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.
I have a 2012 Ford Focus at 93000 miles, I started the car one morning on my way to work and the steering assist fault pop up on the screen behind the steering wheel. The steering wheel became hard to turn and I couldn't drive it due to it being not safe to drive. I took it to a Ford dealership and they told me the steering rack and pinion needs to be replace and it'll cost $2200 for the repairs. I've look up online and found man others like me who face this problem. Ford needs to have a recall on this, it's very dangerous for us to drive down the road and suddenly your steering wheel wouldn't turn.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle became difficult to steer and "power steering assist fault" illuminated on the message center. The contact continued driving at a slower pace to her destination. After a while, the vehicle steering began to operate normally. The vehicle was taken to Ford auto world (2903 S scatterfield rd, anderson, in 46016) where it was diagnosed that the power steering rack and power steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.
I started my car, backed it out of my driveway, went to go forward and the steering, quit, very stiff couldnt turn the steering wheel, so I turned the car off, then started it back up, and the steering was fine, a few days later this happened again at the gas station, then again in the subdivision could hardly turn the wheel to get back in the driveway. This car has 40000 miles on it, 1 owner, 1 driver.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. When the vehicle was started, the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The contact attempted to turn the steering wheel, but it seized. The vehicle was towed to honolulu Ford (1370 N king St, honolulu, hi 96817, (808)-824-3981) where it was diagnosed that the power steering failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered to assist with part of the steering repair. The failure mileage was approximately 82,800.
- Ewa Beach, HI, USA
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The electronic power steering failure light keeps coming on. Ford recalled other units for same problem and not the Focus. Steering wheel locks up when light comes on and makes it difficult to steer. This is a major accident waiting to happen. The light usually comes on when first starting the car.
Went to leave to go to work on 3-5-2019 and I had no steering my car I have not had any issues since I've I this car I've had it for 3 years. We looked O utube to see what we could do to fix so I could go to work it took us 20 minutes to get it to unlock drive fine to work when I went to leave work at 4pm on 3-5-2019 it did it again it took me about 10 minutes this time after it unlocked I was still having a hard time with the steering at first but then it loosened up this is a very serious issue that needs to addressed
I started my car and a warning light came on saying power steering assist was out. The car was very hard to steer. The next time I started car, the problem was gone. However, since then, the problem has returned and it is unsafe to this car drive in traffic. My research shows this is a commonand dangerous situation and needs to be corrected by Ford on the 2012
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. When the vehicle was started, the steering lost power and "power steering assist failed" illuminated. The vehicle was taken to jim charlon Ford, Inc (760-371-1331, located at 269 S china lake blvd, ridgecrest, ca 93555) where it was diagnosed that the steering gear module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 77,300.
The steering intermittently cuts out making it nearly impossible to steer. The steering went out while I was driving and I nearly hit another car. I was driving on a local city street when the issue occurred. The error steering assist fault, service required upon loss of steering control. Upon research, I have determined that Ford has recalled other cars within the same model year for the same issue. I am concerned that if this occurs again it could result in an accident causing damage to property and injuries to myself and others.
2012 Ford Focus has power steering assist fault that will not clear. After on-line research done, have seen that many owners have experienced same sue. Beyonc has 81000 miles on it. Vehicle exhibits issue immediately during starting and continues throughout driving. Used to be able to reset by turning car off and then on, however that no longer works. Ford has recalled other vehicles for same issue but not the Focus.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving unknown speeds, the vehicle shuttered and the steering wheel was loose. Also, the power assist warning indicator illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 160,000.
After starting 2012 Ford Focus start to pull out of parking spot and steering wheel locked up, could not turn right or left. Pulled forward and turned car off, was going to call tow but instead started car again and steering started working again. There needs to be a recall on this issue, what would have happened if I was driving and turning the corner in front of the local elementary school and the car hit students and the media found out NHTSA new about this problem all over the country along with Ford's knowledge of this issue, it would be worst than the pinto gas tank issue. Please consider issuing a recall on this problem.
Takara recall, while driving I had to make a turn. When turning, suddenly the steering was difficult to turn and I was forced to stop the car. I got the message "steering assist malfunction". this was very scaring because I was in traffic and an accident could've happened.
Power steering: Sometimes when I start my car an error message will say "power steering failure", and the power steering will not work. If I turn the car off, and then restart it within a few minutes it goes away. It started doing this within a month of when we bought it, and because the error isn't present when we take it to the dealership they tell me they can't do anything. I have complained multiple times to them, and they have done nothing. It has been doing this randomly for years now, and after bringing in my car to have the clutch looked at again (I've had it replaced 5 times now) it had the power steering error message show up and the techs were able to see that the car had no power steering along with the message. They told me I would have to replace the steering wheel column, and even though it has done this from the start I would have to pay for it.
My power steering locked up while I was leaving my house. My car has only 90K miles and there has been tons of recalls in general for this car already. This is a serious problem and risk and I believe that I'm not the only person to have come across this.
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.
While driving on city street going home an error message displayed 'steering assist fault - service required'. the car became very difficult to steer. Will be scheduling with mel hambelton Ford to investigate the condition.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Albany, GA, USA