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.
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.
Having problems with steering assist.it locks up staring will.and turn off vehicle sensor warning goes away dry for a while sensor warning comes back locks up staring will. I have not droving on the highway. It will lock up still can't find a recall one this problem it comes up when I drive
Upon acceleration and driving it appears to drop gears and slow down. You can't accelerate, it's like it's in neutral and you can't go. This happens in the middle of driving.
While driving at 45 mph on a city street entering a highway. The car reved and would not shift out of gear but was still running. I tried turning it off but then it would not start back up and the display is showing it's in drive but the gear is in park
My car has been going backward when in drive and then just won't go. Today it totally stopped moving while driving on the highway. Thank god I was close to home and was able to pull over on the side of the highway. Walked to the garage down around the bend and they pushed it off the highway and into their yard. Before totally stopping the car would buck forward while driving then slow down and speed up on its own. Now won't start or run. Possibly the transmission or gear stick
Since purchased brand new in Sept 2011, my Focus has had major transmission issues that has been a nightmare to deal with with Ford to this day. My Focus was taken in at least 5 times in the first couple years for a faulty clutch that caused jolting and shuddering and jeering while driving, causing my car to slip in and out of neutral on the road, sometimes nearly hitting other drivers. It became very dangerous. It took at least 5 visits for Ford to replace the first clutch. They refused to accept that the part was faulty and did computer "updates" that did nothing to fix the issue. Over the last few years, my car has been brought in about a dozen more times for the same issue and has had a total of 5 clutch replacements in 6 years, and my car just broke down again yesterday, just barely over 100K miles, with Ford refusing to warranty my transmission. A message appeared, "transmission malfunction service now" and my car completely died. Ford never wants to take responsibility for these transmission issues and have hassled me every time in the last 6 years over these issues. It is a huge safety issue to keep driving this car never knowing when the clutch is going to give out and cause the transmission to fail. I have supporting documents for these claims and can request all service records from Ford if necessary. I do not want these documents made public since they contain sensitive information.
The automatic dual clutch transmission in this vehicle has had numerous tsb's issued because of defects but no actual recall. They extended the warranty coverage on the transmission but only for "specifically termed" issues. My clutch and seals have been replaced twice, the tcm has been reprogrammed 3 times and now they now tell me I need to replace the "J and K" forks, snap ring and T/O bearing in the transmission. But, they tell me none of this is covered. They opened up and serviced a "sealed" transmission at least twice already and the car is doing the same thing that was the original problem, shuddering, jerking and no power but now I have to pay. Just getting it to the dealership I was almost in 2 accidents because of this cars erratic acceleration driving behavior.
My 2012 Ford Focus has already had a transmission failure within the first 42,000 miles. Specifically, at 41,968. I was driving in traffic when the car began shuddering violently and an error message appeared. The car could not accelerate properly and it was revving on its own. Luckily, I was able to pull over amidst heavy traffic before the car shut itself off. Had I been on the highway, I would have been in a serious accident. I brought it back to the dealer to have them tell me that it was simply a sensor that needed to be replaced, and they sent me on my way. Since then, the car still shudders when accelerating from a stop, as well as producing grinding noises as you turn. This is indicative of a continuing safety hazard. After doing extensive research online, I have come to the same conclusion as hundreds of other Focus owners - this car is unsafe to drive. My car is currently at 56000 miles, which worries me because in addition to the transmission problems, many other owners have reported extremely serious steering problems, some of which have proven to be fatal. Please take action and demand Ford fix these problems. I don't want to die in a car accident that could have been prevented by something as simple as a recall. Thank you for what you do and please use this as a sign to look into this problem.
Vehicle has lost forward propulsion numerous times. Symptoms have occurred both at highway speed as well as stopped attempting to pull away from a stop. This issue started again at the first of the year and the vehicle was taken to longmont Ford. Longmont advise no codes present and road tested vehicle less than 1.5 miles. Dealer advised couldn't do anything for transmission issue and I needed to come pick-up the vehicle. Vehicle continued to exhibit symptoms of losing forward propulsion to include the interstate at 75mph. Upon attempting to pull to a safe place in a construction zone, was able to obtain forward gears again after shutting vehicle off and restarting several times. (still no transmission service light or check engine light illuminated so I can't take vehicle back to longmont Ford due to being told they can't do anything without a light illuminated and refusing to road test vehicle) symptoms became more frequent with additional issues of the transmission / clutches not releasing when coming to a stop and attempting to push the vehicle through a stop light. The symptoms this vehicle exhibits is a safety concern and continues to occur after Ford's claimed repairs.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle automatically shifted gears from drive to neutral. The failure occurred without warning. The contact continued to drive the vehicle as it shifted automatically back to drive. The vehicle was towed to gridley country Ford (1709 hwy 99, gridley, ca 95948) where it was determined that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train). The contact stated that the vehicle had already been repaired per the recall approximately a year and a half ago. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Frankfort, KY, USA