10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
23 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
25 / 5
Average Mileage:
85,634 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #521

Feb 172018

Focus

  • 43,000 miles
Power steering completely stopped working. Almost wrecked the car. Transmission vibrates and makes noise

- Howell, MI, USA

problem #520

Feb 042018

Focus

  • 73,709 miles
Power steering went out completely. On a 3 and a half hour trip I stopped to get gas, turned the car off. After pumping gas I started the car and a fault appeared "power steering loss, stop safely". had the car towed to the mechanic and replaced the power steering rack. Driving it home the power steering rack and computer faulted again while doin 70 mph on the highway! this is unbelievably dangerous. With the considerable about of problems like this there should have been a recall already.

- Huntington, WV, USA

problem #519

Feb 072018

Focus

  • miles
On multiple occasions my 2012 Ford Focus got stuck in park and would not shift into drive. The steering wheel would not turn. The shift stick would not move from park back into drive. The electrical lights 'P N D S' turned off on the dash. When I pushed on the brake the car would not shift back into drive. Last night it happened in the middle of rush hour traffic at a red light. I turned the car on and off several times. The dash board lights would come on, but 'P N D S' remained unlit and the car would not shift back into drive. After 4 or 5 times of turning car on and off and opening and closing the door (this affects dash board lights some how). The lights came back on and the car would allow me to shift back into drive while pushing on the brake.

- Parkland, FL, USA

problem #518

Jan 262018

Focus

  • 56,000 miles
Starting in October 2017, my power steering failed while operating my car. The problem has started happening intermittent and unexpectedly. Sometimes, the issue occurs when turning on the car (before ever turning the steering wheel). Other times, it happens while driving (both times I was going straight and had to stop in the middle of the road).. without powersteering, it makes it almost impossible to steer at higher speeds and is extremely dangerous. There are 75 unique complaints about this issue on this one website - M.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Focus/2012/steering/power_steering_failure.shtml

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #517

Jan 232018

Focus

  • 154,000 miles
My power steering went out when I was traveling home from work on the interstate. I came upon a curve to the right on the interstate and I almost hit another vehicle to the left of me as it was very difficult to turn the wheel but I slowly managed to pull the vehicle over onto the shoulder of the road. I turned my car off and sat there for a minute and turned it back on and my power steering was working fine and proceeded home slowly, and was very leery it would go out on me again. Right before I got home on my street, it went out one more time and I almost side swiped another vehicle when I was turning to the right. It took all the strength I had to turn the wheel to avoid side swiping the car on the left even though I was only going 20 mph.the power steering was out for good this time. I had it towed to a shop and I found out it was gonna be $1800 to fix this problem. After researching this issue, this is an ongoing problem for many Ford Focus's and Ford needs to address this as a recall! I could have been hurt badly on the interstate or hurt someone else. This is a dangerous problem and I had no warning! it scared me to death.

- Waxahachie, TX, USA

problem #516

Jan 222018

Focus

  • 70,000 miles
On many different occasions my steering wheel will completely lock up. Today was not the first day - just now knowing I can report this. Happens frequently and randomly since getting the vehicle. This is dangerous when driving, and it seems to be a common issue on these Ford. When the wheel locks up - you have to stop the vehicle. If I turn the car off/back on 4 or 5 times it usually unlocks it. As far as the electrical goes - the car is possessed. If you turn the car off and remove the keys - the radio continues to play even after getting out of the car. The keyless entry will not lock the doors. Windshield wipers will go off randomly without keys in the ignition. Sometimes the radio will randomly turn itself all the way up and if you try to turn the whole thing off, it does not respond. Many issues with this car!

- San Marcos, TX, USA

problem #515

Jan 222018

Focus

  • 41,000 miles
Car worked well yesterday. Turned it on today amber light and tone power assist steering need service. Power steering failed overnight. Car has about 41K miles on it, estimate for repair $2000+.

- Spanish Fork, UT, USA

problem #514

Jan 222018

Focus

  • 88,540 miles
Started car and steering assist fault came in, drove it to dealership was told 110$ just to diagnose it. From the looks of it same problem that everyone else is having, this should have been recalled

- Early, TX, USA

problem #513

Dec 302017

Focus

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. After the vehicle was parked, the steering seized and the steering assist fault indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to courtesy Ford (1410 w pine St, hattiesburg, ms 39401, (601) 544-8111) where it was diagnosed that the entire power steering electric rack and pinion assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Hattiesburg, MS, USA

problem #512

Jan 112018

Focus

  • 82,000 miles
Driving on a city street when it just would not go after a red light. When I did get it to move off of the city street to a parking lot it was hard to steer. All the lights started flashing. I could not lock the doors with my remote, would not start. I had to have it towed to my house. The next morning I put my code reader on the vehicle and found about 13 fault codes which I reset since then I have had multiple instances of my vehicle shutting down, hard steering and transmission not shifting or going into gear. Displays transmission overheating, transmission malfunction service now. Wont, T go into gear. Horn stopped working and withut doing anything it suddenly started working.

- Milford, OH, USA

problem #511

Jan 122018

Focus

  • 103,000 miles
The power steering on this car is detective. It can go out without notice and make the car hard to drive. On many, many occasions my power steering would not work when I started my car. I would turn off and then restart the car and it would work again. Recently, I loss power steering twice while driving on a city street. I was able to manually steer to a safe place both times. I restarted the car and retained power steering once again. Shortly thereafter the power steering went out all together the power steering on these 2012 Ford Focus is detective and the Ford company needs to be held accountable and a recall issued.

- Lockhart, TX, USA

problem #510

Jan 032018

Focus

  • 94,573 miles
Started car put in drive the steering light came on and had no power steering drove out of drive still no power steering drove about 2 miles still no power steering stop put in park stop engine waited about 15 seconds started car light out and the had power steering. Talked to shop foreman at crouse Ford told me they have not seen any problems with the Focus but what I described say it is the electric power steering rack and pinion

- Westminster, MD, USA

problem #509

Sep 172017

Focus

  • 97,000 miles
Was driving car and randomly a warning came up ' power steering assist fault service required' then power steering turned off. Turn car off turn back on fix the problem. Then problem came back and has not gone away. I have no power steering. Radio has been acting strange since purchased car

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #508

Dec 302017

Focus

  • 103,500 miles
Driving home in traffic my cars power steering failed and it became difficult to steer. Was able to struggle with steering to get it home. Later went out to moved car and steering was fine. Called Ford and they said they are aware of the issue but no recall yet. Extremely dangerous. Ford must be waiting for more related death before issuing a recall. Repair cost $1600 - $2300! real nice Ford.

- Eagan, MN, USA

problem #507

Oct 162017

Focus

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed to unlock and the steering assist warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to willis Ford (15 N dupont blvd, smyrna, de 19977) where it was diagnosed that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000. The VIN was not available.

- Middletown, DE, USA

problem #506

Dec 122017

Focus

  • 100,102 miles
I was driving on busy four-lane highway in fast moving traffic in my 2012 Ford Focus a light came on saying steering assist failure service required. This scared me very much. It was very dangerous and lifethreatening. The wheel was heavy and hard to steer getting off the highway curving exit. I was frightened I would hit the guardrails. Brought car to torrington, ct Ford dealer who is very nice said steering gear assembly needs to be replaced $1,977. Called Ford asked why was Focus excluded from recall issued for same reason to edge, Fusion and Explorer. Ford representative named pam said "reason it was not involved in recall is because built at different time and using different part affected by the recall." I said but they all used same temkin manuf. Part. He said, "recalls are VIN specific." Would not pay for repair, and said my complaint would be forwarded to the "appropriate internal department". (that must be the do-nothing-about-it unit) how disappointing and embarrassing that an american company doesn't care about its customers. This is my third and last Ford car I will buy. Who is going to die before big business takes notice" there are 508 complaints on this website for the same problem with this vehicle!! and thousands more on other internet sites! why are we spinning our wheels with this Agency that does nothing with this life-threatening issue. What is more important than being able to steer or brake your car" this steering assist failure is deadly and needs to be investigated and recalled for safety of 2012 Ford Focus drivers, their passengers, and other drivers on the road.-- tk (former Ford driver)

- Hartford, CT, USA

problem #505

Dec 242017

Focus

  • 86,200 miles
2012 Ford Focus had intermittent steering assist fault warnings. Since 12/24/2017 the fault warning does not go away and I have no power steering. I called 2 different Ford dealers, they both denied any knowledge of any known problems with this problem. I did a tiny bit of research and quickly found that many other owners are having the same problem and that your Agency has had complaints and are or did investigate this problem. Is this caused by an exposure to extreme heat from other engine components? the faults always started upon starting the car and I would turn the car off and back on, it would go away but know it won't go away and I cannot drive it without power steering.

- Zephyrhills, FL, USA

problem #504

Dec 042017

Focus

  • 55,000 miles
Steering fault failure began as an intermittent problem at 55,000 miles. The issue commenced when the vehicle was in motion and presents a dangerous situation. Steering the vehicle is difficult beyond description. Now the problem is chronic, repair estimate from fair oaks Ford in naperville, il was $2,400. Based on the number of complaints to NHTSA and evident on a number of other sites this is not an isolated problem. Ford should be compelled to issue a recall for safety reasons alone.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #503

Dec 162017

Focus

  • 71,200 miles
A notice on the dash appeared at startup(stationary), stating power steering assist fault service required. This makes steering very difficult. This has happened before but the warning would go away on next start up. When I took it to a mechanic I was told that no codes were showing. I have had my car at a Ford service department and they told me there are no open recalls or bulletins.

- Williamstown, NJ, USA

problem #502

Dec 082017

Focus

  • 113,000 miles
On 12/8/2017 I drove me car downtown nashville from my house. Parked it in the gultch area. Walked to a return. Came back to my car and the steering assist fault light came on. It said contact dealer. I tried turning the car off and on again several times. The steering wheel would turn with great effort, however I was parallel parked and there was no way I was getting the car out of the position it was in without needing a tow truck. So I had to have it towed to the Ford dealership. Once there it took them 5 days to tell hook it up to the computer and tell me that I needed almost $2,300 worth of repairs. So basically while the car was parked, it broke. I declined service at the moment and am actively searching for solutions. The dealer diagnostic was as follows: "found U3000-49 pscm internal failure. Followed pinpoint test B and found needs rack replacement." The car was purchased in Jan 2013 from a car max. I payed for the extended warranty that they sold me as 100,000 mies "over the purchase milage", to which they have been kind enough to inform me actually meant 100,000 miles total. I'm right at the 113,500 neighborhood. I have exactly two payments left. So now not only do I have to borrow or rent a car ($$$) I will loose money if I trade it in, I have to burden someone else with the use of my car to work. Which has affected my ability to earn a living and pay my bills. Top that off with the service charge of and extra $2,300 out of pocket. Ford, we need to talk.

- Nashville, TN, USA

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