10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 23 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 25 / 5
- Average Mileage:
- 85,634 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
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« Read the previous 20 complaints
The power assisting wheel steering has malfunction and leads to very difficult wheel turning. It increase the risk of accident when the malfunction was suddenly happens when driving on road. Ford franchise dealer store has verified that this issue happens on 2012-2014 Ford Fusion and Focus and the issue happens without car being hit or involved in any accident. Ford has already announced recalls for 2011-2014 escape, Explorer, and mariner for power steering defect. I have experienced the exact same situation described for those recalls. Therefore Focus should be ianother model of Ford vehicles that needs investigation for power steering defect and be recalled for repair. More complaints from Focus owners online: M.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Focus/2012/steering/power_steering_failure.shtml
- Campbell, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the steering wheel seized. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was restarted and functioned normally. The contact stated that the failure was periodically. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for a diagnostic test or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.
- Cleveland, TX, USA
Electronic power steering failed at less than 50,000 miles. Could not steer car. Electronic control is located by exhaust manifold, which heat caused unit to fail. This is a common problem and Ford has recalled the steering unit on other model, but not on Focus. Cost $2160 to repair. Transmission shutters at low speeds making it difficult to control. Had it into Ford several times to diagnose and they state it is within parameters of this dual clutch type transmission. Ford had extended warranty for transmission but refused to replace mine under warranty.
- Mandan, ND, USA
Steering beings to lock intermittently during driving, steering wheel locks during driving, steering wheel then becomes very hard to turn upon start up. I was driving on the freeway nearing a curve to exit when issue happened. This car cannot be operated without power steering for someone who is eldery, sick, even a normal person. The wheel just wont budge. I am trying to secure funds to pay out of pocket
- Windcrest, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 20 mph, the power steering failed and the contact's daughter lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle drove into an embankment, crashed into a light pole, and flipped over multiple times. The air bags did not deploy. The contact's daughter sustained head and neck injuries that required medical attention. Police report number: 85507869 was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: Cas21646310. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 90,000.
- Deltona, FL, USA
The contact owned a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 25 mph, the power steering failed and the contact's daughter lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into a pole and the vehicle flipped over multiple times. The air bags did not deploy. The contact's daughter sustained neck pains that did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled by the contact's insurance company. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was unknown.
- Del Tona, FL, USA
Steering assist malfunction on console display upon start of vehicle. Steering is almost impossible and vehicle poses a serious hazard if this happens while I'm driving. Recall is issued for similar problem on other models, yet no recall is issued for the same problem on the Focus.
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Stuart powell Ford Lincoln Mazda (225 S danville bypass, danville, ky 40422, (859) 236-8917) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was notified and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact stated that the vehicle also experienced steering failures several times. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Mackville, KY, USA
Owner of a 2012 Ford Focus 4D SE, experienced the loss of power steering "power steering assist". it has happened to me twice within minutes of each other. Going down a city street and lost control it was extremely difficult to turn to get off the street to safety. In the process of turning I came close to hitting a car. Turned the car on and off, figured works for electronic devices, the "power steering assist" was removed then 10 minutes later the "power steering assist" engaged again this time turning off the freeway. Very scary experience. After reading the cost to correct the issue I will be out $2000. Is Ford putting lives in danger to create another revenue stream?? I can not believe that these vehicles have not been recalled for this issue!!!! 57K miles
- Aztec, NM, USA
Loss of power steering
- Planterville, MS, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 70 mph, the steering wheel became uncontrollable when making turns. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to gordie boucher Ford of kenosha (8301 75th St, kenosha, wi 53142, (262) 697-0700) where it was diagnosed that the steering computer needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 127,000. The VIN was not available.
- Palm Bay, FL, USA
Steering quits intermittently.. it's a well known and documented safety hazard as I have seen hundreds and hundreds of similar complaints. Just adding one more to the list. Don't see a full recall in the future but a little help with a very expensive repair would be nice.
- Charlotte, NC, USA
Have had several instances of the power steering not functioning upon start up. Warning light came on, but reset and worked upon restarting. Occasionally steering will take extra time, approx. 5 seconds, to function upon starting however yesterday it would not reset and function properly. Had to drive approx. 5 miles with no power steering. Worked properly after parking and restarting car after approx. 15 min.
- Jensen Beach, FL, USA
Bought this used for my son's first car. Power steering went out while driving. Only 80000 miles on this car. This could have killed my innocent boy. Recall this before someone dies!!!
- Lake Orion, MI, USA
On two separate occasions, the car lost steering ability without any warning while my son was driving on a busy highway in traffic. He was luckily able to pull over without crashing, though required considerable effort to maneuver the car out of traffic, as steering required full strength. The steering assist malfunction message appeared after the 3rd incident when he started the car in his driveway. I cannot understand how Ford can can continue to endanger drivers and others by not recalling this clearly defective electronic steering system. The exact same system has been recalled in other models totaling over 1.3 million vehicles, per a new yorktimes article. This is not a small or trivial problem. In addition, Ford manufacturing has notified dealers of 'steering problems' but fell short by not investigating the issue. The problem is apparently well known and documented. Please do something before innocent people are injured and/or killed. We have already endured the stress of a transmission/clutch malfunction, for which Ford extended the warranty to cover, but did not notify owners, as an official recall would require. Our extremely honest and diligent mechanic researched it and found out, so we were able to have those repairs done at the dealer at no expense. This is a no-brained, do the right thing and issue the recall. Don't play russian roulette with other people's lives.
- Lomita, CA, USA
After a 30 mile drive, I stopped to fill my tank. When I restarted my vehicle, I received a warning that the power steering boost had failed. I checked under the hood and did not see any other problems. I was able to drive the car back to drop off my passenger, although the steering was extremely tight. After my friend left my car, the power steering came back and the issue has not recurred. I did some research on the internet and found at least 200 other instances of similar events, leading to a total failure, and a $1600 bill from Ford for each occurrence. There is a tsb which exists for this issue, and there was a recall of other Ford vehicles for similar problems. However, the Focus was not included in the recall but it sounds like a similar issue which necessitated the recall of 600K vehicles in 2015. There are also plenty of articles from reputable sources, like the New York times, which also document this,
- Sugar Land, TX, USA
Electronic power steering assist failures. Several times over the past four months my wife and I started the car and there was no power steering. The car was undrivable and warning on the dash indicated steering failure. Sometimes two or more restarts were required before the warning went off and the power steering returned. Although it hasn't happened yet while driving the car. My research on this failure showed that its highly possible that it could happen while driving and cause injury or death. Farther research shows that repairs could cost as much as $2,200
- Manila, AR, USA
The transmission is under class action lawsuit. Having trouble with since buying in 2012, still waiting on outcome of that. Today. March 27, 2019, "steering wheel assist- service needed". steering out wheel will not turn. I work I need a car. I will be calling Ford today. My Ford Focus SE is no longer under warranty, over 140,000 miles on it. I was not able to leave home for work today. Sometimes when I turn the car off the time changes I then turn it back on and it goes back to the correct time. Also in the past sometimes in would not start. I would wait a while and then it would start. It has not done that since I bought the car in 2012. This car has a lot of problems.
- Georgetown, DE, USA
When I went to drive my car out of the driveway the steering acted like it was locked. After trying multiple times of turning key on/off I finally called the mechanic to tow the vehicle to their shop. After a couple weeks of diagnosis it was determined it was the electric steering. Why have multiple other Ford vehicles had a recall for this problem but not the Focus?
- Morgantown, IN, USA
- West Palm Beach, FL, USA