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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.

And while you wait for your steering to disappear, you'll be greeted with a transmission that shudders, vibrates or won't shift at all.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,060 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2012 Ford Focus electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 10 of 17)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #153

Jul 302016

Focus

  • 86,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased the car from Ford dealer used.transmission acted up after a month took in in and they said it would cost me $200 to look at it.I purchased the 2 year extended warranty, but would still cost me that.I left, a few month later the car would not move and transmission light came on.my insurance towed the car at that time the dealer kept my car for a week, charged me $500 for cables to the battery.1 week later I was driving back from Arizona to Nevada in the middle of the desert and the car light came on again car was shuttering losing power thank god I made it home.now about 2 months later I was driving home from work and turned my driver side door flew open..thank god I wasn't close to oncoming traffic and had seat belt on.however now my driver side door will not close or lock.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #152

Sep 032013

Focus

  • 61,312 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle would accelerate or decelerate without warning. When the contact attempted to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle sputtered. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission and the computer chip for the transmission failed. The computer chip needed to be reprogrammed and the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired a total of three times; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 61,312.

- West Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #151

Jul 182016

Focus

  • 99,000 miles
2012 Ford Focus. Divers side door latch did not secure and car door opened while vehicle in motion and jeapordazied the safety of my son. After several attempts to secure door it was unsuccessful. Notified Ford Motor Company and they advised no recall at the moment for such issue. Can only replace latch for cost of $640 dollars. I most recently took my 2013 Ford Fusion with the same issue and a recall was issued and door latch replaced,

- Saginaw, TX, USA

problem #150

May 012016

Focus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Loud static sounds coming from dash. Happens intermittently. Extremely loud. Today can smell burnt electrical smell in passenger compartment. The static noise seems to happen when car is parked or just after parking vehicle and engine is still running.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #149

Jul 132016

Focus

  • miles
Driver side rear door won't latch. Car was parked at the grocery store, and I opened the door to load groceries into car. When I closed the door, instead of latching, it bounced back out. I couldn't get it to latch at all. My 17 year old child had to sit in the back and hold the door closed to get home. It still won't latch, so I will have to have it fixed.

- Pinon Hills, CA, USA

problem #148

Jun 112013

Focus

  • 41,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving at any speed, the vehicle lost power and stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 41,000.

- Corp Spring, TX, USA

problem #147

Apr 082016

Focus

  • 86,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Radio has popping and cracking its really loud may catch on fire.

- Dalton, GA, USA

problem #146

Jun 142016

Focus

  • 105,000 miles
Loud static sounds coming from dash. Happens intermittently. Extremely loud. Today can smell burnt electrical smell in passenger compartment. The static noise seems to happen when car is parked or just after parking vehicle and engine is still running.

- Normal, IL, USA

problem #145

Jun 152016

Focus

  • 20,000 miles
For three years from 2013 to current I reported my car having intermittent electrical issues where my power steering would just fail and my speedometer would cease to function this could happen while driving or stationary.... I reported this to Ford and over the course of three years had the issue inspected but they could not resolve the issue.. now the car is out of warranty but say it is due to faulty censors.

- Pinellas Park, FL, USA

problem #144

Jun 022016

Focus 4-cyl

  • 26,300 miles
In 2012 I purchased the vehicle from future Ford in sacramento California. Over the past four years, the car has problems with the transmission, PCM module, transmission control module, clutch, starter, steering wheel, electrical system. I took the car to two Ford dealerships for repairs. The service technicians cannot repair the car. I contacted Ford Motor Company many times and they refuse to refund my money and recall the vehicle the car is very dangerous to drive and a risk to my life and safety. Updated 07/19/16

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #143

Mar 032016

Focus

  • 44,332 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driver side door will not shut. Opened door and tried to shut it but will not stay closed. Driver side door swings open when driving. Took it to a Ford dealership and they have heard of the problem on multiple occaisions.

- Kaneohe Bay, HI, USA

problem #142

May 012016

Focus

  • 61,000 miles
Radio stopped working and very loud static noise comes from radio randomly. Dealer will not look at system without $90 charge. Noise is very loud and startling when it is going on even when car is off.

- Noblesville, IN, USA

problem #141

Mar 302016

Focus

  • miles
I was having issues with the electrical problem the horn went out for a period of time also the radio is not workingas well as the airbags did not deploy when I was recently in a vehicle accident I am lucky to be alive.I was making a left hand turn onto a road and was hit from the side the impact was enough to make my engine dismount but my airbags did not deploy.

- Newman, CA, USA

problem #140

Oct 302012

Focus

  • 30 miles
The car has more than three major recalls.and Ford don't have the parts for repairs.. airbags, electronic clutch. And some other problems with no part S coming in!!!!! car has not been repaired.L have taken it in four time and told the parts are just coming in.temp repairs I am so so very tried of this! I have been a ower of 4 new Ford cars. And a customer for Ford & GMC not again.

- Sanford, FL, USA

problem #139

Mar 312012

Focus

  • 600 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving at approximately 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning and as able to restart. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the computer module needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred months later. The vehicle stalled recently without warning and was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 600.

- Charlestown, IN, USA

problem #138

Apr 272016

Focus

  • 71,015 miles
Ford Focus recall. Car lost all acceleration while driving about 10mph in traffic but electrical stayed on. Luckily it was traffic and I was able to coast to the roadside. Happened first in November 2015, dealer said it was battery dying. Happened again April 27 2016. Now they're saying it's transmission electrical issues.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #137

Apr 042016

Focus

  • 82,000 miles
Steering freezes, makes a very dangerous moment, door window doesn't suddenly work. Feel a recall should be in effect, chosen states have a recall on the steering, but not in Texas, I'm a senior citzen, living off gove. Benitfits, can't afford the price to fix, the vehicle was stationary, and one time in motion.

- Mesquite, TX, USA

problem #136

Apr 042016

Focus

  • 69,817 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 30 mph, the doors on the vehicle locked and unlocked automatically and the tcm light illuminated. The contact stated that the failures occurred after the vehicle was repaired under a manufacturer recall for a system update. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,817.

- Eufaula, OK, USA

problem #135

Feb 172016

Focus

  • 71,268 miles
While driving the radio made a loud crack and stopped working. After researching this problem I discovered many others with the same problem.

- Greensburg, PA, USA

problem #134

Mar 012015

Focus

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving at various speeds, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to be restarted. Approximately 30 seconds later, the engine stalled and did not restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the control module and the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired five times, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was inoperable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Venice, FL, USA

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