10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 23 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 25 / 5
- Average Mileage:
- 86,290 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
Vehicle steering assist failed as I was making a turn at approximately 20 mph. Steering the vehicle became extremely difficult. Vehicle was parked and turned off then restarted. Power returned after restart.
- Hutchinson, KS, USA
The vehicle was in motion driving on expressway and the power steering went out. I had my two grandchildren in the vehicle. I had a very hard time getting the vehicle over on the side of the highway. All Ford 2012 vehicles were recalled for this problem except the Focus.
- Kapolei, HI, USA
At random times I receive the 'steering assist fault' notice and can't steer. I turn the key off, try again and it drives like normal. I took it to the dealer once, but there is no dtc code to tell them what to do, so nothing has been done. Today was the first time it happened twice in one day. The first time today was while backing out of a parking space like all the other times, but then a few hours later something new happened and it went out while going forward and pulling away from a residential curb. Luckily there was no traffic and I only moved a few feet away from the curb. I restarted it again and it drove like normal.
- Modesto, CA, USA
I started my car this morning to warm up, I live in Maine, so after 10 minutes I want to go to work and my power steering was off, I couldn't turn the steering wheel easily like normal and the car was running. Good thing it didn't happened later tonight on hockey 🏒 practice with my son. It's very big safety issue. Please advise. Thanks.
- Falmouth, ME, USA
We have been having problems with the power steering failing twice on the highway and 3 times upon start up. This scared the life out of us on the highway. Fortunately traffic was lite and we safely make it across all traffic lanes to the shoulder. After restarting the car it operated normally? the internet noted similar events but no safety recalls. The most recent incident happened in my driveway. Upon starting the safety system indicated a (power steering assist failure). I had it towed to my mechanic and was told that the rack and pinion module had failed and the entire rack and pinion needed to be replaced at the tune of $2'500 dollars. I would make the assumption just the fact this happened driving at highway speeds would at least initiate an invesigation. This is 2012 vehicle and started while still under warranty but no fault code was ever presented to the repair technician there for apparently nothing could be repaired or replaced. I believe for safety reasons, and concern for others this should be looked into
- Penn Valley, CA, USA
My car was driving perfectly fine, then out of nowhere I got an error saying my steering assist was messed up. I pulled into a parking lot because my steering wheel started to lock on the highway. I turned my car off, and when I turned it back on I got an error stating that there was a "steering loss" and to "stop safely." My steering wheel is completely locked out of nowhere and is unable to drive with virtually no warning or error message prior to today. I looked up to see if others have had this issue and there are hundreds of complaints about the Ford Focus with this exact issue. Ford has ignored this issue for years and needs to make a safety recall for an error that was made on their end instead of causing people to pay thousands out of pocket for an error that was made by the dealer.
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
Wow!!!! 874 plus complaints filed on the steering I'm lost for words when or what is it going to take people NHTSA.. ya I told Ford and the dealer what I felt and I can promise you I got my point across nothing will ever be done because Ford has some smack and people belive it even or government. I spoke with a engineer in detroit and was like talking to a brick wall.I fixed my steering fault and found several factors to blame I will tell you look into a software called forscan if you have issues and if you are lucky and have not get a better heat shield made that tissue thin tin that is on top the rack and 5 points of ground to paint redo grind paint off and use that red coating also a ground on aluminum daaaaaaaa move
- Fort Smith, AR, USA
While driving home last night just after exiting the highway, my steering wheel suddenly became stiff as if it was locked. Power steering fault light came on. I had to use all my might to keep it in a straight line just so I can make it home.
- Chicago, IL, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving at low speeds in a parking lot, the electric power steering failed as the power steering faulty warning light illuminated. The contact lost power steering assist and crashed into another vehicle's rear that was parked. No injuries were sustained. No air bags deployed. No police report was filed. No medical attention was contacted. No damages were made to the contacts vehicle. NHTSA action number: PE13031(electrical system) was a possible solution to the failure however no recall was made to determine VIN information. The vehicle was seen at an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the rack in pinon needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer el cajon Ford (1595 E main St, el cajon, ca 92021(619) 579-8888) was contacted and informed the contact to speak with Ford manufacturer to discuss options for repair. The failure mileage was 96,000.
- El Cajon, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse out of a parking lot, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact turned and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle resumed normal operation. The vehicle had not been diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. Parkway Ford (2104 peters creek pkwy, winston-salem, nc 27127, (877) 836-4271) was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,292.
- Lehi, UT, USA
The electric power steering quit working, making it almost impossible to steer.
- Bay City, MI, USA
Steering power assist malfunction when I put key in ignition and attempted to exit a parking lot, vehicle very hard to turn steering wheel in either direction.
- West Boylston, MA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while parked, the vehicle was started however, the steering seized and locked in place. The contact stated that it was difficult to turn the steering wheel. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.
- Methuen, MA, USA
Power steering turns off periodically at startup. One day, it simply ceased to work on startup. My car was stationary. In my driveway.
- Saint Paul, MN, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the power steering feature was inoperable. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle performed as designed. The contact stated while pulling into the driveway and turning, the steering wheel was loose. The contact stated the steering assist fault message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to bokan Ford (2 franklin park w #1, St albans city, vt 05478, (802) 524-7343) where it was diagnosed that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 30,000.
- Grand Isle, VT, USA
My 2012 Ford Focus with less than 49,000 miles lost power steering on November 9, 2020. No power steering at all. Luckily, I was driving straight at about 20mph on my own street when this happened so I could turn it around and go home. (about 300 feet or so.) I called the Ford dealership where I bought it and they quoted me a price of about $2100 to repair it but said since it was no longer under warranty then I would pay the entire bill. I took it to another repair shop (tuffy automotive) and had it repaired for $2119.74. The repair consisted of the entire rack and pinion unit being replace, a computer reprogram and an alignment.
- Fort Wayne, IN, USA
Ford Focus famous steering assist fault, light on no steering and U3000 codes well im ase certified retired and Ford is yanking customers and dealerships lie.for a brief moment you may aslo have a hidden code U140, running scan shows malfuntion light deactivated not sure if this is tied to reflashing ECM or some cover up I will find what was done. The code U3000 Ford says differant after investigating the entire car grounds, grounds to aluminum, some shield to protect the pscm what, ,,,that will be fixed my way it all comes to heat and voltage also many hours of searching and calling module builders mine was a U3300:53 deactivated period dead no good, all the same and the units are on the Fusion as well. I dealt with dealership just wipe my nose is all on and off the assist fail happened many times and as close as the pscm is to the hot, hot pipe I can see heat and the pump poorly built. Sitting in a parking lot for doctorand come out and assist stayed on no cycle would fix. Anyone with mechanic skills download forscan run test but save your profile trust me also look up as built calibrations and may want look at etis.Ford.... recalls that dealership failed to fix good luck
- Fort Smith, AR, USA
I was trying to leave work and when I started my car an error message appeared. The message signaled 'steering assist malfunction. Check handbook' the wheel was too stiff for me to move. The car was stationary in a parking lot. I am really thankful that it did not happen while I was driving because it would have created a safety hazard. The error message turned off and car was able to be driven home without incident. I have not driven it since because the message comes and goes without any indication. The wheel locks up when the message appears. The car has 54,475 miles. It is really disappointing how many problems I have encountered.
- South Bend, IN, USA
Steering assist fault and wheel keeps locking
- Fort Wayne, IN, USA
- Seeley Lake, MT, USA