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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.

8.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
72,200 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (4 reports)
  2. ford is supposed to replace tcm (1 reports)
2012 Ford Focus engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #5

Oct 112016

Focus Titanium 2.0L Dosch Flat 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

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

Alright I bought my car about 6 months ago with only about 44k on it just recently I hit 50k miles and something really weird has happened to the electrical systems. So one time I let my car fully die like wouldn't turn over or anything it recently got pretty cold and I left it ou. Couldn't get into the damn thing cause the snake of a salesman didn't cut the keys or sold them on craigslist or something. But anyways I was able to get the car open and about 4 weeks later the car at low speeds stalls (it's an automatic), it's not related to the clutch at all. The steering lock comes on and everything it pretty much turns itself off and locks me in it. Luckily if I just press and hold with my foot on the brake and accelerator whilst in park it springs back to life I'm not the best to be stuck behind at a traffic light. I would steer clear of this car if I were you

- Spencer J., Raleigh, NC, US

problem #4

Sep 302016

Focus ES V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

Due to Ford Motor Company "NOT" caring about the satisfaction of their customers nor the stress and heartache we all have to go through, my brand "new" car 2012 Ford Focus SEL, was just no good anymore and UNFIXABLE by Ford Dealership service department. As they stated, my car issues are totally due to the Ford Motor Company manufactured parts that were just no good and went bad QUICK!!! Instead of just "REPLACING" my car and given me a "NEW" REPLACEMENT, due to the FAULT of Ford Motor Company, I had to purchased another "NEW" car!!! This is very unacceptable!! I was almost close to paying off my "NEW" car purchased in 2012, and now I am stuck with a higher monthly payment and another "NEW" car purchase. This is not fair to the consumers! I am going to proceed with legal actions! I care about people and all that they have to go through. We work very hard for our money and investing in a Ford Motor Company car was the worst decision ever made in history!!! Time for ACTION!!! We must be HEARD, HELPED and treated right as a customer!! "Customers are your business"!!

- twilliams9302016, Durham, NC, US

problem #3

Nov 032014

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 113,000 miles

Had my Focus to 2 different repair shops and they couldn't find the issue because the check engine light would go on and go off multiple times a day or go several days without coming on. The codes that would show up had four different things. Ended up had to have it taken to the dealership. They determined that this time the fuel pump is bad and that is because the lining of the gas tank is peeling. This caused the pump to go bad. Have you ever heard of such a thing. I was told there is another car there also with the same problem but a lot less miles. I ask one of the mechanics that I had gotten to look at it about the lining of the gas tank. He said one of the trucks he had to work on was a F 550 and it had the same tank lining issue and the truck only had 30k miles and Ford refused to honor the warranty because they said it had to do with a additive that the government requires in fuel. Does it make sense if you know there is a problem to find a solution?

I am so angry about the apathy of Ford regarding all the problems with the Focus. I know the 2014's have some of the issues the 2012 have. I'm not sure what to do with my car, I drive a lot for work and I no longer trust it but I'm stuck.

- Kathy W., Pinson, AL, US

problem #2

Aug 312014

Focus SEL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

While driving down the expressway the "Hill Side Assist Unavailable" message appeared on the dash and the car stopped working. When I gave it gas it just revved like it was in neutral. I tried putting the car into sport mode and into neutral and back in drive and nothing, car wouldn't go. Finally got the car on the shoulder and turned it off. When I went to turn the car back on it wouldn't start, wouldn't even try to crank.

Had the car towed to a dealership where they believed it was a wiring harness issue. I had customer service issues at the first dealership so I towed the car to another dealership. It started up right away with no problems without them even doing anything to it. I decided to take it home and got maybe a quarter mile down the road when the same issue happened again while driving. It's a scary feeling when driving on busy roads that you're car will just stop working while driving. We managed to pull around in a parking lot that circled back to the dealership, coasted as far as we could and then pushed the car the rest of the way back to the dealership. Once back in the shop I put the car in park and 15 seconds later the information light turned off and the car worked again.

The car is just over 2 years old and I've had numerous problems. Cannot wait to get rid of this car!

- Kristin Z., Westmont, IL, US

problem #1

Aug 232014

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,800 miles

2012 Ford Focus shut off at 70 mph while simultaneously illuminating all icons on instrument panel as in (key on eng off).

Then after coasting to complete stop with no pwr str or pwr brks, the car returned to normal with engine running, & without touching ign key switch. Then, was able to drive away with no more issues.

Update from Apr 7, 2015: Finally, after several correspondences to Ford, I received a letter from Ford admitting that the TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE on some 2012 Focus & Fiesta models may experience electrical circuit failures.

- William D., Sanford, FL, US

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