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.
While driving I lost all ability to turn the wheel. I was driving slow and about to park. I turned off the vehicle and then started the vehicle back on and received a "steering assist fault error displaying on the dash panel. I turned off the vehicle again to see if this error would clear, but it did not. I look up this error online and found at least 150 other people having this same issue some if I read correctly ended in deaths. Some say to turn off the vehicle and turn it back on to clear this issue. This fix did not work for me. I had to get the vehicle towed. This could have been very bad if this had happened on the interstate which I just exited. Please help use to resolve this issue.
My vehicle has on multiple occasions experienced a complete power steering system failure. The most recent of which occurred with my 1 year old daughter in the car; I was entering a turn when the display alarm sounded with the failure causing me to lose control and drive off the road. Ford company is refusing to honor my warranty claiming the part is not covered (a steering sensor), though the steering column itself is covered. I have been told by the service advisor the column cannot be replaced without also replacing the sensor and the sensor cannot be replaced without also replacing the column. It seems they have found a loophole with what is known to be a dangerous hazard to their vehicle. In point of fact the New York times has even written an article in 2015 documenting power steering failure and the injuries that have occurred due to it.
"steering assist fault" error message started appearing randomly when starting up car in park about once month a year ago. I could get it to clear by shutting off car and opening and closing door and restarting. Frequency increased last month to about once a week, then to every day, and now it won't clear. Mechanic's charge $2,114 to replace the faulty part, realign and reprogram car's steering.
On April 7th 2018 I started my 2012 Ford Focus and the steering wheel was locked solid the warning lights lite up stating electronic power steering assist failure. I turned the vehicle off and restarted it 3 times until it started working again. I went right to the dealer where I bought the vehicle. They claim there is no recall. I did some research find that there's been over 120 injuries and one death related to the power steering failure on these vehicles. This is happened to my vehicle now totaling 10 times and now I'm terrified to drive the vehicle which concerns of as I'm on the road the steering locks up when I get in a crash or accident. The NHTSA and Ford know of this problem. This is a major issue that must be addressed. Please help I was stationary it's time and just hoping and praying this doesn't happen to me when I'm on the highway at 70 miles an hour like it has done to other people and have been injured.
- Highland, MI, USA
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I went to start my car and the warning light came on that said "steering system failure". the car is no longer driveable. The manufacturer is denying responsibility. There is a NY times article re: This stating they are aware yet no recall yet. We need a recall. There are other complaints online by owners who have not yet filed with NHTSA. Https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/25/automobiles/Ford-Focus-steering-problem-prompts-many-complaints-but-no-inquiry.html I need help. I am in debt for this vehicle and I was told there was nothing wrong with it when I bought it.
Power steering failed. The entire power steering rack was replaced which includes the power steering control module (pscm). The power steering failure began on 3/1/18 and was initially resolved by turning off then turning on the car. This worked for two weeks. Complete failure occurred on 3/14/18. The pscm is not serviceable and is not a separate component of the power steering rack resulting in a high cost repair on a low mileage vehicle. The vehicle has 35948 original miles. This system is referred to as the electronic power assisted steering (epas) system and has been recalled on the Ford flex, Taurus, and the Lincoln mks and mkt 2011 through 2013 models, but not recalled on the Ford Focus even though it is the same problem and faulty equipment design.
I have taken my car in 7 times for transmission issues and malfunctions always while driving on highway! thankfully I purchased extended warranty but it expired. Now I am back at the dealership for the 8th time and they want to charge me $2100 to fix a problem that was never really fixed to start with! now I am having steering problems! the steering just goes out while driving on the highway and in city. The fact that the steering just stops working is extremely dangerous it has put me in very hazardous situations! this is the second time the steering has gone out while driving! I have to pull over and shut car off for 10minutes before restarting. My wife had the kids in the car with her heading to the store and it went out and she had no clue what to do and not strong enough to force the wheel to get the car off the road so she was left sitting in the middle of the highway with the kids until the steering would work again. Its disgusting that Ford refuses to fix these problems since they are extremely dangerous!
Steering assist failure notice appeared on and off for nearly a year. Notice would disappear after turning vehicle off and straightening steering wheel. At 77000 miles, warning came on again and would not clear. This is a serious safety hazard especially if it happens while driving on the road. I was lucky it was just in my driveway. Ford has recalled several cars of similar make and model for this same issue yet have not recalled the Ford Focus. This is a serious safety hazard especially if it happens while driving on the road. Ford needs to own up to their mistake and send a recall and fix the problem on all vehicles. I should not have to pay for a manufacturing defect. The car is now out of commission because I can't afford the repair and I am to scared to drive it as is.
At 73,000 miles error code in dash read steering assist malfunction service needed. It is very difficult to steer my car. At 76,000 miles error code read engine too hot, stop safely and wait 8 minutes. Car shudders and high revs at low speeds and very loud engine noise. I hope that Ford recalls these issues soon!!!
Power steering electrical rack.I prepared to leave work, check engine light showed issue with electronic steering.two weeks prior to this event, my radio system(loud crackling)failed.with no power steering assist, drove home, two miles.I called Ford dealer to have car tower to their shop.
Upon startup, there is a loss to the power steering. Wheel cannot be turned at all. Sometimes there is no error, other times I get error of steering assist malfunction. Owned car for 6 years, purchased brand new. About 60K miles. Have twins with brand new learners permit, with this car to be dedicated for them to drive. How can this be safe? multiple message boards show this is a known issue with these vehicles and poor design requires $2K fix. Need immediate recall.
My Ford Focus I was driving down the street one real slow and my steering assist stopped the car just stopped I stopped it because the steering wheel became almost impossible to turn steering assist malfunction I went to the dealership they said it was $2,500 to repair it I don't have $2,500 my car is already had to transmission failures it's had an exploding battery it's had door locks that had to be replaced cuz they didn't stay last night transmission's been went over twice from the dealership and I just think they need to fix this for no charge because it is a safety hazard now I have no power steering my car is worthless I'm single I'm
Drove from my apartment to the mailboxes in our complex and when I went to start my car to leave the mailbox I go a "steering assist failure" and could not drive my car, the steering wheel could not turn.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While stationary and driving at various speeds, the steering wheel seized without warning on several occasions. Don sanderson Ford in glendale, Arizona was made aware of the failure and stated that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Consumer stated 3 to 4 times upon starting the vehicle the wheel would not move, after awhile after putting the car from "P" to "N" and back again it moved. There have been several recalls. Consumer has brought it in many times for transmission recalls. Consumer also stated driver and passenger doors open on ther own and passenger window would not go down from driver side controls.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Francisco, CA, USA