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.
Over the last 4 months my Ford Focus has completely ran like [xxx] the car bogs out cuts off due to the fuel and cluster jam and it's caused my clutch or transmission to throw codes. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Bought 11/9/2012 six months later rec'd emission recall, 1yr later would not start, dead in grocery parking, dealer said emission again, 2nd yr radio went out, 3rd yr catalylict converter need to be changed, 5/16/2017 was charged $1805.72, said not emission but it was doing the same thing as before, dead had to be towed again to dealer, dealer said, "codes PO420, po7A3 tested, found converter stopped up, shift actuator faulty, removed transmission replaced clutch actuatorsand clutch, removed & replaced manifold/coverter assembly. Now twice so far engine malfunction light, no power, goes 5 miles....... when turned off in about 45-1 hr, starts.... all this while driving or parked in a parking lot.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while at a stop light and making a left turn, the gear shifter failed to shift gears and the vehicle stalled. The transmission warning light illuminated. The contact coasted to the side of the road and powered off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for a diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to have the vehicle seen by a dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 130,510.
The axel on my passenger side of the vehicle has broken twice. While driving on the city street it just randomly broke without any warning. I was at a stop sign when I tried to take off to resume driving the car would not move.
Ford is stating that my car's issue is not covered under any warranty for the clutch issue. I have had the tcm changed three times with the same or worse outcome. My car now needs 3000 dollars worth of repairs and I cannot get them done because Ford is not standing behind their product. They bought my time and mileage by saying that it needed a tcm when it really needed a repair on the clutch portion of the transmission. Ford refuses to help me with their defective product. I have 144kmiles on my Ford with three tcm changes and now it won't drive correctly at all causing a safety hazard.
- Easton, PA, USA
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Car has 60000 miles and has exact same issues as everyone else is posting. Shuttering, slow starts, loss of power on highways! how is this not on a recall list by now or do we wait for fatalities? these cars are unsafe for the roads! I just had clutch replaced and I am even scared to get the dang car back and drive it. Ridiculous something isnt being done by Ford. Wont be buying them anymore unless we get some help.
The automatic transmition of my 2012 Ford Focus with 100K miles had hesitation and the engine suddenly shut off when driving due to the transmition fail (it happen too often drivind in the city), after I paid $ 2,200 to the dealership to get it fixed ( they changed clutchs and computer module). The steering wheels started to fail, it suddenly gets too hard to turn, then it gets normal and then fails again. Just when I was turning on a corner the steering wheel got hard to turn and the car was going out of the road (straight). Luckily I was able to hold the steering wheel too hard to control it. Ford want to charge $2,400 to fix the problem (rack and pinion replacement). I think there should be recalls for those dangerous issues. Thanks.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. As soon as the vehicle was started, the "transmission malfunction service immediately" message populated in the message center. The vehicle was taken to plaza Ford (1701 bel air road, bel air, md 21014) where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch had to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.
Started my car to leave parking lot. I was in forward motion and transmission light comes on with an exclamation mark. Car is running but won't reverse or drive forward. This could've happened to me on the freeway and I would've been in great danger. I just picked my car up from Ford dealership getting a recall ( 18S32/NHTSA recall 18V-735) completed.
While traveling at 65 mph on highway, vehicle suddenly lost all power transmission to the wheels with check engine light illuminating and service transmission warning appearing on console. Vehicle coasted to a stop, partially obscuring right lane of highway. Vehicle narrowly avoided life-threatening collisions with various passing vehicles until emergency personnel arrived in response to 911 call to block traffic and allow towing. Vehicle was towed from the scene. Upon restart of vehicle, power transmission to wheels was restored, though check engine light and service transmission warning remained illuminated. Ford service department diagnosed as faulty transmission control module (tcm) and replaced tcm under Ford field service action 14M02. Ford has known of faulty tcm electrical soldering design with possible consequence of intermittent loss of power transmission to the wheels since at least 2015 when 14M02 was issued, but inexplicably no tcm safety recall occurred at that time. As part of Ford "customer satisfaction program" 15B22 issued in 2015, vehicle received a tcm computer reprogram that was supposed to detect impending tcm failure so that tcm could provide warning about the need for tcm replacement, if need be, prior to hazardous events occurring. This software update proved to be ineffective, as vehicle's tcm failed without warning in highly dangerous scenario. A safety recall should be issued for all un-replaced tcms in all vehicles referenced in Ford field service action 14M02, as stop-gap software reprogram levied by Ford "customer satisfaction program" 15B22 has proven insufficient to detect impending tcm catastrophic failure. Waiting to replace the tcm until it shows signs of failure will (and perhaps already has) lead to fatalities.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle would not increase in speed. The contact also heard an abnormal popping noise coming from the fuel tank. The contact also mentioned that the gear shifter was stuck and would not shift into the correct gear. The vehicle was towed to capital Ford (3660 S carson St, carson city, nv 89701, (775) 882-5353) where it was diagnosed that the control module needed to be replaced. The dealer also stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline), but the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they were not authorizing any rental vehicles. The failure mileage was 987,038.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the power steering was faulty and the steering wheel seized, which made it difficult to turn. Also, when the vehicle was started and the contact shifted into drive, the vehicle automatically went in reverse. The contact had to immediately engage the parking brake. Also, while the vehicle was parked on the street, it rolled backwards due to the parking position. Furthermore, while attempting to reverse, the vehicle stalled. Also, the door latches were loose and in danger of becoming detached. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed multiple times. The vehicle was taken to ted russell Ford (9925 parkside dr, knoxville, tn 37922, (865) 444-6467) and serviced multiple times for each failure; however, each failure remained except for the power steering failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and did not assist. The failure mileage was 130,000.
I have had the A/C compressor go bad. I have recently fixed 2 coolant issues repaired. The tcm on transmission repaired yesterday U was almost in a collision when the cars transmission quit. The current problem is I need a transmission clutch now according to Ford but because I am 7000 miles over the extended warranty they refuse to fix. I also have my starter going out now and that fix with Ford is 729.00.
For a few months now my power steering has been not working when I turn the car on sporadically. To fix this I have been just turning the car off then back on a few times and that seems to fix the problem. However, now it won't reset and I do not have power steering at all. I had it towed to the dealer and after they charged me 140 they tols me that it needs a new rack and pin and it would cost 2400!!! Ford issued a recall on several different cars for this same issue. How many more people have to be hurt or die before they issue one for this? I just had the transmission control module replaced under warranty and received a letter in the mail informing me that a recall was issued due to the fuel system causing major problems.
2012 Ford Focus have transmission problem. My car have problems changing gear I almost got into an accident. Now its stalling and problem starting. Ford say there nothing they can do!
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While the vehicle was started, the gear shifter would not engage into reverse or drive. While driving at different speeds, the entire instrument panel illuminated. The vehicle was taken to randall reed's park cities Ford of dallas (3333 inwood rd, dallas, tx 75235) where it was diagnosed that there was a transmission and electrical failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,078.
Today's date I have called Ford Motor Company and spoke with miss.chris id#2191199 around 10:53 am pst.with the given recent opened number was # cas16420379 to state the said problems and to SE how we could possibly solved the said concerns we have.I have told, I have been denied or refused to have my vehicle to be re-serviced over again for the reoccurring previously fixed and serviced mechanical or electronic PCM related software or the hardware failures today's morning and I was told by one of their service advisor named as frank this vehicle can not be serviced any longer.because, this vehicle record's showing that the vehicle it is branded and/or salvaged and that it will void any kind of mechanical warranties and when I said this vehicle previously was serviced under the same condition and records and why can not be re-serviced over again for said previously fixed at your dealerships service department " when I asked what has been changed from before and until now " he did not give me a sufficient answer for my satisfactions. The transmission was operating in-properly and took the vehicle to the authorized local Ford dealership in the city of costa mesa, ca-92627.checked it in to the service area and registered it with service advisor#7217 to Mr. Ned shortsleeve's cares for the said problems. And that we claimed the said issues we were experiencing.1-the check engine light comes on and stays solid on and when that happened the transmission won't operate properly 2-then they have placed the tcm the side door latch it may break per the manufacturer's safety recall and was asked the dealer to replace the said door component and we were told the part it is not available and needs to be ordered so can be replaced. We will be called when the part is arrived but, we never been called.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Opelika, AL, USA