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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
While the vehicle was stationary, the electronic power steering went out on the vehicle. I had to drive the vehicle home with no power steering and made it extremely difficult to steer. If I was not strong enough to force the wheels to turn, this would have been an extremely dangerous situation. If this happened while the vehicle was moving, this would have been catastrophic. I feel lucky to have this happen while being stationary. This seems to be a common problem for this model of the Focus and Ford should take necessary steps to replace all power steering with more reliable parts for this model of the Focus.
- Houston, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 10 mph, the steering assist warning indicator illuminated and the steering wheel became difficult to steer. The vehicle was taken to szott Ford (8800 E holly rd, holly, mi 48442, phone: (248) 634-4411) where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fees. The manufacturer provided case number: Cas13724060. No further assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 90,700. Updated 9/18/18
- Grand Blanc, MI, USA
The electronic steering assist is failing causing the vehicle to randomly lose power steering. This make the vehicle very hard to steer and control. The car is a 2012 and only has 30,000 miles. No recall has been issued yet other models with the same electronic steering assist has been recalled. This has happened twice now when the vehicle has stationary and we did not drive the car. Seems the problem is intermittent and now we are afraid to drive the car, we don't want it to fail while we are driving and cause an accident or injury.
- Bradenton, FL, USA
Power steering does not engage at start up. This has happened at least 4 times now over the last month; most recently this evening when I went to move it in the driveway (and only an hour after arriving home from a 40 minute commute). This has not yet happened while the vehicle is in motion, but it concerns me that it could. The steering wheel is nearly impossible to turn when this condition exists.
- Gorham, ME, USA
My steering locked up and I was unable to turn my wheel when driving. The alert "steer assist failure" appeared on dash. I had my car towed into the Ford dealership and I needed to replace my power steering which costs $2000. They implied that it would be unsafe to drive on the road as no power steering very well would result in an accident.
- Phoenixville, PA, USA
Got steering assist sensor fault. Steering wheel locked and was unable to be used. This happened while car was in drive and in motion in a parking lot at first then on the road. Was able to turn car off and on several times before it would unlock steering wheel. It happened the last time as I was going down the road and wouldn't unlock. Took to dealership for repair and it cost $2000 to fix a sensor. I looked up how to fix it myself and found several complaints about the same issue with no listed fix other than to take it to the dealership for a steering gear replacement. Fortunately I was able to stop vehicle prior to hitting anything.
- Fowlerville, MI, USA
Started getting random steering assist faults when starting car. Would shut car off and restart car and everything would be fine. Started car and to work on Monday morning without any issues. Went to start car at lunch time and got the steering assist fault again. Turned off car and restarted - problem still there. No power steering at all now. Had to carefully drive car to dealer without any power steering. Car is presently at Ford dealers awaiting service. Car has about 84,000 miles. The consumer requested a recall for the electronic rack and pinion.
- Hellertown, PA, USA
Nov 27, 2017. Got in my car after work and steering assist light came on. Put hands on steering wheel and I had no power steering. Called a mechanic he said it would be $1800 to fix it. Same thing has happened to five other people he knows.
- Saxe, VA, USA
I saw a warning on my dashboard saying 'steering assist malfunction'. power steering is not working, it was very hard to turn. It was in city, glad I'm not on highway. Help me in resolving this issue and also please let me know if it covers under manufacture warranty !
- Foster City, CA, USA
My power steering assist is completely malfunctioned very hard to steer. Very hard to turn and steer went out on me while I was at the stop sign in town.
- Seymour, TN, USA
The metallic trim on the column is peeling, ever so slightly, but enough to have left my knuckles and fingers bloody and in pain on more than one occasion when I turn. I asked the Ford dealer for help, however, was told I need to spend $500 for a new console. This is a safety hazard I think Ford should fix. I really like my car, but I am not happy that my car is cutting me when I turn the wheel. I have to hold the steering wheel and I have to turn the wheel. I pray I don't get into a traffic accident because my fingers are being sliced while I turn. I first was cut in July, around the 4th and I wasn't sure how it happened. Then it happened again on September 15 and then September 26. Then again a few days ago. I have to be extremely cautious while my car is in motion.
- Westchester, CA, USA
- Westminster, MD, USA