10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
66,949 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Ford Focus:

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

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #159

Feb 022019

Focus

  • 86,000 miles
Almost killed my self when lurched into intersection because clutch acted up, something it has done since night used. I trusted Ford, had no idea of transmission problems. Tranny has been done twice at Ford, no luck still bad. Mad as hell.

- Springfield, OR, USA

problem #158

Jul 042019

Focus

  • 171,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact also stated that the failure was evident right after the vehicle was refueled or if the fuel in the vehicle was low. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 171,000.

- Gary, IN, USA

problem #157

Jun 292019

Focus

  • 100,000 miles
After receiving recall information, regarding recall 18S32, the vehicle was taken to the dealership for repair in mid-November 2018. The dealership advised that the recall was remedied. In may of 2019 the vehicle displayed signs that the issue was not resolved. For example, using excessive amounts of gasoline and emptying the tank while the gauge was showing fuel was present; also, the vehicle would stop moving while engine was still running. After being diagnosed by two different dealerships, the most present diagnosis is that recall 18S32 is the issue and now Ford is refusing to fix the vehicle. The car had to be towed five hours from the location, due to safety concerns, to a dealership who diagnosed that the recall had not been resolved only to be informed that Ford refused to cover the expense of the recall.

- Whittier, NC, USA

problem #156

May 032019

Focus

  • 124,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. One year after the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline), the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had not experienced a failure prior to the recall repair. The contact called zeigler Ford plainwell at 269-685-5801 (located at 1260 M-89, plainwell, mi 49080) where the recall repair was performed. The technician informed the contact that it sounded as if the canister in the fuel tank was fractured. The technician stated that the part was already repaired per the recall and would not be covered again. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

- Otsego, MI, USA

problem #155

Jun 052019

Focus

  • 140,000 miles
There was recall 18S32 issued by Ford to fix fuel fuel tank purge valves. My car had stalled for this very reason and I had it towed to dealership to have fixed. Picked it up and problem happened again. Dealership already closed ticket. Brought car back in to have resolved, they spent two weeks advocating to flord for me that the issue could be resolved by replacing fuel tank and problem was a direct relation to recall. Ford denied claim and Ford response to customer was to keep car half full which was a quote they made about the original recall. Fuel tank needs replacement and Ford is refusing to fix the recall on my car and dealership is not taking responsibility for closing the ticket and ensuring the recall was fixed. I opened a claim with Ford yesterday. I don't understand as this is a safety issue and its a matter of time before it gets even worse especially when we are dealing with a serious fuel issue. Ford is telling me to keep it half full just like they said with the original recall and I dont understand why they are not addressing this serious safety issue that is a direct result of the recall. I am attaching the paperwork from the dealership. Please help me as Ford did the same thing with the transmission recall. I brought it in and they never fixed it and refused to address it again. I'm not the only one who is in this situation and Ford issues recalls and takes no responsibility with ensuring that the replacements needed are functional. I cannot afford another car and I am petrified with having a fuel issue or stalling out in a dangerous intersection that has already happened to me twice and I dont know what to do. This all happens while driving the car and it shows I have fuel but I really dont and the car will stall. My car according to the dealership needs a new fuel which is directly a result because of this recall.

- Venice, FL, USA

problem #154

Jun 142019

Focus

  • miles
Canister purge valve was not replaced during recall. Because a week after I took the car for recall, the canister purge valve was diagnosed to be faulty.

- Auburn, AL, USA

problem #153

Jun 132019

Focus

  • 92,800 miles
Car has pressure in fuel tank and is starting to deform. The car is also stalling every time I fill the gas tank.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

problem #152

Jun 112019

Focus

  • 115,513 miles
Power steering assist failure warning light upon cranking the car, steering wheel impossible to turn but not locked up. Car hesitates/sputters at acceleration from stop

- Rome, GA, USA

problem #151

May 282019

Focus

  • 159,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the highway and the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road. When the vehicle was powered off and restarted, the vehicle drove normally. On another occasion, while attempting to drive the vehicle, it failed to start. The vehicle was taken to rogel Ford (located at 26167 ms-27, crystal springs, ms 39059, (601) 892-3673) where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Furthermore, the front driver side door failed to close. The vehicle was taken back to rogel Ford where the door was repaired, but not diagnosed. The contact was informed by the dealer that they also reprogrammed the power train module. The contact stated that the fuel gauge would show full when it was supposed to be at half a tank. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and stated that rogel Ford repaired the vehicle per NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). No further assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 159,000.

- Crystal Springs, MS, USA

problem #150

Jan 232019

Focus

  • 85,000 miles
There have been several recalls for my car regarding the fuel system and gas tank, my car exhibited all the same symptoms, I took it to a Ford dealership that refused to do the work unless I pai'd $2,000 for an expired previous recall for a different issue that was unrelated. They claimed without doing that work if they did this work the car wouldn't work at all. I complained to Ford who told me dealerships don't have to honor recalls and to keep trying other dealerships. I asked what to do if none would do the work and they said pay out of pocket. Worse yet, the first dealership cleared the recall as not being needed, so now I have a damaged car that I can't get the recall work on that I can't afford to do myself. I'm going to just have to sell the car.

- Fairfield, CT, USA

problem #149

Apr 292019

Focus

  • 105,000 miles
Takata recall I noticed that this vehicle "chugs" when it is sitting idle, and that sometimes it feels as if it wants to stall while idling. There is already a recall out for this issue but I have not been informed of it. It says that 10/22/2018 there was a recall for this issue. Onto the next issue, without warning my vehicle began to shake (this car is my daily driver) and then I began to hear whining whenever I would turn! help!

- Blanchard, MI, USA

problem #148

May 182019

Focus

  • 78,100 miles
Fuel gauge suddenly inaccurate- showing fuller than it should be. Noticed discrepancy after driving a short distance, shopped and planned to get gas on the way home. When I started the engine the gauge went from 1/2 full to 3/4 full. It remained 3/4 full with additional driving of multiple trips. I was told by the local Ford dealer this was not covered under recall 18532.

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #147

Oct 222018

Focus

  • 14,000 miles
Ford issued a recall on this vehicle (manufacturer recall #18S32) NHTSA recall # 18V735 on octobe22, 2018. They still have not come up wtih a remedy other than to keep the gas tank at least 1/2 full. This is not acceptable to me.

- El Cajon, CA, USA

problem #146

May 012019

Focus

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline), the check engine warning indicator illuminated. Bird kultgen Ford (1701 w loop 340, waco, tx 76712, (254) 666-2473) performed the recall repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired a second time. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Waco, TX, USA

problem #145

Apr 252019

Focus

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 70 mph, the fuel warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle seized. The contact had to go to a fuel station to place fuel in the vehicle in order for it to start. The contact took the vehicle to pennyrile Ford (5505 fort campbell blvd, hopkinsville, ky 42240, (270) 886-8131) where it was diagnosed that the purge valve failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was 125,000.

- Hopkinsville, KY, USA

problem #144

Apr 242019

Focus

  • 23,000 miles
Takata recall after I went to a gas station and fill my tank up with gas drive about 2 miles the car start to stall in the middle of the street with me almost cause me to be in and accident luckily I pull to the side to avoid that then the check engine light came on suggesting I check fuel componet and service engine

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #143

Apr 232019

Focus

  • 43,000 miles
Vehicle intermittently loses all propulsion, both while in motion or after accelerating from a stop. I've had it happen both during city commutes and during a turn. Throughout these episodes, the gear indicator on the dashboard goes from highlighting the current drive ("D") gear, or in some cases the reverse ("R") gear or parking mode ("P"), to nothing at all. When the gas pedal is pushed while this is happening, the engine will rev, but vehicle will not move. User won't even have a chance to pull over since it will stop dead. Episodes are usually brief, averaging a couple minutes, however when this does happen it can cause an accident due to a sudden decrease of speed. As for what specific system is at fault, I'm uncertain specifically, though believe either the power train or main computer (esp. Dealing with gear shifting) is malfunctioning.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #142

Mar 282019

Focus

  • 97,637 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that an abnormal fuel odor was coming from the vents and the vehicle reeked of fuel. The odor was so strong that it was a distraction to the contact and her family's health. The vehicle was taken to joe hall Lincoln Ford (1617 21st street, lewiston, id 83501, (888) 706-3381) where the mechanics repaired a door latch, but did not repair the fuel tank. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,637.

- Kamiah, ID, USA

problem #141

Apr 092019

Focus

  • 137,500 miles
18S32 was performed January 2019 per the recall notice I received. Ford dealer in garden city ks said my car was fine and sent me on my way. April 9th, I received a cel for emissions on the purge canister. Filled up with fuel, unable to start. Was able to finally start vehicle and it died while driving. This is the same symptoms of this recall for the PCV under 18S32. I took back to Ford April 11th (same dealer) gave my case number since I called Ford prior to ask if this would be covered, they said the dealership would need to look. Ford dealer received car 4/15 (since I needed an appointment) said they needed approval from Ford and would call me. I called 4/18 to follow up, service manager said they got denied on one and will check with other departments at Ford. I received another call same day that they cannot cover it since it was a one time recall for this issue despite no parts being replaced at previous recall. My car, does run, but I am concerned the vacuum issue in this recall will render my car useless if I continue to drive since this is my only car. I need assistance getting the recall done despite being denied.

- Lakin, KS, USA

problem #140

Mar 202019

Focus

  • 120,060 miles
2012 Ford Focus stalling and shutting off on highway. Engine stalling and shutting off multiple times while driving. Check engine indicator on due to recall.

- Westmoreland, TN, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »