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.
When I started the car, the windshield wipers came on. The wiper switch was in the off position. The wipers would not stop. I turned the car off, and the wipers were still going. I had to remove the fuse to get them to stop. When I put the fuse back in, the wipers wouldn't come on. I drove about 5 miles and the wipers came on again and I had to stop and take the fuse out again.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after the vehicle was turned on, the windshield wipers activated independently and could not be turned off. The wipers eventually slowed and stopped functioning independently. The failure continued to recur even when the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they could not assist as there was no recall on the vehicle. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number 12V149000 (visibility). The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving in the rain, the passenger side windshield wiper suddenly stopped operating. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V149000 (visibility/wiper), although the failures were identical. The failure mileage was 36,000.
Purchased 2012 Ford Focus used, 04-14-15. I test drove the car it jerked a little. The rep stated it was normal. The next 4 months it continued to jerk, skip, hesitate and just not move when you accelerated. In 08-2015 I rec'd a letter from Ford, my car needed a tcm-software update. 09-09-15 I took the vehicle back to the dealership it took an hour to re-program the tcm. The dealership handed a printed copy of the tcm characteristics. I continued to drive the car with the same issues hoping it would go away. 10-19-15 went back to the dealer to have the tcm re-programmed again. I called Ford to complain 10-19-15 and a case file was issued #[xxx]. I did not want to go back to the same dealership. 10-23-15 the car went to the 2nd dealership. Discovered the tcm had failed and had to be replaced., explaining to drive the car for a number of miles to correct itself. The drive had improved, but then started failing again. 03-16-16 I went back to the 2nd dealership, the tcm was replaced. Again the drive had slightly improved and had again failed. This time when the tcm failed, while driving on the highway the wipers came on without turning them on, even when the car was off. The next day the car wouldn't come on so I replaced the battery. Drove the car about 300 miles made a stop and it would not come back on. The car had to be towed and the local mechanic was able to get the car started again. Driving back home about 150 miles on highway all lights came on the dash, battery, fuel, trans, etc.. wipers came on, power steering was lost and engine shut off. Rolled to side of road. Sat 5 min, then started as if nothing happened!? we made it home. Car not starting. 12-06-16 towed to Ford. Tcm module crashed the computer operating system, replaced tcm and re-programmed system. 01-10-17 wipers still come on with engine off. W/return to Ford 01-17-17. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
My heater box fails to defrost my windshield and I have to dangerously try to wipe the fog off the windshield by hand to be able to see. Without the air to clear it off and the windshield fogging over it is extremely dangerous to everyone. The first time the car was stationary and I waited for the windshield to clear using the sun to help. The sun is not always available to help with this problem. This problem has occurred while driving causing a dangerous safety issue for everyone around including me. I am getting the car fixed at a cost of about $1000 which is a huge amount. The part is on back order with many in front of me with the same problem therefore I do not know when this will be fixed. I believe that there should be a mandatory recall for the safety of everyone. The heater box has been failing for the last 4 or 5 months or more but the window only fogs up and frosts over now because of the weather change. Thank you for your time.
- Bark River, MI, USA
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While driving at 40 mph, weather clear 80 degrees, my sunroof exploded/shattered. I checked to see if it had been hit by a rock or object and none were seen.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the front windshield wipers operated independently. When the front windshield wipers were activated, the wipers failed to operate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the wiper switch and steering angle sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. It was later diagnosed that the main computer system failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 25 to 35 mph, the windshield wipers activated on their own and the contact noticed smoke and flames under the hood. The contact pulled over and called 911. The fire department extinguished the fire. Neither a police nor a fire report were filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.
On 2/25/16, after a severe rainstorm, I went to turn on my car and tried to turn on the wiper blades, but they would not come on. The next morning they did turn on. That afternoon, when starting my car, the wiper blades turned on without the control being activated. The blades continued to run even when the car was turned off and no keys were in the ignition. The only way to stop the blades was to disconnect the fuse from the box. This has happened twice when I was not aware of this and my car battery was dead when I went to start the car. I cannot use the wiper blades at this time as they will not turn off. According to Ford Motor Co., this is not covered under the recall on the wiper blades since my car is out of warranty. I have had my car in the dealership to repair the defective clutch and it is still not repaired due to Ford Motor Co not sending out the necessary parts in a timely manner. My car is shuddering and jerking when accelerating and changing gears on all types of roads. I have had this issue since I bought the car brand new. The cruise control on my car works intermittently. When the battery is disconnected and then reconnected, the cruise will work for a few days. Ford technicians could not diagnose the problem. This has been a problem for as long as I have had the car.
Windshield wipers turned on to without commanded input from the wiper control stalk. Wipers operated at various output settings (high, low, and intermittent) with the car ignition position in either the on or off position. These events happens while driving and parked. Clear day with outside air temperature of about 70F.
My issue appears to be remarkably similar to the issue with recall number 12V149000, though my vehicle was not included in that recall as it appears it was manufactured a few months after the latest manufacture date included in the recall. I am experiencing identical issues as described in that recall. My passenger side windshield no longer works at all. I believe recall number 12V149000 should be expanded, because it looks like more models are affected by the missing seal in the wiring harness connector. I have done nothing to the windshield wipers outside of replacing them every 1-2 years as they wear out.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the windshield wipers turned on independently. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred even after the vehicle was turned off. As a result, the battery had to be disconnected in order for the windshield wipers to turn off. The failure occurred a second time and the windshield wipers became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V149000 (visibility). The failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Raining, going down highway. Went to turn on windshield wipers, they do not work. Able to hear motor. Replaced fuse under glovebox, no change. Windshield wiper fluid works. This was extremely hazardous.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. Immediately after turning on the vehicle, the windshield wipers activated independently. Also, when the air conditioner was activated, an unusual yellow substance came out of the vent. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact replaced the passenger side windshield wiper. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 26,000.
While driving windshield wipers started. At first it was fast, then slowed down. Wipers continued for almost an hour after turning off engine. Later when clicking alarm remote to enter door, wipers started going again, varying speeds as time went on. I needed to pull the relay from the engine compartment for the wipers to stop.
Recall 12S29 was supposedly done by huffman Ford in April 2014, but the vehicle is still having the same malfunction. The wipers will activate intermittenly without warning. I believe the recall was not performed or improperly performed. I contacted Ford Motor Company (case # 4508297) and they are instructing me to go to a Ford dealership and pay the dealership to have it diagnosed. They said that only after I do that will I possibly receive assistance from them. I feel like they should be compelled to re-examine this vehicle at no charge to me to verify the recall has been performed or performed properly. My wife is disabled and we do not have the money to pay the dealership $106 to diagnose this problem, and we shouldn't have to.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vent liners in the rear window were deteriorated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the rear deck needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 50,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Austell, GA, USA