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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:
30 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
15 / 2
Average Mileage:
59,215 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 12 of 67)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1119

Mar 132020

Focus

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact's daughter took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective transmission. The contact's daughter then took the vehicle to jannell motors Inc located at (2000 Washington St, hanover, MA 02339) where the contact was provided an estimate to have a diagnostic test performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Boston, MA, USA

problem #1118

Jul 142015

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle hesitated without warning. The vehicle was taken to capitol Ford located at (919 capitol expressway auto mall, san jose, ca 95136) where the contact was informed that the powertrain control module was defective and needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that if the powertrain control module was replaced, there was no guarantees that the failure would be resolved. The vehicle was then taken to the Ford store morgan hill located at (17045 condit rd, morgan hill, ca 95037) and repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 19V515000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was repaired however, the check engine warning light illuminated while driving slow speeds. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed with a defective transmission control module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #1117

Jan 032019

Focus

  • 72,625 miles
2102 Ford Focus - have transmission skipping and also could not get the gear shift to go from park to drive. Was stick for 2 hours in the winter months until tow arrived.

- Lawrence, MA, USA

problem #1116

Sep 102019

Focus 4-cyl

  • 58,335 miles

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

When you depress the accelerator peddle the rpms max out.it will studder for a few second then the rpms will plummet to zero or one.the engine stalls while in motion.while operating the vehicle on a straight flat road.the rpms are all over the engine looses power surges and cuts out.when driving up hill or an incline the engine will loose up to half its power and the car will derastically loose accelerator power.the steering is irratic.it shakes and causes the vehicle to lurch.it is unsafe to operate on public roadways.since recall service I've had to return the car to the recall service provider.the car now has so many problems it sits in my driveway.since October I've paid full coverage insurance for a car the Ford Motor Company and sub sitiary companies of that company refuse to honor their re-calls and services stemming from those recalls.

- Spirit Lake, ID, USA

problem #1115

Mar 092020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, a message displayed stating; transmission hot, wait 5 minutes. The vehicle loss motive power. The contact followed the warning light directions; however, the failure recurred. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000(power train) as a possible cause of the failure. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #1114

Mar 102020

Focus

  • 200,000 miles
I was leaving work when I got on the freeway when I step on the gas pedal the center of the car mainly the transmission start to shake and the car would stop move, the more I press on the pedal the louder the shaking get and the car would not accelerate I had to pull over to the side of the road shut the car off and wait for 15 minutes then start it again try to move it but it was moving slowly I eventually reach home.

- Homewood, AL, USA

problem #1113

Jun 012019

Focus

  • 135,000 miles

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

My transmission is slow on take off slips in cornering has a vibration while running. It hesitates and lunges. In town and on highway running.this is the 2nd transmission.

- Oshkosh, WI, USA

problem #1112

Mar 102020

Focus

  • 78,000 miles
I went to a Ford dealership for a possible transmission issue, uncomfortable gear shifts and acceleration lag, that I have with my 2012 Ford Focus in 9/13/2019. They told me that my car had a field service action (technically is not a recall) that had expired couple months ago, and they could not do anything. They provided me some papers that explains operation characteristics of their faulty transmission. In six months to this date, my issue with the transmission got worse. After 30 minutes of driving, my entire car starts shaking in first and second gears, and becomes unsafe to drive because it sometimes takes dangerously long time to speed up. Today I went to a local mechanic shop and contacted Ford customer service. My mechanic estimates the costs of repair to be $1500, and Ford customer service only tells me that their field service action (14M01) has expired and would not take the responsibility for their faulty transmission anymore.

- Edwardsville, IL, USA

problem #1111

Jan 012015

Focus

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle would shuddered and hesitated. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer was not notified of the failure. No further information was available. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 20,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #1110

Feb 262020

Focus

  • 112,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while coming to a complete stop the vehicle shuddered without warning. The vehicle was taken to marshal mize Ford located at (5348 tn-153, hixson, tn 37343) to be diagnosed. The diagnosis was a plate cylinder failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train) however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.

- Soddy-Daisy, TN, USA

problem #1109

Feb 172020

Focus

  • 86,000 miles

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

While the vehicle was parked, I used the shift lever to place the vehicle on reverse. However, each time the shift lever was placed on reverse it would slip into neutral. Additionally, while the vehicle was on drive it would shift to the next gear in a rough manner, causing the vehicle to jerk before engaging the next gear.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #1108

Feb 242020

Focus

  • 65,000 miles
2012 Ford Focus nothing but trouble with transmission! has been repaired 3 times since we bought this for our daughter to attend college. Extremely dangerous vehicle it loses power suddendly shudders and shakes can barely get pulled over to keep from being involved in an accident. Last repair by Ford dealer was 8-15-2018. Transmission is slipping again!. I could say more but do not feel that anyone is listening to how dangerous this vehicle really is as numerous complaints have been made. Really feel Ford got away with a major screwup and have not been held accountable by anyone! going to have to trade this in and it should never be sold again but they will sell it to some poor soul just las it was sold to me! 1st repair11-2012 by previous owner 2nd repair 7-16-2014 3rd repair8-25-17 4th repair 8-15-2018

- Barnhart, MO, USA

problem #1107

Oct 292019

Focus

  • 44,000 miles
The family has taken all three of our Ford vehicles to the same dealership for service since we purchased them and they have not taken recall action. The Focus not only has this recall but the shudder recall, that the dealer advised that it would cost us $1,500 because the recall requires clutch replacement. We received notices for the tcm, shudder/shaft seals, and cpv with no actions taken. The family's record is that our maintenance schedule has been consistent visits with the dealer's assigned return dates and nothing less. The family should not have to pay for a recall for that kind of money. That amount should be doubled and submitted to us as a down payment on a new Ford vehicle. We are not liking what sexton Ford told us though we have been nowhere else for maintenance except them since day one! now, we are being notified of nothing being done iaw what supposed to had been done already.

- Davenport, IA, USA

problem #1106

Feb 212020

Focus

  • 108,000 miles
Power assist failed while driving. Could not turn the wheel properly. Car started shaking and sounded like engine was going to fail. Only 108,000 miles

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #1105

Feb 012020

Focus

  • 149,000 miles
The car began having troubles shifting around 10-15 mph. It would shake/rattle and would struggle getting into the next gear. Around 20 mph, there would be a grinding sound. This occurred for about a week before I had it checked by a mechanic. They informed me the clutch and transmission are going out and this is a common problem with these cars.

- Springfield, OR, USA

problem #1104

Jun 092018

Focus

  • 48,000 miles
I was driving at a speed of 65mph and my Ford Focus displayed a yellow wrench and a stop safely now triangle, the car lost power and the steering wheel locked up. I was almost rear ended and fought with the car to coast to the side of the road

- Sonoma, CA, USA

problem #1103

Dec 032018

Focus

  • 16,000 miles
When the vehicle is put in drive and you take off there is a lot of shuddering in as much as the vehicle will hesitate so much that now that the hesitation almost caused a wreck; several times. There is also a loud gurgling sound going on in this process. Supposedly a mechanic looked at it who was once a Ford mechanic where he stated there is nothing wrong with the car or transmission. They were made like this. This is not a safe car to drive!

- Lake Charles, LA, USA

problem #1102

Nov 202017

Focus

  • 70,000 miles
Vehicle transmission jerky - more noticeable a few weeks after purchase from Ford dealership va beach Ford April/May 2016. Dealer said it had to learn driving style, they also updated some software in 2016 - provided no documentation for update - after update car seemed quieter. Almost 1.5years later the vehicle cut off on a back road with my husband and 5 year old daughter whilst in motion. Took it to a Ford dealer overseas where we are stationed. In October 2017 they switched the tcm box, car worked way better. As of January 2020, the shudder/jerking has returned and we also now have door lock actuator failure, we had one before we found out it was a warranty repair issue and had a local mechanic repair one of the rear ones. Was driving and for some reason the driver's side lock would not hold to car frame. Dealer had to order the locks to replace on two front door positions. Not sure why they are not replacing all the locks. We have also told Ford usa, Ford usa europe representative and Ford italy about the shuddering returning and they all sent us back to one of the other parties. I believe they don't care anymore since they are in the hole. When we asked Ford usa for assistance told us that military autosource would assist in all service related issues. Even military autosource has backed out of trying to lift a finger to assist since this transmission issue is bigger than them. Looks like they have essentially began to cut ties with any car customer owners in the usa market.

- Fpo, AA, USA

problem #1101

Feb 152020

Focus

  • 97,776 miles
I have about 98000 miles on my 2012 Focus and I just has a message warning me of transmission issues. Before the warning there were no problems shifting but as soon as the warning came on it has a hesitation in the gear shifts. After I turned the car off and back on it had no issues so I changed it to manual shift and I had no more issues for the time being but I looked under the car and there is a very light drip around the point that the transmission meats the engine so im guessing it is the common issue of bad seals and a contaminated clutch.

- Bellevue, MI, USA

problem #1100

Mar 222017

Focus

  • 80,000 miles
I have had noumorous issues regarding the transmission. The vehicle shut off while driving, losing all power trying to accelerate, shutters really bad when shifting, the transmission light come on randomly and shuts off before I can get in to the dealership to have it checked out, and when they look at it they tell me if the light isn't on they can't diagnose it. Now my warranty is up I am still having problems and refuse to pay thousands of dollars to get it fixed on a car that is worth almost nothing because of the manufacturer issues driving the value down due to there negligence and not wanting to really fix the issues that have plagued this vehicle. These problems have happened on and off for the last 5 years and are continuing to this day.

- Lewis Center, OH, USA

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