What 3,789 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Focus Bev

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.

NHTSA ODI 11055100

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.

NHTSA ODI 11054888

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.

NHTSA ODI 11054652

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.

NHTSA ODI 11054396

TL* 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. *TT UPDATED 9/18/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11054576

TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS.... GENERAL RECALL INQUIRY -- ELECTRIC STEERING LOCKED UP IN DRIVEWAY BEFORE LEAVING HOUSE TWICE WITHIN THE LAST WEEK... CONTACT CALLED DEALERSHIP AND DEALERSHIP STATED ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CLUTCH WAS REPLACED TWICE ALREADY. 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN CB

NHTSA ODI 11053997

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.

NHTSA ODI 11054060

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.

NHTSA ODI 11053306

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.

NHTSA ODI 11052091

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.*JS

NHTSA ODI 11050912

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.

NHTSA ODI 11048801

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 !

NHTSA ODI 11048421

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.

NHTSA ODI 11047844

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.

NHTSA ODI 11045522

I STARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING MALFUNCTION ASSIST LIGHT WAS ON AND THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11045565

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.

NHTSA ODI 11044893

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 FORDS WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS IS SECOND PROBLEM WITH CAR, HAVE ALSO HAD CLUTCH REPLACED TWICE.

NHTSA ODI 11045048

THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE MAKING A TURN THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.....I HAVE NO POWER ASSISTED STEERING

NHTSA ODI 11044397

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.

NHTSA ODI 11042951

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.

NHTSA ODI 11043045

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.

NHTSA ODI 11043139

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.

NHTSA ODI 11042734

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.

NHTSA ODI 11041627

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.

NHTSA ODI 11041332

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.

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