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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.

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

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2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 8 of 67)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1199

Sep 282021

Focus

  • miles

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

While driving transmission seems to start to slip and then fails. Upon further research, found that there is a known issues with the TCM on vehicle. This issue came about while driving in traffic and could have caused an accident when the transmission stopped working if I was unable to get into a parking lot before it stopped working.

- David, KY, USA

problem #1198

Oct 082021

Focus

  • miles
The transmission fails to engage 2nd gear from time to time so it will start to go then go to neutral many times leaving you in the middle of intersections.

- Johnson City, KS, USA

problem #1197

Mar 272021

Focus

  • miles
Slow acceleration rough shifting in transmission E8 and E9 Code's detected on my OBD reader at auto zone

- Waterford, MI, USA

problem #1196

Jun 252021

Focus

  • miles

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

Loss of power on major highway. Could have been hit in the back because car just stopped moving. Dash board had lights flashing, no up hill movement, transmission check immediately, no shift, check engine it was lite up like a Christmas tree. I was scared I was going to get killed. transmission- yes, towed to Steet-Ponte Ford dealer, nothing wrong, no reps called, lights first appeared at that moment, took car home worked for one day and repeated the same problem. Took it back to the dealer and they replaced a part in the clutch and said if that didn't work a fork would have to be replaced for $1,500 also I had to pay for the first repair $300. Took it home worked for 3 days and is still sitting in drive way

- Whitesboro, NY, USA

problem #1195

Oct 172021

Focus

  • miles
I've already lost count of how many times I changed the transmission of this car and now I have to change it again. So I don-€™t know what to do now Thank you

- Cumming , GA, USA

problem #1194

Sep 232021

Focus

  • miles
Before taking a cross country trip in July 2020 the vehicle was taken to a local Ford dealership and asked if there were any outstanding issues to do with the transmission or otherwise. The car was acting up some with shifting. They stated there was nothing and no issues. Of course they did not document this on the service ticket. On September 23, 2021 when pulling into a parking lot, a loud noise happened and warning lights (check engine and transmission reset) came on and then barely made it out of the path of the main road. Once in the parking lot, the car would not reverse. We managed to get the car pushed out of the way. Once the ignition was shut off, it took multiple attempts to restart, finally restarting in Neutral. The vehicle was towed to a different Ford dealership where we are told it's throwing codes related to the PCM Module for the transmission. After calling Ford Motor Company, we discovered the car was originally purchased in July 2011, so we are just outside of the 10 year extended warranty on this issues by a little over two months. We are the second owner and it only has about 90,100 miles, which is under the extended warranty mileage of 150,000. Ford Motor Company Customer Service has stated multiple times that I will get a call by a supervisor in one business day after I've asked to speak to a supervisor. I have yet to get a call back after a week and a half of trying. We have not had the car repaired as of yet since they won't call me back or escalate me to anyone.

- Williamsburg, VA, USA

problem #1193

Sep 292021

Focus

  • miles

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

Ok when I start the car and turn the key to on but I have to wait a second and during that second inside the engine it's like it sounds like when u change disc song on a jukebox and then when it does that then I could start the car but as of now nothing works or drives and barley bought it not even month ago from personal owner, but some advice and help please thank you.

- Arvin, CA, USA

problem #1192

Oct 292019

Focus 4-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as it was losing power. The contact stated that it felt like the vehicle was unable to shift gears. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated an issue with the transmission and recall with the fuel tank. The contact stated that the PCM was updated to the latest calibration. The vehicle was serviced for NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V643000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The failure recurred a year later after the recall service. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who stated that the clutch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and no assistance was offered as the extended warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #1191

Sep 162021

Focus

  • miles
My car has been shuddering but nothing ever pops to sensor there-€™s a problem. My car only has 109k miles on it. Serviced pretty regularly I think the transmission is going out and I have only had the car since November of 2019. If I would-€™ve did my home work I would-€™ve went with a Honda. Now my car won-€™t reverse or go any faster than 15 mph

- Swansboro, NC, USA

problem #1190

Aug 242021

Focus

  • miles
Shift fork calibration not learner #P287B..Shift Fork A Position Circuit Range #P2832.. Shift Fork A Position Circuit #P2831

- Rochester , NH, USA

problem #1189

May 052021

Focus

  • miles

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

The transmission went bad and I had to replace the clutch, the car would not go in reverse and left me on a busy street, the car also will turn off if the gas in under 80 miles til empty

- San Antonio , TX, USA

problem #1188

Jun 112011

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
I bought the car in 2012. It has not run properly since that year. We took it in for computer flashes and the recalls each time they asked and several times more because the lurching, shuddering, and delayed acceleration would always come back. I had to readjust how I drove the Ford Focus compared to any other car knowing that it sometimes stuck or delayed in acceleration. It also would sometimes jolt forward. It rolls back once at a stop sometimes while the car is running. I would have to adjust how far ahead I pulled from people in lines to make sure they had enough space between parking or in line so I didn't roll back and hit them. My car died in the middle of the road on way to get gas back in 2017. We took it in to get looked at and cost hundreds of dollars to fix a fuel tank that suctioned in on itself. We found out a year later there was a recall for that same issue. It was supposed to fix the fuel gauge reading issues too but even after being "fixed" it still never read right. I could never tell what the actual contents of my fuel levels were which is dangerous especially on long road trips. The struts started to leak and go bad well before they should have. This car is totally unsafe between the constant transmission/computer issues, the fuel tank system, door latch recalls (2 of them). We had to have the radiator replaced because one of the Ford Service Centers screwed something up when they did the clutch recall. It broke down while driving the day after the clutch replacement and was overheating. They admitted their fault and replaced it for free thankfully but why did they have to be in there in the first place? Ford needs to finally recall all of these vehicles and make it right. My family has been lifelong Ford vehicle owners and I'm about at the end of my rope with this car.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #1187

Aug 222021

Focus

  • miles
My car was always serviced by local Ford dealership. Yesterday my car would not go into reverse. I called the Ford garage here in WIlliamsport Pa and the told me that they could not work on it until 9/1 as the man who dealt with transmissions was backed up. The man in the service department told me to have the car towed to the Ford garage and if they get a cancelation they would work on it sooner. I called onstar and they arranged to toll my vehicle tomorrow. I bought my car new and never had any problems until now. I read all the complaints filed for this make and model and it seems I am not the only one with this drive train problem.

- Williamsport, PA, USA

problem #1186

Jul 182013

Focus

  • miles
Transmission is dangerous. Vehicle stutters through 1st gear continuously, as if the clutch is constantly slipping. This is most prevalent on hot days. The only way to get around this condition is to floor it from stop. This hesitation and unreliable application of power could cause accidents as the afflicted vehicle tries to turn onto a road where traffic does not stop. I have developed the habit of expecting my vehicle to basically die during the turn, and thus will not turn without a very large (sometimes unreasonable) margin of time to clear the turn. This hesitation may also increase the risk of being rear-ended by another vehicle who expects the afflicted vehicle to accelerate as normal. This transmission issue is part of a class-action settlement with Ford, arbitrated by CAP Motors under Ford PowerShift Transmission.

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #1185

Aug 022021

Focus

  • miles
The transmission clutch had a recall. It was repaired. 14,000 miles, 2.5 years later the same problem arose. Ford denied anything being wrong with it. Took it into dealership for a different recall and the slipping occurred again which wasn-€™t there when previously taken in. When bought car, salesman stated that was the normal way the car ran.

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #1184

Jul 042021

Focus

  • miles
Transmission Control Module failed. Check engine warning light came on, vehicle began to lose power, so I pulled over. When I attempted to put the car in reverse, it would not respond. Car had to be put in neutral, pushed onto the street before it would go into -€˜Drive-€™. Car was sluggish and would only go a maximum speed of 20mph. Dealer has confirmed that the TCM is faulty. There were no prior warning lights or incidents to indicate that there was a problem - the check engine light came on and there was an immediate loss of power and no reverse. Ford Motor Company customer service has been contacted, but they refuse to do a warranty repair because the warranty was exceeded by 1 month by the time I was able to get a diagnosis by the dealership. The car is well below the covered 150,000 warranty on the TCM. There are 126,672 actual miles on the car as of 7/29/2021. There currently is a class action lawsuit because of these TCM issues with Ford Focus vehicles. The TCM replacement part is currently back ordered and has been for weeks, according to the parts manager at the dealership. Since that is the case, I am unable to get this vehicle repaired, or even get a good estimate when a part may become available, therefore, I don-€™t yet have any repair receipts to provide at this time.

- Tipton , IA, USA

problem #1183

Jul 232021

Focus

  • miles
Car stumblinhg, shuttering and hesitates. Woodhouse Ford replaced or worked on my transmission in 2017 but apparently the parts were either faulty or they did not repair properly. I do not feel as if I should have to spend the money to have a faulty part replaced again after just four years and considering this has been an issue in 2012 Ford Focuse's and Ford is completely aware of the transmission problems I feel as if I a being ripped off. My car needs to be fixed for free along with the door latches that are currently on recall and the dealership refusing to replace them.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #1182

Jun 102020

Focus

  • miles
Upon accelerating the car vibrates and hesitates. I was almost hit entering an interstate due to this hesitation. It "feels" like it is slipping. I did return it to the place of purchase and they sent it to a Ford dealership. The used car lot indicated that Ford did a computer reset. It seemed better for a short bit, long enough for the computer to "relearn" driving habits and it began again, only worse this time.

- Franklin, IN, USA

problem #1181

Jul 112021

Focus

  • miles
First the dashboard panel went out, came back on several times, then it refused to start on the first and second tries, nothing just dead. Then the transmission was acting like it was slipping for no reason just when you stopped suddenly, then reverse went out with no warning. Check engine light came on. Now it won't crank and codes says it's a electrial problem. Low milage on this car. Why has it not been recalled ?

- Cordesville, SC, USA

problem #1180

Jul 082021

Focus

  • miles
While driving the transmission light turned on, the car lost power, and began to sputter. I pulled over stopped the car, turned off the car, restarted the car, drove the car, and while driving it started to sputter again. After I arrived at my destination, let it sit for 8 hours, the car drove without issue but the transmission light continued to display. It seems dangerous to drive since loss of power could result in an accident.

- Arecibo, PR, USA

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