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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:
9 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,060 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 17)

problem #333

Feb 192023

Focus

  • miles

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

While driving on interstate, my car suddenly started hesitating and failed to pick up speed. The engine light came on. I pulled over, but did not turn car off fearing it would not restart, to look at owners manual. The problem continued as I drove home. I have driven it once for a short distance since and there was no change. This could cause an accident since it happened unexpectedly while driving at high speed. Brake light fault warning light is illuminated although light appears to be working. This could cause rear end collision if not operating. Luggage compartment opens while driving which causes visibility issue and chance of items stored there to blow out and cause accident. I can not tell if this issue is included in recall addressing locks and latches. Driver side window no longer operates, preventing escape if needed

- Crofton, MD, USA

problem #332

Feb 112024

Focus

  • miles
I have reported before my vehicle is and has been cyber attacked. This time around my horn has been disable. They turn on the radio, they turn on the light lights of the vehicle, they turn on the radio, they turn on the ac/heat control. If I take it in again, they are going to tell me nothing is wrong. This is very dangerous for me as a driver. I cannot drive a vehicle without a horn. I NEVER heard from you guys on the last report I made. Not sure how this one is going to help. This Ford vehicle is dangerous! If you can please assist, I would appreciate it. Thank you!

- Oak Park, IL, USA

problem #331

Sep 082023

Focus

  • miles
My vehicle is under a cyber attack! I went to Ford dealership to have my horn fixed and explained the same thing I am about to tell you. They check and stated that there were some issue with the Sync system but all is well. If I further issues to see them again. Well, I have the same issues. My horn is not working when I know I just had it fixed! I was driving when suddenly my vehicle engine felt as though it was going to be disabled. The check tire pressure comes on and I have fairly new tires on my vehicle not to mention I had them checked prior the circuit board tells me. Folks know about the lighting of the vehicle that transmit looking for a signal when you open the trunk or open the doors. There was nothing wrong with this care when purchased used. I also believe due to the bluetooth signal, folks can hear my conversation and I DON'T HAVE A PHONE OPERATING WITH THE VEHICLE. When using phones in the car though, it automatically somehow enable the bluetooth on when I have it set to off. Another vehicle can ride behind me with his lights blurred onto my vehicle and go to the app of his phone and disable something in my car. Once my radio was changed and i did nothing to it. Sometimes it is set to a different radio genre station that I don't listen to. A truck road behind me and literally cut my radio on and could not turn it off until I pulled over and shut the car off! I have reported this to the police but folks think I am out of my mind. My life has been a living hell because I work for the state and folks there are doing the same thing to my car as a stranger would do when driving behind me. Also the car can pick up bank information if you are using the drive thru. They can track your account. I believe folks at work and neighbors of mind are using an app to do so. Because the car can connect to a garage, it can pick up a signal that can transfer to another vehicle if they have their car on. Again, the lights are the signal transmitter picking up information

- Oak Park, IL, USA

problem #330

Aug 032023

Focus

  • miles

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

August 3, 2023, vehicle bucking from 1RPM to 2 RPM. No engine lights came on. At every stop and go vehicle hesitated. I was driving a relative to a post operation doctor visit. Went to dealer following day. They could not inspect the car. Gave appointment for 5 days later. Recall letter I received is for the TCM/PCM-Transmission/Power Control Module. Dealer says they have vehicles waiting 2 and 3 years for this part. If this is my issue they cannot provide me with a time frame for getting the issue corrected. When I drove to the dealer the engine light did come on and it continues to be on. Car can leave me stranded or vehicle may jerk forward even with the brake applied are some of the different issues that can happen.

- Hialeah Gardens, FL, USA

problem #329

May 242023

Focus

  • miles
The problem is with the transmission and dual clutch and electrical. My car shakes when still, doesn't want to go when I put on the gas, doesn't want to change gears. The electrical keeps going on and off and the fan goes on and stays on after I shut car off and get out and stays on. I took it to schicker ford on south kingshighway to get programmed and I got my car back it was worse.

- Stlouis, MO, USA

problem #328

May 192023

Focus

  • miles
Causing vehicle to shutter or jerk making the driver lose control for a minute or two when driving. Happens only, when accelerating at from a stop or turn.

- Paducah, KY, USA

problem #327

Apr 062023

Focus

  • miles

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

PCM failed dealership didn't replace the recall but cleared

- Valparaiso, FL, USA

problem #326

Apr 132022

Focus

  • miles
The horn has never worked for me since I had the car. I-??ve had so many close calls where people almost backed into me and there is nothing I can do but pray! And also the stereo system I-??ve had to go in and disconnect due to the fact that I-??d come outside with my car off haven-??t even started it that day yet the speakers would be blaring a horrible cracking and popping sounds also happens randomly while driving it-??s very scary

- Homer , AK, USA

problem #325

Feb 012023

Focus

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the instrument panel lights were dimly illuminated, the horn was inoperable, and the radio was not functioning properly. The contact stated that the steering assists warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to her residence. The contact stated on March 8, 2023, the steering wheel seized. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and was able to steer to the right and park in a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the steering rack to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Middleburg, PA, USA

problem #324

Feb 012022

Focus

  • miles
Problem: Reoccurring check engine light and ODB2 Code's P0443 & P0444 Repairs made: MAF Sensor Purge Control Valve Reset Computer Air filter Cap less Gas Fill, W0133-2022154 Related Safety recalls: 18S32, 19V515000, 18V735 or 18V735000 I believe the Problem occurs due to an recall that was not performed or performed correctly leaving the problem. I am requesting the recall repair history from form Motor Company Please. Thank You, Taz

- Camarillo, CA, USA

problem #323

Aug 302022

Focus

  • miles

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

Failure of the TCM

- Beaver Dam, KY, USA

problem #322

Jul 142022

Focus

  • miles
The vehicle needs PCM and TCM replacement. Stalls while braking or apply pressure to gas peddle while driving, faulty gear changing mechanism has issues switching to proper gear due to the underlying problems above. It has turned off while driving on the interstate without warning. May instantly stop while applying minor pressure to brakes. Has been inspected by mechanic and AutoZone employees confirming the issues. It is unsafe due to the instant stopping or applying to breaks behind another driver almost hitting them or causing someone to hit from behind. Furthermore, inaccurate gear changing causes an increase rapidly in speed or very slow in speed which could lead to accidents.

- Mooresville, NC, USA

problem #321

Jun 012022

Focus

  • miles
The power steering has gone out again. We replace the rack and pinion with a brand new one and it still went out again. There are many complaints in regards to the power steering going out, including a death due to this car. There have been recalls for other Ford-€™s that were forced to be recalled because Ford continued to ignore the issue. Even with those recalls, my focus is not included and it a huge safety issue and decreases the drivability.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #320

May 312022

Focus

  • miles
I had regular service done on my vehicle 5/27/2022 to which the battery needed to be replaced. That was done without issue however 3 days later as I was on my way to work the check engine light came on and my engine began revving then stalling/losing power as well as shuddering. This was especially concerning as I was on the highway traveling at 70 MPH when suddenly I lost engine power and my vehicle began lurching. I was close enough to home that I was able to turn back and drive very slowly as it was apparent there was an issue in the gears turning over when accelerating. I could not get my vehicle in for service as the dealership could only schedule me later the following week to get it diagnosed. I was able to drive it, again very, very slowly - to the dealership. I was told it was the TCM; 14MO2 Extended Coverage Warranty. The dealership assured me this would be covered yet now continues to tell me that this is not being accepted and that I have to pay out of pocket for this repair. I'm unsure of what to do at this point as my daily commuter has been at the dealership since June 9th 2022.

- Harker Heights, TX, USA

problem #319

Jun 112022

Focus

  • miles
The transmission has given trouble since the beginning of owning this 2012 Ford Focus and now it is in the shop as of 6-11-2022 and the Transmission Module Control is on back order. They say they reset it and my daughter could drive it but if it goes out again then it will be her bill bc the warranty will be out

- Zachary, LA, USA

problem #318

May 262019

Focus

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while the vehicle was charging, the cooling system continued to stay on and failed to decrease the battery temperature. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated when attempting to charge the vehicle while the temporary was high, the "house message" would say it's hot outside plug in your vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the air conditioning compressor to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience a failure. The vehicle was taken back to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the battery coolant pump and filter to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience a failure. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for the third time, where it was diagnosed with needing the refrigerant to be refilled testing was completed. The contact was informed after that testing the battery chiller block and the refrigerant line was needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience failure. The vehicle was taken back to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the coolant filter to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience failure. The contact stated he began to monitor the failure and noticed the coolant was not functioning. The contact noticed the battery coolant diverter valve was the cause of the failure. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #317

Feb 282022

Focus

  • miles
A couple weeks ago leaving work a warning light came on that the power steering assist was disabled/malfunctioning, to have it serviced. It became prohibitively difficult to steer my car. I called AAA and had it towed to an independent service center. They reported that the steering module, essentially the computer brain for the steering, has failed. The repair is overwhelmingly expensive, and I haven-€™t pursued it due to the crippling cost. When I proceeded to drive the car home, the light was off, and it drove fine. One of the shops I spoke with said this could happen, but it would come back unpredictably, and intermittently until it just won-€™t be drivable. I-€™m just glad it was in a safe spot when this failure occurred. Reports I-€™ve been reading online have scared me with drivers being on the freeway when this component fails, nearly causing accidents in some cases. This seems like a serious safety issue, and certainly not a -€˜wear and tear-€™ issue of daily use. The shop reported the repair would cost $2400 before taxes. I bought this car used for $5000 last year, and so far have had to put in a whole new front end, replace the cooling/ heating reservoir system. So throwing in that much more money into it is having a very negative impact on my livelihood. Other drivers report this issue occurring at anywhere from 60,000 miles to 150,000 miles. My car is at 128,000 miles.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #316

Nov 012021

Focus

  • miles
Transmission has spontaneously went from overheating to not while driving, gears are slipping have speed and when it goes to shift all power lost, then it kicks back in. It was coded with transmission control module failure. The module and both actuators have been replaced now car will not relearn shifting patterns. Spontaneous overheating transmission messages just when car is turned on. Transmission control module has been programmed by dealership but all problems continue to exsist.

- Berthoud, CO, USA

problem #315

Jan 012018

Focus

  • miles
Backup camera works intermittently. More often than not it does not work at all. Sometimes it works for a few seconds and then stops working. A message appears on the screen to take the car in to the dealer. But the warning beep sound still works.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #314

Jul 152021

Focus

  • miles
Our Ford Focus BEV had a recall in 2014 (Ford# 15N03) It is a high voltage wire harness issue. The car will completely cut power to the drivetrain and shut down leaving a message on the dash saying "Stop Safely Now". We took it in for the fix in 2014 however the issue still continued after about a year and continues still. My wife just had this happen to her with the kids in the car. This issue puts the driver and passengers in very serious danger when the car just stops responding while moving in traffic. Ford said they would not recall the issue since the issue was "fixed" and that wire harness was only good for a 1 year warranty which expired in 2015. I am hoping Ford will do the right thing and fix this issue for good. Thanks for your help in this matter. -Dave

- Tempe, AZ, USA

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