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.
One day I went to start my car up, and tried to turn my wheel and it wouldn't turn. Somebody was able to loosen it up for me that time. Two days after that I attempted the same thing and it wouldn't not loosen up at all. The wheel is extremely hard to turn. I've done a little research and seen that they have had this problem with a number of these models.
When operating the vehicle a sensor disables making the vehicle difficult to steer. Once I pull over and shut the vehicle off for a period of time it resets and I am able to drive. This has occurred on several different locations, roads and during different weather. The vehicle is difficult to control when this happens and am lucky that it has not happened when the vehicle is at a high rate of speed. It has also happened when you first start the vehicle on several occasions but have been able to reset the system by restarting the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While the contact was preparing to pull out of the driveway, she noticed that the steering assistance warning indicator was illuminated and the power steering failed. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 30 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to steer and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to tallahassee Ford Lincoln (243 N magnolia dr, tallahassee, fl 32301, (850) 877-1171), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown.
Loss of power steering assist. Intermittent. Happens on start up a warning of a steering problem with no power steering. Lost power steering once when driving.
- Medford, OR, USA
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While in motion on the interstate my consul gave me a notification that there was a "failure in steering assist" and to pull over safely. At witch time I lost my power steering assist. I pulled off at the next exit which thankfully led to baxter Ford South where they ran a service check the next day. After running the check they determined there was a failure in the power steering control module (pscm). The pscm was re programed to the last known code. They informed me that they did not know how long the fix would last. On the same day after driving 600 miles I received the same message and once again lost power steering assist. Note that the same failure has occurred in the 2011- 2012 Ford Fusion, Ford flex, and Ford Taurus. All have been recalled except for the 2012 Ford Focus model. I will attach and highlight my invoice from baxter Ford South.
Just like the other hundreds of Ford owners that are not on the recall list my Focus steering wheel locked up. Due to a manufacturing defect that Ford doesn't want to fix. Thank you very much Ford I almost died! I will never buy another Ford vehicle again.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While the contact's husband was driving 30 mph, the steering wheel became very difficult to turn. Also, "service steering now" and "advancetrac" were displayed. The vehicle was taken to larry H. miller Ford draper (11442 lone peak pkwy, draper, ut 84020, (801) 590-0561) where it was diagnosed that the steering needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 117,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 20 mph, the power steering suddenly failed. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot and park the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle remained in the parking lot. In order to move it, the vehicle would need to be towed. The contact called a certified mechanic who informed the contact that the repair was no longer covered under warranty. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to the dealer. The dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. While the vehicle was stopped at a stop sign, the contact noticed a fuel odor. The contact called bob tomes Ford (located at 950 S central expy, mckinney, tx 75070, 214-544-5000) and was informed that the part for the repair was not available. The manufacturer was not contacted regarding the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The approximate failure mileage was 113,673.
The power steering system totally failed - I started my car and received an error message on the dash and had no power steering. Had to have my car towed to the Ford dealer and spent $2,096.20 to have the power steering rack replaced and the new one programmed.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 40 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the power steering assist warning indicator illuminated. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to future Ford Lincoln (located at 650 automall dr, roseville, ca 95661, (888) 656-7577) where it was diagnosed that the power steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While operating the vehicle, the message "electric power assist" illuminated and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to holeman Ford (3641 rt 42 South, turnersville, NJ) where it was diagnosed that the steering rack was faulty and needed to be replaced. The steering rack was replaced, but the failure recurred approximately one week later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who was unable to detect a defect in the steering. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,000.
Randomly alerted to "steering assist malfunction" on start up or when first starting on drive. Seizing of steering to extreme difficulty in turning wheel making turn nearly impossible. If car turned off and restarted(between 1-3 times), code goes away and car returns to normal. This has been happening with increasing frequency though unable to predict.I own 2012 Focus. 117,000 miles.I see similar complaints on nhsta website is this related to the 2011-2013 Fusion recall?
We purchased this vehicle used about a year and a half ago for my teenage daughter. Driving to a friend's house, she stopped for gas. She started the car and the notification" steering assist failure - service required" came on. She turned the car off and waited a few minutes and started it again. The steering worked fine.. while driving, the power steering went out. Thankfully, she was on a side street and was able to pull over and turn the car off.. she turned the car back on and made it to a friend's home near by. Since last night, the power steering is completely out. I've just found this site which I was directed to from a consumer site stating a long history of this problem with the power steering on this vehicle. We are now waiting on a tow truck to take the car to a nearby dealership to find out what they have to say about the issue. I've already mentioned to them I've found this site and there is a long list of documented issues. ( they seem to be surprised about it ( go figure ))....
While driving on the interstate I-285 my steering wheel locked up almost causing an accident and I have had the vehicle several times at a Ford dealership and it is not fix.
Steering has become stiff. The vehicle was taken to a dealership where technicians confirmed electronic power assisted steering (epas) corrosion was the root of the stiffness. However, Ford customer care stated this repair would not be covered because the warranty has expired and that there are no customer satisfaction programs covering my VIN.
On 10/26/2019 I was backing the car out the driveway, and as I was about to start turning I noticed the steering wheel locked on me, and prevent me from proceeding on to my route. I managed to quickly get in back on to the driveway and narrowly missed getting hit by a car coming the opposite direction. Once I got the car back on park I turned the engine off thinking it would reset any problem, but when I turned it back on the "steering assist fault " notification came back on. I proceeded to continue turning the car off, and back on, as well as placing it neutral, drive, and reversing it again but the steering wheel stayed locked. After being unable to find a solution I searched online to see if anyone else has experienced this problem, and found many testimonials dating back years! of people having their lives put at risk due to this problem.I was lucky enough to find myself in a safe location when this happened, but now I find myself with a towing bill of 85 dollars, as well as a bill of 2,000 dollars (that I do not have) to fix the problem, and without transportation. This is a huge problem that puts lives in danger, as well as economically debilitating. Someone needs to be doing something to fix it!
In the month of September, 2019, my power steering went out 4 separate times, with about a week between each incident. The first time it happened, I started my car in the morning and an information box popped up in the dash and stated that there was a power steering fault. As I backed out of the drive way though the warning disappeared, and the power steering re-engaged. The other three times it went out were all in the morning as well, but the power steering did not come back on as I was backing out. I had to turn off the car and restart it in order for the power steering to come back on. So far in October 2019, the incident has repeated 3 times. The first time was in the morning, and the incident was resolved by re-starting the car. The second time was a nearly identical incident, but this time happened in the afternoon as I was preparing to leave work. The third incident happened at 8:35 a.M. on Monday October 28. This time, even re-starting the car would not get the power steering to re-engage. I drove the car to work without power steering, and upon starting the car to return home, the incident persisted. At this time (8:59 P.M. on Monday, October 28). The power steering has not re-engaged.
Yesterday I turned my car on and was alerted to a 'steering assist malfunction.' When this warning has come on before, I've turned the car off/on again and the wheel eventually unlocks. But yesterday the wheel stayed locked and I had to have it towed to Ford dealership. Dealership (visalia, ca Ford) says they need to replace the steering gear assembly for close to $2800. They weren't aware of any recall for the issue. I've never had the warning come on while driving on surface streets or highways, but I believe it has come on as I've started my vehicle and put it in drive or reverse. My Focus has approximately 130,000 miles on it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fort Stewart, GA, USA