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.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 45 mph, the transmission failure indicator illuminated. The contact immediately pulled over and restarted the vehicle, but the indicator illuminated again. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The vehicle was taken to dean sellers Ford (2600 w maple rd, troy, mi 48084, (888) 452-1292) where it was diagnosed that the clutch; however, the vehicle was not covered under the 100,000 mile warranty. The manufacturer confirmed the dealer's statement and did not assist. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 101,149.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 20 mph, the engine revved, but the vehicle would not move forward. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,200.
Takata recall, first off is the driver door comes unlocked while driving, also had a door lock and wasn't able to close. My 2012 Focus feels like it's got no power alot of times or will start to spudder from every stop. Does same when reversing out of a drive way. Sometimes it seems like it wants to stall, I have the automatic. It revs at really high rpms like it needs to shift but doesn't. probably have more issues the longer I keep it, I believe the huffines dealership, the company that financed and Ford knew these things could and did happen to the car I was sold. Single father with a 4 year old son just trying to get this fixed nothing about this is safe.
My car has 75,000 miles on it. I'm 6 months pregnant, driving on the interstate, when the vehicle's transmission starts to slip. During the slip, a "transmission malfunction. Service now" light comes on and my car proceeds to lock up and stall at interstate speeds. Three different cars almost crashed into my own before I could get safely to the shoulder. Why is this happening to a car less than 10 years old, at 75,000 miles?
- Lafayette, IN, USA
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After multiple issues \recalls with the transmission the car still is not running right. It takes sometime for the vehicle to start and once it does it shudders on acceleration. Now I am being told both the fuel pump and the clutch need to be replaced. Based on everything I am reading there are quite a few faulty parts in these vehicles that should be recalled.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 20 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted and the failure recurred while driving down the road. The vehicle was taken to pacifico Ford (located at 6701 essington ave, philadelphia, pa, (267) 233-6945) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fees. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
My husband and I purchased a brand new 2012 Ford Focus in April 2012. Not even a year after purchasing the transmission started studdering/slipping. When you go to take off it acts as if it doesnt want to switch out of gears. There have been a couple of times we have been just driving down the road and it has completely bogged down and the entire car shuts off. As soon as we realized something was wrong we took it to dealership where we purchased and they informed us of a recall pertaining to the transmission control module. It has been in and out of shop several times for this reason and is still not fixed. We were just recently informed by the dealership that the recall will never be 100% fixed. It will always be an issue. We proceeded to trade car in due to the constant worry of the recall. As we are getting a trade in quote on the car we are informed that the car is worth way less because of the recall which puts us upside down in the car loan so now we have no options to trade in because there is a $4,000 difference in the trade in value vs what the car could be worth if there were no recall. We were basically told that the car is trash due to the recall on the transmission..so now we are stuck with a car that has a serious recall that will never be fixed. Ford doesnt want to make it right. This car was bought brand new and we have had so much trouble with the transmission. No car at 6 years old should have transmission problems. Ford should be liable. We trusted them with purchasing a brand new car. Ford needs to make it right and get us into a safer vehicle.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. When driving, turning, and switching lanes, the vehicle hesitated and sputtered. In addition, the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power train control module and clutch failed. The dealer (allan vigil Ford, 6790 mt zion blvd, morrow, ga 30260, (678) 364-3673) stated that they would have to charge to run a diagnostic test to identify the cause of the failure. The manufacturer stated that they could not assist. The failure mileage was 121,000.
A warning message display while driving on freeway : "transmission malfunctioning, service now". car stops shifting properly. After turning off the engine for 1 hour, it starts back and the warning message disappear. No check engine light. Scary feeling unsafe. This is a dual clutch system (automatic/manual 6 speed).
When placing pressure on the brakes to slow down or stop you hear/feel a crunching sound. It never did that before now it does it every time you use the brakes. I have taken it to 3 different garages to be checked and got back that my brakes was fine. One garage said it could be the ABS system making the noise. No power to climb a hill or if you get up the hill the engine/motor does not shift like it suppose to. This all took place in August of 2018.
The transmission went out at the light and I said for 30 minutes and then the car started going in reverse and the draft started back working but it's been in the shop for the last 2 months in and out. I had just got off the highway
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle stuttered and rolled backwards, the steering wheel shook and failed to turn, and the accelerator pedal failed to respond and traveled to the floorboard when it was depressed. In addition, the "transmission ready" indicator illuminated. After the vehicle was restarted, it operated normally. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (camelback Ford, 1330 E camelback rd, phoenix, AZ 85014, (602) 635-7551) where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failures recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 77,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle shuddered and rolled backwards even when the brake pedal was depressed. In addition, the service transmission warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to automax Ford (located at 3301 E central Texas expsy, killeen, tx) where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train). The dealer informed the contact that the transmission parts that were used to remedy the failure were the same defective parts. The contact had the transmission repaired twice and a new transmission installed once. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
The transmission malfunction sevice now warning came on. Car shudders and lurchs when on incline, slowing at intersection, difficulty maintaining 60 mph on expressway. Clutch had been recalled and replaced several times: The first at 3,543 miles. The vehicle had shuddered, lurched forward I off/on for four years when stopping, slowing down and at highway speeds.
2012 Ford Focus with 55,000 miles. Driving on interstate at 60 mph and the car suddenly shut down. Weather was sunny and 84. Fortunately, I was not hit and was able to coast to the shoulder of the interstate. Steering and brakes worked fine. Car will not restart. Turning the key is uneventful, no noise or action of any kind. There is electric, as I was able to put the windows down. Waited 3 hours for a tow truck. I lost a days wage, have a tow bill and a car that will not work. Thankful that my teen was not driving at the time.
Power shift transmission, both clutches were replaced by dealer. Still experiencing problems, while in motion at 55mph on smooth highway engine surges without acceleration, tach up to 6000rpm; at low speeds transmission shudders, jerks, does not shift properly.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate over 20 mph and failed to shift properly from park into other gears. The dealer (hagerstown Ford, 1714 massey blvd, hagerstown, md 21740, (301) 733-3673) was contacted and advised the contact to schedule a diagnostic appointment. The dealer and the manufacturer indicated that there was no recall for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 69,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Sterling Heights, MI, USA