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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 14 of 67)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1079

Dec 102019

Focus

  • 158,900 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving on the highway, the vehicle started to shudder and decelerate; however, the rpms revved at a very high rate. The contact exited the highway and parked. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who test drive the vehicle and performed a diagnostic test. The mechanic called keystone Ford (301 walker rd, chambersburg, pa 17201, (717) 264-5104). The vehicle was initially covered under the warranty, but was later not approved after the correct vehicle mileage was provided. The dealer quoted a cost to repair the vehicle, which involved replacing the transmission control module and reprogramming the new part for safe operation on the roads. An appointment was scheduled and the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was currently being repaired. The manufacturer rechecked the warranty information to confirm that the vehicle was no longer covered and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 158,900.

- Shippensburg, PA, USA

problem #1078

May 012019

Focus

  • 160,000 miles
My car has had transmission problems since I purchased the vehicle. The transmission shudders, jerks, and loses power while driving. I have lost power while driving on the highway at 65+ mph numerous times and almost caused crashes. The car jerks when accelerating from a stop and changing gears which causes safety hazards to other drivers. My car doesn't start (randomly) and my engine shuts down when decelerating. The dealership has continuously blamed the transmission issues on my driving abilities (although they've known about the faulty transmissions before mass production).

- Raymore, MO, USA

problem #1077

Dec 112019

Focus

  • 89,000 miles
My 2012 Focus has had shudder problems and some scary close calls with the clutch since I bought it three years ago. Every time I took it to be checked the dealership told me it didn't meet the criteria to get fixed. Well guess what...my extended warranty just ran out and now they tell me I need the clutch! the service guy said he has to contact Ford and hopefully they 'will be in a good mood' so they will help! I'm putting in this complaint because I should not have to pay for their mistakes, nor can I financially! from everything I've read they won't be helping!

- Dickson City, PA, USA

problem #1076

Dec 042019

Focus

  • 152,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. Upon starting the vehicle, it shuddered without warning. The contact took the vehicle to phil long Ford of motor city (1212 motor city dr, Colorado springs, co 80905, (866) 947-5647) and was informed that the vehicle was included in an unknown technical service bulletin that had not yet become a recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 152,000.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #1075

Nov 202018

Focus

  • 129,560 miles
On my 2012 Ford Focus fuel consumption has decreased also once the car gets passed a half tank the fuel volume gauge is not correct the car actually runs out of fuel what's the last quarter of a mark which appears to still have fuel, also front end drivetrain makes loud noise when turning corners, engine will not crank at times and makes funny sounds under the hood electrical sounds. Battery positive lead wiring gets hot. Car will not start, blower fan doesn't work and car runs hot, after being replaced 12/05/2019.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #1074

Oct 302017

Focus

  • 110,000 miles
The biggest complaint I have is the annoying shuddering. It's noticeable on light accelerating. Sometimes the shuddering is so bad that you can't hardly accelerate when pulling out into traffic or after pulling off after you have stop at a stop sign or stop light. This has been going on since I got the car in October of 2017 I've taken it to the dealership for this issue & they told me that's how the car is supposed to drive.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #1073

Dec 022019

Focus

  • 71,800 miles

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

Driving Ford Focus on highway at roughly 70 mph. Car dash gave error saying transmission malfunction while driving. After error came up while driving, when I hit the gas pedal, nothing happened and I lost all acceleration control of vehicle. I had to coast to side of highway. Turned off car let it sit on highway shoulder. When restarted, the car moved but did not accelerate when I hit the gas. Took car to Ford service center where they said issue was with tcm and clutch which caused the car to go into a neutral state while driving.

- Henderson, KY, USA

problem #1072

Nov 212019

Focus

  • 87,000 miles
When I accelerate it sounds like the car is in "neutral" and the left front tire/wheel is make a skidding sound. Random and unexpected when it happens. Has been doing this since summer and I thought one of the recalls might fix the problem. Taking it to three places since it sounds like it might be the design of the dps6 transmission. It only happens when I am accelerating from a dead stop such as a stop light or when pulling out onto a road. Has happened 5 or 6 times since summer.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #1071

Nov 252019

Focus

  • 2 miles
When driving on the interstate the vehicles transmission malfunctions. It displays a warning stating the transmission is overheating and must be serviced. The vehicle looses all power and when going 65 mph (if it ever reaches that) all of a sudden cars have to swerve around me because the car has no power to continue. Twice I almost got hit from behind being stuck in the middle of the interstate.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #1070

Jul 192019

Focus

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the gear failed to engage. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the driver's residence. A mechanic came to the contact's home and diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was later taken to another independent mechanic and, while driving, the transmission warning indicator illuminated. The failure indicated that the transmission was overheating. The mechanic diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was later taken to autonation Chevrolet valencia (23649 valencia blvd, santa clarita, ca 91355) where it was diagnosed that the tcm code and the dual clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while on the way to the dealer, the vehicle stalled and was pushed over to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted, but hesitated to drive. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and provided case number: Cas17998196-C0F7C0. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

- Mission Hills, CA, USA

problem #1069

Nov 012019

Focus

  • 105,000 miles

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

My wife was turning at a intersection and the car lost power and motor just revved like it was in neutral. My granddaughter was and her car seat in back and I was in passenger seat. We almost got T boned by another car. Luckily we were not.. after looking up this happening to others. How have you not let the public know how unsafe these cars are"?"

- Chattanooga, TN, USA

problem #1068

Sep 172019

Focus

  • miles
We took the car in to get fixed because the check engine light was on. When I turn on the car and start driving the car feels like it loses its speed and it feels like the car is being pulled back every time its driven forward. The car feels as if its being forced to drive and it happens every time the car is being driven. We took it in to star Ford Lincoln glendale on 1101 S brand blvd glendale, ca 91204, phone number (818)502-1901 where they told us they fixed the car but the car remained with the same problems with no evidence of fixed difference. When we picked up the car after dropping it of at star Ford Lincoln we had to jump start the car because it no longer turned even though the car would turn on before we dropped it off. The car also started leaking water from the radiator even though that was not one of the reasons we left the car there. After picking up the car fro there it has been remained park because we can not move it.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #1067

Nov 272019

Focus

  • 4 miles
P073E dtc dealer recommends new transmission after changing shift module. Daughter was almost rear ended when vehicle appruptly lost power on major roadway.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #1066

Nov 122019

Focus

  • 96,900 miles
Ford dealership states "clutch shudder problem" occurring, but theres a service call on it only to inform me that the warranty has run out and the extension on the repairs of this have expired. I was never informed of this repair, had my services completed. When inquiring to the Ford dealership that serviced the transmission for $249 last March, as well as Ford customer relations dept, I was informed by both that unless someone comes in with this complaint they do not repair it. Lucky me it has lasted 9 months past the "service call extension date", 9 months past the "manufacturer warranty". this I also believe is the result of the gas valve not malfunctioning since prior to the recall for that-back in 2015 I reported this and in 2016 prior to the service call for the tcm I had it serviced as well! now they are acting as if they did not know the dual-clutch transmission was faulty and are refusing to repair their faulty parts! I'm a nurse for the federal government, I just want to get back and forth to work in the vehicle I pay for (7 payments remaining by the way)!! make them fix their mistake! the gas valve stalling the car probably related to the transmission problems now having it had stalled the cars before they owned that problem!! for the record there were far less miles on my car when they had to repair the tcm!

- Saucier, MS, USA

problem #1065

Nov 192019

Focus

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 5 mph, the vehicle began to hesitate and an abnormal noise was heard. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train). The contact called autonation Ford mobile (located at 901 East interstate 65 service rd S, mobile, al 36606, (251) 202-2016) and informed them of the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 115,000.

- Mobil, AL, USA

problem #1064

Jul 112019

Focus

  • 138,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While the vehicle accelerated, it shuddered without warning and then returned to normal after a couple of seconds. The vehicle was taken to paris Ford-Lincoln (2020 ne loop 286, paris, tx 75460, (903) 784-2566) where it was diagnosed, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was test driven. The mechanic confirmed that the vehicle vibrated and shuddered while accelerating. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign numbers: 13V523000 (power train) and 19V515000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,000.

- Paris, TX, USA

problem #1063

Sep 062019

Focus

  • 153,000 miles
I recently submitted a complaint and received a purge valve recall from Ford. The vehicle was taken in on Sept 6 and repaired. On Sept 11th I went to start the vehicle and it hesitated to start. I tried again it started and a notification came on stating transmission malfunction service now. I had my transmission fixed in October 2018 and still have had constant issues. The car still stalls and goes in and out of gears. The car hesitates when turning or pressing on gas to accelerate. After a recent oil change the employee tried to change my headlight as it went out and 4 bulbs later he determined the wiring on the vehicle is horrible.on Nov 2nd my car hesitates to start and check engine light returns stating transmission malfunction. I brought the car into a shop and they thought to change the battery and pulled a code showing clutch position sensor in transmission. The passenger rear seat belt also has a malfunction. Im still paying on this vehicle and still have 11000 to go. Every year there is a constant issue. Im not covered under the warranty and when I was at the dealership stated the car didn't need work and wouldn't repair it. My biggest fear is driving with my children and the car stalls while turning and someone getting hurt. Ive spent thousands of dollars on this vehicle for the same issues within this transmission and Ford doesn't want to fix it.

- Gastonia, NC, USA

problem #1062

Nov 192019

Focus

  • 145,000 miles
I was driving about 40 mph on a city street when the warning message "transmission not in park" flashed and the speedometer went to zero. I pulled over and put the car in park and everything shut off. I was able to restart the car. I have had all factory recalls replaced and most recently the catalytic converter replaced as well.the check engine light or any other warning lights were not on when this occurred.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #1061

Mar 012019

Focus

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 20 mph or less, the vehicle shuddered and jerked. Also, the transmission warning indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to miller Ford Lincoln (1596 NJ-38, lumberton, NJ 08048, (609) 261-7836) where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 3193737765. The contact was referred to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 130,000.

- Willingboro, NJ, USA

problem #1060

Nov 142019

Focus

  • 54,740 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle jerked, lost power, and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact pulled over, turned the vehicle off and on, but the vehicle failed to resume normal operation. The contact attempted to shift into reverse, but was unsuccessful. The contact was able to drive at low speeds. The vehicle was taken to glenn bush Ford (619 1st St, apollo, pa 15613, (724) 478-4113) where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed. The vehicle was not repaired. NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train) was referenced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,740.

- Apollo, PA, USA

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