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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:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,736 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 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 2 of 14)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #250

May 102021

Focus

  • miles

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

I was given engine codes P144A and P1450. Whenever I fill up my gas tank completely I have to turn the key multiple times to actually get the car to start. The lower the tank is before the fill up, the more times I have to turn the key to eventually get it to start. Everytime I turn and it stalls I pray that it doesn't blow up. It will make the quick triplet sound and then won't "vroom." The component to be complained about is the Engine/Fuel system, and it is available for inspection upon request. Well for 1 I wasn't sure if this stalling would occur while actually driving, and based off of online research it could happen, and 2 as I said previously I was genuinely worried whether or not the car would blow up, let alone start. I have seen a recall regarding this issue to other cars with the exact same make, model, and engine type dating back to 2019, but for some reason the recall isn't covered under my vehicle's specific VIN. The component has not been inspected yet because I am hoping to find a way to have the recall cover my vehicle so I don't have to pay as much for it. There hasn't been an exact "failure" more of a problem with unknown consequences. The light first appeared probably about 6 months ago, but the initial engine codes I got (I have since gotten them twice more, the most recent being about a month and a half ago) indicated that the only problem I MAY experience was incorrect display of gas on the dash. I didn't notice it at all, so I figured it wasn't that serious nor a safety concern.

- Springfield, VA, USA

problem #249

Aug 232021

Focus

  • miles
CEL came on while I was traveling. When I took my car to get it read, the error code was p1450, unable to bleed up fuel tank vacuum. After filling up my car with gas, it would struggle to turn on. I would have to push down on the accelerator while turning the ignition so that my car would start properly. Even then it still felt like it was stalling and wanted to turn off. I am aware that this issue was part of another recall related to my gas tank becoming deformed. I wound up replacing the vapor canister purge solenoid and that seems to have fixed the problem.

- Harlingen, TX, USA

problem #248

Aug 162021

Focus

  • miles
My car randomly started stalling out while driving. A check engine light came on, and when I took it in to get read, the mechanics told me they were the codes pertaining to the recall on this car for the purge valve malfunction. The local dealer will not grant me an appointment to look at it and complete the recall for another 5 weeks.....my appointment isn't until October. In the meantime, I dont have a safe vehicle to drive, as the chances of me getting rear ended are high. The vehicle stalls out 6 to 7 times every 40 miles.

- Willow, AK, USA

problem #247

Jul 022021

Focus

  • miles

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

Somethings going on with the Fuel injectors when I-€™m at a red light it seems like the car is ready to turn off. When the light turned green and I try to accelerate it jerks.. I went to for dealership (Ford) they stated it was the transmission brackets m, so I got that fix. but that-€™s wasn-€™t it so I decided To look up the recall information it shows that these cars have issues with the fuel injectors and the vacuum So ect. I keep putting it in the shop and they keep telling me different things and at this point I-€™m getting tired of paying money for something that isn-€™t the issue I Call Myself buying a car for my son to head off to college (upper state NY) 2nd year but I have to make sure it-€™s safe for him to travel I have been broken down thank god for Triple A and at this point I-€™m out of options attach is a recall sheet that came with the warranty I-€™m looking to purchase

- Clayton, NC, USA

problem #246

May 112021

Focus

  • miles
The first incident occurred at a gas station. I filled my tank, turned my car on and put my car in drive as usual. As I took my foot off the brake, my car started to roll backwards. There was no dashboard lights on at this time. As I was driving home, the check engine light came on. I went home to research places to take my car to be checked. I left back out and when I started my car, the check engine light was no longer on. I restarted my car several times and drove back and forth to see if the light would come back on and it did not. The light did not come back on for about 2 weeks and when it did, my car stopped while I was driving. I was able to restart it but it was scary having my car stop while driving. I filled up my tank this morning and when I tried to start it, it did not start. It did start after a second try.

- Waldorf, MD, USA

problem #245

Apr 192021

Focus

  • 150,500 miles
My daughter bought a 2012 Ford Focus sel abot 2 weeks ago in 1 week she ran out of gas and fuel gauge was marking a 1/4 quater tank we filled the gas tank and it was working fine on 4/19/21 same thing happen on the highway marking 1/4 quater tank but it shut off twice while driving no 1 got hurt or no accident 1 time it was on city street the other on the highway at midnight

- Springfield, MA, USA

problem #244

Jun 062019

Focus

  • 80,000 miles

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

Tanque esta desforme por segunda vez.SE realiz la primera campaa 18S32 luego de 6 meses presento el mismo problema.

- Manati, PR, USA

problem #243

Jan 142017

Focus

  • 70,000 miles
My car fails to accelerate without shuddering even after the clutch was replaced and computer reprogrammed. It first started having transmission issues when it had only around 60,000 miles on it and was around five years old. Even after being fixed, my cars transmission light came on and it coasted to a stop at the side of a busy road. I was able to drive it at jarringly loud low gear home. Because I was told it was out of warranty the second time, I took it to another mechanic who reset the computer and told me he suspected the transmission itself is bad. It drive ok, but with astonishingly low power and dangerous freeway merges for another two years. Now the shuddering is bad again and the transmission groaning in between low gear changes. Additionally the cpv on this car was bad once, and it warped the gas pan. The dealership reset the computer codes controlling the valve but now the engine code for that problem is on again too. This car feels unsafe, but I have little alternatives. I have now way to get to work without it.

- Burbank, CA, USA

problem #242

Feb 072021

Focus

  • 204,000 miles
This is a problem related to safety recall 18S32. Ford Focus 2012 stalled and shut off while backing out of driveway and wouldn't turn back on. I went to an independent car shop and was told the purge valve malfunctioned and caused the gas tank to deform. I called my Ford dealer and requested them to replace the parts because it was the same problem from the 2018 recall. They confirmed that it was the same issue but said they wouldn't replace the parts for free because they already closed the recall. However, when they closed the recall for me in 2019, they didn't tell me that they only reprogrammed and didn't actually replace the parts. If they had replaced the parts in 2019, they wouldn't have malfunctioned now. Obviously the Ford dealer must have made a mistake when attempting to repair my car and didn't actually fix it. This is a huge safety issue for Ford cars because the car can stall and turn off at any time. Even if they fixed it back in 2019 (which obviously they didn't), it's not working now, meaning they need to do another recall and actually solve the problem. I'm now stuck driving my car with a huge safety issue until I can afford to pay for the repairs or until they reopen the recall.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #241

Oct 012020

Focus

  • 120,000 miles
I was driving home and it started to shift incorrectly and luckily I was closer to home. By the time I had to turn into my driveway it quit shifting all together. My door locks do not lock, I've had to bungee the rear doors together. My mirrors do not work. Also the fuel gauge doesn't read correctly.

- Quinton, AL, USA

problem #240

Nov 282020

Focus

  • 151,000 miles

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

I purchased my vehicle October 14,2020 from day one every time, I put gas in it, it stalled to crank and you could smell a rotten egg smell. I would have to sit and wait and press the gas numerous of times before the car started. My driver side back door came flying open the same day and would not latch back to close. Here it is November 28, 2020 my car starts smoking really bad and now won't even crank up to drive. I paid 4,056 cash for a car I can't even enjoy.

- Meherrin, VA, USA

problem #239

Nov 062020

Focus

  • miles
I was driving on a busy highway where the speed limit is 70 miles per hour, and the car suddenly slowed down while I was stepping on the gas, until it stopped and then cut off in the middle of I-40, while other cars sped by me swerving out of the way in order to not crash into me from behind. I then took the 2012 Ford Focus SE to my mechanic, and after he investigated the malfunction, he said he observed the gas tank of the car "breathing in and out like a diaphragm or a lung" due to an excessive vacuum, which he thought had also damaged other parts of the fuel system beyond just normal wear and tear, resulting in other fuel related error codes. The mechanic told me to take the Ford Focus to a Ford dealership right away, because a fuel tank moving in and out that way, causes fissure cracks to develop inside of it that could cause a tank to leak gasoline or rupture during a crash, potentially causing an explosion and/or fire. The mechanic also told me he could not imagine that Ford Motor Company wouldn't remove and then replace the fuel tank on my car, because not doing so in his opinion would be extremely dangerous. The dealership that is representing the Ford Motor Company who will ultimately approve the replacement of the fuel tank or not, attempted to and would have given the car back to me in an extremely dangerous condition rather than making the necessary repairs that Ford Motor Company is being forced to fix by the us government.

- Zebulon, NC, USA

problem #238

Nov 232020

Focus

  • 150,000 miles
I was driving on a busy highway where the speed limit is 70 miles per hour, and the car suddenly slowed down while I was stepping on the gas, until it stopped and then cut off in the middle of I-40, while other cars sped by me swerving out of the way in order to not crash into me from behind. I then took the 2012 Ford Focus SE to my mechanic, and after he investigated the malfunction, he said he observed the gas tank of the car "breathing in and out like a diaphragm or a lung" due to an excessive vacuum, which he thought had also damaged other parts of the fuel system beyond just normal wear and tear. The mechanic told me to take the Ford Focus to a Ford dealership right away, because a fuel tank moving in that way causes fissure cracks to develop inside of it that could cause a tank to leak gasoline or rupture during a crash, potentially causing an explosion. The mechanic also told me he could not imagine that the Ford dealership wouldn't remove and then replace the fuel tank on my car, because not doing so in his opinion would be extremely dangerous. Then I took the car to the Ford dealership located at: 2807 East millbrook road, raleigh, North Carolina, 27604 - phone number: (984)232-7601, and they told me that it looked fine to them, and that the car door hinges were also under recall and they weren't going to replace those either. Then I told the Ford dealership that I'd already taken the car to another mechanic first, and that I thought they were trying to repair as little as possible and do as little repairs as they could get away with; then I asked them to reexam the car again. But if I hadn't already taken that vehicle to a different mechanic first, the Ford dealership would have given it back to me in an extremely dangerous condition rather than making the necessary repairs that Ford is being forced to do by the government.

- Zebulon, NC, USA

problem #237

Nov 182020

Focus

  • 175,000 miles
The fuel tank collapsed, the fuel gauge is acting erratically, it is lacking power and the codes P0171 and P1450 are showing. The fuel tank is also deformed. The check engine light came on, so the vehicle was taken to a local shop to find out what was wrong. The recall 18S32 has been issued for these problems but when we called a local Ford dealership, they informed us that our vehicle is not covered under the recall.

- Westminster, MD, USA

problem #236

Oct 022020

Focus

  • 73,981 miles
Vehicle stalled in the middle of the road and did not turn back on. The vehicle was towed to the Ford dealership. The electric fuel pump, fuel pump assembly, and sender was replaced.

- Arecibo, PR, USA

problem #235

Oct 022020

Focus

  • 73,981 miles
Vehicle stalled in the middle of the road and did not turn back on. The vehicle was towed to the Ford dealership. The electric fuel pump, fuel pump assembly, and sender was replaced.

- Arecibo, PR, USA

problem #234

Sep 202019

Focus

  • 124,000 miles
I'm writing to complain about how Ford handled the safety recall 18S32 / NHTSA recall 18V-735. When I got the letter in the mail that my car was recalled for this part that could cause the gas tank to collapse I took it to my local Ford dealership and they reprogrammed the valve, which to me is just putting a band aid on the problem and not repairing it. 11 months later the part failed and when I took it back to the dealership to have it replaced they charged me for the repair. After talking with Ford Motor Company they are telling me that this is their policy. My opinion is that the part should have been replaced on the first visit. This will cause safety issues if left with the faulty part on the car. Can you check into why Ford has such a policy in place ? thanks, scott

- Thomasville, NC, USA

problem #233

Sep 252020

Focus

  • 217,384 miles
Under Ford recall # 18S32 a fuel tank deformation may happen from the canister purge valve (cpv). My vehicle was only fixed with the replacement of purge valve and reprogramming the PCM; akins Ford invoice# focs439115' line J#3 on invoice. No where on the invoice does it say the fuel tank was inspected. I received car back and I had run out of fuel twice (with gauge saying atleast 50+ miles to empty) over the next few months. I have another recall for the door locks and after talking with dealership we agreed to schedule a date where as Ford could give a loaner car so that the dealership could address both issues. A week later I was told that the fuel tank is deformed and needed replacement but Ford would not pay for it?? I was given email that Ford will not go back to open the case about tank recall because they feel I am not a " long term value (ltv) customer" " fyi I and my family have bought several cars over the years and just because I haven't purchased a new one in the last 5 years and did just buy this car at beginning of 2020 ;but my brother in-law did at end of 2019.. " why should this matter when a safety issue; which it is still, where the car could stop running while in the highway because of the unsure status of how much fuel is left. There are several things online about this happening to other owners cars just stalling in the lanes.

- Epworth, GA, USA

problem #232

Feb 072020

Focus

  • 70,000 miles
This is about recall 18S32 fuel tank deformation recall I had this car in the dealership several times and my opinion this dealership is useless I run my VIN on this site and shows this recall has not been fixed I also have another issue that seems is being looked at by fmcsa the steering fault and the steering going out I personally had a close call when the steering went out and almost caused a wreck

- Ft.Smith, AR, USA

problem #231

Jul 042020

Focus

  • miles
I have a 2012 Ford Focus seli I recently went to a Ford dealership to get my purge valve replace because I seen online that my particular vehicle was the same type of vehicle that the government had placed a recall on it because of the purge valve is becoming 40S I have the same issue and I tried to go to Ford to get it fixed they told me that since it was already fixed they can't fix the issue again no I only have the car for only nine months and within the nine months is became a became faulty. I need for to be responsible for replacing their defective device is that they fail to build properly

- Hinesville, GA, USA

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