became disabled. Had to open door and roll out of the moving car because it was headed for a lake. The ground flattened out and car stopped.. started car and everything worked normally. In addition, it will roll backwards while in drive on a very slight incline. This car is dangerous. Ford: Do the right thing before someone is killed.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Great Falls, MT, USA