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.
While traveling on city streets and on the interstate the vehicle experiences loss of power, shifting issues and inability to accelerate in traffic creating an unsafe condition while traveling on roadways
My car has, since the time I bought it, stuttered randomly when accelerating. This has caused issues where merging into traffic from a stop can be unreliable, causing me to fail to enter traffic at the expected speed and causing increased risk for a collision. I think it might be a transmission, since it feels like a gear is slipping. Eventually, through the stuttering, I will gain enough speed to where it stops being an issue. (possibly when entering the next gear)
2012 Focus transmission - loss of engagement while driving on to freeway, shifted into neutral causing a near accident towed in 3 times for repairs - authorized Ford dealer unable to repair transmission - filed two claims with Ford Motor Co -the letter we received at time of purchase dated August 2014 stated " we are committed to building high quality, dependable products". this is a well documented defective transmission and Ford is denying any assistance! our Focus is cannot be repaired and has been at larry miller Ford for 8 months. Please hold Ford accountable and issue a recall. Thank you.
Four transmission fixes for clutch assembly due to shuddering and one complete breakdown. One fix for losing acceleration while turning left at traffic light.
- Wixom, MI, USA
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The transmission shudders and frequently does not shift properly (automatic transmission) and has even failed to apply power when pulling into traffic risking a collision by not accelerating properly. The transmission also failed once while on a hill causing me to roll backwards and nearly caused a collision with the vehicle behind me. After I hit the brakes to stop the rearward roll, I tried to accelerate and the engine just revved until the transmission slammed violently into gear. These issues have been present from day one of owning this vehicle but the dealership and Ford insisted that this was how it was supposed to function.
Whenever weather is above 75 degrees, the check engine light goes on and the vehicle starts going up and down in RPM, usually going down to 500 RPM while stationary. At random times, it would go up to 4000 RPM with just a short acceleration while in an intersection. During one hot day last Saturday (8/27/19), it was above 85 degrees and the car would not even reverse when I was at a dead end of berkeley. I had to wait for my car to cool down before it eventually started reversing again. I already had my clutch replaced 2 years ago due to another recall on the car, but now this clutch has failed me. I went to the Ford dealership and after their repair specialist inspected my car (which will cost me $200), they confirmed the clutch is no longer working. My 2012 Ford Focus is out of its 7 year extended warranty, so they quoted me $3,300 to have this clutch replaced. I refused to pay this and they told me to call the Ford customer relationship center at 1-800-392-3673. They said I can complain, but they likely will not help me. This is the 4th time I have been at this dealership for repairs and the other 3 times was due to a recall issue. I spoke with the customer relationship center and explained my situation. Unfortunately, they cannot repair this clutch for free since its no longer under warranty. What the customer rep (April) suggested to do was to keep my receipts for the repair and hopefully Ford might come with a recall where they can reimburse me for the repairs. I wanted to escalate my complaint, but they said they will just tell me the same response.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle would not shift into gear when attempting to accelerate. The contact also stated that the vehicle stalled while driving various speeds. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 19V515000 (power train) regarding a stuck canister purge valve. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously included in an unknown recall for the same failure. The contact scheduled a diagnostic appointment in two weeks with tasca automotive group (1300 Pontiac ave, cranston, ri 02920, (800) 788-2114). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While the contact was attempting to make a left turn, the vehicle seized. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact was able to shift into park, restart the vehicle, and drive to her destination. Later the same day, while driving up a hill, the vehicle began to hesitate. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 14V212000 (power train) and NHTSA campaign number: 14V614000 (electrical system). The vehicle was taken to Lexus of dayton (located at 1777 lyons rd, dayton, oh 45458, (937) 438-7455), but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 42,000.
1) while driving in city turn signals stopped working. Never worked again after that. 2) while driving in city and highway power steering goes out intermittently. Shutting off vehicle and restarting generally fixes this issue. 3) while driving in city vehicle stopped accelerating and gave notice to stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible as transmission is overheating. Was stuck on side of road for 30 minutes after stopping vehicle and shutting off before could start and complete drive to work. Afraid to drive vehicle now as the transmission had been having issues before that. Clutch was replaced once already and is included in the Ford transmission class action.
The transmission in my vehicle is a dps6 duel clutch transmission made by Ford. It has been pulling codes for fork position a I have taken it to a Ford dealership for repair 2 times in three weeks last time I got vehicle back it pulled 4 transmission codes within 1 hour of getting car back and now will not shift out of 1st gear and when it does and you come to a complete stop you have to turn the car off for 15 minutes before you can drive forward again. I have contacted the dealership about it they said they have done everything Ford has told them to do, I have called Ford Motor Company and complained and they have done nothing. My vehicle is unsafe for my child and I to be in. It has been parked and none running since 5/29/19.
11/13/17 my transmission stalled, making loud shudder noises and failed to accelerate. Ford replaced the tcm and reprogrammed the clutch. There was recall for safety latches on the doors to be replaced as well. 10/24/18 vehicle started and would cut off. Attempted to drive it but then the car died in the drive way. Had to have car towed. Replaced fuel pump module and gaskets. Total of $810.96 not including towing fee. The very same night I picked my car up after it being fixed a recall was issued for fuel pump module failure. Ford refused to refund my money and insisted that since the fuel pump was not affected it was not related. I had to go back to Ford 10/3018 to have fuel vapor and seals replaced. So 2/3 parts needed replacing of which cost me. 5/4/19 I was driving down the road and my transmission went out. The car would not accelerate, brake or downshift. I was stuck at 60mph. I had to allow the car to coast home. Had to have it towed three sepearte times during this event. My car was still under warranty and powertrain includes all internally lubed parts. Ford told me that the one specific part that needed replacing inside my transmission, which is internally lubed was not covered. This repair including towing cost me $2,400 now there is another 2 recalls out on my very car for tcm/ transmission replace/shudder. This has been the most dangerous car I've ever owned. Every time I turn around I'm shelling out hundreds and now thousands of dollars for a car I am still paying on.
The transmission and clutch have been defective since purchasing the car. Transmission was worked on under warranty but continues to be sluggish and unreliable especially when trying to move forward after a complete stop. Vehicle jerks and shutters. Clutch has now gone out per the dealer and Ford refuses to take responsibility for this known defect. Car is undriveable at no fault of ours. Filed a case with Ford and was told that our only recourse was if nhsta put out a new recall or extended warranty to allow for additional owners to have vehicles repaired at Ford's expense. We have contacted multiple non-Ford repair shops who refuse to work on this make/model/year due to the known issues with transmission and clutch.
I am the single owner of my 2012 Ford Focus. I only have 54K miles on the vehicle but it shudders, jerks and feels like it falls out of gear at times. It has behaved this way since I have owned it. I thought that is just the way it was. I am now very concerned about the these transmission problems as my son now drives the vehicle.
The automatic transmission shudders/vibrates when taking off. I took the vehicle to the service department and they stated that the warranty has expired. I understand that most of the Ford Focus and fiestas have this problem for many years.
Transmission excessive shudder, ,,pulling into traffic you dont know if car will stall or go when accelerator is pushed, ,bought car for my daughter, ,,Ford should be ashamed
Complaint #1 the car overheated during a trip on the highway, had to detour...a hose was spewing water have a picture..I only had the car for 2 or 3 days!! complaint #2 very serious, while driving 65 mph on a highway. The car jerked very hard and then lost power.there was no room to pull over, it was grass and a slight ditch, late at night no street lamps...the car would not start the fuel left to E was 78 miles.I called road side assistance...semi truck swerved to miss us and every other semi and vehicle had to cross over the yellow lines to avoid smashing into the stalled car.my daughter and I sitting in the vehicle, the hour was 11:00 pm. Complaint #3 the car sputters into gear taking off.. by the way it was a one lane highway. Far from any town..
My 2012 Ford Focus with dual clutch, dps-6 transmission has on multiple occasions unclutched the transmission while attempting to accelerate from a stop to make a left turn across a busy road. The unexpected lack of acceleration due to the transmission failing to transmit power to the wheels has nearly caused my wife and I to be hit by oncoming traffic despite starting the turn with adequate room to cross traffic and accelerate. Thankfully, adequate space and reaction by oncoming drivers has prevented a wreck. Ford has, on multiple occasions, flashed the computer and replaced parts and did extend the warranty on the transmission slightly. However, the transmission is slightly now out of warranty and continues to have the same problems with failing to accelerate and then violently slamming into gear. Ford has refused to cover further repair of the defective transmission despite clear evidence of the continued defectiveness of the transmission.
While driving car jerking, RPM going high, speed slowing down. Warning transmission hot pull over as soon as possible. After sitting on side of road for 30 minutes (car said to do so for 8 minutes) car didn't want to crank, reverse not working and few miles down the road warning again, entire time sputtering and jerking. Very unsafe in traffic and almost rear ended several times due to the vehicle acting awful. This first happened on major 4 lane hwy and again on secondary hwy. After checking on line it states it may be a volunteer recall at Ford. After reading more into it found out Ford does not want to claim problems with transmission although there are over 2600 complaints. Guessing it will take an accident and law suit to make them wake up at Ford. There has been memo's from Ford but they are now saying nope didn't happen. If something happens to my child while driving this rest assure I will be going after Ford. Can't afford to trade it off and sending him to college. Now car is not wanting to crank up and run after sitting several hours. Finally cranked and still jerking and loosing speed with out warning. Almost in wreck again.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Los Angeles, CA, USA