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)

1,455 of 3,789 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 41 of 59

May 6, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CAR STARTED PULLING LIKE A STICK SHIFT AND STALLING. SHORTLY AFTER, THE WARNING FLASHED ACROSS THE SCREEN, "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. SERVICE NOW". SHE PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN SHE TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, IT WAS STILL PULLING. SHE DROVE FOR A BLOCK OR TWO TO PARK THE CAR NEAR A FRIEND'S HOUSE. SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD AT LEAST MAKE IT TO WORK ONLY TO FIND THE CAR WOULD NOT REVERSE. EVERYTHING HAPPEN WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE WARNING AT ALL. ONCE SHE HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND DIAGNOSED, WE WERE TOLD THE CAR NEEDED A CLUTCH PACK AND WOULD TAKE UP TO 12 WEEKS TO COME IN. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, THERE WERE SEVERAL CLASS ACTIONS SUITS FILED FOR THE POWERSHIFT/DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION. I ALSO FOUND A 122 PAGE FORUM WITH SEVERAL OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES RECEIVING LITTLE TO NO HELP GETTING THEIR CARS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10715056

May 5, 2015SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. HOWEVER WHEN RESTARTED AND "WARMED UP" VEHICLE FUNCTION. FORD SEEMS TO BE IGNORING THE ISSUE AS IT DID WITH TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. TODAY MAY 5 I RETURN TO METRO FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10714563

May 5, 2015Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I HAVE BEEN TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP 10 TIMES LAST YEAR AND 4 TIMES ALREADY THIS YEAR. I HAVE MULTIPLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT CAME ON AND EACH TIME THEY REPLACE A PART ON MY CAR. I HAD MY CAR LAST WEEK FOR SERVICE AND NOW IT'S BACK THIS WEEK AGAIN FOR SERVICE. I HAVE ALL MY REPAIR RECEIPTS AND I AM COMPLETELY SADDEN THAT FORD CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME AS I CALLED THE FORD COOPERATE OFFICE AND HAVE THEIR SPECIALIST LOOKED AT MY CASE AND I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. MY CAR SHUTS OFF ON ME SO MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING WITH ME 1 YEAR OLD SON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THEY WILL FIX IT TODAY AND NEXT WEEK I AM BACK IN THE SHOP. THEY HAVE MY CAR MORE TIMES IN THE SHOP THAN I HAVE ON THE ROAD. I AM EXTREMELY TIRED! I TOLD THEM TO TEST DRIVE MY CAR EACH TIME THEY "SUPPOSEDLY FIXED" MY ISSUE AND THE PROBLEM REMAINS THE SAME. I HAVE SPOKEN TO [XXX] AT THE COOPERATE OFFICE IN FLORIDA ( 1866-631-3788) EX [XXX] AND HE HAS NEVER SOLVED MY PROBLEMS OR RETURN ANY OF MY CALLS. --AT PRESENT WRITING THIS ISSUE I AM SCHEDULED FOR ANOTHER "REPAIR". ANOTHER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SITUATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10714626

May 5, 2015Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, MY CARS ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AS I WAS ACCELERATING TO MOVE FORWARD IN LINE A WARNING STATING THE TRANSMISSION IS OVERHEATING PULL OVER SAFELY FOR 8 MINUTES. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME SOMETHING HAS WENT WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE BUYING THIS CAR IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 70 MILES PER HOUR AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTIME TO PULL OVER SAFELY, I HAD TO COAST BECAUSE MY CAR WAS RUNNING BUT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. THAT HAPPENED IN DECEMBER OF 2014. THEN TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS AGAIN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD, BUT NO WARNING TO PULL OVER SAFELY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT FORD SERVICE CENTERS AND THOUGH MY CAR HAS CODES STORED THEY STATE IT IS HOW I DRIVE OR THAT AN UPDATE WAS NEEDED. WHEN I ASK ABOUT THE CAR JUST STOPPING WITH THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING THEY SAY IT IS A SAFETY FEATURE FOR THE TRANSMISSION. IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES THIS WOULD BE GREAT BUT WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN A SITUATION WHERE THE CAR CAN'T OR WON'T MAKE IT TO PULL OVER SAFELY THEN SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. I AM VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT THE WAY MY CAR REPAIR HAS BEEN GOING ESPECIALLY SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND TO TELL ME IT IS JUST THE WAY THE CAR RUNS OR IT NEEDS AN UPDATE AND THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF IT IS RIDICULOUS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND I PRAY IT IS NOT ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10714795

May 1, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

WE HAVE THIS CAR AND THEY HAVE ALREADY REDONE PARTS IN TRANSMISSION ONE IN 2014. NOW WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN I TOOK TO DEALERSHIP ON 4 25 2015 AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS MESSED UP AGAIN BUT PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER TIL JULY BUT CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. I COMPLAINED THAT I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THAT IT STALLS AND HESITATES WHEN TAKING OFF OR PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. THEY SAID NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND ACTED THEY COULD CARE LESS. I THEN CALLED FORD AND PRETTY GOT THE SAME RESPONSE SO I SAID Y'ALL BETTER HOPE AND PRAY MY WIFE OR I DON'T HAVE A ACCIDENT. WIFE IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10713955

Apr 30, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

CAR HAD BEEN INTO DEALER MANY TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION CLUTCH - CAR SHUTTER AT LOW SPEED, ROLLS BACK AFTER PUTTING IN PARK. PURCHASED CAR NEW AND REPORTED PROBLEM. AT FIRST I WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A STANDARD AUTOMATIC. THREE TIMES THEY CLAIMED THEY REPROGRAMMED IT. DEALER FINALLY AGREED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH. FEB. 12 AND WOULD ORDER PART. WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY 150 MILES FROM HOME, CAR SUDDENLY STARTED SLOWING DOWN. MOTOR WOULD JUST REV WHEN STEPPING ON GAS. BECAUSE IT WAS DOWN HILL, I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT AT LESS THAN 20 MPH TO A PARKING LOT BEFORE IT FROZE UP HALF WAY INTO LOT. BECAUSE IT WAS 2 PM, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT WHICH IS THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME FROM AN ACCIDENT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN PHOENIX ON FREEWAY, THERE WOULD DEFINITELY BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED TWO DAYS LATER BUT THE CLUTCH ORDERED ON 2/12 HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. I JUST CHECKED FOR RECALLS AND FOUND MODULE WAS RECALLED IN 2013, YET MY CAR WAS IN DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND I WAS NEVER REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10713928

Apr 27, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE RUNNING ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 55MPH, I DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR A TURNING VEHICLE AHEAD. A YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT & STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE APPEARED IN DASH. A WARNING BELL ALARMED. VEHICLE BEGAN FREE WHEELING TOWARDS OTHER VEHICLE WITHOUT EXPECTED REGENERATION BRAKING. HAD TO HIT BRAKES HARD. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR HAD NO MOTIVE POWER. TURNED CAR OFF. WAITED FOR ALL LIGHTS IN DASH TO GO OUT, THEN RESTARTED CAR NORMALLY. CAR APPEARED TO HAVE NO PROBLEMS. THIS HAPPENED 5 MORE TIMES IN THE NEXT 2 DAYS. NO PROBLEMS NOTED. THE DEALER WAS TO BUSY ON FRIDAY TO LOOK FOR ANY CODES IN VEHICLE COMPUTER. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN EXCEPT WHEN THE MOTOR IS SHORTED OR GROUNDED OUT HARD ENOUGH TO BURN IT AND BLOW A FUSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10712996

Apr 27, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE LOST THROTTLE AND EVENTUALLY DIED AND WOULD NOT CRANK. THIS HAPPENED GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. HILLSIDE ASSIST WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WOULD SHUTTER IN ACCELERATION AT TIMES. TCM HAD BEEN REPROGRAMMED BEFORE THIS HAPPENED BUT DID NOT REALLY FIX THE PROBLEM OF TRANSMISSION SHUTTER. FMC COMPLETELY CHANGED OUT THE TCM AND THIS HELPED FOR THREE MONTHS AND THEN WE HAD COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. WE WERE 1000 MILES OVER OUR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. FMC SAID THE REVERSE GEAR ALONG WITH SECOND GEAR HAD FAILED. FMC IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AND OUR COST IS $500.00. BOTH INCIDENTS WERE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN TRANSMISSION FAILURES OCCURRED. THANKFULLY NO ONE ELSE WAS INVOLVED. WE CURRENTLY ARE IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF WAITING ON CAR TO BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10713041

Apr 27, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM I STOP THE TRANSMISSION TRY'S TO ENGAGE AND ONCE IT DOES ENGAGE IT ALSO DISENGAGES CAUSING LOSS IN POWER AND/OR NO ACCELERATION WHILE THE TRANSMISSION AND RPMS REV AS THERE IN NO MOVEMENT FROM THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10713237

Apr 24, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,882.

NHTSA ODI 10712653

Apr 23, 2015Transmission & drivetrainEngine

VEHICLE LOST DRIVETRAIN POWER ON THE FREEWAY. I WENT TO ACCELERATE IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND THE ENGINE REVVED WITHOUT MOVING FORWARD (SIMILAR TO SOMEONE DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH AND ACCELERATING). SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, BACK INTO DRIVE IN ORDER TO JOG THE TRANSMISSION INTO OPERATION, THAT DID NOT WORK. I SHIFTED INTO THE 'SPORT' MODE IN THE TRANSMISSION THINKING THAT WOULD HELP, THAT DIDN'T WORK. I HAD ENOUGH FORWARD MOMENTUM TO GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND CALL FOR A TOW, BUT OVERALL, THE CAR WOULD NOT TRAVEL UNDER IT'S OWN POWER. AT THIS POINT, I AM QUITE CONCERNED THAT I OWN THIS CAR, AND IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. ONCE IT'S FIXED, I AM STILL QUITE CONCERNED THAT I'VE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS, AND IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP BETWEEN 8 - 10 INDIVIDUAL INCIDENTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT I CANNOT PUT MYSELF OR MY FAMILY INSIDE THIS CAR WITH ANY REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF SAFETY. PLEASE, FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO ISSUE A FULL, MANDATORY RECALL OF THIS CAR IN ORDER TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE FACES A SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. IF I WAS IN FRONT OF A TRUCK THAT WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10712449

Apr 22, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED SHIFTING OUT OF THIRD GEAR AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE REPAIR FAILED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHUTTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 10712162

Apr 22, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I HAD BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE SHOP TWICE WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTERING IN REVERSE AND SLOW SPEEDS. ON JANUARY 18, 2014 WHEN LEAVING A DRUG STORE TO RETURN TO OUR HOTEL THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE, WE HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSH IT OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE. BEING A SATURDAY NIGHT AND 180 MILES FROM HOME WE HAD NO OPTION TO BRING IT IN TO A LOCAL SHOP. MY HUSBAND AND SON WERE TRAVELING TO COLORADO SO THEY TOOK THE HOTEL SHUTTLE TO THE AIRPORT EARLY SUNDAY MORNING AND I HAD A FAMILY MEMBER FOLLOW ME IN THE CAR THE 180 MILES BACK TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE DASH HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS ON AT THAT POINT OF THE TRIP. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IT WOULD SHUDDER AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT DID OK AROUND 60MPH. ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE AT THE GREEN LIGHT IT NEARLY DIED- THE RPMS BLASTED BUT THE CAR HAD NO POWER. I BARELY MADE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND TO MY NEXT TURN. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. THE SEALS IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD LEAKED AND TOASTED THE TRANNY AND I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANNY REBUILT. THE ENTIRE PROCESS TOOK ALMOST A MONTH. STARTED TO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS A FEW WEEKS AGO, BROUGHT IT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE SEALS ARE LEAKING AGAIN AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE MY TRANNY GOES BUT THAT IT WILL BE ABOUT 12 WEEKS FOR THEM TO GET THE PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10712262

Apr 20, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

2012 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER RECEVIED A LETTER FROM FORD, WARNING HER OF THE PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10711750

Apr 18, 2015Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

FOR THE PAST MONTH MY 2012 FORD FOCUS HAD BEEN JERKING WHEN INCREASING TO SPEEDS OF 55MPH AND HIGHER. I GOT THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE, CHANGED THE TIRES, THINKING IT WOULD HELP. ON APRIL 16TH AT 5PM I WAS DRIVING FROM SCHOOL WHEN I WAS PASSING A BURGER KING ON A MAIN ROAD BY THR INTERSTATE, MY CAR JUST LOST ALL POWER AND STOPPED. I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON, NOTHING. I ENDED UP PUSHING IT INTO BURGER KINGS PARKING LOT. TRIED TO JUMP IT. NO GO. TOOK BATTERY TO GET TESTED, COMPLETELY DEAD. OK, SO ALL IT NEEDS IS A BATTERY? WRONG! BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY. STILL NOTHING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO PEP BOYS WHERE I AM INFORMED THAT ITS THE PCM/TCM AND ONLY FORD CAN FIX IT BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED. OK, CALLED FORD IN TAMPA FL, AFTER DOING RESEARCH ABOUT RECALLS ON THIS SITE. ACCORDING TO THEM THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL. THEY ASKED ME IF I CALLED A WEEK AGO BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM NO. I SEARCH THIS SYSTEM WITH MY VIN, NO REPORTS.... HOW COULD THIS BE WHEN I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN THESE YEARS. I AM HOPEFUL THAT THIS IS AN OVERSIGHT AND THAT FORD DIDN'T REALIZE THE EXTENT OF THIS PROBLEM. ITS DANGEROUS. MEANWHILE MY CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD WITH 52K....PCM/TCM SHOULDN'T BE A FACTOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10706405

Apr 14, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

IN 2012, I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SUPER ECONOMY FLEX FUEL 2012 FORD FOCUS, WHICH I HAD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE AFTER DON SEEYLE FORD REPLACE THE AXLE AND WHEEL BEARING. LAST SPRING OF 2014, MY CAR STARTED SHUDDERING VIOLENTLY AS I REVERSED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVEWAY AT HOME. IN AUGUST 2014, I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY THAT LISTED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS VEHICLE. AFTER RECEIVING THIS NOTICE, I CALLED SEEYLE FORD TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER THAT HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY EITHER FROM PREVIOUS WINTER. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH SEEYLE FORD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE. AFTER RETURNING TO SEEYLE FORD, THE RUSHED AND THROWN THE PAPERWORK FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TO THE CASHIER WITHOUT INFORMING MYSELF ABOUT THAT NO REPAIR WAS DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION OR THE REAR DEFROSTER. HOWEVER, I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS VANDALIZED BY PUNCHERS HOLES IN THE UPHOLSTERY BY THE REAR WINDOW CLOSE TO THE DEFROSTER, WHICH I HAVE NEVER PUNCHERS HOLES SINCE PURCHASING IT. FINALLY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GALESBURG FORD TO INQUIRE THE SAME ISSUES, HOWEVER, I EXPLANATIONS WAS SIMPLY THANKS FOR THE BUSINESS. IN MARCH OF 2015, RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTICED FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED GALESBURG FORD ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION BUT NOTHING HAPPENED AS USUAL. FINALLY ON APRIL 6, 2015, I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH REPAIR ISSUES WITH THE DEALERSHIPS. ON APRIL 7, 2015, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE REGIONAL MANAGER SALLY BASICALLY SAID 'I CAN TAKE THE VEHICLE SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNLESS IT TOTAL BREAKS DOWN.OR SIMPLY THE COMPANY IS GOING TO DO NOTHING ABOUT THE COMPLAINT. SO, I BASICALLY RECEIVED ATTITUDE OF WE WILL LISTEN BUT THE COMPANY DOING NOTHING FOR YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10705739

Apr 13, 2015Transmission & drivetrainEngine

THE PARKING AID LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WON'T START! I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THREE TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION AND SHAKING AND IT HAS YET TO BE FIXED. THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND IS GOING BACK IN AGAIN TODAY. FORD WILL NOT BUY ME OUT OF MY LOAN OR WORK WITH ME ON REPLACING IT. I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY DAUGHTER AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH HER DRIVING IT AT ALL! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10705348

Apr 13, 2015Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT SHIFT AND SLOWED DOWN TO AROUND 40MPH AUTOMATICALLY AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE HIT FROM THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME AND HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OF TO THE SHOULDER. A MESSAGE CAME UP ON THE HUD/DISPLAY AND SAID TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION SERVICE NOW!. I THEN SHUT THE CAR OFF AT A PARKING LOT AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR OVER AN HOUR AND MADE PHONE CALLS TO THE DEALER. THIS HAS ALSO HAS HAPPENED WHEN GOING TO STEP ON GAS TO YIELD AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE MOTOR JUST WENT UP IN RPM BUT DID NOT MOVE OR GO INTO GEAR WHILE IN DRIVE. THIS IS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THESE ISSUES AND THE DEALER ACTS LIKE IT IS NOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10705428

Apr 9, 2015Transmission & drivetrainEngine

THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY -- DELAYING ON ACCELERATION, THEN 'CATCHING' AND ACCELERATING IN A BURST. I'VE HAD IT 'FIXED' ONCE AND AM TRYING TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN. IT ISN'T SAFE, PARTICULARLY IN HILLY TRAFFIC-HEAVY SEATTLE. FORD REALLY NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PROBLEMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT THEY HAVE RUNNING AROUND THE STREETS. I AM IN MY MID-TWENTIES AND THIS IS MY FIRST CAR. IT'S BEEN VERY DEPRESSING, AND I WOULD LOVE FAIR RESOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10704670

Apr 6, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

RIGHT AFTER PURCHASING THE FORD FOCUS 1/2014 WE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT SLIPPING/JERKING FROM TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE CAR DEALER TOOK IT RIGHT INTO THE FORD DEALER IN BOISE TO GET IT FIXED. IT WAS RETURNED DOING THE SAME THING. WE NOTIFIED THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY, FORD DEALER, TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEN RETURNED IT SAYING THEY DID NOTICED A PROBLEM BUT WAS NOT SIGNIFICANT TO REPAIR AND RETURNED IT TO US. THE CAR IS STILL NOT REPAIRED AND RUNS LIKE CRAP. 04/6/2015 ALTHOUGH THIS PART IS NOW A RECALL, FORD HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR IN ALMOST INOPERABLE. THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND WILL TAKE 3 MONTHS TO GET IT IN. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 6 WEEKS AND THEY DO NOT CARE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER IN BOISE MULTIPLE TIMES AND IS STILL NOT FIXED. THIS CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10704071

Apr 5, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THE FORD FOCUS HAS A CLUTCH THAT SLIPS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR SHUDDERS AND WON'T ACCELERATE. I WAS ALMOST HIT WHEN MAKING A TURN AND THE CAR SHUDDERED AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. ANOTHER DRIVER HAD TO TAKE EMERGENCY EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID HITTING ME. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD SERVICE SAYS THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM BUT THEY CANNOT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE PARTS AND DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL GET THE PARTS. FORD ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM IS COMMON AND HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 150K MILES BUT THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM SO THOUSANDS OF FORD FOCUS OWNERS ARE DRIVING UNSAFE CARS. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES ATTRIBUTED TO THIS PROBLEM BUT YET FORD STILL DOES NOTHING TO CORRECT THE UNSAFE CONDITION. THIS AGENCY SHOULD FORCE FORD TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL BEFORE THERE ARE FATALITIES. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT IN A FORD VEHICLE HAS IS AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF OWNERS. EXTENDING THE WARRANTY IS NICE BUT INEFFECTIVE SO A MANDATORY SAFETY RECALL IS GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO MAKE FORD TAKE ACTION. THE SLIPPING IS OCCURRING MORE AND MORE OFTEN YET FORD IS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM SO I AM FORCED TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE TO PREVENT MORE ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND POSSIBLE FATALITIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10703771

Apr 2, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKING, SHIFTING NOT SMOOTH, SOMETIMES WONT START, SOMETIMES WONT SHIFT GEARS AT ALL. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO A REPAIR CENTER TWICE THIS MONTH DUE TO THE PROBLEMS AND NOT BEING SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10703339

Mar 30, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING. AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. I HAD TO COAST OFF OF THE INTERSTATE AND ONCE STOPPED IT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. I GOT A WARNING THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS HOT AND TO STOP SAFELY. RECENTLY I HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED AND WAS ASSURED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10702474

Mar 30, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 10702477

Mar 27, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013, I PURCHASED A USED FORD FOCUS FOR MY TEENAGE SON. SOON AFTER PURCHASING, WE REALIZED THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS. IT WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, SO WE TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND REPAIRED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER PROGRAMMING NEEDED TO BE RESET, WHICH THEY DID, AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE DRIVING IT ABOUT 1000 MILES FOR THE CAR TO "LEARN" THE NEW SETTING, AND THEN THE PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED. THE PROBLEM, BY THE WAY, IS THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT WILL STALL OUT WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE, PARTICULARLY DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION SUCH AS AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS COULD PUT MY SON IN DANGER IF HE'S IN A SITUATION WHERE HE NEEDS IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION (SUCH AS TO PASS) AND THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T PERFORM. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND HAS EVEN SENT OUT A NOTICE THAT THEY'VE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION. YET THEY WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM. WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET THEM TO FIX THESE TRANSMISSIONS? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10702094

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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 →