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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.

6.0

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
13,384 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 transmission problems

transmission problem

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2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #3

Jun 182012

Focus 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles

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

2012 Ford Focus. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle manual transmission stalling and loosing power when approaching an incline and when driving in stop and go traffic. The consumer stated there were noises coming from the door panels, and dash area. Also, there was a vibration at the top of the seat belt areas and center console.

- Dawsonville, GA, USA

problem #2

Jul 072013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 39,636 miles
Vehicle lost power and was not able to safely accelerate while traveling on the highway. The problem happened when I down shifted a gear to pass someone (manual transmission). The vehicle felt like it had about 30% power. I was forced to pull off of highway. Once vehicle was shutoff and turned back on it returned to normal. I had no warning lights on dash or anything. It just happened all of the sudden and was very scary.

- Reading, PA, USA

problem #1

Jun 012012

Focus 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 517 miles
Was told this car had "automatic transmission". after a few hundred miles on it, I noticed the transmission shifted sporadically and with no prediction. Engine shuddered, car lost power and was not safe to drive. The key here is no prediction as to how the car will react when under acceleration. Took to dealer and was told "this isn't an automatic transmission - it's a computer- controlled manual that has to learn how you drive". dealer uploaded a computer update from Ford. The next hundred miles of driving almost caused numerous accidents due to lack of acceleration and uneven performance. 6/4/2012 I tried to merge into traffic and car refused to speed up. I almost caused a major accident, but numerous drivers slammed on their brakes and/or swerved and averted multiple collisions. Took the car to dealer 6/5/2012 and told them what happened. Was told by head tech "it just has to get used to how you drive". I told him there were three different people driving this Focus. He said we can't, because that would just end up totally "confusing" the computer. As the car is too dangerous to drive, it is still at the dealer. Miles on vehicle are under 800.

- Coeur D'alene, ID, USA

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