10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 23 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 25 / 5
- Average Mileage:
- 85,634 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
With increasing frequency the power steering fails at startup. I turn the car off and back on again, seems to be a quick fix, but I worry something is actually broken.
- North Caldwell, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. When the vehicle was started, the steering wheel failed and became difficult to turn. In addition, the steering assist warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to wayne akers Ford (2010 10th ave N & I-95, lake worth, fl 33461, (561) 582-4444), but was not diagnosed or repaired due to the fees. The manufacturer was contacted via mail and did not assist. The failure mileage was 37,000.
- West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Vehicle was stationary at the time. Steering assist warning check manual came on the dash and I was unable to turn the steering wheel. Luckily I was stopped. I turned the car off and back on and it worked. Kind of scared to drive it now though, what if that happens when I'm in motion"??"
- Riverton, UT, USA
The electronic rack and pinion failed when driving. The car started displaying a power steering assist error on the display. All power steering was lost and car nearing lost control and caused an accident. Speed was 55 mph on shug jordan. After diagnosing the issue, a replacement power steering unit needed to be installed. Ford made a defective part.
- Auburn, AL, USA
Upon starting my 2012 Ford Focus on two occasions in the past 2 months, my steering wheel would not turn. The "steering wheel assist: Fault" message alerted on my steering wheel screen on both occasions. The car was parked on the street and upon turning the car on and seeing the message, I attempted to drive out of the parking spot and could only go straight or backwards. After finding multiple complaints online about my same issue, I took it to my local auto repair shop to diagnose the issue. The diagnosis code is U3000:49 - control module internal electronic failure, and the invoice/technician's opinion can be found in the uploaded file below.
- Oak Park, IL, USA
While driving the vehicle the steering failed fortunately I was at my own street and finally got it home by getting my grandson to help me turn the wheels. Took to aamoco they scanned for codes and updated the PCM/tcm. It broke again in 3 days. I was fortunate again I had not left my driveway. This is a safety issue if yo are on a freeway or other roadway where traffic is moving fast. This whole endeavor cost over $2000 to fix. I averted the danger but whose to say others my not.
- Millville, NJ, USA
For a few months now my power steering has been not working when I turn the car on sporadically. To fix this I have been just turning the car off then back on a few times and that seems to fix the problem. However, now it won't reset and I do not have power steering at all. I had it towed to the dealer and after they charged me 140 they tols me that it needs a new rack and pin and it would cost 2400!!! Ford issued a recall on several different cars for this same issue. How many more people have to be hurt or die before they issue one for this? I just had the transmission control module replaced under warranty and received a letter in the mail informing me that a recall was issued due to the fuel system causing major problems.
- Fairdale, KY, USA
Steering assist fault; loss of power steering in the vehicle
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
Steering wheel locked up while vehicle in motion (unable to steer). Turned key off then back on after getting car stopped and steering worked. This has happened at initial start up on three separate occasions. Wife refuses to drive it. At initial start up we were unable to even turn the steering wheel with engine running. On one occasion I had to return half hour later and it did function properly. Very unpredictable. Ford dealership says it's the steering gear and costs about $2,000 to replace. Display on vehicle says problem is electric assist for power steering. Vehicle has 89,000 miles on it. No control of vehicle if loses power steering assist. Additionally the driver's side window will not roll up or down. Rubber door gaskets continue to fall off on all four doors. The dust cover under the motor is nothing more than a piece of cardboard with some sprayed on fuzzy fake material covering one side.
- Walker, WV, USA
Started car up, steering locked up, turn car off, restart steering worked, car was stationary
- Assonet, MA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 8 mph, the vehicle lost all power steering ability and the steering assist failure warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.
- Strasburg, VA, USA
"steer assist fault" error message with total loss of power steering while driving, causing low speed impact into curb in neighborhood. This is a known power steering system failure and yet Ford has failed its customers and continue to put them in danger and life's as risk. This is my 16year old daughter car and it is an absolute disgrace that this issue has significant documentation & complaints confirming this failure yet no recall & Ford not taking responsibility for their products. It's extremely sad that it will probably take a humans life before this known power steering failure issue which causes drivers to lose all power steering capabilities! hey Ford..don't expect a merry christmas from the [xxx] family! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Landisville, PA, USA
While I was driving the whole stearing column starts to vibrate then it tightens up and the light comes on saying stearing assist fault, service required. When this happens the stearing wheel locks up and you can't turn. I've had this happen three times, luckily not in a curve or at a higher rate of speed. I have to stop the car, turn it off and back on to reset. I know I will crash if I am going around a curve or driving on the interstate, with the car stearing locked. I currently have it at the Ford dealership for repair. The mechanic said it was not safe to drive.
- Pigeon Forge, TN, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. When the vehicle was started, the power steering indicator illuminated and the vehicle could not be steered. The dealer (verner-cadby Ford, 1240 bloomfield ave, fairfield, NJ 07004, (973) 575-0333) stated that the failure was due to age and the repair would cost approximately $1,700. The manufacturer stated that there was no recall for the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000.
- Caldwell, NJ, USA
70K miles, steering assist failure. Leaving my 19 yo daughter stranding out of town. Car was parked and malfunction would not reset with restarting or disconnecting battery. $2000 to repair... I own four Ford and my patience is wearing thin from all the recalls on all four vehicles that I own.
- Hernando, MS, USA
Electric assist steering failed after 116,000 due to manufacturers placement of electronic box location 3" (three inches) away from exhaust manifold, thereby destroying electronics inside sealed box. Makes steering extremely difficult. Failure in parking lot and almost caused me to hit a parked car while trying to turn into a parking space.
- Framingham, MA, USA
Electronic power steering failure light keeps going on and no power steering is available. Does reset upon restarting car. There are over 10000 online forum complaints about same issue. Ford was aware of issue and continued to sell the vehicle with this issue and the transmission control fault.
- Anaheim, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While starting the vehicle, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer (gosch Ford escondido, 1717 auto park way, escondido, ca 92029, (760) 745-3361) where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 67,000.
- Solana Beach, CA, USA
Car was in park. When I turned on the ignition and started to back out I couldn't turn the steering wheel and the power steering warning light came on. I put the car back in park, turned it off then back on after a couple of minutes and it was fine. This has happened at least 4 times within the past year.
- Sacramento, CA, USA
- Ramona, CA, USA