Home · 2012 Ford Focus Bev · Complaints

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

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.

All (3,789)Crash / fire / injury (146)Transmission & drivetrain (1,455)Steering (932)Engine (475)Electrical system (366)Fuel system (340)Body & structure (330)Speed control (169)Latches & locks (133)Visibility & wipers (70)Brakes (61)

932 of 3,789 complaints match · Steering · clear filters · page 22 of 38

Jun 16, 2017Steering

MY CAR WAS PARKED. WHEN I TRIED STARTING IT UP. THE WHEEL LOCKED AND I RECEIVED A MESSAGE THAT STATED "STEERING ASSIST FAULT, SERVICE REQUIRED". I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR MANY TIME AND THE MESSAGE CONTINUED TO APPEAR,

NHTSA ODI 10995628

Jun 15, 2017SteeringElectrical system

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND WON'T TURN THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN I JUST START THE CAR. I CAN PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND ALL THE LIGHTS, RADIO, AND CHIME WORKS, BUT THE CAR WON'T START. I HAD IT CHECKED WHEN I GOT IT STARTED AND THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND THE ALTENATOR WAS FINE AND SO WAS MY STARTER. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI 10995438

Jun 7, 2017Steering

THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT. DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE IS A POWER STEERING ISSUE THAT COULD IMPACT SAFETY (STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN PARKING LOTS OR LOSS OF CONTROL AT SPEED).

NHTSA ODI 10993709

Jun 7, 2017Steering

THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT. DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE IS A POWER STEERING ISSUE THAT COULD IMPACT SAFETY (STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN PARKING LOTS OR LOSS OF CONTROL AT SPEED).

NHTSA ODI 10993710

Jun 7, 2017Steering

THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL, RESULTING IN BLOCKED TRAFFIC, AND DISRUPTION TO OTHER DRIVERS IN THE PARKING LOT. MANAGED TO DRIVE CAR (IN STRAIGHT LINE, BACK TO EARLIER PARKING SPACE). DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE IS A POWER STEERING ISSUE THAT COULD IMPACT SAFETY (STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN PARKING LOTS OR LOSS OF CONTROL AT SPEED).

NHTSA ODI 10993705

Jun 3, 2017Steering

ELECTICAL POWER STERRING MALFUNCTION. POWER STERRING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. WAS ABLE TO STOP. BUT COULDN'T TURN STERRING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI 10992999

Jun 3, 2017Steering

CAR GIVES A CODE THAT STEERING ASSIST HAS FAILED WHEN STARTING CAR. SOMETIMES WOULD RESET IF KEY TURNED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON. THIS STARTED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT FORD'S TECHS CLAIMED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, DESPITE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE PROBLEM. CAR WILL START, BUT WON'T STEER. PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO ATTENTION OF FORD DEALER WHEN CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THEY HAVE IGNORED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10993029

Jun 1, 2017SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemLatches & locks

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND THE KEY WAS NOT RECOGNIZED IN THE IGNITION. ALSO, THE 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT APPROPRIATELY AND THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON DUE TO THE FAILURE. THERE WAS ALSO A SUDDEN LOSS OF EPS AND THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER (DAVE KNAPP FORD LINCOLN, 500 WAGNER AVE, GREENVILLE, OH 45331, (800) 717-3673) WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) AND TWO MANUFACTURER SERVICE CAMPAIGNS (TRANSMISSION CLUTCH SHUDDER/TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT SEAL - 14M01, TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE EXTENDED COVERAGE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 08/03/17*LJ

NHTSA ODI 10992644

May 18, 2017Steering

POWER STEERING FAILURE AT 83,320 MI. IT FAILED WHILE STARTING THE CAR. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT/WARNING CAME ON.

NHTSA ODI 10986341

May 17, 2017Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE POWER ASSIST INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ODI 10986120

May 16, 2017Steering

ON APRIL 22 , 2017 WHILE MY DAUGHTER AND HER 5 YEARS OLD CHILD WAS DRIVING FROM A CHEERLEADER MEET IN MARYLAND TO STERLING VIRGINIA, SHE STOPPED TO RETRIEVED A SNACK PACK OUT OF THE TRUNK, WHEN SHE GOT BACK IN AND STARTED THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE STEERING SEIZED UP AND THE LIGHT CAME ON SHE WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE BACK TO STERLING VA GOONS DEALERSHIP . THE VEHICLE AS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 25 DAYS; FORD MOTOR CO OFFERED AN X-PIN TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE WHICH THEY TRIED TO INTIMIDATE MY DAUGHTER INTO BUYING. THE VEHICLE IS IN MY NAME AND I HAVE SINCE RETIRED AND LIVE IN FL . THE VEHICLE IS AT KOONS FORD VERY ARROGANT BUNCH AND TODAY I RECEIVED A CALL THAT THEY WANTED THEIR LOANER BACK AND THAT FOR ME TO MAKE A DECISION RIGHT AWAY AND AUTHORIZED THE PAYMENTS FOR REPAIR HE DID NOT OFFER ANY COUPONS OR BREAKDOWN OF THE SAME. I TOLD HIM TO CALL ME BACK AND THAT'S WHERE IT IS NOW. FORD KNOW VERY WELL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM AND ARE PLAYING GAMES WITH PEOPLE LIVES. PLEASE ADDRESS MY NAME IS [XXX] THANKS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10986030

May 12, 2017Steering

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE MANEUVERED. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEABLE. HOWEVER, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING REOCCURRENCE. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED IT SEEMS TO BE RESOLVED AND DRIVEABLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MECHANIC, NO ISSUES COULD BE DIAGNOSED AT THAT TIME. OWNER CALLED TO CHECK FOR ANY OPEN RECALLS UNDER VEHICLE VIN SEARCH, BUT NO RECALLS APPLY TO THIS ONGOING STEERING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10985055

May 11, 2017Steering

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY POWER STEERING FAILED. COULD NOT REGAIN POWER STEERING UNTIL VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED

NHTSA ODI 10984878

Apr 27, 2017Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 07/12/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI 10981059

Apr 26, 2017Steering

POWER STEERING WENT OUT

NHTSA ODI 10980961

Apr 25, 2017SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

1 THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AND HARD TO STEER 2. THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS AFTER GETTING IT REPAIRED FOR THE THIRD TIME

NHTSA ODI 10980355

Apr 21, 2017Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE R AND R STEERING RACK AND STEERING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,703. ..UPDATED 06/08/17 *BF

NHTSA ODI 10979778

Apr 12, 2017SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON. STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP AND THE CAR STARTED BEEPING AND PRESENTED THE WARNING "SYSTEM CHECK STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED." THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND NOT IN MOTION. IN ORDER TO STOP THE ABOVE ISSUE, I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THEN THE STEERING WOULD UNLOCK.

NHTSA ODI 10972125

Apr 11, 2017Steering

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. DROVE TO WORK FINE, 8 HOURS LATER CAME OUT TO GO HOME AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. TURNED OFF THE CAR AND ALL ELECTRONICS IN HOPES IT WAS JUST A BOOT ERROR WITH NO SUCCESS. THE ERROR WAS "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE." HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED DUE TO IT NOT BEING HIGHWAY SAFE. RECALLS FOR POWER STEERING ON OTHER MODELS AFTER FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10971903

Apr 7, 2017Steering

2012 FORD FUSION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING FAILURE AFTER POWER STEERING MODULE RECALL NOTICE 15V-340 REPROGRAMMING/REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A STATUS UPDATE. UPDATED 04/07/2017*JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE SOFTWARE WAS REPROGRAMMED BUT, THE POWER STEERING FAILED 6 MONTHS LATER. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. 05/24/2017 *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. UPDATED 08/4/2017*JS *JS

NHTSA ODI 10949389

Apr 7, 2017Steering

POWER STEERING WOULD RANDOMLY GO OUT WHEN STARTING THE CAR. AT FIRST, TURNING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING WOULD CLEAR ERROR AND STEERING WOULD BE FINE. ONE DAY, CAR TURNED ON AND ERROR WOULDN'T CLEAR. NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. TOOK INTO DEALER TO REPAIR. REPAIR WILL COST OF $1900. NOT SURE WHY IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. AND WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS I'VE READ ONLINE FOR 2012 FORD FOCUS POWER STEERING ISSUES, I'M REALLY SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. VERY UNSAFE!!

NHTSA ODI 10971236

Apr 6, 2017Steering

AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND STARTING TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING PLACE, THE AUDIBLE NOTIFICATION CAME ON AND THE DASH BOARD DISPLAYED A MESSAGE SAYING "STEERING ASSIST FAULT". AFTER THAT THE STEERING FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL

NHTSA ODI 10971034

Apr 3, 2017Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY FOR UP TO FIVE SECONDS. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE TURNING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE POWER STEERING FAILURE AND SERVICE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10970307

Apr 1, 2017Steering

POWER STEERING GOES OUT VERY HARD TO STEER, YELLOW TROUBLE LIGHT SOME TIMES COMES ON. VERY SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS. HAPPENS WHEN STARTING FROM STOP POSITION.

NHTSA ODI 10969900

Mar 24, 2017Steering

PULLS TO THE RIGHT. STEERING GETS HARD TO TURN. I WAS IN ASHVILLE N.C TRAFFIC WHEN IT HAPPEN IN 3 LANES TRAFFIC FINAL WAS ABLE TO GET SIDE OF THE ROAD.SCARED HELL OUT OF ME.CALL FORD,THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS

NHTSA ODI 10968260

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Ford Focus Bev verdict →