Print this page

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.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
30 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
15 / 2
Average Mileage:
59,215 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2012 Ford Focus drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Ford Focus:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 7 of 67)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1219

Feb 112022

Focus

  • 29,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse the vehicle, the vehicle failed to move. The vehicle was restarted and failed to drive. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the TCM needed to be replaced. However, the parts were on back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

problem #1218

May 022022

Focus

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated during acceleration. Upon inspection, the contact noticed there was oil leaking onto the inside of the hood. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

- Sorento, IL, USA

problem #1217

Apr 212022

Focus

  • miles
Recently, my 2021 Ford Focus began intermittently shuddering when shifting between first and second gear. Also, the reverse gear intermittently does not enage and will have to physically push the vehicle backwards in order to shift back into first gear.

- Manassas, VA, USA

problem #1216

Apr 122022

Focus

  • miles

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

A check engine light appeared on 5/12/2022 car experienced lack of power from accelerator with transmission slippage pulled off of road and car failed to go into any gears had to turn off engine let car sit and then restart for it to engage. 5/13/2022 car went to local mechanic it was diagnosed that TCM (transmission control module) was bad and we needed to take to ford dealership. 4/20/22 while driving to ford dealership the car would not accelerate or change gears several times during trip. Ford dealership mechanic said that the part TCM was on "indefinite backorder". The car is to dangerous to drive.

- Jamestown, TN, USA

problem #1215

Apr 152022

Focus

  • miles
transmission control module malfunction was covered under extended warranty and I am 11 months outside the window for repair but think it should be covered for the lifetime of the car

- Ferndale, MI, USA

problem #1214

Aug 202019

Focus

  • miles
PCM/ECM software inadequate to detect a stuck open canister purge valve(cpv) yes it is available for inspection upon request. After recall service was performed the 2012 Ford Focus SE slipped out of gear.the car stalled.the vehicle stopped completely while driving in traffic. The vehichle shoot had no power.the message center display said engine malfunction, transmission failure and starting system failure. The vehicle was taken back immediately to the Ford certified shop.the vehicle did not have any problems until recall service was performed. Yes the vehicle was inspected again.there werent any warning lamps or messages or any mechanical or electrical or software problems.the symptoms did not begin until after recall service was performed by a Ford certified repair facility.Ford stated if the vehicle exhibited any issues after service was performed to take the vehicle back nto were recall service was performed and the car will be fixed free of charge.this did not happen the car has 55 thousand miles on it.it has sat in my driveway since September of 2019. The door latches could come open on their own.I was told that recall service was performed on my 2012 Ford Focus SE by the Ford certified mechanic facility mike white Ford of cd'a Idaho.in fact they never performed the brepairs or even looked at the doors.after repair work was supposedly done I received a letter stating that service was not done and to take my car back to the same place that destroyed my car in the first place.Ford Motor Company refuses to do as their recall letter stated.Ford Motor Company denies any fault concerning my 20123 Ford Focus.its been almost three years of me trying to get my car repaired.the Ford Motor Company absolutely knew the 2012 Ford Focus had major issues.they chose to sell the car to the consumers any way.

- Spirit Lake, ID, USA

problem #1213

Nov 262021

Focus

  • 172,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that the vehicle failed to move in reverse. While driving, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 10 MPH. Additionally, while driving the vehicle stalled. The service transmission message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 172,000.

- Marshalltown, IA, USA

problem #1212

Feb 012022

Focus

  • 121,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact previously had the transmission replaced. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission clutch failure. The dealer informed the contact that the transmission clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

- Kentwood, MI, USA

problem #1211

Nov 162021

Focus

  • miles
Transmission slipping issues on acceleration

- Hazard , KY, USA

problem #1210

Mar 022022

Focus

  • miles
While driving the vechicle it has problems accelerating and dies out in traffic to a rolling stop. I had the car diagnosed at a Ford dealership near me and was told it would be worse senario approx. $6500 to repair and that is because part of the transmission is $4000 alone. Despite the transmission issues reported on this vehicle the dealership would not comp any fixes. When in reality my problem is the same as many other owners that reported this issue. The difference is the car is newer to me but was previously owned. This is bad that Ford released a faulty transmission and leaves the owners with the burdon to repair.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #1209

Feb 282022

Focus

  • miles

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

My wife was pulling out from grocery store into highway when car jerked and almost stalled out!

- Salyersville, KY, USA

problem #1208

Feb 162022

Focus

  • miles
For the past few months there has been a grinding type sound when shifting down to third. Then It went to shifting up to second and it doesnt want to shift out of second without jumping forward.

- Hartstown, PA, USA

problem #1207

Feb 162022

Focus

  • miles
When i got to accelerate car will rev to high rpms and when i let go of the gas pedal it will shift to nxt gear then do it again, i have to let go of the gas pedal for it to shift correctly

- Bear, DE, USA

problem #1206

Jan 312022

Focus

  • 118,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond while in reverse. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #1205

Jan 242022

Focus

  • miles
was driving down the highway at 65 mph and went to accelerate and the transmission dropped out of gear and would not catch could not accelerate all you could hear is car reving in rpm was almost in a accident no warning light came on. Just driving regular speed the car the car with not shift properly and just Rev up in rpm and warning light will come on saying transmission hot pull over and transmission malfunction. When you take off from sitting still it will jerk and take forever to get up to speed.

- Ionia, MI, USA

problem #1204

Feb 192015

Focus

  • 25,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate at various speeds, the vehicle would shudder and shake, the check engine light would illuminate, and the clutch would become stuck. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The contact indicated that the clutch was previously replaced on three separate occasions. The failure mileage was 25,000.

- Valparaiso, IN, USA

problem #1203

Jan 102022

Focus

  • 149,929 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission warning message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The failure recurred. Additionally, the vehicle was unable to reverse. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the failure was related to a Customer Satisfaction Program Campaign Number: 14M02 (Transmission Control Module Extended Warranty Coverage) associated with the VIN; however, the warranty coverage had expired. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The failure mileage was 149,929.

- Matthews, NC, USA

problem #1202

Oct 152021

Focus 4-cyl

  • 105,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the RPM would rise however, the vehicle would decelerate. The contact stated the transmission fault warning light was illuminated. The contact turned off the vehicle for 5 minutes before restarting and driving to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission and clutch to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #1201

Dec 202021

Focus

  • miles
Transmission slips and car shudders when gears shift. Car stalls slightly when moving forward.

- Wakefield, RI, USA

problem #1200

Nov 292021

Focus

  • 79,950 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at 30-35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently started shuddering. The check engine and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact restarted the vehicle and drove; however, the vehicle was shuddering significantly and increasingly while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission clutch and the TCM had failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 79,950.

- Sterling, VA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?