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.
Since day one like several of the problems with this car, it has made a noise and bottoms out when going over small bumps. The dealer says it can't find any problems and all looks right in the front end. Soooo tired of the list of things with this car, reminds me of the American cars of the 70's, always something wrong with them. Some thing's never change. Going back to Chevrolet when the extended warranty is up.
The car visited the dealership several times the dealer said they didn't hear anything. It was quite loud. I had my uncle who is a retired ford service manager drive the car and within 5 minutes he told me exactly what it was. I took it back and told them to check the strut baring when they finally looked at it they told me know wonder it was making noises there was no grease In it at all.
The 2012 made a clunking noise when driving very slowly over a paved bumpy terrain. For example, an old parking lot, or the washboard on asphalt roads near 4-way stops. We noticed this very early in the life of the car... about 4000 miles. I complained to the dealership early on but was not skilled enough to reproduce the sound. Now, at 18000 miles I knew exactly what parking lot to drive on, and the mechanic easily heard the noise and agreed it was an issue.
The dealer quickly diagnosed the problem as needing new sway bar bushings. It took two days to order the parts and then they found that the new parts were damaged. Two days later I have my car back and the noise is now gone.
Text from the work order:
2F A64 W
CV6Z 5K484 A LINK 2 W
CV6Z 5484 B BUSH 2 W
Warranty Claim Type: F
I noticed that others mentioned the coolant reservoir and fuse box as possible culprits. The coolant reservoir does indeed rattle around when you wiggle it and the sound is very much like the clunking sound I heard. However, the sound I heard while driving slow is gone as a result of the service, so I don't blame the coolant reservoir in my case.
The 2013 has a lot of minor improvements over the 2012 (like the cigarette lighter location), and we have never heard the clunking sound from that vehicle to date.
I hope this helps others.
- johnmichaelhauck,
Bridgman, MI, US
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Within 2 month of taking ownership of my vehicle it began to "rattle, Clunk, Crunch, and Bang" while driving over ripples in the road, turning or even hitting bumps in the road. Over time and with the warm weather coming it has gotten progressively worse, car sounds like it has 100,000 miles on it and is falling apart! I have dealt with the problem now for months now due to being told that is was most likely normal and that it could not be duplicated and if the problem gets worse to bring it back. I brought the car into 2 other dealers other than my own dealer without appointments I walked in and asked for a tech to drive with me. both tech's heard the noise but was like its most likely normal. HMMMM what to do next?
Within the last 2 month (5 to 7 months ownership) the car has begun to "rattle" while going across gravel, turning or even hitting bumps in the road. It has gotten so bad the car sounds like you have hit something or it is falling apart!
Purchased this car 1/14/2012 brand new, great deal. Now it sound like a car with 100k on it. Rattles and clunks when going over speed bumps and uneven pavement. Ford still can't figure out the fix not to mention it took 3 different times to the dealer and a ride along that the tech before they would confirm the noise.
Vehicle still has knocking noise from 11/21/11 when dealer followed thw TSB and replaced the coil springs, mounts, and hardware. I took the vehicle back to them to tell them that the problem is still ongoing. They kept the car for one full business day then told me they "could not duplicate the problem" and to come pickup the car.
I just got dropped the vehicle off the Dealer for the 3rd time on 01/07/12 for the same ongoing issue regarding the Clunking / Knocking coming from the front end of the vehicle when going over bumps and while braking. This time I took a technician for a ride and he agreed that the noise was still present but had no idea what the problem is. At this point, the vehicle is has been in the shop 5 times in 3 months. And in the shop 3 times in 30 days for the same problem. The vehicle now qualifies as a "lemon" under PA Lemon Law and I have begun a Lemon Law case with an attorney. Hopefully Ford will buy this vehicle back and refund my money so I can go buy a 2012 Toyota Corolla which I am almost 99% sure will stay out of the shop for many many trouble free years and miles...
After roughly a month and half of ownership and at 1,437 miles, the vehicle began making a clunking / knocking sound when going over bumps and while braking. I took the vehicle back to the Dealership where they said there is a TSB out on this issue to replace the front coil springs, front upper strut mounts, and all related hardware. They went ahead and replaced all parts mentioned above but it DID NOT fix this issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I had to pay the deductible for the extended care warranty of $100.00
- Tanya C., Whitby, ON, Canada