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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The electronic power steering failure light keeps coming on. Ford recalled other units for same problem and not the Focus. Steering wheel locks up when light comes on and makes it difficult to steer. This is a major accident waiting to happen. The light usually comes on when first starting the car.
- Youngsville, LA, USA
Went to leave to go to work on 3-5-2019 and I had no steering my car I have not had any issues since I've I this car I've had it for 3 years. We looked O utube to see what we could do to fix so I could go to work it took us 20 minutes to get it to unlock drive fine to work when I went to leave work at 4pm on 3-5-2019 it did it again it took me about 10 minutes this time after it unlocked I was still having a hard time with the steering at first but then it loosened up this is a very serious issue that needs to addressed
- Derry, PA, USA
I started my car and a warning light came on saying power steering assist was out. The car was very hard to steer. The next time I started car, the problem was gone. However, since then, the problem has returned and it is unsafe to this car drive in traffic. My research shows this is a commonand dangerous situation and needs to be corrected by Ford on the 2012
- Kansas City, MO, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. When the vehicle was started, the steering lost power and "power steering assist failed" illuminated. The vehicle was taken to jim charlon Ford, Inc (760-371-1331, located at 269 S china lake blvd, ridgecrest, ca 93555) where it was diagnosed that the steering gear module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 77,300.
- Ridgecrest, CA, USA
My car told me driver steering malfunction and my steering wheel completely stopped working.
- Auburndale, FL, USA
The steering intermittently cuts out making it nearly impossible to steer. The steering went out while I was driving and I nearly hit another car. I was driving on a local city street when the issue occurred. The error steering assist fault, service required upon loss of steering control. Upon research, I have determined that Ford has recalled other cars within the same model year for the same issue. I am concerned that if this occurs again it could result in an accident causing damage to property and injuries to myself and others.
- Springfield, IL, USA
2012 Ford Focus has power steering assist fault that will not clear. After on-line research done, have seen that many owners have experienced same sue. Beyonc has 81000 miles on it. Vehicle exhibits issue immediately during starting and continues throughout driving. Used to be able to reset by turning car off and then on, however that no longer works. Ford has recalled other vehicles for same issue but not the Focus.
- Port Orchard, WA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving unknown speeds, the vehicle shuttered and the steering wheel was loose. Also, the power assist warning indicator illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 160,000.
- Pueblo, CO, USA
After starting 2012 Ford Focus start to pull out of parking spot and steering wheel locked up, could not turn right or left. Pulled forward and turned car off, was going to call tow but instead started car again and steering started working again. There needs to be a recall on this issue, what would have happened if I was driving and turning the corner in front of the local elementary school and the car hit students and the media found out NHTSA new about this problem all over the country along with Ford's knowledge of this issue, it would be worst than the pinto gas tank issue. Please consider issuing a recall on this problem.
- St. Charles, MO, USA
I started my car and the steering wouldn't work any more without a hole lot of muscle power. The car was parked'.
- Lakeside, CA, USA
Takara recall, while driving I had to make a turn. When turning, suddenly the steering was difficult to turn and I was forced to stop the car. I got the message "steering assist malfunction". this was very scaring because I was in traffic and an accident could've happened.
- Yuma, AZ, USA
Power steering: Sometimes when I start my car an error message will say "power steering failure", and the power steering will not work. If I turn the car off, and then restart it within a few minutes it goes away. It started doing this within a month of when we bought it, and because the error isn't present when we take it to the dealership they tell me they can't do anything. I have complained multiple times to them, and they have done nothing. It has been doing this randomly for years now, and after bringing in my car to have the clutch looked at again (I've had it replaced 5 times now) it had the power steering error message show up and the techs were able to see that the car had no power steering along with the message. They told me I would have to replace the steering wheel column, and even though it has done this from the start I would have to pay for it.
- Mesa, AZ, USA
My power steering locked up while I was leaving my house. My car has only 90K miles and there has been tons of recalls in general for this car already. This is a serious problem and risk and I believe that I'm not the only person to have come across this.
- Benton City, WA, USA
The automatic transmition of my 2012 Ford Focus with 100K miles had hesitation and the engine suddenly shut off when driving due to the transmition fail (it happen too often drivind in the city), after I paid $ 2,200 to the dealership to get it fixed ( they changed clutchs and computer module). The steering wheels started to fail, it suddenly gets too hard to turn, then it gets normal and then fails again. Just when I was turning on a corner the steering wheel got hard to turn and the car was going out of the road (straight). Luckily I was able to hold the steering wheel too hard to control it. Ford want to charge $2,400 to fix the problem (rack and pinion replacement). I think there should be recalls for those dangerous issues. Thanks.
- Modesto, CA, USA
While driving on city street going home an error message displayed 'steering assist fault - service required'. the car became very difficult to steer. Will be scheduling with mel hambelton Ford to investigate the condition.
- Wichita, KS, USA
I had this car about four years I put a two new battery, new start, new radio, new radiator, thermostat the arms and rod replace now I got the steering assist fault going on in my car I get wired put money on to it !
- Scottsburg, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. When the contact started the vehicle in the morning, the steering lost power without warning. The vehicle was taken to sill-terhar motors (303-469-1801, located at 150 alter St, broomfield, co 80020) where it was diagnosed that an unknown part needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
- Thornton, CO, USA
Driving to work steering started to get hard to steer on the high way and making turns. Then after work put in key turn key on says steering lost stop. At this time the steering was locked up my son was able to get the steering to where he could get it him but very hard to do I couldn't budget it. The way it acted on the highway I was afraid it would stop working cause it was getting more difficult to move the steering.
- Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Power steering always takes awhile to start when the car is started, now it has gone out completely.
- San Jose, CA, USA
- Ewa Beach, HI, USA