10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
23 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
24 / 5
Average Mileage:
86,571 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 #730

Jul 102019

Focus

  • 89,000 miles
Power steering locks up intermittently - even when driving and it has happened numerous times. So far it has only happened at speeds of less than 45mph. The lights come on, the power steering no longer works but if you shut the car off, wait a minute and start back up it works fine.

- Cedar Falls, IA, USA

problem #729

Aug 192019

Focus

  • 77,000 miles
Takata recall. I was leaving the store when my steering locked up out of nowhere. Luckily I was able to pull back into my parking spot and park, instead of my 7 year old and I driving on a busy road and crashing. I have seen 1000's of the same complaints from other drivers as well. This is very dangerous and will cause accidents for people driving and can not turn the wheel once it locks like myself. This needs to be recalled asap before lives are lost!

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #728

Aug 062019

Focus

  • 113,000 miles
Steering wheel wouldn't turn after starting up my 2012 Ford Focus SE. I turned the car off and back on again, and the steering wheel turned as it should. However, the next day it did it again. I immediately took it into the dealership and was informed the electronic rack and pinion needed to be replaced. This is apparently a very common issue (there are hundreds of complaints on the NHTSA website), yet no recall from Ford. Discouraging.

- Tomball, TX, USA

problem #727

Jul 312019

Focus

  • 114,000 miles
Failure of the electronic power assisted steering (epas). The system has to be replaced at a cost of $3K. The steering completely failed making driving not possible. The system has been going in an out of service. Upon start up it would not work and then begin working a short time later. Finally it has completely failed. The Ford dealer says that although this is a known safety defect, it is not being recalled.

- Bethesda, MD, USA

problem #726

Aug 052019

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 60 mph, the power steering warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to matt bowers Ford (located at 3724 veterans memorial blvd, metairie, la 70002, (504) 887-8410) where it was diagnosed that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 46,000.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #725

Feb 132018

Focus

  • 103,170 miles
Power steering gets very stiff when starting car. Was intermittent but recently more frequent.

- Buckeye, AZ, USA

problem #724

Jun 272019

Focus

  • 78,000 miles
Steering assist fault warning and power steering locks up. Car left me stranded with my 2 kids. After starting the car, power steering assist fault light pops up and steering is locked. Restarted and it fixed. Went to my next location and started the car and no steering whatsoever. Thank goodness I was not driving on the freeway when the steering went out. Ford should be obligated to fix this dangerous issue.

- Azle, TX, USA

problem #723

Jul 232019

Focus

  • 89,000 miles
1) while driving in city turn signals stopped working. Never worked again after that. 2) while driving in city and highway power steering goes out intermittently. Shutting off vehicle and restarting generally fixes this issue. 3) while driving in city vehicle stopped accelerating and gave notice to stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible as transmission is overheating. Was stuck on side of road for 30 minutes after stopping vehicle and shutting off before could start and complete drive to work. Afraid to drive vehicle now as the transmission had been having issues before that. Clutch was replaced once already and is included in the Ford transmission class action.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #722

Jul 292019

Focus

  • 81,000 miles
My 2012 Ford Focus sel has an issue where a yellow icon will come up on the dash then display another icon saying that there is a steering assist malfunction and that service is needed. The steering wheel will not move and literally takes all of your power to get it to move. After several times of turning the car on and off it will work but always comes up with that icon again. This has even happened while I was driving! this is a major safety issue! I am not trying to die while I drive my car down the road. Ford also replaced the transmission on my car about a year ago for a transmission recall after the car would shutter when going into first gear. Now, a year later the problem is happening again and just as bad. When my husband and I went to Ford they said that the warranty was up and that they couldn't help me. It was either hit the road or pay $1,500 to replace it again! you're telling me that you put in a faulty replacement part and now expect me to pay out of my pocket to replace your mistake? that's hilarious!! when I turn left into my neighborhood while going across oncoming traffic, it's scary when my car shutters into first gear to the point where I stall in the middle of the road and almost get hit. Come on Ford, get your stuff together! if you truly care about the safety of your customers like you say that you do, then protect us. Fix your mess and don't put dangerous cars on the road. Also, when people come back and say they are having problems that have even led to death again I say, fix the issue.

- Draper, UT, USA

problem #721

Jul 122018

Focus

  • 54,000 miles
Loss of power steering on public road. Power steering assist failure

- West Monroe, LA, USA

problem #720

Jul 212019

Focus

  • 927,008 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel seized and the service power steering indicator illuminated. The vehicle shut off and could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 927,008.

- Mckee's Rocks, PA, USA

problem #719

Jul 182019

Focus

  • 113,900 miles
Threads on the outer tie rod end stripped on the driver side. Tie rod end came off while I was driving! called several local parts departments and funny thing is they report that's the usual side that is affected. Every store in a 20 mile radius had right tie rods but no left.

- Selinsgrove, PA, USA

problem #718

Mar 182019

Focus

  • 117,000 miles
Transmission was not shifting into gears, then the reverse went out..talked to 3 different Ford dealers..asked about my warranty then said no recalls on this and out of warranty would be out of pocket..so I did have an outside warranty for repairs but they said nothing was covered..so I paid aamco to fix it..3500.00 and 2 months later I am at another aamaco (because of their warranty) the new aamaco place says transmission shot need a new one..about 5 grand..so..no we drove it back home and put her to pasture..I have all paperwork on all work done..and not done..but we travel for my husband's job..so my paperwork is home in tx..we are now in tn..for a few weeks.my car acted up badly, hot transmission, had to stop several times just to get it to the shop.. also..would be great if it at least had a dip stick to check your fluids. Also on first transmission work..we had to rent our motel room for 3 extra days waiting on the car repair to be completed. This after he had it a week already..I also have phone numbers and quotes from 2other people that would have worked on my car if they had the tools to work on a dual transmission.

- Broaddus, TX, USA

problem #717

Jul 102019

Focus

  • 103,000 miles
Power steering failure at startup. Initially, this was intermittent and restarting the car would solve the issue. The power steering is failing while actually driving. The ridiculous part is I am one of over 700 complaints and nobody had required a recall to Ford. This is ridiculous and this issue will cause more and more loss of life as it occurs more frequently. This should be a recall for sure. It is a obvious manufacturer defect.

- Warner, OK, USA

problem #716

Dec 312018

Focus

  • 64,482 miles
Power steering failure at startup. Initially, this was intermittent and restarting the car would solve the issue. Eventually, the power steering failed completely despite restarting the car. The power steering failed only on startup, not when driving.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #715

Jun 062019

Focus

  • 84,000 miles
1st time - while driving on the highway the steering wheel locked up and I was unable to turn left of right. This was dangerous as it locked up while trying to switch lanes. Staying in the lane and coming to a light I turned the car off then on, and it went back to normal. Months later 2nd time - my car was stationary in a shopping center parking lot. When turning on my car to back out an alert turned on saying steering assist malfunction, and I was unable to turn my wheel left or right. After turning my car off and on a few times I was then able to turn my wheel. 3rd time - my car was stationary and parked on the street. (later the same day) when turning on my car to pull off an alert turned on saying steering assist malfunction, and I was unable to turn my wheel left or right. This time I had to drive home when it being super hard to turn.

- American Canyon, CA, USA

problem #714

Jun 142019

Focus

  • miles
Drove my car to a destination and when leaving, I got in my car, started the engine and when trying to leave, my steering was extremely altered. Tried to go in reverse thinking it may be in a rut. Same issue, steering was next to impossible. Turned car off to explore under the hood. No power steering fluid under the hood. After searching the owners manuel and looking on line sitting in 100 degree heat I attempted again and steering was fine. It has since happened again within a weeks time and all I can think of is what happens if it looses power steering while I'm on the freeway, or if I have my grand babies with, or in the middle of a turn? what if.... people have already lost their life. What's it going to take for Ford to do the right thing.

- Grants Pass, OR, USA

problem #713

Jun 122019

Focus

  • 14,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving at unknown speeds, the steering wheel seized and "power steering failed" appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to van bortel Ford, Inc. (71 marsh rd, East rochester, NY 14445, (585) 586-4415) where it was diagnosed that the electric motor failed and the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 14,000.

- Fairport, NY, USA

problem #712

Mar 142019

Focus

  • 1,100,360 miles
I was driving down the street still in my neighborhood the steering went out.I the car was almost impossible to turn, I was able to get back home thank god I wasn't in traffic yet. When I restarted the car it reset itself, and continued to do the same to point I can't drive it at all it's too hard to control while driving. Ford said it would be $2245 to fix it that there is no recall or anything, that's a lot of money and it's a safety hazard I just don't understand why this isn't a recall I'm trying to save money to get the problem fixed but it's hard being without your car depending on other people or catching a bus the Ford dealership didn't even give me my diagnosis report even though I paid $115 for the diagnostic test that's not right either they gave me receipt saying I had one done and that I declined repair

- Crestview, FL, USA

problem #711

Aug 112018

Focus

  • 5 miles
Power steering failure, no longer has power steering making it extremely difficult to manuer vehicle.

- Lowell, IN, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »