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.
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.
We have been having problems with the power steering failing twice on the highway and 3 times upon start up. This scared the life out of us on the highway. Fortunately traffic was lite and we safely make it across all traffic lanes to the shoulder. After restarting the car it operated normally? the internet noted similar events but no safety recalls. The most recent incident happened in my driveway. Upon starting the safety system indicated a (power steering assist failure). I had it towed to my mechanic and was told that the rack and pinion module had failed and the entire rack and pinion needed to be replaced at the tune of $2'500 dollars. I would make the assumption just the fact this happened driving at highway speeds would at least initiate an invesigation. This is 2012 vehicle and started while still under warranty but no fault code was ever presented to the repair technician there for apparently nothing could be repaired or replaced. I believe for safety reasons, and concern for others this should be looked into
My car was driving perfectly fine, then out of nowhere I got an error saying my steering assist was messed up. I pulled into a parking lot because my steering wheel started to lock on the highway. I turned my car off, and when I turned it back on I got an error stating that there was a "steering loss" and to "stop safely." My steering wheel is completely locked out of nowhere and is unable to drive with virtually no warning or error message prior to today. I looked up to see if others have had this issue and there are hundreds of complaints about the Ford Focus with this exact issue. Ford has ignored this issue for years and needs to make a safety recall for an error that was made on their end instead of causing people to pay thousands out of pocket for an error that was made by the dealer.
Wow!!!! 874 plus complaints filed on the steering I'm lost for words when or what is it going to take people NHTSA.. ya I told Ford and the dealer what I felt and I can promise you I got my point across nothing will ever be done because Ford has some smack and people belive it even or government. I spoke with a engineer in detroit and was like talking to a brick wall.I fixed my steering fault and found several factors to blame I will tell you look into a software called forscan if you have issues and if you are lucky and have not get a better heat shield made that tissue thin tin that is on top the rack and 5 points of ground to paint redo grind paint off and use that red coating also a ground on aluminum daaaaaaaa move
While driving home last night just after exiting the highway, my steering wheel suddenly became stiff as if it was locked. Power steering fault light came on. I had to use all my might to keep it in a straight line just so I can make it home.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving at low speeds in a parking lot, the electric power steering failed as the power steering faulty warning light illuminated. The contact lost power steering assist and crashed into another vehicle's rear that was parked. No injuries were sustained. No air bags deployed. No police report was filed. No medical attention was contacted. No damages were made to the contacts vehicle. NHTSA action number: PE13031(electrical system) was a possible solution to the failure however no recall was made to determine VIN information. The vehicle was seen at an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the rack in pinon needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer el cajon Ford (1595 E main St, el cajon, ca 92021(619) 579-8888) was contacted and informed the contact to speak with Ford manufacturer to discuss options for repair. The failure mileage was 96,000.
- El Cajon, CA, USA
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The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse out of a parking lot, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact turned and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle resumed normal operation. The vehicle had not been diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. Parkway Ford (2104 peters creek pkwy, winston-salem, nc 27127, (877) 836-4271) was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,292.
Steering power assist malfunction when I put key in ignition and attempted to exit a parking lot, vehicle very hard to turn steering wheel in either direction.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while parked, the vehicle was started however, the steering seized and locked in place. The contact stated that it was difficult to turn the steering wheel. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the power steering feature was inoperable. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle performed as designed. The contact stated while pulling into the driveway and turning, the steering wheel was loose. The contact stated the steering assist fault message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to bokan Ford (2 franklin park w #1, St albans city, vt 05478, (802) 524-7343) where it was diagnosed that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 30,000.
My 2012 Ford Focus with less than 49,000 miles lost power steering on November 9, 2020. No power steering at all. Luckily, I was driving straight at about 20mph on my own street when this happened so I could turn it around and go home. (about 300 feet or so.) I called the Ford dealership where I bought it and they quoted me a price of about $2100 to repair it but said since it was no longer under warranty then I would pay the entire bill. I took it to another repair shop (tuffy automotive) and had it repaired for $2119.74. The repair consisted of the entire rack and pinion unit being replace, a computer reprogram and an alignment.
Ford Focus famous steering assist fault, light on no steering and U3000 codes well im ase certified retired and Ford is yanking customers and dealerships lie.for a brief moment you may aslo have a hidden code U140, running scan shows malfuntion light deactivated not sure if this is tied to reflashing ECM or some cover up I will find what was done. The code U3000 Ford says differant after investigating the entire car grounds, grounds to aluminum, some shield to protect the pscm what, ,,,that will be fixed my way it all comes to heat and voltage also many hours of searching and calling module builders mine was a U3300:53 deactivated period dead no good, all the same and the units are on the Fusion as well. I dealt with dealership just wipe my nose is all on and off the assist fail happened many times and as close as the pscm is to the hot, hot pipe I can see heat and the pump poorly built. Sitting in a parking lot for doctorand come out and assist stayed on no cycle would fix. Anyone with mechanic skills download forscan run test but save your profile trust me also look up as built calibrations and may want look at etis.Ford.... recalls that dealership failed to fix good luck
I was trying to leave work and when I started my car an error message appeared. The message signaled 'steering assist malfunction. Check handbook' the wheel was too stiff for me to move. The car was stationary in a parking lot. I am really thankful that it did not happen while I was driving because it would have created a safety hazard. The error message turned off and car was able to be driven home without incident. I have not driven it since because the message comes and goes without any indication. The wheel locks up when the message appears. The car has 54,475 miles. It is really disappointing how many problems I have encountered.
I have had a steering assist default problem for with my 2012 Focus. They recalled 2013-2018 focuses but not my year.when I would start it the steering assist default would show on my dash, it would beep and it was hard to turn the wheel. I was told by autonation Ford the recall included every year of the system except mine and just to turn it off and back on again and this was working until last month. I went to a larry miller Ford dealer and they wanted $2400 to replace it and confirmed my year got skipped on the recall. My 2012 Focus has the same steering system and problem as the 2013-2018. My year was unlawfully cheated out of the recall! I have no power steering and have to drive with manual steering now! and I had to pay $145 on 10/21/2020 to find out it would cost me $2400 to fix it beacuse the recall wasn't good for my 2012 only 2013-2018!
While driving around 45 mph on co. Rd. 1, I came to an S curve. I made the left turn and I started to make the right turn the dash flashed a warning "steering assist malfunction". then the steering locked up, I wasn't able to make the turn, I was driving with my 3 children in the car. My 13 year old in the front passenger seat looking dead on at an approaching vehivle as we shot through the opposite lane. By the grace of god and the quick reactions of the driver, the huge Dodge 2500 was able to turn away from my vehicle and we both ended up in yards on opposite sides of the county road. My child could have easily lost her life or been severely injured. Thats the most traumatizing of the many recent occurances. Most of which only consist of trying to turn into parking spaces and when turning from stop signs and I'm able to quickly stop I just have to work harder to turn.
Warning readout steering assist failure. Steering locked up. Could not turn the steering wheel. Extreme safety risk. Ford knows of other Ford Focus cars with the same problem and refuses to pay for the repairs via recall. This is the second report I have made on this vehicle.
The vehicle code steering assist fault service required showed up and my vehicle stopped working (would not turn) in the middle of a on coming parking lot on a hill, I understand there based to previous communication that the is a issue, will there be a recall for this, can the dealer help,
My 16-year-old daughter was driving the vehicle when it lost all power steering. Fortunately, she was not moving at a high rate of speed and was able to drive the car home. The mechanic said that the steering system had completely failed and the cost to repair it would be $2,500. He said there are numerous complaints about Ford's electric rack and pinion steering system, however they refuse to take responsibility. I called Ford's customer service, and even though they were aware of the issues with the electric steering system, they would not cover the repair. I have owned 5 Ford Explorer and 1 Ford car, but they could not care less. I will never buy a Ford again.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Penn Valley, CA, USA