Print this page

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:
22 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
24 / 5
Average Mileage:
86,666 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 steering problems

steering problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Ford Focus:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 5 of 46)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #829

Jun 162020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 160,000 miles

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

Electric power assist steering total failure. Needed to replace entire steering rack. Vehicle was fortunately stationary at the time. Fault was found to be in the module unit. Vehicle becomes very difficult to steer and would be unsafe if it occurred while in motion.

- Lowell, MI, USA

problem #828

Jun 192020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 125,469 miles
Saturday morning went to the store. Got back in my car turn the car on put the car in reverse and all of a sudden the steering will got hard to turn. I check my dash and it said steering malfunction need assistance. Put the car back in drive and put the car back in the parking spot. Turn the car off turn it back on the steering went back to normal. Pull out of the park spot and as I put my foot on the gas pedal the steering malfunction need assistance went back on. Am concern for my safety and the safety of other as well.

- Lakeshore, FL, USA

problem #827

Jun 012020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 99,000 miles
The transmission shutters and shakes very frequently. Vehicle also periodically will almost stall while driving. Overall the vehicle just feels incredibly unsafe and unreliable while operating.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #826

May 292020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 49,475 miles

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

The electric power assist steering stopped working suddenly while driving. My vehicle only has 49K miles. It did this many times in the past. The advice I got from the dealer was to turn the vehicle off and restart. That worked in the past, but this time there is a warning message on the dash. I called the dealer and followed up with their offer to load new software. They told me to bring it in. I did. I also researched the topic and see that Ford recalled other makes for this problem. The dealer said the whole steering rack and pinion has to be replaced, but it is just the electric motor that is bad, just like the recall. This is totally unsafe to drive. I have complained to the dealer many times, but they never helped.

- Pomona, CA, USA

problem #825

Jun 032020

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
Steering assist message popped up and steering wheel locked up at the same time. The car was parked on the street.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #824

Jun 042020

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
The steering assist failure has been coming on for several months when I start my car and I cannot turn the steering wheel. I have to turn car off and start it again. There is a recall #15S18 for 2012 Ford Focus but Ford is telling me my 2012 Ford Focus does not fall under this recall. Why? its the same make and model.

- Diboll, TX, USA

problem #823

Jun 012019

Focus

  • 100,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving, and turning the steering wheel in either direction, there was a clicking sound coming from the steering. Additionally, on several occasions the horn failed to function as designed. The vehicle was taken to auto park Ford located at 1825 centerville rd, sturgis, mi 49091, who indicated that the steering rack was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Howe, IN, USA

problem #822

Jul 012019

Focus 4-cyl

  • 96,952 miles
Purchased May 2019. Power steering goes out intermittently when driving and varied speeds also on startup. Sometimes it will come back after restart and sometimes not. Issue has started to become more frequent. Took to local dealer 7/24/19 for recall 18S32 in which PCM was updated also transmission control module was checked but no work done. Dealer said there were no other recalls or tsb's.this morning when started had no power steering for 10 seconds then kicked in. I called Ford customer service at 866-436-7332 twice and went through the menus to be placed on hold for 20 minutes before I was disconnected. Only a matter of time until an accident will happen, let us pray no one is injured or killed due to this known issue.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #821

May 022020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 93,092 miles
When starting vehicle steering would lock up and display error message of "steering assist fault needs service"

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #820

Nov 062019

Focus

  • 130,000 miles
Power assist steering error has occurred numerous times while stationary and moving. Error code flashes and sometimes clears after restarting engine or disconnecting battery for a period of time. This is a known problem with many Ford vehicles of the same build period utilizing the same equipment technology. Why this issue was not included in those recalls is not understandable. Just like the dual clutch issue, which I paid Ford $2,300 to rebuild the transmission, I am told that there's no warranty or recall. This means another $2,000+ to repair a known defect. 2 issues alone has caused repair bills the equate to 25% of the purchase price. Nice to see Ford has other options to add to the price tag at the owners expense and safety. Hopefully no fatalities will occur before Ford and NHTSA acknowledges this issue is in line with other recalls for similar equipment.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #819

Apr 092020

Focus

  • 123,300 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus and stated while driving the power steering suddenly failed. The steering wheel became difficult to turn. The cause was not yet determined. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph the message "power assist malfunction" displayed and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer cross road Ford (1330 North Carolina why 66S. Kernersvillle nc) was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,300.

- Kernersville, NC, USA

problem #818

Apr 052020

Focus

  • 184,000 miles
The steering just stopped working in the middle of me driving down the highway. The steering wheel is completely locked up. Then after the fault warning came on the car's steering would not move at all and was locked onto a slight left trajectory which almost caused a serious accident.

- Renton, WA, USA

problem #817

Mar 062020

Focus

  • 120,000 miles
On vehicle start up power steering is occasionally unresponsive. I have been able to restart the vehicle to try to correct the issue which has overcome the problem in the past.there are no warning signs on the dash that address this problem. Now the vehicle has lost all power steering and maybe unsafe to drive. I have notified my Ford dealer with the problem, they said to have the car towed in for a $3000. Repair" this sure looks like a safety problem as no one can say if it is safe to drive with manual steering? what if I keep driving it as is? if I give the vehicle away can I or Ford be held liable if someone is injured. The car now not worth the cost to repair. Somebody is going to get hurt and I thought Ford was all about safety" I will be sure to let my friends and family know.

- Antioch, CA, USA

problem #816

Sep 102019

Focus

  • 58,335 miles
After receiving the recalls serviced by mike white Ford in cda Idaho.my vehicle is no.longer safe to drive.the 2012 Ford Focus that was perfect now stalls lacks power.the safety features no longer work.the car now has steering issues.since the recall work was done the car has sat in the driveway.it is unsafe for myself and others. When the car is in motion and you depress the gas paddle the rpms will race all the way up then plummit.while driving there is no power.when driving an incline or hill the gas paddle has to be pushed to the floor and still loses speed.the car shakes and the steering is erratic. One of the safety features in which the stereo mutes unless the seatbelts are clicked in while the car is in motion no longer works the Ford motor certified mechanics or technicians refuse to honor the. National traffic and motor vehicle Safety Act and the letter of recall concerning my 2012 Ford Focus that has under 60 thousand miles on the odometer.

- Spirit Lake, ID, USA

problem #815

Mar 032020

Focus

  • 103,000 miles
We recently purchased a 2012 Ford Focus hatchback for my 16 year old son. This morning, he started the vehicle and began driving away from the house. While doing so he was having difficulty maintaining control of the car due to the power steering being non-functioning. Fortunately I was sitting in the passenger seat and noticed he was struggling. He told me the steering wheel was very hard to turn. I instructed him to pull over but he couldn't turn the wheel hard enough so I asked that he just stop the car. At that time, we switched seats. Sure enough, the power steering was not functioning and the wheel was very difficult to turn. An amber colored warning light was illuminated on the dash. I was able to get the car back home to park it. After shutting it off and returning to check on it later and likely take it to the mechanic as I figured the power steering was completely out, I found that upon restart there was no issue. Since that time I have been conducting research and have found numerous complaints and concerns about the same problem with the same vehicle. Several persons have warned that this has happened to them while in motion, some of which at high speeds on the interstate. This is obviously incredibly concerning, particularly for younger, inexperienced drivers who may panic should this occur while in motion. According to complainant reports and the NHTSA website there is no current recall by Ford for this issue and the particular model. Please help remedy this issue so the safety of drivers of this vehicle, particularly children, and those that share the road with them is ensured. Thank you.

- West Jordan, UT, USA

problem #814

Feb 212020

Focus

  • 108,000 miles
Power assist failed while driving. Could not turn the wheel properly. Car started shaking and sounded like engine was going to fail. Only 108,000 miles

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #813

Jan 012012

Focus

  • miles
Ive had issues with the steering wheel since I 1st got the car. In the beginning it would like a couple minutes and then be fine. I noticed it when it was super cold or even just kind of cold. There have been a couple of times when the weather was fine and the steering was still very hard to turn. Id have issues in the morning by the time I left the parking lot it was fine and when I got in my car after work the same thing (with in a few minutes was fine). I've taken my car in many times but they could never figure out an issue. Now its 2020 and its been "out" since Thursday today is Monday and I just had it towed to the car dealer ship. Every time this issues occurred my car was in part I never got a warning message until today. Ive always been at home or at work where my car has sat for a few hours

- Waukee, IA, USA

problem #812

Jan 132020

Focus

  • 100,000 miles
I own a 2012 Ford Focus sel. An error code has come up for about 6 months when starting the car "steering assist fault" it will usually go away but on Jan 13th 2020 I was leaving work and it would not go away and I could not move my car. The error remained and I had to have the car towed because I could not steer the car at all. I am active duty military living in germany on orders and my car is now at the Ford garage with a quote of 1,860 euro to fix the power steering. This is unacceptable that Ford has not recognized this as a need for a safety recall and car owners are having to pay thousands of dollars to repair this part when I have been told by mechanics it is due to the part being placed in an incorrect place causing it to error out. This is a huge safety issue due to the error happening while driving as well, leaving you with no control to steer the car. I am out thousands of dollars in rental fees while my car has been sitting at a german Ford dealership waiting for repairs.

- Apo, AE, USA

problem #811

Aug 082019

Focus

  • 145,000 miles
Power steering malfunction. Warning occurred each time car was turned on for the first time during the day, but would usually reset and turn off after restarting the car while stationary. This happened for about six months when the power steering completely went out. The mechanic had said this has been a frequent problem for Ford Focus' as the power steering column has a bad and unusual setup that causes the wiring to overheat and thus resulting in the power steering to not work.

- Springfield, OR, USA

problem #810

Aug 072019

Focus

  • 110,379 miles
The power steering in my car went out. While I was leaving work my car prompted the following message "steering fault assist" came on and my power steering went out. I was very fortunate to be on a straight residential road when this occurred. The steering gear in my car needed to be replaced. After doing further research I found that this is a common issue with Ford cars. So much so that Ford has recalled Ford/Lincoln midsize sedans for an identical issue (recall number: 19V632000). It is inexcusable that Ford continuously ignores this issue for compact cars.

- Mount Dora, FL, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?