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

STARTED VEHICLE, PUT IN REVERSE AND BEGAN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. I IMMEDIATELY COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOST ALL POWER STEERING. THE DASH LIT UP SAYING 'STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED'.

NHTSA ODI 11105431

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT'S WIFE, WHO WAS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT, STRUCK THE STEERING COLUMN AND SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DEALER (GEORGE WAIKEM FORD, 4321 LINCOLN WAY E, MASSILLON, OH) WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000.

NHTSA ODI 11104723

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, RESTARTED, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE PROPERLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND TRANSFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11102337

AT TIMES THE STEERING LOCKS UP HAVE TO RESTART TO FIX PROBLEM. WARNING LIGHT COMES ON >>>> STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. WHAT SOES THIS MEAN ? CAN IT LOCK UP DURING DRIVING?

NHTSA ODI 11101342

FIRST TIME POWER STEERING QUIT I HAD JUST STARTED IT IN THE MORNING TO GO WORK, HAD TO SHUT CAR OFF THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND STEERING WOULD WORK THEN. SECOND TIME I LOST STEERING WHEN I WAS TURNING OFF OF A 55MPH HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN AND POWER STEERING QUIT, FORCING ME TO GO OFF IN THE DITCH. WAS VERY FRUSTRATING AND NOW AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE CAR THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT START WORKING AT ALL. SO I HAVE TO DRIVE EVERY DAY WITHOUT IT. VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN I PAY THIS MUCH FOR A VEHICLE AND I HAVE TO GET CHARGED $1,200+ TO FIX IT. DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT SO JUST DRIVE WITHOUT IT NOW. FRUSTRATING.

NHTSA ODI 11101349

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE STEERING ASSIST CAME ON WHILE I WAS DOING 5 MPH . AND THE FUEL TANK IS BEING HAS BEEN DEFORMED BECAUSE OF A VACUUM PROBLEM WITH THE CAP LESS GAS TANK. I KNOW THAT THE REST OF THE 2012 FUSION AND ESCAPE HAVE BEEN RECALLED,BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND STEERING WILL LOOSE CONTROLL

NHTSA ODI 11101520

ON FRIDAY, 06/08/2018 I LOST MY STEERING ASSIST DUE TO A "STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION". I AM ABLE TO STEER THE CAR BUT AS A SENIOR CITIZEN I FEEL THAT I AM PUTTING MY LIFE, AS WELL AS OTHERS, AT RISK FOR A KNOWN DEFECT THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS, HAVE RECALLED MANY OF THEIR MODEL VEHICLES WITH THE SAME "DEFECT" EXCEPT THE FORD FOCUS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR EVERYONE. PLEASE GET FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO CORRECT THEIR INTENTIONAL NEGLECT OF THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI 11100766

STEERING ASSIST FAULT WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING AND WAS ALMOST KILLED

NHTSA ODI 11100773

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING PLACE AT A GAS STATION WHEN THE "STEERING ASSIST FAULT" "SERVICE REQUIRED" CAME ON THIS HAPPENED AROUND 80K MILES. NOW SITTING AT 88K MILES I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY REPLACED IN IT COSTING ME ALMOST 1,800 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH THIS CAR HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AROUND ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE INTERVALS. I'M HOPING THIS ISSUE HASN'T CAUSED ANY SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITIES.

NHTSA ODI 11100151

POWER STEERING FAILURE AT 63000 MILES. RESULTING IN $2222 BILL TO REPLACE POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. ERROR CODE "STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED" WAS DISPLAYED 5-8 TIMES WHILE BACKING UP AT STARTUP ON PRIOR OCCASIONS. FOR ALL PRIOR OCCASIONS RESTARTING THE CAR CLEARED THE ISSUE. ON THE LAST OCCURRENCE THE ISSUE WOULD NOT CLEAR LEAVING THE CAR WITH MANUAL STEERING.

NHTSA ODI 11097857

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I STILL COULD STEER THE CAR BUT IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO DO SO. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON FORD'S WITH POWER STEERING ISSUES BUT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. I HAD TO PAY THE DEALER $1790 FOR THE REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY YEAR CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL...SINCE IT WAS A SIMILAR ISSUE I BELIEVE IT SHOULD OF BEEN INCLUDED.

NHTSA ODI 11097327

ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE CAR WHICH IS CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO MALFUNCTION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL! FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE THAT HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOW TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE FORD DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDS I REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM (EPAS) TO CORRECT THE CONCERN, FOR AROUND $2,000. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS - WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR AN EXTREME MISTAKE MADE BY FORD WHEN THEY CREATED THESE CARS? I AM FEARFUL THE ERROR WILL OCCUR EVERY TIME I DRIVE, AND TAKE EXTRA CAUTION ON EACH TRIP I MAKE. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI 11090492

DRIVING AND AN ERROR POPPED UP: STEERING ASSIST FAILURE, GET SERVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE ERROR APPEARED.

NHTSA ODI 11089990

WHILE DRIVING I LOST ALL ABILITY TO TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS DRIVING SLOW AND ABOUT TO PARK. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND THEN STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND RECEIVED A "STEERING ASSIST FAULT ERROR DISPLAYING ON THE DASH PANEL. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AGAIN TO SEE IF THIS ERROR WOULD CLEAR, BUT IT DID NOT. I LOOK UP THIS ERROR ONLINE AND FOUND AT LEAST 150 OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE SOME IF I READ CORRECTLY ENDED IN DEATHS. SOME SAY TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURN IT BACK ON TO CLEAR THIS ISSUE. THIS FIX DID NOT WORK FOR ME. I HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE WHICH I JUST EXITED. PLEASE HELP USE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11089245

MY VEHICLE HAS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. THE MOST RECENT OF WHICH OCCURRED WITH MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR; I WAS ENTERING A TURN WHEN THE DISPLAY ALARM SOUNDED WITH THE FAILURE CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. FORD COMPANY IS REFUSING TO HONOR MY WARRANTY CLAIMING THE PART IS NOT COVERED (A STEERING SENSOR), THOUGH THE STEERING COLUMN ITSELF IS COVERED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THE COLUMN CANNOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT ALSO REPLACING THE SENSOR AND THE SENSOR CANNOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT ALSO REPLACING THE COLUMN. IT SEEMS THEY HAVE FOUND A LOOPHOLE WITH WHAT IS KNOWN TO BE A DANGEROUS HAZARD TO THEIR VEHICLE. IN POINT OF FACT THE NEW YORK TIMES HAS EVEN WRITTEN AN ARTICLE IN 2015 DOCUMENTING POWER STEERING FAILURE AND THE INJURIES THAT HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO IT.

NHTSA ODI 11088817

"STEERING ASSIST FAULT" ERROR MESSAGE STARTED APPEARING RANDOMLY WHEN STARTING UP CAR IN PARK ABOUT ONCE MONTH A YEAR AGO. I COULD GET IT TO CLEAR BY SHUTTING OFF CAR AND OPENING AND CLOSING DOOR AND RESTARTING. FREQUENCY INCREASED LAST MONTH TO ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, THEN TO EVERY DAY, AND NOW IT WON'T CLEAR. MECHANIC'S CHARGE $2,114 TO REPLACE THE FAULTY PART, REALIGN AND REPROGRAM CAR'S STEERING.

NHTSA ODI 11084543

ON APRIL 7TH 2018 I STARTED MY 2012 FORD FOCUS AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED SOLID THE WARNING LIGHTS LITE UP STATING ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT 3 TIMES UNTIL IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I WENT RIGHT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THEY CLAIM THERE IS NO RECALL. I DID SOME RESEARCH FIND THAT THERE'S BEEN OVER 120 INJURIES AND ONE DEATH RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING FAILURE ON THESE VEHICLES. THIS IS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE NOW TOTALING 10 TIMES AND NOW I'M TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHICH CONCERNS OF AS I'M ON THE ROAD THE STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN I GET IN A CRASH OR ACCIDENT. THE NHTSA AND FORD KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. PLEASE HELP I WAS STATIONARY IT'S TIME AND JUST HOPING AND PRAYING THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ME WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES AN HOUR LIKE IT HAS DONE TO OTHER PEOPLE AND HAVE BEEN INJURED.

NHTSA ODI 11083943

I WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID "STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE". THE CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVEABLE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DENYING RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS A NY TIMES ARTICLE RE: THIS STATING THEY ARE AWARE YET NO RECALL YET. WE NEED A RECALL. THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE BY OWNERS WHO HAVE NOT YET FILED WITH NHTSA. HTTPS://WWW.NYTIMES.COM/2015/12/25/AUTOMOBILES/FORD-FOCUS-STEERING-PROBLEM-PROMPTS-MANY-COMPLAINTS-BUT-NO-INQUIRY.HTML I NEED HELP. I AM IN DEBT FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT.

NHTSA ODI 11083447

POWER STEERING FAILED. THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED WHICH INCLUDES THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE (PSCM). THE POWER STEERING FAILURE BEGAN ON 3/1/18 AND WAS INITIALLY RESOLVED BY TURNING OFF THEN TURNING ON THE CAR. THIS WORKED FOR TWO WEEKS. COMPLETE FAILURE OCCURRED ON 3/14/18. THE PSCM IS NOT SERVICEABLE AND IS NOT A SEPARATE COMPONENT OF THE POWER STEERING RACK RESULTING IN A HIGH COST REPAIR ON A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS 35948 ORIGINAL MILES. THIS SYSTEM IS REFERRED TO AS THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING (EPAS) SYSTEM AND HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THE FORD FLEX, TAURUS, AND THE LINCOLN MKS AND MKT 2011 THROUGH 2013 MODELS, BUT NOT RECALLED ON THE FORD FOCUS EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AND FAULTY EQUIPMENT DESIGN.

NHTSA ODI 11082662

I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN 7 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND MALFUNCTIONS ALWAYS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY! THANKFULLY I PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT IT EXPIRED. NOW I AM BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 8TH TIME AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $2100.00 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WAS NEVER REALLY FIXED TO START WITH! NOW I AM HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS! THE STEERING JUST GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN CITY. THE FACT THAT THE STEERING JUST STOPS WORKING IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IT HAS PUT ME IN VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS! THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE STEERING HAS GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING! I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT CAR OFF FOR 10MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING. MY WIFE HAD THE KIDS IN THE CAR WITH HER HEADING TO THE STORE AND IT WENT OUT AND SHE HAD NO CLUE WHAT TO DO AND NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD SO SHE WAS LEFT SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH THE KIDS UNTIL THE STEERING WOULD WORK AGAIN. ITS DISGUSTING THAT FORD REFUSES TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS SINCE THEY ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!

NHTSA ODI 11082607

STEERING ASSIST FAILURE NOTICE APPEARED ON AND OFF FOR NEARLY A YEAR. NOTICE WOULD DISAPPEAR AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND STRAIGHTENING STEERING WHEEL. AT 77000 MILES, WARNING CAME ON AGAIN AND WOULD NOT CLEAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY IF IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. I WAS LUCKY IT WAS JUST IN MY DRIVEWAY. FORD HAS RECALLED SEVERAL CARS OF SIMILAR MAKE AND MODEL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE YET HAVE NOT RECALLED THE FORD FOCUS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY IF IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. FORD NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKE AND SEND A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM ON ALL VEHICLES. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF COMMISSION BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR AND I AM TO SCARED TO DRIVE IT AS IS.

NHTSA ODI 11082327

AT 73,000 MILES ERROR CODE IN DASH READ STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION SERVICE NEEDED. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER MY CAR. AT 76,000 MILES ERROR CODE READ ENGINE TOO HOT, STOP SAFELY AND WAIT 8 MINUTES. CAR SHUDDERS AND HIGH REVS AT LOW SPEEDS AND VERY LOUD ENGINE NOISE. I HOPE THAT FORD RECALLS THESE ISSUES SOON!!!

NHTSA ODI 11080004

MY CAR'S POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND I COULD NOT STEER MY CAR. THANKFULLY I WASN'T GOING VERY FAST OF I WOULD HAVE CRASHED.

NHTSA ODI 11080042

UPON STARTUP, THERE IS A LOSS TO THE POWER STEERING. WHEEL CANNOT BE TURNED AT ALL. SOMETIMES THERE IS NO ERROR, OTHER TIMES I GET ERROR OF STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION. OWNED CAR FOR 6 YEARS, PURCHASED BRAND NEW. ABOUT 60K MILES. HAVE TWINS WITH BRAND NEW LEARNERS PERMIT, WITH THIS CAR TO BE DEDICATED FOR THEM TO DRIVE. HOW CAN THIS BE SAFE? MULTIPLE MESSAGE BOARDS SHOW THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND POOR DESIGN REQUIRES $2K FIX. NEED IMMEDIATE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11079771

POWER STEERING ELECTRICAL RACK.I PREPARED TO LEAVE WORK,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOWED ISSUE WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING.TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT,MY RADIO SYSTEM(LOUD CRACKLING)FAILED.WITH NO POWER STEERING ASSIST,DROVE HOME,TWO MILES.I CALLED FORD DEALER TO HAVE CAR TOWER TO THEIR SHOP.

NHTSA ODI 11079862