Steering assist fault light came on periodically over past 5 thousand miles, mentioned during last visit. Now it came on and won't clear. Have read of many people with 2012 Ford with this issue. This is second problem with car, have also had clutch replaced twice.

- Oakland, CA, USA

The power steering (electric steering assist) fails intermittently and without warning. This occurs either hot or cold. It occurs with vehicle stationary and in motion.

- Bonita Springs, FL, USA

The steering locked up while making a turn this could be dangerous and cause serious injury or death.....I have no power assisted steering

- Four Oaks, NC, USA

The electric power steering is starting to fail. It locks the steering wheel while the car is moving while the on my city street. Need to turn off engine and restart the car. Sometime the steering becomes difficult while driving at city speeds.this happen roughly 6 months ago but went away.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

My electrical steering is acting up, making a weird noise after I start my car, is stiff at times and hard to turn. I received an error message, " steering assist, service required" on the dash recently. That message has gone, but the problem still exists this is a danger to me when I drive. Whenever I start my car, the steering is rigid and stiff in the city.

- Durant, OK, USA

Steering assist failure notice appeared on and off for nearly a year. Notice would disappear after turning vehicle off and straightening steering wheel. In the past 2 months the issue happens several times a day. Last week it happened twice while I was driving and almost lost control and crashed.

- Prospect Heights, IL, USA

This is a 5 year old car. With 750000 miles on it. The power steering assist has already died costing up $2K in money we don't have to fix it. The fix is replacing the entire rack and pinion. We had started for the first time the day it went out. We were parked I had to drive it to the dealership with no power steering. If you shut of the car it would temporarily fix it's self. And it did the guy at the dealer shut it down after seeing the no steering assist when he restarted the car it magically worked again. Until next time that is. Ford knows this problem exist and refuses to issue a recall for all 2012 Focus. This is a new car it should not be have these problems. Putting us in financial strain.

- Gassaway, WV, USA

The power steering assist has gone out, I had just started the car and had no power steering and it is very hard to steer, I almost wrecked trying to get it hiome.

- Springfield, IL, USA

The electric power steering stops working while driving and also at start-up. This has happened multiple times. We are now reporting this after the 4th occurrence.

- Pomona, CA, USA

At least 4 times in the last couple of months, upon starting the car there was the message "steering assist fault" and I could not turn the wheel. It went away after I turned the car off and restarted. However, I am concerned: If it happened any time other than when parked this could be fatal.

- Cumming, GA, USA

My power steering shut down without warning while stationary. Thank I was not turning in front of traffic and did not have a customer in my car. My employment is driving. Oh and just two days prior the transmission computer was replaced. It shut down without warning. Stopped for gas came out and car would not start.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

I started my car and began pulling out of my parking space when the car steering became very hard to steer, the car felt like it was going to stall out, and an error message came on that said "steering assist failure service required". I had not fully pulled out of my parking space, so I turned off the car and let it sit for a few minutes. I started the car again, and the message did not appear when I began driving the 2nd time. I am very scared that this could happen while I am driving on a busy road and cause an accident. I have seen several other Ford cars being recalled due to this issue for the same year, but not the Focus. I have also seen numerous complaints online for this same issue. This steering assist failure needs to be investigated and recalled for safety of 2012 Ford Focus drivers, their passengers, and other drivers on the road.

- Newport News, VA, USA

Sync module failed. Costing $1000 to fix. A smog part failure resulted in Ford wanting 2000 to repair and replace the fuel tank. The clutch fails to engage on low speed turns creating a loss of control. Ford fixed with the recall. Steering fault detected making it near impossible to steer the car. Recall is available on other models but not Focus. Another 1000 to fix it. Ford is unsafe!

- Roseville, CA, USA

When I start the car initially I can't turn the wheel of the car. I have to tug on it to get it to turn eventually. I'm afraid that I'll be driving in the power steering will go out. Also have been having troubles with the transmission slipping. They say my car has too many miles to qualify for the clutch recall that Ford has put out. I don't see what this has to do with a malfunction saying I've had troubles with it since I bought this car. Both of these issues are safety issues. I have no money to replace this stuff. So I don't understand why Ford won't work with people on this there needs to be a recall on the steering as I seen many others complaining about it. And they need to suck it up and take the expenditure of replacing all of these crutches that they have a recall on regardless of mileage. Sometimes my seatbelt comes loose after I clicked it. I have to latch it while trying to drive. I'm tired of this car. I'll never buy from Ford again. I've been having problems with this car since I bought it. And have informed the dealership that we bought it from and they clean there is nothing wrong with it period after taking it too but it's going to cost me $3,000.

- Salina, KS, USA

Was beginning to get steering fault warning lights back in little over a year ago. It would correct and wouldn't come on till later in time. Probably had 6-8 occurrences. About two weeks ago I had no steering at all. Took it to my local mechanic and they said the electronic assist has failed and the entire rack & pinion needed replace. The complaints are similar especially with in the last year. Attention needs to be given to this since even other Ford cars are having the same problem and being recalled. I called Ford and they said there is no recall or necessarily the same problems that I have with my car. They said I would have to take it to a Ford dealer to have it 'properly diagnose' to determine if 'my' issue correlates with the common ones out there. That also will cost me money for diagnostic. If they read all the complaints on the NHTSA they will see it is common. My mechanic tells me it is going to coat me $1900 to replace. The part at Ford alone is $1200. We shouldn't wait till someone gets hurt to see the obvious that it is a problem. I noticed 3 more complaints for the same problem since I have checked it at the NHTSA a couple of days ago. Ford, consider the consequences if this isn't properly addressed.

- Wildomar, CA, USA

When I go to turn my car on the dash reads steering malfunction and the wheel won't turn. Once I have restarted my car the steering works again. There is no recall on this and there is no warranty coverage it cost me $197 to get my car reprogrammed so it won't happen again. Seems like a waste of money just to get it reprogrammed so I don't get into an accident.

- Klamath Falls, OR, USA

Steering wheel became hard to move and while driving it locked up, I had to use all my force to get wheel to make a slight movement. The car left me stranded due to unable to driving, steering wheel is stuck. It happened in a busy main street.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

4/01/2017 - started up the car and get a warning message that "steering assist fault. Service required." Lost power steering, need a lot of effort to steer while drive is park. Turn engine off and turn it back on again, power steering restored, work normally. Then happen again 9/23/2017 (turn off and on engine to resolve). But today (10/16/2017), the same symptom and this time, turn on and off engine does not clear the problem. Ford dealer said need to pay $2600 to replace the steering rack to fix the issue.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

The power steering to the vehicle just went out while I was driving. I was able to make it home but have been unable to get it repaired due to wait time. During this time I struck an object in the road that was a dead deer because I could not maneuver to avoid hitting the deer. I was driving the vehicle on the highway at the time. The power steering assist light came on after it went out.

- Bedford, VA, USA

Steering assist malfunction when starting the car, rendering power steering unusable. Happens randomly. Previously went away with restarting of the vehicle, but is now permanent.

- Memphis, TN, USA