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.
My 2012 Ford Focus is displaying on the dash "steering assist fault, req'd service". bottom line, the power steering is gone. Can barely make any turns or park. This display has come up several different times in about a year and a half, maybe two years but then I turned the car off and the display disappeared and everything was ok. I asked Ford mechanics about this but they said unless the problem is present when I had the car in for other service they could not do anything about it. This time, the display has not gone away and steering is extremely difficult. I have been on many automobile forums on the internet and it seems like this is a very common problem with the Ford Focus 2012. A lot of others have suffered the same thing. With this problem so common, there should be a recall.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While the contact's daughter was driving approximately 25 mph, the steering lost power and the power steering assist indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to hiller Ford (414-425-1000, located at 6455 S 108th St, franklin, wi 53132) where it was diagnosed that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The technician also diagnosed that a front end alignment was needed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The contact was informed to call NHTSA to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
It has only been a month since I bought my Ford Focus. And my steering wheel locked itself 6 times already. I am terrified of driving it anywhere. I read stories about people getting into accidents when their steering wheel locked itself. It only happens to me when I am in the parking lot, but I am scared of what would I do if the wheel locks itself when I am driving.
Takara recall there is a "steering assist fault" message that comes randomly. The steering is really tough to move while driving, went to see if they had any safety recalls on it but there isn't. this has happened multiple times randomly while I was driving and is not very safe.
When I went to leave my parking spot, I had zero power steering and a warning light on the dash. No warning, it was fine when I parked it 4 hours earlier. Now, the dealer says I need an entire new rack and pinion totaling $1,560 with labor. Why is this not a recall with all of these complaints" could this also cause the terrible vibration in this car I've felt since we bought in April" I've had it back to the dealer 3 times and they can't find it when they test drive.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled. Also, the vehicle hesitated and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was also taken to Ford of murfreesboro (1550 nw broad St, murfreesboro, tn 37129, (615) 713-1436) for unknown repairs to the transmission. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Power steering failed as we were pulling into a shopping center and had to have the vehicle towed to the mechanic. It started by making a grinding noise and then the steering got very hard to turn so we had it towed. We are aware that this has been a big problem on the Ford Focus but neither NHTSA or Ford has placed recall on this issue meanwhile Focus drivers have been spending an average of $1500. To $2000. To repair the power steering rack and pinion. Shame on you both
The power steering has been locking up on my vehicle intermittently... it happens when I start the car and sometimes when driving. The lights come on telling me that the power assist isn't working anymore. This is very scary to be transporting my family in this vehicle when there have been so many reports of this happening and no recall has been issued. Please address this immediately before someone gets seriously injured.
Son returning to college noticed steering was becoming difficult to turn. Called me and I had him pull over and check his tires. Nothing identified. But when he tried to get back on the interstate the steering failed and he ran off into a grassy area. He again checked everything under the hood and under the car to try and determine what was wrong. When he restarted the car he received a warning light stating steering failure service required. Car was towed to dealership. Complete electronic steering module replacement required. $3000. A little searching found hundreds of complaints related to electronic steering failures on the Focus. Some Ford models have been recalled for the exact same issue. Why is the Focus been left off of these identical failure recalls" do people have to die to get Ford to do the right thing"
Power steering does not engage at vehicle start. Received an error about the power steering system. Restart or wait a few seconds and it starts working. Seems to only be at power on, but if happened while driving, would be a safety issue. Has been happening for a few months, perhaps every 10th start. Dealer wants to replace entire power steering system at a cost of $2500.
Bought used from Ford dealer mid-May 2019. By last week in August 2019 the steering assist fault service required warning light came on when I started the car in the morning & lost power steering right away. Next time it ran fine, then went out again in town driving in residential area.just got into service center at dealership where I bought it & it needs $1900 of work, about $1100 in parts alone. As a new college graduate, I was hoping to have a car with no major repairs needed. Noticed other Ford car models around 2012 have had recalls due to steering & also numerous complaints for this year.
Electronic steering failed car went into safety mode. This seems to happen alot why is there no recall for this was driving down the road and steering failed thankfully only going 35 or this could have been catastrophic
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While the vehicle was stopped, the power assist steering warning indicator illuminated and the power steering failed. The contact stated that the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Mcfarland Ford sales Inc (located at 151 portsmouth ave, exeter, nh 03833, (603) 772-5953) was contacted and an appointment was scheduled to have the vehicle diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and case number: Cas-24090379 was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Power steering just randomly goes out which could cause a wreck because it is hard or impossible to turn the steering wheel when this happens. Especially if you are on the interstate and you all of a sudden have to slow down and try and get out of the way to the shoulder. There should be a recall for this. I have seen plenty of complaints about this same issue.
Upon starting up my vehicle immediately on the dash display it said 'steering assist fault service req'd' I am not able to move the wheel or drive my car whatsoever. The car is usually okay to drive once restarted, but this time it won't go away the first time it happened was when I just took off from the curb and was driving fine but when I went to take a right turn the same prompt appeared and the steering went out completely. Luckily I was on a side street so I was able to restart my car and move it.
The electric-assist power steering has begun to fail. Randomly when I start the car and I get an alert on the dash about the power steering system along with the orange safety alert icon. The car has no power steering at all. I turn the car off and then restart. Usually, this clears the error and brings the power steering back online. I have occasionally had to restart the car more than once. This has also happened to my husband while driving. We had to pull over and he restarted the car multiple times to get the power steering back online. It is increasing in frequency and is to the point we have an appointment for the fix which will cost us over $2500.
Recently on multiple occasions when I start my car I have no steering and I see a warning message come up on the dash that the steering is not functional. When I turn the ignition off and restart, it seems to work properly again. I am scared that I am going to lose my steering while driving.
Power steering locks up intermittently - even when driving and it has happened numerous times. So far it has only happened at speeds of less than 45mph. The lights come on, the power steering no longer works but if you shut the car off, wait a minute and start back up it works fine.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Baltimore, MD, USA