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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:
13 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
45,887 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 8)

problem #159

Jan 072021

Focus

  • miles

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

The transmission module, and Transmission. While on freeway with my family car shut off while driving. Yes, Yes, No there were no warning signs until after the jerking and shaking started after 39 days then the engine light came on. After that a that the sign said transmission over heating pull over and let car cool down. what was most scary is that it shut off while driving.

- Southfield, MI, USA

problem #158

Feb 222023

Focus

  • miles
Only 67867 miles and the transmision is not working. I only drive short distances. Allwise have a problem. Since I buy the car. I never complain because I am very busy. But. know the car stop complete

- Revere, MA, USA

problem #157

Sep 172022

Focus

  • miles
Transmission over heating stop safely light comes on transmission hot stop wait 5 second I do the restart of the transmission and it keeps doing

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #156

Nov 022011

Focus

  • miles

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

TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE I called for and they now claim my vechile cant be covered because it's out of this stated warranty by a few months. We hThe car has been in for service regarding the transmission on this car multiple times. We have broguht in for service as well as call for many years, over and over again, we've been told there is nothing wrong with the car. even though it has a warning for tranmission malfunction service now. ave been trying to get this resolved since my dad bought the car in 2012! weve been turned away. I need to have this fixed.

- Monroe, OH, USA

problem #155

Aug 022022

Focus

  • miles
-Loss of power from the pedal, not able to accelerate from a stop. RPM rides high until it shifts. "Transmission Malfunction. Service Now" notice. -Unaffected by other traffic but not able to properly maneuver traffic. -Problem has re-occurred but not taken to a service center. -No inspection conducted yet. - No warning lamps appeared until issue occurred a few times.

- Aliso Viejo, CA, USA

problem #154

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 #153

May 052021

Focus

  • 143,000 miles

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

I had just purchased Ford Focus used. The dealership told me, that my cause recall does not stand. Because it exceeded over 100,000 miles. They said it out of warranty. They told me to pay $3,400 estimation to fix the car. I told them recall don't expire. Also that Ford manufactures tell me up to 2012-2017 have recalls on transmissions issues. I'm just upset they don't hold up to there standards with Ford and I love Ford motors. They car stalls and won't go into gear. It has difficulty responding to gears. I bought it used ABS notice the problems. So I hauled it in to the Ford dealership.

- Winslow, AZ, USA

problem #152

Apr 082021

Focus

  • 163,000 miles
While accelerating out of a parking lot to pull out into traffic, accelerating through intersections, or taking a right on red, the car will start to accelerate and then suddenly as it try's to downshift, it acts as if its stuck in neutral, and wont accelerate at all. On multiple occasions I have almost been hit by other moving vehicles. Some going 50 mph have had to slam their brakes on because I wasn't able to finish accelerating to get out of the way. When it isn't doing that, it has jerky/ rough/ downshifts. It also vibrates when I try to speed up and sometimes has a hesitation and then will kick in to gear. This is a very serious safety issue and has almost caused me to get hit by other cars in motion multiple times. Especially trying to pull out into traffic! I brought it to the used dealership I bought it from and they discovered there was a communication error code with the tcm. They did a system reset and 24 hours later, it was back to doing the same thing again. After doing research I learned that there was a recall on this issue and the recall does a free reset for you. Well, this does not fix the safety issue! it actually needs to be replaced to their newer updated model that isn't defective like this one. So, their current safety recall does nothing. Also, other research showed me that Ford went through a giant lawsuit over these exact problems in 2016 and one result was an extended warranty of 10 years or 150K miles. This doesn't help the people that are already over the 150K miles! their safety issue is still present! next I'm contacting the BBB, attorney general, the local new channels, and the governor! this recall needs to be updated to getting it replaced!!!! not just reset!! *recall 13V523000 *sources of my information: Https://www.cars.com/articles/Ford-Focus-fiesta-transmission-settlement-what-owners-should-know-420135/

- Portland, ME, USA

problem #151

Aug 312020

Focus

  • miles
Air compression inside has always had air come inside the car never being sealed. Car engine overheats when they use their own products. Tire fault, they claim they couldn't see it, but if they really do diagnostic test as they charge, then they should see all the codes that come up on faults. Ford knows they have had issues with the cars but when you take car in they claim they can't see it, claims to do a diagnostic test, which they don't. ask about the results they claim there is no diagnostic test for it, but yet they scam with warranty and yourself. Doors leak they say it's normal but it brings mold inside the car. I start it up to keep the battery going and to find someone honest who won't cheat you, cuz the dealerships are scamming folks. Same thing numerous times so I used the last date.

- Williamsburg, VA, USA

problem #150

Jun 192020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 79,100 miles
While driving on the freeway around 6pm and taking an on ramp onto another freeway the Ford Focus stalled mid-drive and would not accelerate anymore or switch to higher gears when the accelerator was pressed. The Ford immediately could not go any faster than first gear and luckily we avoided an accident by pulling to the side of the freeway on ramp into the vegetation since there was no shoulder. There was no noise or indication that something had happened to the vehicle. The engine light came on and the vehicle just stopped driving in the middle of driving at around 50mph. It would not drive backwards when put into reverse and would rev up to extremely high RPM when the driver tried to move forwards or backwards. Towed the car to the mechanic the next day and they ran a diagnostic that came back with 5 error codes including: P0805, P087A, P2831, P2836, and P2861. A pin point test was performed and found that the voltage was at a consistent 5 volts, so they cleared the codes and took the vehicle for a test drive and it was fine again. The vehicle has about 79,000 miles. Attached will be the mechanics form along with what they said are several codes for related recalls that were supposedly already fixed.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #149

Aug 022019

Focus 4-cyl

  • 64,000 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 driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated with the accelerator pedal depressed. The vehicle was taken to currie Ford located at 2052 w morthland dr, valparaiso, in 46385 to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission was defective and needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,000.

- Gary, IN, USA

problem #148

May 042020

Focus

  • 3 miles
Taki off from stop light car is stalling, turned vehicle off and will not start again

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #147

Jan 312020

Focus

  • 102,886 miles
The vehicle just shuts down on the expressway without warning while in traffic. The transmission has been overheating without any unusual acceleration. If driving over 25 mph the transmission overheats and will not accelerate. The vehicle radio comes on without the key in the ignition. The vehicle engine light and transmission light continues to come on without warning.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #146

Nov 022019

Focus

  • 82,589 miles
High rpms died in flight stalling jerking

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #145

Jan 012020

Focus

  • 148,000 miles
When first accelerating from 0 mph, the car will struggle to shift out of first gear. It constantly jumps and jerks between 10-20 mph. It feels like someone who is newly learning how to drive a stick shift is shifting the car. As an automatic, it should not be having these problems. This is the second time this has occurred with the car. The first time the computer had to be completely replaced.

- Springfield, OR, USA

problem #144

Nov 012019

Focus

  • 105,000 miles
My wife was turning at a intersection and the car lost power and motor just revved like it was in neutral. My granddaughter was and her car seat in back and I was in passenger seat. We almost got T boned by another car. Luckily we were not.. after looking up this happening to others. How have you not let the public know how unsafe these cars are"?"

- Chattanooga, TN, USA

problem #143

Oct 202019

Focus

  • 110,000 miles
After going to my Ford dealer for the last 2 recalls that effect fuel system (last one was recall #19S22) my car was ok for a few months. Now that temps have dropped below 50 the same thing is happening. When accelerating, the car shakes and sputters as it tries to go and I get about 18mpg instead of my usual 27mpg.

- Westbrook, ME, USA

problem #142

Oct 102019

Focus

  • 680,000 miles
As many others, no, rather thousands of others have reported that the faulty dual clutch transmission offered by Ford failed and almost cause an accident that could of seriously injured me and my 2yr old daughter. Will it take a death for the recall of this faulty transmission that Ford knew about, before anything is actually done" how padded are they making your pockets" do your job and save lives.

- Ashland, OR, USA

problem #141

Aug 292019

Focus

  • 101,000 miles
We purchased a 2012 Focus for our 18 year old daughter as her first car. The check engine light is illuminated and the car shudders as you accelerate like its shifting gears but it's a very aggressive jerk. Once it reaches certain speed it drives smoothly but if you stop at a red light or stop sign and accelerate again it does the same thing. The fault code for the check engine light states it's a catalytic converter problem. I did some online research and found a recall for what I thought was the cause of the issue (recall 18S32). Took it into the dealership to have the recall repaired and they reset the PCM but tech told me the gas tank "passed inspection" so no further repairs were needed. However, the car still shudders at acceleration. I was told I'd have to pay $135 for them to diagnose the problem. I am so afraid for my daughter who is a fairly new driver to be driving this unsafe vehicle. I will be searching for a class action lawsuit as I've read several complaints of the same issue on this website. I don't feel comfortable selling this car to anyone else with these problems either. Ford really needs to rectify this problem immediately before someone gets hurt or worse, dies! the car has 101,000 miles on it.

- Ellenwood, GA, USA

problem #140

Aug 012019

Focus

  • 119,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact took her vehicle to an unknown dealer to be repaired per an unknown recall. The contact believed there was a manufacturer defect with the throttle body and stated that the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate when the brake pedal was released and would then violently accelerate suddenly. The failure caused the vehicle to crash into a ditch. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. There were no injures. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 119,000.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

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