10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 30 / 3
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 15 / 2
- Average Mileage:
- 59,417 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Was driving home from work on sr 64 and my at dinged and told me to pull over immediately once safe to do so car at high temperature. Was stranded for hour on the side of road waiting for tow
- Wauchula, FL, USA
After re-fueling, car began to move, then stopped moving while engine was running just fine. After restarting engine 2-3 times, car moved slowly(<5mph) despite attempts to accelerate. The first occurrence: After leaving it parked overnight, car worked fine. Second occurrence: I drove the car (<5mph) out of parking lot, across a city street to Ford dealer. Both times, the car would not accelerate at all.
- Los Osos, CA, USA
My car shakes violently whenever I make turns. It shakes and has trouble going forward whenever I drive after a stop light turns green. These things always happen.
- Auburn, AL, USA
My 2012 Ford Focus has repeatedly been in for service do the the dual clutch transmission as well the the transmission control module. Since I've owned the vehicle, it has seen 2 new clutches as well as 2 tcms. Over the lifetime of the vehicle it has had 5 clutch replacements and 3 tcm replacements. Thankfully, the transmission has not failed on me yet. This car is very unreliable and gives me constant headaches. My car dealer is about 30 minutes away and every time I go their for them to test my transmission, it always fails. Its a complete waste of my time because no matter what I do, the car always will shudder. My 14mo1 warranty has now run out so eventually when I need a new clutch it will cost me roughly $2,500. I have contacted Ford about this issue multiple times and now I am filing for arbitration. This car is nothing but a death trap.
- Reading, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered and stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer shults Ford of harmarville located at 1300 gull lab rd, pittsburgh, pa 15238, and repaired under the NHTSA campaign number: 13V523000 (power train). The contact indicated that the failure persisted and the vehicle was serviced on several additional occasions for the power train. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,000.
- South Park, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was unable to shift out of park. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer but was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed however the technician was unable to retrieve a failure code. The contact performed a to diagnostic scan and retrieved two unknown codes. The contact stated that one had do with the transmission control module. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
- Flint, MI, USA
Had a recall on it for program of tcm had it done and almost didn't make it back home now it wont backup at all or go forward good all so was told there was a recall on the dual clutch just got notice but was told car had to many miles and to old now
- Reading Center, NY, USA
Car shudders when accelerating. Loses power on freeway and then suddenly shifts and takes off. It is not a safe vehicle to drive in its current state
- West Branch, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission malfunction and transmission not in park messages displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer and an unknown dealer were notified of the failures. Additionally, the instrument panel displayed warning lights including the seat belt, tire air pressure and ABS warning lights. The cause of the failures were not determined. The failure mileage was 65,000.
- Salt Springs, FL, USA
First off, when accelerating, even after the transmission recalls were "fixed", we still have very bad jerking and shuddering when accelerating. Sometimes it sounds like a grinding sound. Secondly, there is a clanking sound that happens when we drive over very small bumps. It sounds like metal hitting metal in the back of the car. There is nothing in the trunk that could be making that noise, and is heard outside of the car also. Problem cannot be located by mechanics or myself.
- Mount Vernon, OH, USA
Took car to capital Ford dealer in charlotte, nc on 4/29/20 because it kept shutting off while in motion. Ford dealer said the car had a faulty transmission and needed to be replaced. They told me that Ford manufacturers put a 6 speed manual transmission in an automatic straight drive and theres a class action lawsuit with over 2 million cars. As a result Ford stopped producing the Focus and fiestas. Ford dealer stated they could replace the transmission for $3900, but it would be per specs (oem) and the clutch would ultimately burn out on the new one too. Now we are without a vehicle that we paid 11K for. Additionally, we have been to two Ford dealerships regarding a recall for our door latches for over a year. Neither is interested in doing recall work because "they dont make any money off it"
- Charlotte, NC, USA
Check engine light is on - diagnosed as transmission control module is bad and needs to be replaced; however, the code (P0908) is not part of the extended warranty. The vehicle is showing all symptoms/behavior which if the code was P0606, replacement would be covered. If the tcm is bad, it's bad and Ford should offer consideration - currently, the vehicle is not safe to drive!
- Waukesha, WI, USA
My car jerks and shifts hard in gears in reverse it pulsates took to the dealer and they said it was the clutch although the dealerships states that it is a recall but my car dont fall under it cause I have 123K miles. I just got the car looked up the recall and on some Ford website it say extended warranty until 150K
- Maricopa, AZ, USA
2012 Ford Focus. Consumer writes seeking reimbursement for vehicle recall repairs.
- Midland, MI, USA
My car started making a strange noise then it began to jerk now it won't go into reverse. Transmission warning light came in I can't drive it.
- Sanford, NC, USA
Transmission shutters and causes the car to stall while accelerating
- Gatesville, TX, USA
I was driving about 25 mph on a narrow winding mountain road when the car shifted out of gear into neutral and displayed the "transmission problem service no" message. I coasted to a stop in the middle of the road as there was no shoulder. Moving the snifter did not get back in gear. I shut the car off and restarted. I then had control of the car but it would not shift into into high gear. It would go neutral to first with a jerk, then shift smoothly into 2nd but not shift into high gear at all. I drove it home at 3300 RPM at 55 mph. The car only has 40000 miles on it. Had I been pulling out into traffic when this occurred I would have caused a crash. Like ralf nader said about the corvair.... "unsafe at any speed". I have read the horror story of this car and your lack of action. You should be ashamed! would you let you loved ones drive this car? I think not. It deserves a total recall and buyback from Ford. Please do your duty and make it happen. Ps, I have had it in the shop multiple times for slow speed shifting issues which resulted in "reprogramming" to resolve the issue which of course it didn't.
- Redmond, OR, USA
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.
- Fort Gratiot, MI, USA
When I shift the gear from N to D and start to push the accelerator, the engine vibrate irregular, jerk, shudder, tremble, or thrill for 5 seconds. I don't know the right word to describe the situation.
- Dublin, CA, USA
- Utica, NY, USA