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.
I have stalled in an intersection before with oncoming traffic. We are scared to drive it and it is my only car. My children were in the car when we stalled in an intersection. It continues to stall or almost stall daily, it seems to lose power and then speed up. It also just stalled entirely one day while driving and then we have over $1,000 in bills from our mechanic. All of these incidents occurred while the car was in motion. It has happened on local streets and while turning. Also I just 7/23 as a date, but this happens daily
Since acquiring the vehicle new, I have brought the vehicle in several times with transmission complaints. Each time I was told "that is how the transmission is supposed to work" or "your transmission is off because you let someone else drive the car and it has to readjust" or "you must have made a quick acceleration". the transmission often loses power when shifting and grinds after switching gears. I feel as though Ford knew there were problems but tried to ease my worries by offering an extended powertrain warranty, which does nothing to fix the issues that I am having. The date below is the first time of many that this has happened.
Ford has already replaced the transmission under extended warranty, as well as replacing the tcm. But I continue to have issues. Car shudders dramatically under initial acceleration, especially when making turns. Transmission sometimes does not engage under initial acceleration, causing the car to surge forward when it does engage. The Ford Focus has slipped into neutral when accelerating, especially when going through a wide turn at low speed and then pressing on the gas pedal. I have no faith in this Ford Focus when making turns, and will not conduct a turn that requires pulling out into oncoming traffic and relying on the car's (in)ability to accelerate to avoid impeding that oncoming traffic.
Dual clutch transmission in my car experiences shift hesitation, shaking when launching from a stopped position, and major transmission shuddering. Reverse gear also fails to engage randomly. Seems as though transmission torque dispersion is improperly functioning. Dangerous when pulling out into traffic lanes. Excessive transmission vibration while vehicle is stationary. Other issues occur while vehicle is moving on city and highway roads. Thank you for your help!
I own a 2012 Ford Focus which has had been to fairway Ford in placentia for the transmission recalls. The transmission slips, drops and lunges forward even after numerous updated programs. I have also had the fuel pump replaced and fuel tank as both were defective.
- Placentia, CA, USA
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Takata recall : I was on the interstate at almost a complete stop and started to accelerate and the car had a violent jerk and almost stalled out. It never completely stalled out and quit, but it threw the code for the clutch actuator circuit low and continues to jerk in the lower gears from 1st to 2nd. Around 25-30 and again some around 40-45..however, once it gets to 50+ the car is fine.
I have a 2012 Ford Focus that has had numerous problems with the clutch/transmission. I've had this issue replaced numerous times, and I am still experiencing the same problem with the car. The car constantly shutters upon accelerating, hesitates while driving after stopping at a red light/stop sign and had a complete transmission malfunction as well. I have had this issue occur about 9 times with this car since buying it in 2012. Needless to say that I no longer feel safe driving this car anymore, and it makes me sick seeing that Ford won't stand behind their product.
I have a Ford Focus with the faulty transmission. The dealer already installed 2 clutches and every time I bring it back now they just reprogram it which maybe lasts one day. I spoke with corporate a few years ago that is when they replaced the 2nd clutch. The car will just down shift as I'm driving it out of the blue, bucks, chatters like its going to blow up and a delay in starting. It's not a safe car to be driving they wont do anything about these vehicles now you just get the brush off from the dealer. When they replaced the first clutch the dealer admitted that is was the worst that they have seen.
I've experienced both hesitation and lurching forward with this vehicle when accelerating and traveling at low speeds (5-15 miles per hour) this is scary when merging onto four lane or even when caught in bumper to bumper traffic. This has been an on-going problem ever since the vehicle was purchased new. The clutch has been replaced once or twice, but the problem continues.
My daughter has been stranded twice by the vehicle either going into neutral or the transmission disengaging. Both times she was on a highway in traffic. She was fortunate to not be rear ended. Multiple attempts to fix the issue & finally being told the transmission needs to be replaced at a value of what the car is worth functioning. If the new transmission is of the same design; failure appears to be a guarantee. A Ford dealership told use to let the car rest in peace.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While the vehicle was stopped at a red light, the engine failed. The contact was unaware of any warning indicators illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was towed to viva Ford (5550 N desert blvd, el paso, tx 79912, (915) 834-2800) where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,366.
Bucking at high speeds.doesn't shift properly.sounds like suspension bottoming outhad three clutch replacements.got rid of car July 20,2018.also for your info I am retired Ford Motor Company employee on management roll.problems occurred when car in motion.also both my kids had focuses and got rid of them with same problem.
Constant problems with the transmission and transmission control module including shuddering overheating lack of power jerking motions and constant replacement. From 2013 to current date.
Faulty transmission. The transmission constantly stutters and delays, making it extremely scary to drive. Despite replacing the clutch shortly after purchasing the car, the vehicle still at times stutters rough enough to spill a cup of hot coffee unexpectedly, and will randomly delay accelerating. For example, I don't feel safe quickly taking left hand turns across oncoming traffic out of fear that the car will not respond as fast as I've hit the gas. The stutter and delay is worst when going from a stationary position to moving, though it absolutely happens when at high speeds as well (45+). the car is so unpredictable when hitting the gas that it's hard to feel safe while driving it. Turn the air conditioning on in the vehicle and the transmission becomes even less predictable and will delay responding when the gas is pressed even at high speeds (45mph +).
My Focus has had numerous transmission problems over the past few years. My car would randomly not be able to shift into second gear and would leave stranded. While driving my car would randomly not shift gears, allowing me to go a max of 10 mph with my children in my car. Many times my car would not start at all. Sometimes when it did start, I could not even turn my wheel. I had the computer chip reset and within 4 months my car became inoperable. I took it to the shop and they said multiple service bulletins were found for my transmission that came back in the diagnostics and told me to take it to the Ford dealership. When I went there I was told it would be minimum $2K to get the internal clutch fixed, if that was the issue, upwards of $5K for the other transmission issues. I felt extremely unsafe with two kids and had to go out and lease a new car. I am furious now that I am reading that Ford knew it was selling 2012 focuses with faulty transmissions. I still have the car in my possession. I cannot even count the number of times my car would not shift or start, and while driving with my children in the car this happened. It caused me to almost be rear ended or stuck in intersections. The only thing that saved me on many occasions was quickly turning on my hazard lights/blinkers. I am outraged that this has happened. Prior to owning my 2012 Focus, I had a 2002 Focus and never ran into any of these issues and loved the car so much I bought another one. If I could go back in time I would never have bought the 2012 knowing what I know now. I am hoping a class action lawsuit is filed, and if not, I may find my own lawyer and go after Ford.
My 2012 Ford Focus shakes and shutters when depressing the accelerator. When I bought this vehicle from the dealer in 2015 I was told that before I took it home that they needed to replace a sensor in the transmission. After driving vehicle for several years I noticed this vehicle continued to shutter and shake and almost stall out at times of acceleration. I talked to a service specialist at the Ford dealer and was told that due to the power shift transmission installed in this vehicle that you just need to "baby it" on take off. This kinda of helped a little but you must be conscious of this constantly. I still own this vehicle. I usually drive it and prefer not to have my wife or kids drive as I am worried the sputtering may cause an accident. These transmissions should have been recalled. I have only recently learned that this is a wider problem for all Ford focuses of that time period. Always been a Ford guy but can say I am a little disappointed how Ford has handled this issue. Don't like having a vehicle that you must be cautious on driving in fear that it may cause an accident. Come on Ford you guys can do better than that.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- North Bend, OH, USA