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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.

And while you wait for your steering to disappear, you'll be greeted with a transmission that shudders, vibrates or won't shift at all.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
84,045 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2012 Ford Focus body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 6 of 15)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #190

Aug 122016

Focus 4-cyl

  • 63,419 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A DOOR LATCH FAILURE. THE RIGHT REAR DOOR OPEN DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE DOOR LATCH & THIS TIME THE DOOR HIT A SUPPORT COLUMN IN A PARKING GARAGE AT THE MALL & DAMAGE THE DOOR. I FILLED A COMPLAINT TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE HERE. NOW I NEED TO ORDER A NEW LATCH FOR THIS DOOR SO THAT IT CAN BE SECURED. THE CAR IS PARKED AGAIN WAITING FOR THE PART & THEN IT WILL HAVE TO GO TO BODY SHOP TO FIX THE DAMAGE TO THE DOOR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LATCHES ON THESE CARS. I KNOW THAT FORD HAS RECALL'S FOR OTHER VEHICLES WITH DOOR LATCH PROBLEMS. I AM SURE THAT THE DOOR LATCHES ON THIS VEHICLE IS MORE THEN LIKELY MADE TO THE SAME SPEC AS THE ONE'S WITH THE RECALL'S OR MADE BY THE SAME COMPANY. I SEE ON THE NET THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THERE FORD FOCUS LIKE I AM HAVING.LUCKY FOR ME THAT I CAN CHANGE THE DOOR LATCH SINCE THIS IS WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING WHICH IS SOME 43 YEAR'S IN THE BUSINESS. EVEN AT THAT IT STILL COST A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE PART & THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET.THE FIRST DOOR LATCH COST ME $239.17, THE SECOND ONE WAS $206.26 WITH THE DISCOUNT THAT I GET. OTHER PEOPLE ARE PAYING AS MUCH AS $600 A DOOR TO GET FIXED AT THE DEALERS. IF THIS DOOR HIT A SUPPORT COLUMN THIS TIME MAYBE NEXT TIME IT CAN HIT A PERSON WHICH COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS INJURY. IF YOU NEED TO GET IN TOUCH CALL AT [XXX] OR E-MAIL ME AT [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #189

Aug 112016

Focus

  • 45,000 miles
While driving on the freeway the rear driving door flew open. Car to the left of us had to swerve to avoid taking the door off. My daughter was sitting next to the door. And was trying to hold the door closed until I could pull over safely. This is is extremely dangerous to have to this happen to anyone!! took it to Ford and they said yes they are backed up with cars with same problem. What the heck?! and these are the same latches recalled in other vehicles!!

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #188

Aug 072016

Focus

  • 62,000 miles
My family and I were preparing to drive from our home when my daughter told me the rear door would not close. After researching on the internet, I find that this is a common issue with some models of Ford cars. I took my car to a Ford dealership but have been told that although it is in fact the same defective part described in a recall, my vehicles's VIN number is not included as a recall. My door will not stay closed and I can't risk transporting my children as a result. Ford says it will cost me five hundred dollars to repair the part that has already been deemed unsafe and is being fixed at no charge in other vehicles because they have different VIN numbers.

- Ethridge, TN, USA

problem #187

Aug 112016

Focus

  • 55,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Front driver side door would not latch properly, allowing the door to swing open while driving. I noticed this driving out of the parking lot at work. Extremely dangerous and could have caused damage to my vehicle and others on the road. Vehicle is unsafe to drive, and Ford has issued a recall for this issue (https://media.Ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2016/08/04/regional-safety-recall.html) but my VIN isn't one of the affected numbers.

- Manvel, TX, USA

problem #186

Aug 112016

Focus

  • 75,000 miles
The door lock latch/actuator broke not allowing the door to shut and latch. This is the same problem many models of Ford vehicles have had and been recalled. But the recalled models don't cover all models affected with this defective latch. Vehicle was stationary fortunately.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #185

Aug 112016

Focus

  • miles
Rear driver side door not latching. Opened it to get personal stuff out and went to close it and the door just bounced back. Looked at the latch and it doesn't stay up.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #184

Aug 062016

Focus

  • 55,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was parked in a parking lot. I got out to look for something in the back seat. I found what I was looking for, closed the driver's side passenger door and got back in the driver's seat. As I was backing out to leave, the back door that I had opened flew open and the warning light that a door was ajar came on. I could not get the door to stay closed. I had to tie it to something in the back seat with plastic bags which was the only thing I had. I took it to my dealer and was told that the door latch was on "back order" and it would not be available until September 2016 and would cost me $400 to fix because the vehicle had not been issued a recall....yet. So I have to figure a way to keep the door closed, not secured, until they can get the part in.

- San Tan Valley, AZ, USA

problem #183

Aug 052016

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
The door will not latch closed. The driver's side door immediately swung open when I attempted to drive the vehicle. I was unable to ever close it again after that. It just leans in place, but it never latches.

- Coconut Creek, FL, USA

problem #182

Jul 142016

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
Driver's side back door opened while vehicle was being driven. Spring forcing latch to secure is evidently broken. Vehicle was going straight at approximately 30 mph.

- Galveston, TX, USA

problem #181

Aug 072016

Focus

  • miles
As of August 7, 2016 the driver side door latch fails to latch in the closed position. Malfunction was discovered when I returned to the parked vehicle at the grocery store. Prior to this there was no indication that the latch function was failing. Obviously this malfunction is a serious safety and theft concern.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #180

Jul 262016

Focus

  • 42,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driver's door latch failed and door would not close. Car was parked and I had it locked it with the remote control. Had it repaired by my mechanic. Concerned other doors will have the same problem.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #179

Aug 082016

Focus

  • 35,980 miles
This is the second time it happens to my Ford Focus 2012 hatchback. First it was the back door at the drivers side, the second one was the driver door. I get out of the car and when pressed the key fob the horn sound twice. Go back to check if I let a door open, and the door would not close. Call the dealer and they told me that they know they have problem with the door latches but they could not do anything because Ford did not have a recall for my car.

- Guaynabo, PR, USA

problem #178

Aug 052016

Focus

  • 46,000 miles
Drivers side door latch broke and door does not remain closed/latched while car is in motion or sitting still. Cannot secure my car nor can I safely operate my car since the door will not close. This is the second door latch that is defective in my vehicle. Now both driver's side doors will not remain closed. Front and rear door latches are defective.

- Simi Valley, CA, USA

problem #177

Aug 052016

Focus

  • 61,000 miles
The driver's door latch has failed and will not close the door anymore. Dealer says the recall does not apply to 2012 Ford Focus

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

problem #176

Aug 042016

Focus

  • 76,000 miles
Faulty door latch. Ford will not honor its own recall notice published in news papers throughout us. Cost for replace is over $500. Door latches have failed while driving. My latch failed while in park, but door would not close. From abc news article "Ford is recalling about 830,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Mexico because parts in the side door latches can break and the doors can open while the vehicles are moving. The recall announced Thursday covers certain 2013 to 2015 Ford escape SUVS and C-max cars, and 2012 to 2015 Focus cars. Also included are 2014 to 2016 Ford transit connect vans, and Ford mustang sports cars and Lincoln mkc SUVS from 2015." Ford says a faulty spring part can break, stopping the doors from latching. The company says the rate of problems is higher in states with high temperatures and sunlight exposure, so the recall is focused on all of Mexico and 16 states mainly in the South and West. States included are Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Oregon and Washington. Dealers will replace all latches in the recall states and Mexico. In other states they will replace the latches if they break. The company says it knows of one crash and one injury that could have been caused by the problem. The recall will cost Ford about $270 million, and that figure will be included in the company's third-quarter pretax results, Ford said in a filing with the securities and exchange commission. Door latches have been problematic for Ford during the past two years. In may of 2015 the company had to recall 692,000 small and midsize cars for a similar latch problem. At the time, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned owners of the cars to get them repaired as soon as they get a notice from Ford."

- Crowley, TX, USA

problem #175

Jul 312016

Focus

  • 37,000 miles
My drivers side rear doors latch broke/malfunctioned leading to my rear door swinging open freely while I was driving, my daughter was in the back seat. The door it's self will now no longer stay closed. It appears the plastic/rubber latch was possibly warped from the heat.

- Temple, TX, USA

problem #174

Jun 302016

Focus

  • 36,000 miles
Door latch assembly driver side rear door and front passenger door had to be replaced, stop working for no know reason

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #173

Aug 012016

Focus

  • miles
The back door latch does not close and the door opened in on its own now will not stay shut safety big time I could have been on the freeway driving with someone sitting in the back seat now I have to pay 430 to Ford to fix something that is a major problem and safety concern

- Fair Oaks, Ca, CA, USA

problem #172

Aug 032016

Focus

  • 64,000 miles
While driving my vehicle on 08/03/2016 at approx. 8pm, my driver's side front door opened. At the same time, the dome light came on, and a warning appeared on my instrument panel. I managed to pull the door closed. After pulling over and stopping, I repeatedly attempted to close the door. It would not latch. This leaves my car undrivable and unsecured (even when my vehicle is locked, the front driver door does not lock, as it will not latch).

- Barstow, CA, USA

problem #171

Jul 312016

Focus

  • 77,400 miles
The driver's side rear passenger door will not close. I have to use a piece of wire to hold the door closed so that it will not fly open while I am driving. I noticed the door did not close when I tried to set the alarm. The car had been stationary for about two hours. A customer representative from Ford Motor Company told me that my Ford Focus was not listed in a previous recall. This does not make sense to me. Why should I have to pay for something that was the fault of the manufacturer?

- El Paso, TX, USA

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