ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE, OUT OF WARRANTY, FORD WANTS 1800 DOLLARS TO TRY TO FIX. CAR HAS SAT IN GARAGE FOR OVER A YEAR UNDRIVABLE.
NHTSA ODI 11079660
Home · 2012 Ford Focus Bev · Complaints
These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.
932 of 3,789 complaints match · Steering · clear filters · page 17 of 38
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE, OUT OF WARRANTY, FORD WANTS 1800 DOLLARS TO TRY TO FIX. CAR HAS SAT IN GARAGE FOR OVER A YEAR UNDRIVABLE.
NHTSA ODI 11079660
MY WIFE'S STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNING WHEN SHE WAS STUCK AT WORK...STEERING ASSIST FAULT...SERVICE REQUIRED CAME UP ON THE SCREEN...WAS ON HER SCREEN. HTTPS://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS/FORD-VEHICLES-WITH-STEERING-ISSUE-RECALLED-062915.HTML HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2012/FORD/FOCUS/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX HTTPS://OWNER.FORD.COM/TOOLS/ACCOUNT/MAINTENANCE/RECALLS/RESULTS.HTML HTTP://MONEY.CNN.COM/2018/03/14/NEWS/COMPANIES/FORD-STEERING-WHEEL-RECALL/INDEX.HTML
NHTSA ODI 11079462
MY FORD FOCUS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET ONE REAL SLOW AND MY STEERING ASSIST STOPPED THE CAR JUST STOPPED I STOPPED IT BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS $2,500 TO REPAIR IT I DON'T HAVE $2,500 MY CAR IS ALREADY HAD TO TRANSMISSION FAILURES IT'S HAD AN EXPLODING BATTERY IT'S HAD DOOR LOCKS THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED CUZ THEY DIDN'T STAY LAST NIGHT TRANSMISSION'S BEEN WENT OVER TWICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND I JUST THINK THEY NEED TO FIX THIS FOR NO CHARGE BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOW I HAVE NO POWER STEERING MY CAR IS WORTHLESS I'M SINGLE I'M
NHTSA ODI 11078381
THREE TIMES THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AT VEHICLE START. REQUIRED TURNING CAR OFF AND BACK ON TO RESOLVE.
NHTSA ODI 11076021
DROVE FROM MY APARTMENT TO THE MAILBOXES IN OUR COMPLEX AND WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR TO LEAVE THE MAILBOX I GO A "STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" AND COULD NOT DRIVE MY CAR, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT TURN.
NHTSA ODI 11076042
TURNED ON THE CAR AND POWER STEERING HAD FAILED.
NHTSA ODI 11075450
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE STATIONARY AND DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DON SANDERSON FORD IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED 3 TO 4 TIMES UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE, AFTER AWHILE AFTER PUTTING THE CAR FROM "P" TO "N" AND BACK AGAIN IT MOVED. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS. CONSUMER HAS BROUGHT IT IN MANY TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION RECALLS. CONSUMER ALSO STATED DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS OPEN ON THER OWN AND PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT GO DOWN FROM DRIVER SIDE CONTROLS.*JB
NHTSA ODI 11075101
POWER STEERING COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. ALMOST WRECKED THE CAR. TRANSMISSION VIBRATES AND MAKES NOISE
NHTSA ODI 11074680
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.
NHTSA ODI 11073394
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.
NHTSA ODI 11071730
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 - HTTP://M.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/FOCUS/2012/STEERING/POWER_STEERING_FAILURE.SHTML
NHTSA ODI 11065342
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 $1800 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR MANY FORD FOCUS'S AND FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS AS A RECALL! I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT BADLY ON THE INTERSTATE OR HURT SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND I HAD NO WARNING! IT SCARED ME TO DEATH.
NHTSA ODI 11064813
STARTED CAR AND STEERING ASSIST FAULT CAME IN, DROVE IT TO DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD 110$ JUST TO DIAGNOSE IT. FROM THE LOOKS OF IT SAME PROBLEM THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS HAVING, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED
NHTSA ODI 11064206
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+.
NHTSA ODI 11064235
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 FORDS. 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!
NHTSA ODI 11064267
TL* 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.
NHTSA ODI 11063825
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.
NHTSA ODI 11063422
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.
NHTSA ODI 11062882
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
NHTSA ODI 11060863
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
NHTSA ODI 11058581
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.
NHTSA ODI 11058079
TL* 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.
NHTSA ODI 11057189
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)
NHTSA ODI 11056847
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.
NHTSA ODI 11056591
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 $2,400.00. 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.
NHTSA ODI 11056147
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