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.
Nov 27, 2017. Got in my car after work and steering assist light came on. Put hands on steering wheel and I had no power steering. Called a mechanic he said it would be $1800 to fix it. Same thing has happened to five other people he knows.
I saw a warning on my dashboard saying 'steering assist malfunction'. power steering is not working, it was very hard to turn. It was in city, glad I'm not on highway. Help me in resolving this issue and also please let me know if it covers under manufacture warranty !
My power steering assist is completely malfunctioned very hard to steer. Very hard to turn and steer went out on me while I was at the stop sign in town.
The metallic trim on the column is peeling, ever so slightly, but enough to have left my knuckles and fingers bloody and in pain on more than one occasion when I turn. I asked the Ford dealer for help, however, was told I need to spend $500 for a new console. This is a safety hazard I think Ford should fix. I really like my car, but I am not happy that my car is cutting me when I turn the wheel. I have to hold the steering wheel and I have to turn the wheel. I pray I don't get into a traffic accident because my fingers are being sliced while I turn. I first was cut in July, around the 4th and I wasn't sure how it happened. Then it happened again on September 15 and then September 26. Then again a few days ago. I have to be extremely cautious while my car is in motion.
Steering assist fault light came on periodically over past 5 thousand miles, mentioned during last visit. Now it came on and won't clear. Have read of many people with 2012 Ford with this issue. This is second problem with car, have also had clutch replaced twice.
- Oakland, CA, USA
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The power steering (electric steering assist) fails intermittently and without warning. This occurs either hot or cold. It occurs with vehicle stationary and in motion.
The electric power steering is starting to fail. It locks the steering wheel while the car is moving while the on my city street. Need to turn off engine and restart the car. Sometime the steering becomes difficult while driving at city speeds.this happen roughly 6 months ago but went away.
My electrical steering is acting up, making a weird noise after I start my car, is stiff at times and hard to turn. I received an error message, " steering assist, service required" on the dash recently. That message has gone, but the problem still exists this is a danger to me when I drive. Whenever I start my car, the steering is rigid and stiff in the city.
Steering assist failure notice appeared on and off for nearly a year. Notice would disappear after turning vehicle off and straightening steering wheel. In the past 2 months the issue happens several times a day. Last week it happened twice while I was driving and almost lost control and crashed.
This is a 5 year old car. With 750000 miles on it. The power steering assist has already died costing up $2K in money we don't have to fix it. The fix is replacing the entire rack and pinion. We had started for the first time the day it went out. We were parked I had to drive it to the dealership with no power steering. If you shut of the car it would temporarily fix it's self. And it did the guy at the dealer shut it down after seeing the no steering assist when he restarted the car it magically worked again. Until next time that is. Ford knows this problem exist and refuses to issue a recall for all 2012 Focus. This is a new car it should not be have these problems. Putting us in financial strain.
The power steering assist has gone out, I had just started the car and had no power steering and it is very hard to steer, I almost wrecked trying to get it hiome.
The electric power steering stops working while driving and also at start-up. This has happened multiple times. We are now reporting this after the 4th occurrence.
At least 4 times in the last couple of months, upon starting the car there was the message "steering assist fault" and I could not turn the wheel. It went away after I turned the car off and restarted. However, I am concerned: If it happened any time other than when parked this could be fatal.
My power steering shut down without warning while stationary. Thank I was not turning in front of traffic and did not have a customer in my car. My employment is driving. Oh and just two days prior the transmission computer was replaced. It shut down without warning. Stopped for gas came out and car would not start.
I started my car and began pulling out of my parking space when the car steering became very hard to steer, the car felt like it was going to stall out, and an error message came on that said "steering assist failure service required". I had not fully pulled out of my parking space, so I turned off the car and let it sit for a few minutes. I started the car again, and the message did not appear when I began driving the 2nd time. I am very scared that this could happen while I am driving on a busy road and cause an accident. I have seen several other Ford cars being recalled due to this issue for the same year, but not the Focus. I have also seen numerous complaints online for this same issue. This steering assist failure needs to be investigated and recalled for safety of 2012 Ford Focus drivers, their passengers, and other drivers on the road.
Sync module failed. Costing $1000 to fix. A smog part failure resulted in Ford wanting 2000 to repair and replace the fuel tank. The clutch fails to engage on low speed turns creating a loss of control. Ford fixed with the recall. Steering fault detected making it near impossible to steer the car. Recall is available on other models but not Focus. Another 1000 to fix it. Ford is unsafe!
When I start the car initially I can't turn the wheel of the car. I have to tug on it to get it to turn eventually. I'm afraid that I'll be driving in the power steering will go out. Also have been having troubles with the transmission slipping. They say my car has too many miles to qualify for the clutch recall that Ford has put out. I don't see what this has to do with a malfunction saying I've had troubles with it since I bought this car. Both of these issues are safety issues. I have no money to replace this stuff. So I don't understand why Ford won't work with people on this there needs to be a recall on the steering as I seen many others complaining about it. And they need to suck it up and take the expenditure of replacing all of these crutches that they have a recall on regardless of mileage. Sometimes my seatbelt comes loose after I clicked it. I have to latch it while trying to drive. I'm tired of this car. I'll never buy from Ford again. I've been having problems with this car since I bought it. And have informed the dealership that we bought it from and they clean there is nothing wrong with it period after taking it too but it's going to cost me $3,000.
Was beginning to get steering fault warning lights back in little over a year ago. It would correct and wouldn't come on till later in time. Probably had 6-8 occurrences. About two weeks ago I had no steering at all. Took it to my local mechanic and they said the electronic assist has failed and the entire rack & pinion needed replace. The complaints are similar especially with in the last year. Attention needs to be given to this since even other Ford cars are having the same problem and being recalled. I called Ford and they said there is no recall or necessarily the same problems that I have with my car. They said I would have to take it to a Ford dealer to have it 'properly diagnose' to determine if 'my' issue correlates with the common ones out there. That also will cost me money for diagnostic. If they read all the complaints on the NHTSA they will see it is common. My mechanic tells me it is going to coat me $1900 to replace. The part at Ford alone is $1200. We shouldn't wait till someone gets hurt to see the obvious that it is a problem. I noticed 3 more complaints for the same problem since I have checked it at the NHTSA a couple of days ago. Ford, consider the consequences if this isn't properly addressed.
When I go to turn my car on the dash reads steering malfunction and the wheel won't turn. Once I have restarted my car the steering works again. There is no recall on this and there is no warranty coverage it cost me $197 to get my car reprogrammed so it won't happen again. Seems like a waste of money just to get it reprogrammed so I don't get into an accident.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Saxe, VA, USA