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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.

7.9

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$570
Average Mileage:
55,250 miles
Total Complaints:
17 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace window (15 reports)
  2. not sure (2 reports)
2012 Ford Focus windows / windshield problems

windows / windshield problem

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2012 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #17

Jul 292018

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 190,000 miles

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

Sunday the 29th, around 2PM I was getting ready to take my grandson home to West Chicago, from where I live in DeKalb, Illinois. My son said; 'hey mom, you better come out here and look at this.' I saw a shattered window in the hatch. I was very upset. I had to take my grandson home, so I had no choice but to drive car from DeKalb to West Chicago. I was surprised the hatch held the window. The cracked window held all the way to West Chicago. From there I went to where my daughter was in St. Charles. When I got out of car and shut door the window fell into the back of the car... Car was vacuumed out by Jerald my daughters boyfriend. I bought tape and plastic to take care of my problem.

On Tuesday July 31st, 2018 I called my insurance company Safe Auto. I would have to pay a $500.00 deductible. I told my insurance company it would have to wait..... I am not pleased. The car sat all day and all night on Saturday. The car not touched till Sunday. I can not explain why I had a broke window. I do have pics. Thank you!!

.

- colleenbetsinger, Dekalb, Illinois, US

problem #16

Mar 012018

Focus SEL 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,099 miles

click to see larger images

rear window exploded

This Issue is a Ford Issue. They know of the problem but act coy and say they don't. Regardless of warranty or not its not covered. We even got the extended warranty on the car because we are THOSE safe buyers. This issue has happened more than once, three times under 2 years. This issue is not just with the Ford Focus hatch SEL series, it with all Fords across CANADA at all times of the year, with or without preheating the car in park.

YOUR FORD WINDOW WILL EXPLODE AND IT WILL SHATTER EVERYWHERE AT ANYTIME OF THE YEAR ANYWHERE IN CANADA UNDER ANY WEATHER/PARKED CONDITIONS.

So here is where I'm at, I've called for the 1000x the dealer/the customer service/ my insurance/ I've gone online(fb/social media)/ I've seen this issue on my local news (https://globalnews.ca/news/3175817/cold-calgary-weather-may-be-causing-car-rear-windows-to-break/amp/) THIS ISSUE has been going on since 2012-2018. Its all around us, we all know about it, FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE.

I have evidence/receipts/ photos & videos of my past REAR WINDOW EXPLOSIONS. Everyone needs to keep calling and keep complaining in any way shape or form, we have to be persistent with them in regards to this EXPENSIVE issue we keep having with FORD. (Fix or Repair Daily) (f*ck you Ford! You have the money!)

- zhorne, Ottawa, ON, Canada

problem #15

Sep 122016

Focus SEL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,302 miles

click to see larger images

rear window exploded

Driving to work, 60 km/h (37 mph) on a newly paved and smooth road when the rear glass on the hatch exploded. Temperature was about 8 degrees C (46 degrees F). Will stop at the dealership to report it but have to go to a glass shop to get it fixed since the dealer can't get replacement glass for at least a week.

- pietschu, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada

problem #14

Dec 232016

Focus ES 2.0L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,400 miles

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

I was sitting in the driveway with car running waiting to leave the house, when I heard a load BANG from behind which startled me. I looked around and realized the fragmented window had just caved in. Got out of vehicle to investigate and found that there was glass fragments on driveway and around vehicle. Most of the glass stayed up but it had fragmented into about 1/2 inch fragments throughout the entire glass. There was no part not fragmented. It was about 40 degrees outside and misting rain. Why is this happening to these cars? I am a war veteran and have limited funds to take care of this.

- William P., Glouster, OH, US

problem #13

Apr 032016

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,369 miles

click to see larger images

rear window exploded

In the parking lot after picking up a few things from the store. Closed the back hatch. My typical technique is to lower it with control then drop it 4" to 6" to close as I hate the loud bang. Closed it and BOOM the thing just exploded. My car is always outdoors, never going in and out of a garage. Nothing struck it from the inside or outside. Ruined my first visit to my new born niece.

Update from Dec 1, 2016: I called the Ford dealership to which I was told the warranty had expired and that they had never heard of such a thing. Had to replace it. Speaking with others about it at the repair shop they had definitely heard of this happening before. Funny the Ford rep had not.

- Robert A., Edmonton, AB, Canada

problem #12

Jan 042016

Focus

  • Manual transmission
  • 70,215 miles

NOT ONLY DID THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODE BAD ENOUGH, BUT THE FORD CANADA "CUSTOMER SERVICE" REP WAS AN IDIOT!!! RUDE, CARELESS AND ARGUMENTATIVE.

- roofdowncc, Wasaga Beach, ON, Canada

problem #11

Nov 132015

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,000 miles

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

click to see larger images

rear window exploded

It was fine on the way to work. Went out at noon and it was spider cracked COMPLETELY. Thought it was ice since it is cold in Port Huron so put the rear defrost on. However when I parked it fell in! Completely pi##ed off.

- Catheine P., Algonac, MI, US

problem #10

Oct 082015

Focus SEL V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

click to see larger images

rear window exploded

Drove home last night, parked in the driveway.... About 60 seconds after getting out, while heading inside... heard a pop. Thought nothing of it. This morning I turned my rear wipers on to clear what I thought was light frost from the rear window... Turns out it wasn't frost, it was a completely shattered rear window which started crumbling into the car when turning the wiper on.

- Jeff G., Newmarket, ON, Canada

problem #9

Feb 132015

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

Just over 100 days ago I was driving to work when my back window blew out, so scary! Got it to Ford right away, however, it was apparently my fault and they did not cover it. Speedy auto did a great job fixing it. Last week I returned to my car at the end of the work day and found the window shattered again. Needless to say Ford did not replace it and wanted to charge me for doing a diagnostic on the heating element. I managed to convince them how ridiculous that was and they waived the charge. Speedy auto glass apologized for my inconvenience and although I was a couple of weeks out of my warranty they honored it.

Unfortunately I will not be using my rear defrost anymore, which is completely inconvenient due to the fact that I live in the snow belt!

- Natalie H., Owen Sound, Ontario, canada

problem #8

Nov 262014

Focus LES V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

I was sitting in the driveway with car running waiting for my son to come out off the house, when I heard a load BANG from behind which startled me. I looked around and realized I could not see out of the rear window anymore. Got out of vehicle to investigate and found that there was glass fragments on driveway and around vehicle. Most of the glass stayed up but it had fragmented into about 1/2 inch fragments throughout the entire glass. There was no part not fragmented. There was glass inside as well and I can unless imagine if my children happened to be in the back when it happened.

Car was running at the time and warm as I had bean driving earlier, so I don't believe there was a temperature issue as it was cold outside when it happened (about 30 deg.) There interior was warm and the heating elements in rear window were off at the time. (had already cycled)

- Joseph S., Barre, MA, US

problem #7

Nov 132014

Focus Titanium

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,000 miles

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

About 6:30am on my way to work going about 70-75mph in the fast lane when my rear hatchback window exploded. I wasn't sure what happened, it was an extremely loud noise that scared the hell out of me, i thought I may have been hit by another car. There were other vehicles around me but no large trucks or semi around that something could have possibly have fallen off of. After regaining my composure because i almost swerved into the median, I exited the freeway to check out my car. I found no damage to the body of the hatchback except that the window was shattered with a whole larger than a basketball where all the glass was falling into the vehicle. I notified the dealership and they told me i could bring it in and they could check it out and send the info to ford to see if they would replace it but would not give me a rental or time frame when this could be resolved. I could not afford to be without a car or drive with no rear window, it started snowing that day.

- Joe S., St Clair Shores, MI, US

problem #6

Oct 232014

Focus FTU 4cl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,341 miles

click to see larger images

rear window exploded

I was driving to work and had just got off the highway. No other vehicles were around my car when out of nowhere my rear window exploded. It sounded like a gun shot went off. Scared the crap out of me. Unfortunately Ford wouldn't do anything to help me since my warranty expired at 60,000km. My car was at 60,094. I must have hit the limit the week before. It was a cold morning and I had to scrape the windows before leaving. Luckily Speedy Auto Glass in Newmarket, was able to fix it that day and didn't have my kids in the car. Imagine having a rear facing baby in a car seat and having that happen. Hopefully Ford realizes this is a problem before something serious happens as a result of this defect.

- Kim N., Holland Landing, ON, canada

problem #5

Jan 292013

Focus ES

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,000 miles

The car was in the garage. Got in car to go to work, opened the garage door and started the car, backed up approx 4 ft and then the rear window exploded. Shattered to pieces. I called Ford, they said the car was not covered because it was out of warranty but they would take care of me. When the dealer called to tell me the car was ready, they told me Ford denied the claim. I really think this is a problem due to temperature change. I later found out that the same thing happened to a car last week and was brought in to the same dealer.

- klinda, Burbank, IL - Illinois, US

problem #4

Mar 302012

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,000 miles

My rear window exploded also. Ford said that external forces were the cause (must be in twilight zone); they wouldn't warranty. As I leased the car in Aug, 2011, and my mileage is 7000, they are going against their own warranty on p. 13. It reads that no matter the cause, they will replace w/o cost if under 12 months/12,000 miles. We had to pay about $540.00. Hope the rest of you have had better luck than me. The fight is on w/Ford. They are jerking me around. NOT

- senior67, Carrollton, GA, US

problem #3

Jul 102012

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,000 miles

My wife closed the drivers side door after getting in the car and the rear window went to pieces. Sure seemed random. I don't see how this piece of glass would get damaged while driving the car. Ford does not want to warranty it. I need to ask them if they will replace the glass if the problem is repeats.

- Alexander K., Kansas City, KS, US

problem #2

Mar 092012

Focus Titanium

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,853 miles

In a nutshell the rear window exploded. I had remote started my Focus and let in warm up for a couple of minutes (it was rainy and cold outside), got in and was about to put the car in reverse when the rear window exploded with a bang. Luckily the car was parked right beneath surveillance cameras all night so we could prove that nothing hit it. It is in at the dealreship now and I haven't heard anything yet so I am assuming they have decided to cover it under warranty. I will edit if this changes.

- tamarabc, North Van, BC, canada

problem #1

Jan 272012

Focus ES

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,495 miles

When the dealership was contacted, they claimed that because the window was shattered, we cannot prove that it was not caused by a rock chip, which it was not. Even though we live at the end of a small cul-de-sac where traffic does not exceed around 10km/h, they claim that because there have not been several reports of this problem on this model, it must have been caused by a rock chip and suggest making an insurance claim as "glass" is not covered by warranty. My beef is that for this window to shatter simply by applying the defroster, it was obviously installed under stress, and is a manufacturing defect and should therefore be covered. If my children had been in the car when the glass shattered, there would have been a law suite...

- conan, Chetwynd, BC, canada

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