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

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY CAR THIS MORNING WHEN I STARTED IT. IT FLASHED AN ERROR MESSAGE. AFTER TURNING IT OFF AND RESTARTING IT ABOUT 3 TIMES, IT BEGAN TO WORK. I HAVE READ THAT THIS CAN OCCUR AS I AM DRIVING. I AM TERRIFIED THIS CAR IS GOING TO KILL ME, AND I JUST BOUGHT IT USED AND AM PAYING PAYMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION...YET.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE SLOWLY TO HIS DESTINATION. JOE MACHENS FORD (1911 W WORLEY ST, COLUMBIA, MO 65203, (573) 445-4411) STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $2,700. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THEY WERE CLEARED BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION BOARD. AN INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED AND THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *PM*JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S GRANDDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WATERMARK NISSAN OF MARION (3209 BANTERRA DRIVE, MARION, IL 62959) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (ENGINE), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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BREAKS FAILED. WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY ROAD THAT IS ALSO DEEMED A HIGHWAY AND WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. TRIED TO STOP GOING APPROX 15 MPH FELT A CLICK AND THEN NOTHING, BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH WAS REPLACED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. DURING THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO MOVE. HAGERSTOWN FORD (1714 MASSEY BLVD, HAGERSTOWN, MD 21740, (301) 733-3673) CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH FAILED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THREE YEARS. FOR THIS FAILURE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST SINCE THE WARRANTIES WERE EXPIRED FOR BOTH THE VEHICLE AND THE PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER, AFTER BEING INFORMED OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES, STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE AND TRANSFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

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MY WIFE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE NOTICE (19S22) IN JANUARY 2019. CONCERNED, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION ON 1/10/19 TO PRATER FORD EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY ISSUE AT THE TIME. PRATER FOR SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG BUT INSISTED ON REPROGRAMMING THE PCM. AS OF RECENTLY, WE ARE EXPERIENCING NEAR STALL DURING DRIVING AND TROUBLE CRANKING AND REMAINING CRANKED WHEN REFUELING. TODAY (1/2/20) WE TOOL THE VEHICLE TO PRATER FOR INSPECTION UNDER THE RECAL. THEY CONFIRMED THE CODE P1450 (CANISTER PURGE VALVE) WAS INFACT THE PROBLEM RELATED TO THE RECAL, HOWEVER, THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM THE WORK BECAUSE FORD DENIED THEIR REPAIR ORDER REQUEST (#093013) CITING THE RECALL HAD ALREADY PREVIOUSLY BEEN SERVIED. I CALLED FORD AND THEY CONFIRMED. THEREFORE, WHEN WORK WASN'T NEEDED THEY "SERVICED" THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, WHEN THE REAL ISSUE PRESENTED ITSELF THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. WE ARE CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS, INCLUDING OUR TWO CHILDREN, AS THE PROBLEM CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. ALSO TROUBLING, IS FORD AND THE DEALERSHIPS SHADY ATTEMPT TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE RECALL BY CLAIMING WORK WAS DONE THOUGH IT WASN'T NEEDED. WE ARE HOPING YOU CAN HELP OR ADVISE US IN THE MATTER.

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IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FORD WILLINGLY AND KNOWINGLY SOLD CARS WITH FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. AFTER MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS AND A CLASS ACTION , FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTIES UNDER 14M01 (7YEARS/100,000 MILES) AND 14M02(10 YEARS/ 150,000) MILES . MY CAR , ALONG WITH MULTIPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT CAN BE FOUND ONLINE,IS EXPERIENCING SAME SHUDDERING ISSUES AT LOW SPEEDS THAT ARE COVERED UNDER THE 14M01 EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, MY CAR IS AT 110,000 MILES AND PER FORD AND DEALER ARE NOT COVERED. THE ISSUES ARE CLEARLY RELATED TO A DESIGN FLAW FROM FORD, AND NOT AS A RESULT OF A VEHICLE MILAGE/AGE. I AM REQUESTING THAT FORD EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO SAME AS 14M02 AS IT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW FROM THE FACTORY. THE SHAFT SEAL LEAKS FLUID IN THE CLUTCH, AND FORD HAS ADMITTED THIS FLAW , AND IT DOESN'T MATTER OF THIS HAPPENED UNDER 100,000 MILES OR OVER 100,000 MILES, THE ISSUE LIES WITH THE DESIGN.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS WOBBLING. FURTHERMORE, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR TURNED OFF AND ON. THORNHILL FORD LINCOLN (U.S. 119 NORTH 500 FORD FAIRLANE, CHAPMANVILLE, WV 25508, (304) 855-8300) STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE CLUTCH SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BOB FERRANDO FORD LINCOLN (8868 W RIDGE RD, GIRARD, PA 16417), BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

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SHUDDERING SHAKING FROM TAKE OFF THROUGH 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND ALSO TAKES A WHILE TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR.

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A MESSAGE COMES ON THE DASH SAYING STEEEING ASSIST MALFUNCTION. WHEN THIS MESSAGE COMES ON ALL POWER STEERING IS LOST.

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MY 2012 FORD FOCUS TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE PREVIOUS RECALL. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO ACT UP IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. IT'S STUTTERING AND THE JERKING MOVING FROM A STOP. MY BROTHER WHO IS A MECHANIC SAYS IT'S PROBABLY THE CLUTCH AGAIN. IS IT COVERED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL. IT HAS 136500 MILES ON IT. I NEED THE CAR FOR BOTH MY JOBS. I'LL NOT PAYING $2000 FOR A NEW CLUTCH.

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THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING. IT WILL MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MAKING IT VERY HARD TO STEER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.

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STARTING CAR AND ENGAGED ENGINE& TRANS STARTED TO MOVE WHEN I FOUND THAT NO POWER STEERING. FOUND OUT THAT IF YOU STOP AND RESTART CAR IT MIGHT RESET IT DID. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE MORE TIMES. ALL HAD AMBER MESSAGE ALL HAPPENED WHILE STATIONARY.

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SECOND & THIRD TIME THE POWER STEERING HAS LOCKED OUT ON THIS VEHICLE WHILE STATIONARY, THANK GOD. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SHOWED A MESSAGE READING "STEERING FAULT AND IT WAS AMBER IN COLOR. TURN OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTED VEHICLE AS MY SPOUSE TOLD ME AND STEERING WAS OK. DROVE TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION AND STOPPED ABOUT ONE HOUR LATER STARTED TO RESTART VEHICLE TO THE SYSTEM WARNING AND STATUS MESSAGES CLUSTER WAS ON AND AMBER IN COLOR, TURN OFF AND RESTART VEHICLE AND IT WAS OK, DROVE HOME AND IT IS AS OF THIS DATE STILL WORKING. .

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER, SEIZE, AND THE POWER TRAIN ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT'S SON MANAGED TO VEER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ASHEVILLE FORD LINCOLN (611 BREVARD RD, ASHEVILLE, NC 28806, (828) 276-1075) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V523000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

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VEHICLE WOULD LOSE MOTIVE POWER IN LONG TURNING OFF/ON RAMPS WHEN FUEL LEVEL GOT DOWN TO JUST ABOVE A 1/4 TANK AT FIRST THEN AS TIME PROGRESSED THE SAME ISSUE WOULD OCCUR IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. NARROWLY AVOIDED ACCIDENTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO THIS. VEHICLE NEVER THREW A CODE FOR ANYTHING, IT WOULD JUST STOP RUNNING. I TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALER TO PERFORM MANUFACTURER RECALL 18S32, THEY JUST REPORGRAMMED IT AND GAVE IT BACK. PROBLEM GOT BETTER AT FIRST BUT DID NOT GO AWAY. SINCE THE RECALL WORK ANOTHER RECALL HAS COME OUT AND THE LEVEL OF FUEL I NEED WENT FROM ABOVE 1/4 TO ABOVE 1/2 A TANK OF FUEL. WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE READS 1/2 A TANK THE VEHICLE WILL TAKE BETWEEN 7 AND 8 GALLONS OF GAS (THE FUEL LEVELS ON THE GAUGE ARE WRONG) THIS MORNING I LOST MOTIVE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC AT LOW SPEEDS WITH A FULL TANK OF FUEL AND IT FINALLY THREW THE CODE P00C6 TWICE, WHICH AFTER LOOKING IT UP I IDENTIFIED THIS TO BE SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF INSUFFICIENT FUEL PRESSURE AT THE FUEL RAIL. I PLAN ON TURNING THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE SECOND RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE PERFORMED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND, ACCORDING TO THE RECALL FROM FORD, THIS SHOULD CONSTITUTE REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. I WANT THIS ON RECORD BEFORE TAKING THE VEHICLE IN. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING AND HAS MADE ME LATE FOR AND MISS WORK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, BOTH ON ROAD AND HIGHWAY STALING AND FRONT END MAKING NOISE.

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THE RADIO ON THE STOCK FOCUS IS DANGEROUS. THE RANDOM STATIC AND LOUD NOISES COMING FROM THE RADIO IS A SAFETY HAZARD IT CAN SOUND LIKE AN EXPLOSION. I GOT ANXIETY SO BAD I HAD TO REMOVE MY STOCK RADIO HARNESS FROM THE BACK OF THE RADIO.

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WHILE MAKING A TURN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE THEN THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO 7000 RPM THEN SLAMMED INTO GEAR THE NEXT SHIFT DID THE SAME THING. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ON COMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. AFTER PULLING OVER THE VEHICLE HAD NO REVERSE AND COULD ONLY BE DRIVEN AT VERY LOW SPEEDS WITHOUT FEELING LIKE IT WAS GOING INTO NEUTRAL BEFORE SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT THE DEALER WHO HAS STATED IT HAS A TRANSMISSION CONCERN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE!

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MY CAR HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS, JERKS, AND LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65+ MPH NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALMOST CAUSED CRASHES. THE CAR JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND CHANGING GEARS WHICH CAUSES SAFETY HAZARDS TO OTHER DRIVERS. MY CAR DOESN'T START (RANDOMLY) AND MY ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHEN DECELERATING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS CONTINUOUSLY BLAMED THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES ON MY DRIVING ABILITIES (ALTHOUGH THEY'VE KNOWN ABOUT THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE MASS PRODUCTION).

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THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND UNABLE TO RESTART. HAD IT TOWED TO AUTONATION IN TUSTIN AND ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT BECAUSE PART OF THE POWER MODULE IS BROKEN. THEY ARE TRYING TO SAY IT HAS BEEN TAMPERED WITH. REPROGRAMMING THE POWER MODULE IS PART OF THE RECALL. WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS NOW, AS THIS HAPPENED ON 11/22. IT STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUDDER AND DECELERATE; HOWEVER, THE RPMS REVVED AT A VERY HIGH RATE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC CALLED KEYSTONE FORD (301 WALKER RD, CHAMBERSBURG, PA 17201, (717) 264-5104). THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, BUT WAS LATER NOT APPROVED AFTER THE CORRECT VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS PROVIDED. THE DEALER QUOTED A COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, WHICH INVOLVED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND REPROGRAMMING THE NEW PART FOR SAFE OPERATION ON THE ROADS. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER RECHECKED THE WARRANTY INFORMATION TO CONFIRM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,900.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WYATT JOHNSON FORD (646 THOMPSON LN, NASHVILLE, TN 37204, (615) 244-3615) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,758.

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MY DAUGHTER PULLED OUT HER PARKING SPACE AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BEYOND HARD TO TURN FOR AN ADULT MALE OR FEMALE, SUGGESTING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT A LACK OF POWER STEERING FLUID BUT THAT THE CAR'S STEERING MODULES FAILED, WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN.

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