Home · 2012 Ford Focus RS · Complaints

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

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 19 of 59

Jul 31, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION EXCESSIVE SHUDDER,,,PULLING INTO TRAFFIC YOU DONT KNOW IF CAR WILL STALL OR GO WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED,,BOUGHT CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER,,,FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED

NHTSA ODI 11240777

Jul 30, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING CAR JERKING, RPM GOING HIGH, SPEED SLOWING DOWN. WARNING TRANSMISSION HOT PULL OVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AFTER SITTING ON SIDE OF ROAD FOR 30 MINUTES (CAR SAID TO DO SO FOR 8 MINUTES) CAR DIDN'T WANT TO CRANK, REVERSE NOT WORKING AND FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD WARNING AGAIN, ENTIRE TIME SPUTTERING AND JERKING. VERY UNSAFE IN TRAFFIC AND ALMOST REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE VEHICLE ACTING AWFUL. THIS FIRST HAPPENED ON MAJOR 4 LANE HWY AND AGAIN ON SECONDARY HWY. AFTER CHECKING ON LINE IT STATES IT MAY BE A VOLUNTEER RECALL AT FORD. AFTER READING MORE INTO IT FOUND OUT FORD DOES NOT WANT TO CLAIM PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION ALTHOUGH THERE ARE OVER 2600 COMPLAINTS. GUESSING IT WILL TAKE AN ACCIDENT AND LAW SUIT TO MAKE THEM WAKE UP AT FORD. THERE HAS BEEN MEMO'S FROM FORD BUT THEY ARE NOW SAYING NOPE DIDN'T HAPPEN. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MY CHILD WHILE DRIVING THIS REST ASSURE I WILL BE GOING AFTER FORD. CAN'T AFFORD TO TRADE IT OFF AND SENDING HIM TO COLLEGE. NOW CAR IS NOT WANTING TO CRANK UP AND RUN AFTER SITTING SEVERAL HOURS. FINALLY CRANKED AND STILL JERKING AND LOOSING SPEED WITH OUT WARNING. ALMOST IN WRECK AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11240655

Jul 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THIS FOCUS HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE CAR STUTTERS AND DOES NOT RELIABLY SHIFT. FORD HAS ATTEMPTED TO SEND LETTERS TO TRADE THE CAR IN FOR PENNY'S BUT I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW OR USED VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11240267

Jul 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

FORD TRANSMISSION DPS6 CLUTCH SHUDDER. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. NUMEROUS TIMES I'VE COMPLAINED TO THEM THAT THE CLUTCH SHUDDERS AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF THE INPUT SHAFT SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. EACH TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FINE. NOW THAT THE 100K MILE WARRANTY IS UP (I NOW HAVE 125K MILES), THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $2.5K TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH. ALL BECAUSE THESE SEALS HAVE BEEN BAD AND WASN'T REPLACED WHEN THE WARRANTY WAS VALID. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, I HAVE LOSS OF POWER AND IS DANGEROUS WHEN VOIDING TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I'VE CALLED FORD AND THEY WILL NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR THEMSELVES STATING TOO MANY MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY. THE SHUDDER IS INTERMITTENT AND MAKES ME SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE NOW. FORD KNOWS THIS IS A FAILED PART AND SIMPLY WILL NOT COVER THE WORK. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT UP THIS ISSUE, THUS SAVING THIS MORE COSTLY REPAIR SHORTLY AFTER. I EVEN NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP DURING THE JULY 11-19 WINDOW WHEN DEALERS WERE "SECRETLY" TOLD TO FIX THESE ISSUES. THE DEALER HAD MY VEHICLE IN THEIR SHOP FROM 7/21-7-29 JUST TO CONFIRM THE SUSPICION I'VE HAD FOR 3+ YEARS. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE "DIAGNOSTIC" AS WELL TO CONFIRM THIS. I AM NOW SCARED OF THIS COMPANY AND THIS VEHICLE. I STILL HAVE 15MO OF PAYMENTS LEFT.

NHTSA ODI 11240326

Jul 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

MY 2012 FORD FOCUS IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY DPS6 TRANSMISSION. THE CLUTCHES IN IT HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND IT'S SLIPPING BADLY, AGAIN. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED, AND WHEN IT DID, I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO MOVE MY VEHICLE. I NO LONGER HAVE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS AND I'M STUCK WITH AN UNSAFE LEMON. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO FAIL, EVEN AFTER THE CLUTCHES ARE REPLACED, BECAUSE IT IS A FLAWED DESIGN THAT WON'T WORK PROPERLY. I'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR APPROX. 50K MILES, EACH TIME THE CLUTCHES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, UNTIL IT STARTS SLIPPING BADLY, AGAIN. EVEN WHEN THE CLUTCHES AREN'T SLIPPING BADLY, THE CAR DOES NOT OPERATE AS IT SHOULD. I'VE ALMOST BEEN INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC COLLISIONS MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE OF IT, AND FORD STILL REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FLAWED PRODUCT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE TCM, BUT NOT FOR THE TRANSMISSION. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE FOR FORD TO NOT TAKE COMPLETE OWNERSHIP OF THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND I APPEAL TO YOU FOR ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11240469

Jul 29, 2019SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

MY 2012 FORD FOCUS SEL HAS AN ISSUE WHERE A YELLOW ICON WILL COME UP ON THE DASH THEN DISPLAY ANOTHER ICON SAYING THAT THERE IS A STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION AND THAT SERVICE IS NEEDED. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT MOVE AND LITERALLY TAKES ALL OF YOUR POWER TO GET IT TO MOVE. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF IT WILL WORK BUT ALWAYS COMES UP WITH THAT ICON AGAIN. THIS HAS EVEN HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING! THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! I AM NOT TRYING TO DIE WHILE I DRIVE MY CAR DOWN THE ROAD. FORD ALSO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR ABOUT A YEAR AGO FOR A TRANSMISSION RECALL AFTER THE CAR WOULD SHUTTER WHEN GOING INTO FIRST GEAR. NOW, A YEAR LATER THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND JUST AS BAD. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO FORD THEY SAID THAT THE WARRANTY WAS UP AND THAT THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. IT WAS EITHER HIT THE ROAD OR PAY $1,500 TO REPLACE IT AGAIN! YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU PUT IN A FAULTY REPLACEMENT PART AND NOW EXPECT ME TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET TO REPLACE YOUR MISTAKE? THAT'S HILARIOUS!! WHEN I TURN LEFT INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHILE GOING ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC, IT'S SCARY WHEN MY CAR SHUTTERS INTO FIRST GEAR TO THE POINT WHERE I STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND ALMOST GET HIT. COME ON FORD, GET YOUR STUFF TOGETHER! IF YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF YOUR CUSTOMERS LIKE YOU SAY THAT YOU DO, THEN PROTECT US. FIX YOUR MESS AND DON'T PUT DANGEROUS CARS ON THE ROAD. ALSO, WHEN PEOPLE COME BACK AND SAY THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS THAT HAVE EVEN LED TO DEATH AGAIN I SAY, FIX THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11240489

Jul 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS FROM A COMPETE STOP OR ACCELERATING THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. MOST RECENTLY THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE WHEN DRIVING OR IN WORST CASES WHILE BRAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS RAMPED UP TO 6000RPM WHILE BRAKING GOING DOWN HILL. UPON CONTACTING LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, THEY STATED THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE. ADVISED ME TO STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THEIR FACILITY.

NHTSA ODI 11234965

Jul 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

FORD WILL NOT REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH FOR NO CHARGE. DROPS OUT OF GEAR, SHUDDERS, STALLS IN MOTION, CITY STREETS, TURNING AND HIGHWAYS. HAVE ASKED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST TO REPAIR. NEEDS A RECALL ON VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11234999

Jul 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

MY WIFE PURCHASED HER FOCUS NEW IN 2012. WE HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT TRANSMISSION ISSUES EVER SINCE, ALWAYS BEING TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. FINALLY, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT OUR CAR DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE SOMETHING BROKE BEFORE THE COVERED PIECE. WHILE THINKING OVER OUR OPTIONS, AN ARTICLE CAME OUT IN THE DETROIT FREE PRESS RELATED TO THIS VERY ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ASKED THEIR LOCAL REP TO GET AHOLD OF ME. HE HAS NOT AND IS NOW IGNORING VOICEMAIL AND EMAIL MESSAGES FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE CALLED FORD DIRECTLY AND WAS TOLD I WOULD GET A CALL BACK. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM AFTER 2 ATTEMPTS.

NHTSA ODI 11235035

Jul 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED MAC HAIK FORD (R0333 KATY FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77024, (713) 932-5000). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-2244251-N1M5D1. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ODI 11235047

Jul 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL WHILE IN PARK AND JERKED WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CREST FORD (22675 GIBRALTAR RD, FLAT ROCK, MI 48134, (734) 782-2400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH AND SEALS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURES WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT FOUND A LETTER ONLINE STATING THAT FORD WOULD COVER ALL TRANSMISSION DEFECTS FOR THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, FORD REFUSED TO HONOR THE LETTER DUE TO THE CONTACT NOT HONORING THE JULY 19, 2019 DEADLINE. THE CONTACT DISPUTED THAT CLAIM, STATING THAT SHE CALLED FORD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE. THE CONTACT HAD AN OPEN CASE WITH THE FORD MANUFACTURER (CASE NUMBER: CAS-22244671-K7C0K9) REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 11235097

Jul 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

SINCE OWNING MY 2012 FORD FOCUS,I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.ON THREE SEPARATE TIMES THE CAR HAD TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS THAT CAUSED NEAR MISS SITUATIONS OF BEING REAR ENDED CAUSE OF MY ABRUPT CHANGE OF SPEED.ONE TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 10 MPH,ANOTHER TIME IT WAS 20MPH MAX,AND ONE TIME IT DIDN'T MOVE AT ALL.MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE BACK SEAT ON TWO OF THOSE OCCASIONS.LUCKILY NO INJURIES RESULTED FROM THIS BUT NEARLY DID CAUSE ACCIDENTS.ONE TIME THE DEALERSHIP COVERED THE COST OF REPAIR,SECOND TIME THE DEALERSHIP COVERED PART OF THE COST,THE THIRD TIME I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE WHOLE $7000 MYSELF.AFTER THE REPLACEMENT A FEW MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION STILL ACTS UP BY SLIPPING STUTTERING AND JERKING.THIS CURRENT PROBLEM IS VERY FRUSTRATING.FORD KNOWING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THERE CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE AND SELL THESE FORD FOCUS AND FIESTA MODELS WITHOUT CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE.

NHTSA ODI 11235187

Jul 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

I PURCHASED THE FORD FOCUS ON 05/18/2011. I RETURNED THE CAR TO JIM SNEAD FORD, WAYNESBORO, VA ON 07/06/2011 AS THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, THE CAR WAS BUCKING, HESITATING ON ACCELERATION AT FULL STOPS THEN JUMPING INTO INTERSECTIONS. THE MECHANIC AGREED THE FOCUS WAS SHIFTING HARD, ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT, COULD NOT AFTER FOLLOWING THE FORD HOTLINE. IT STILL SHIFTED HARDER THAN EXPECTED. THE MECHANIC DECIDED TO DRIVE ANOTHER NEW FOCUS OFF THE LOT AND WROTE ON MY SERVICE INVOICE THAT THE NEW CAR OFF THE LOT DROVE AS ROUGH AS MY CAR. THE FOCUS CONTINUED TO BE A DANGEROUS VEHICLE JUMPING, BUCKING, HESTITATING THEN JUMPING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND I CONTINUED TO TAKE IT BACK TO MR. SNEAD WHO STATED IT WAS MY DRIVING, NOT THE FOCUS. I TOOK THAT FOCUS IN ALMOST EVERY OTHER MONTH W/ THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION FOR 2 YEARS 2 MONTHS ONLY TO HEAR IT WAS MY DRIVING, NOT THE CAR. FINALLY, THE CAR WAS SCARING ME TO DEATH AND I FEARED FOR MY LIFE AND MY TWO CHILDREN THAT ALSO DROVE THE FOCUS. I FINALLY TOOK IT BACK TO JIM SNEAD ON 08/09/2013 AFTER OWNING THE NEW CAR FOR 2Y & 2MO TO TRADE IT IN FOR SOMETHING SAFER. I PAID $24,652.25 FOR THAT BRAND NEW FOCUS AND JIM SNEAD GAVE ME A TRADE IN VALUE OF $961.00 FOR A MUCH SAFER CAR HE SAID. I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2014 FIESTA (YES, ANOTHER NIGHTMARE FROM HELL). I THOUGHT MR. SNEAD WAS A FRIEND, A REPUTABLE BUSINESS MAN. I BOUGHT 2 USED FOCUSES FROM HIM SINCE THE EARLY 2000S & THEY WERE FINE. MR. SNEAD KNEW MY HUSBAND WAS ILL IN 2003 & I BECAME A WIDOW W/ TWO KIDS TO RAISE. MR. SNEAD AND FORD KNEW ABOUT THOSE DANGEROUS VEHICLES AND FURTHERMORE, IN 814 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP I LOST $685.55 PER MONTH IN DEPRECIATION AND PAYMENTS! I WAS A TEACHER FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE W/ HIS WIFE, MRS. SNEAD. HE KNEW I DID NOT HAVE MONEY TO BURN. NEXT UP--THE FOCUS I BOUGHT AFTER TRADING IN THE FOCUS.

NHTSA ODI 11234687

Jul 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

FORD FOCUS TRANSMISSION JERKS AND SHUDDERS WHILE MOVING AND WHILE ACCELERATING . HAVE HAD MULTIPLE REPAIRS WITH NO FIX. HAVE HAD CAR STALL IN THE PAST WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON A CITY STREET WHILE TRAVELING AT ~35 MPH. IT FELT LIKE TRANSMISSION WENT TO 6TH GEAR INSTEAD OF 2ND AND STALLED THE ENGINE. PROBLEMS STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE, ~FEBRUARY 2012 STILL HAVE CAR NOW AND STILL DOING THE SHUDDERING AND JERKING WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEMS STARTED NEW ~100 MILES CURRENTLY AT ~85000MILES

NHTSA ODI 11234698

Jul 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrainCrashFire2 injuries

VEHICLE IS SHUDDERING, STALLING, AND REFUSING TO ACCELERATE UNDER POWER

NHTSA ODI 11234842

Jul 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND MAKES NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS ON BRAKING. OCCASIONALLY SHUDDERS ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED CLUTCH AND TCM FOR SIMILAR ISSUES, NOW ADVISED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT ALSO. HANDLES STEADY INTERSTATE SPEEDS FINE, BUT SPEED CHANGING RESULTS IN VEHICLE LOSING RESPONSIVENESS. CITY DRIVING/TURNING AFFECTED AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11234865

Jul 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED, LUNGED FORWARD, AND LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND PUSHED IT OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT TURNED ON, BUT WAS TOWED BY AAA TO BUTLER COUNTY FORD (400 S MAIN ST, BUTLER, PA 16001, (724) 287-2766). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS22179536. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO EXTENDED THE WARRANTIES UNTIL 150,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000.

NHTSA ODI 11234877

Jul 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION "SLIPPING" ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, AROUND 120,000 MILES. THE CAR SHUDDERS AT LOWER SPEEDS AND WHEN YOU GO TO ACCELERATE FROM A STANDSTILL, IT SHAKES LIKE THE CAR IS GOING IN AND OUT OF NEUTRAL. WE LOOKED UP THE ISSUE AND IT APPEARS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM FOR FORDS EVERYWHERE BUT WE WERE TOLD WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALER OFFERED TO DO A TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T. OUR NEXT STEP WOULD NEED TO BE A NEW TRANSMISSION. WE RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR BACK IN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE WE HAD SEEN A MEMO FROM FORD THAT THEY WERE FIXING CARS LIKE OURS IF THEY SHOWED UP TO A DEALER BETWEEN 7/12-7/19. WE TOOK THE CAR IN ON 7/19. WE CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE (AS DIRECTED BY THE DEALER) TO OPEN A CASE # SO THE DEALER COULD PERFORM THE SPECIAL REPAIR AND STILL GET PAID. THEY DENIED THE DEALERS REQUEST TO FIX THE CAR AND I HAD TO CALL FORD CUSTOMER CARE BACK TO ASK ABOUT THE MEMO THAT SAID THEY WERE FIXING CARS THAT SHOWED UP BETWEEN 7/12-7/19. I TOLD THEM IT HAD BEEN DROPPED OFF AND THE REPAIR ORDER OPENED ON 7/19 TO WHICH THEY SAID I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I CONTINUED TO ASK ABOUT THE MEMO THE DEALER HAD SHOWN US, BUT INSTEAD THEY CONTINUED TO SIMPLY SAY I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NOW, AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO THE FORD CUSTOMER CARE TEAM, THEY SAY THEY DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER YET BUT THE SUPERVISOR WILL CALL ME BACK IN 2-3 BUSINESS DAYS. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER AND I HAVEN'T HAD A CAR FOR ALMOST A WEEK, AS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INSTRUCTED TO FIX IT YET BY FORD. THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY NICE AND HELPFUL THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS, BUT FORD HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING AND WON'T FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE ORIGINAL PROMISE THEY SHOWED THE DEALER IN THE MEMO. EVERY TIME I CALL THEY ACT LIKE THEY NEVER SENT THAT MEMO.

NHTSA ODI 11234893

Jul 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

I OWN A 2012 FORD FOCUS WHICH HAS HAD BEEN TO FAIRWAY FORD IN PLACENTIA FOR THE TRANSMISSION RECALLS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS, DROPS AND LUNGES FORWARD EVEN AFTER NUMEROUS UPDATED PROGRAMS. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED AND FUEL TANK AS BOTH WERE DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11234444

Jul 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR EXPERIENCES SHIFT HESITATION, SHAKING WHEN LAUNCHING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, AND MAJOR TRANSMISSION SHUDDERING. REVERSE GEAR ALSO FAILS TO ENGAGE RANDOMLY. SEEMS AS THOUGH TRANSMISSION TORQUE DISPERSION IS IMPROPERLY FUNCTIONING. DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC LANES. EXCESSIVE TRANSMISSION VIBRATION WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. OTHER ISSUES OCCUR WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING ON CITY AND HIGHWAY ROADS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!

NHTSA ODI 11234453

Jul 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

FORD HAS ALREADY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, AS WELL AS REPLACING THE TCM. BUT I CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES. CAR SHUDDERS DRAMATICALLY UNDER INITIAL ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING TURNS. TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES DOES NOT ENGAGE UNDER INITIAL ACCELERATION, CAUSING THE CAR TO SURGE FORWARD WHEN IT DOES ENGAGE. THE FORD FOCUS HAS SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WHEN ACCELERATING, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING THROUGH A WIDE TURN AT LOW SPEED AND THEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE NO FAITH IN THIS FORD FOCUS WHEN MAKING TURNS, AND WILL NOT CONDUCT A TURN THAT REQUIRES PULLING OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND RELYING ON THE CAR'S (IN)ABILITY TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID IMPEDING THAT ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI 11234488

Jul 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

SINCE ACQUIRING THE VEHICLE NEW, I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES WITH TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD "THAT IS HOW THE TRANSMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO WORK" OR "YOUR TRANSMISSION IS OFF BECAUSE YOU LET SOMEONE ELSE DRIVE THE CAR AND IT HAS TO READJUST" OR "YOU MUST HAVE MADE A QUICK ACCELERATION". THE TRANSMISSION OFTEN LOSES POWER WHEN SHIFTING AND GRINDS AFTER SWITCHING GEARS. I FEEL AS THOUGH FORD KNEW THERE WERE PROBLEMS BUT TRIED TO EASE MY WORRIES BY OFFERING AN EXTENDED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, WHICH DOES NOTHING TO FIX THE ISSUES THAT I AM HAVING. THE DATE BELOW IS THE FIRST TIME OF MANY THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11234492

Jul 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION BEFORE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WE ARE SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND IT IS MY ONLY CAR. MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WHEN WE STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION. IT CONTINUES TO STALL OR ALMOST STALL DAILY, IT SEEMS TO LOSE POWER AND THEN SPEED UP. IT ALSO JUST STALLED ENTIRELY ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING AND THEN WE HAVE OVER $1,000.00 IN BILLS FROM OUR MECHANIC. ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. IT HAS HAPPENED ON LOCAL STREETS AND WHILE TURNING. ALSO I JUST 7/23 AS A DATE, BUT THIS HAPPENS DAILY

NHTSA ODI 11234520

Jul 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION BOLTS FOWARD AND ALSO LUNGES AT LOW SPEED . WAS PARKING ON A STREET ALMOST HIT A CAR BECAUSE IT BOLTED FOWARD

NHTSA ODI 11234580

Jul 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR JUTTERS UPON ACCELERATION WITH THE CHANGING OF GEARS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS CARS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND TAKES A SECOND TO GET INTO GEAR AND BEGIN ACCELERATING. PROBLEMS GAINING SPEED TO MERGE WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. GETTING MUCH WORSE BY THE DAY.

NHTSA ODI 11234588

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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 RS verdict →