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)

Newest first · 3,789 complaints · page 31 of 152

Dec 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT SHUDDERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PHIL LONG FORD OF MOTOR CITY (1212 MOTOR CITY DR, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80905, (866) 947-5647) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT HAD NOT YET BECOME A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA ODI 11288360

Dec 11, 2019Visibility & wipers

DRIVING IN RAIN ON COUNTRY TWO LANE HIGHWAY AT 35 TO 45 MPH, TURNED ON SLOW WINDSHIELD WHIPPERS AND ONLY DRIVER SIDE CAME ON FOR A FEW SWIPES THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WHIPER CAME ON FOR TWO PASSES. FOR THE NEXT 10-MINUTES WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE WHIPER WORKED. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WHIPER CAME ON (OUT OF SINK) AND CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE WHIPER CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE TO STOP IN MOTION. I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD!! ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE WHIPER WORKED UNTIL I GOT HOME. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR EVER SINCE THIS EVENT. I WILL CALL MY REPAIR SHOP TODAY TO SEE IF HE CAN FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. MY 2012 FORD FOCUS MILEAGE IS ONLY 033305.

NHTSA ODI 11288481

Dec 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

MY 2012 FOCUS HAS HAD SHUDDER PROBLEMS AND SOME SCARY CLOSE CALLS WITH THE CLUTCH SINCE I BOUGHT IT THREE YEARS AGO. EVERY TIME I TOOK IT TO BE CHECKED THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT DIDN'T MEET THE CRITERIA TO GET FIXED. WELL GUESS WHAT...MY EXTENDED WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT AND NOW THEY TELL ME I NEED THE CLUTCH! THE SERVICE GUY SAID HE HAS TO CONTACT FORD AND HOPEFULLY THEY 'WILL BE IN A GOOD MOOD' SO THEY WILL HELP! I'M PUTTING IN THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES, NOR CAN I FINANCIALLY! FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ THEY WON'T BE HELPING!

NHTSA ODI 11288543

Dec 8, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

ON MY 2012 FORD FOCUS FUEL CONSUMPTION HAS DECREASED ALSO ONCE THE CAR GETS PASSED A HALF TANK THE FUEL VOLUME GAUGE IS NOT CORRECT THE CAR ACTUALLY RUNS OUT OF FUEL WHAT'S THE LAST QUARTER OF A MARK WHICH APPEARS TO STILL HAVE FUEL, ALSO FRONT END DRIVETRAIN MAKES LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING CORNERS, ENGINE WILL NOT CRANK AT TIMES AND MAKES FUNNY SOUNDS UNDER THE HOOD ELECTRICAL SOUNDS. BATTERY POSITIVE LEAD WIRING GETS HOT . CAR WILL NOT START ,BLOWER FAN DOESN'T WORK AND CAR RUNS HOT, AFTER BEING REPLACED 12/05/2019.

NHTSA ODI 11287728

Dec 6, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS. IT DISPLAYS A WARNING STATING THE TRANSMISSION IS OVERHEATING AND MUST BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE LOOSES ALL POWER AND WHEN GOING 65 MPH (IF IT EVER REACHES THAT) ALL OF A SUDDEN CARS HAVE TO SWERVE AROUND ME BECAUSE THE CAR HAS NO POWER TO CONTINUE. TWICE I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND BEING STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ODI 11287398

Dec 6, 2019Steering

STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION WARNING WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING. HAPPENED AT START UP. TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. THE 4TH TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE POWER ASSIST DID NOT RESUME. CAR NOW HAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11287415

Dec 6, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN I ACCELERATE IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CAR IS IN "NEUTRAL" AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE/WHEEL IS MAKE A SKIDDING SOUND. RANDOM AND UNEXPECTED WHEN IT HAPPENS. HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE SUMMER AND I THOUGHT ONE OF THE RECALLS MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM. TAKING IT TO THREE PLACES SINCE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT BE THE DESIGN OF THE DPS6 TRANSMISSION. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP SUCH AS A STOP LIGHT OR WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO A ROAD. HAS HAPPENED 5 OR 6 TIMES SINCE SUMMER.

NHTSA ODI 11287457

Dec 6, 2019Steering

VEHICLE IS A 2012 FORD FOCUS WITH ONLY 46,000 MILES. WHILE STARTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE INSTRUMENTATION PANEL SHOWED A "STEERING ASSIST FAULT" MESSAGE AND ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOST. THIS NEARLY RESULTED IN HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE AS I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THE STEERING TO BECOME COMPLETELY MANUAL, IT WAS DIFFICULT AT SUCH A SLOW SPEED TO TURN THE WHEEL. IN SPEAKING WITH FORD THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR MULTIPLE VEHICLES AND MULTIPLE YEARS FOR THE SAME ISSUE BUT THE FOCUS WAS EXCLUDED.

NHTSA ODI 11287446

Dec 6, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

DRIVING FORD FOCUS ON HIGHWAY AT ROUGHLY 70 MPH. CAR DASH GAVE ERROR SAYING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING. AFTER ERROR CAME UP WHILE DRIVING, WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENED AND I LOST ALL ACCELERATION CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I HAD TO COAST TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY. TURNED OFF CAR LET IT SIT ON HIGHWAY SHOULDER. WHEN RESTARTED, THE CAR MOVED BUT DID NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I HIT THE GAS. TOOK CAR TO FORD SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY SAID ISSUE WAS WITH TCM AND CLUTCH WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO GO INTO A NEUTRAL STATE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11287454

Dec 6, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT I HAVE IS THE ANNOYING SHUDDERING. IT'S NOTICEABLE ON LIGHT ACCELERATING. SOMETIMES THE SHUDDERING IS SO BAD THAT YOU CAN'T HARDLY ACCELERATE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC OR AFTER PULLING OFF AFTER YOU HAVE STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I GOT THE CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2017 I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE & THEY TOLD ME THAT'S HOW THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11287487

Dec 5, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000(ENGINE, ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CALLED JAMES HODGE FORD LINCOLN (1200 N MAIN ST, MUSKOGEE, OK 74401) AND HENRYETTA FORD (821 E MAIN ST, HENRYETTA, OK 74437, (918) 652-0990) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE PENDING AND NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED THE SAME INFORMATION AS THE DEALER. THE CONTACT REQUESTED A LOANER VEHICLE, WHICH WAS DENIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HENRYETTA FORD WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11287192

Dec 5, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE GEAR FAILED TO ENGAGE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. A MECHANIC CAME TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND, WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHEATING. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET VALENCIA (23649 VALENCIA BLVD, SANTA CLARITA, CA 91355) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TCM CODE AND THE DUAL CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT HESITATED TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS17998196-C0F7C0. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11287212

Dec 5, 2019

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT ON A MAIN ROUTE IN A CITY AND THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR BUCKED THEN STALLED AGAIN, IT WAS RECALLED AND SAID IT WAS FIXED BUT AS FAR AS CAN TELL ITFS NOT

NHTSA ODI 11287263

Dec 5, 2019Engine

THE ENGINE LIGHT RANDOMLY CAME ON. THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. CAME TO A STOP. WAS SLOW TO START BACK UP AND WAS JERKING/STUTTERING THE REST OF THE WAY. MULTIPLE AUTO BODY SHOPS DIAGNOSED MY 2012 FORD FOCUS WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE

NHTSA ODI 11287395

Dec 4, 2019SteeringCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KEN GRODY FORD CARLSBAD (5555 PASEO DEL NORTE, CARLSBAD, CA 92008, (760) 438-9171), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING WAS OPERABLE ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 11286970

Dec 2, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

MY WIFE WAS TURNING AT A INTERSECTION AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND MOTOR JUST REVVED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS AND HER CAR SEAT IN BACK AND I WAS IN PASSENGER SEAT. WE ALMOST GOT T BONED BY ANOTHER CAR. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT. . AFTER LOOKING UP THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. HOW HAVE YOU NOT LET THE PUBLIC KNOW HOW UNSAFE THESE CARS ARE???

NHTSA ODI 11286476

Dec 2, 2019Engine

WE HAVE HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED 3 TIMES AND ARE READY WITH OUR FOURTH CLUTCH (NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY! $2200!). THE DUAL-CLUTCH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND FORD HAS NOT FIXED IT. THEY CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PART WITH ONE THAT FAILS AT 25,000 MILES.YOU KNOW IT'S A CLUTCH WHEN THE CAR IS SHUDDERING, STRUGGLES TO SWITCH BETWEEN GEARS AND DOES NOT FEEL LIKE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. FORD REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THEIR CAR THAT THEY KNOWINGLY SOLD EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. WE FIRST TOOK OUR CAR IN FOR SHUDDERS AT 2,000 MILES AND WERE TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. THE LAST REPAIR TOOK ALMOST 1 MONTH.

NHTSA ODI 11286515

Dec 1, 2019Steering

I BACKED OUT MY FOCUS FROM THE GARAGE AND HEARD A BEEP OR NOISE TO ALERT ME OF A PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS RIGID AND DASH MESSAGE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT STEERING MALFUNCTION. IN ADDITION WAS A SQUARE BOX WITH AN "I" IN THE BOX. I THEN MOVED THE CAR BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11283119

Dec 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO GET FIXED BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN I TURN ON THE CAR AND START DRIVING THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT LOSES ITS SPEED AND IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS BEING PULLED BACK EVERY TIME ITS DRIVEN FORWARD. THE CAR FEELS AS IF ITS BEING FORCED TO DRIVE AND IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. WE TOOK IT IN TO STAR FORD LINCOLN GLENDALE ON 1101 S BRAND BLVD GLENDALE, CA 91204, PHONE NUMBER (818)502-1901 WHERE THEY TOLD US THEY FIXED THE CAR BUT THE CAR REMAINED WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FIXED DIFFERENCE. WHEN WE PICKED UP THE CAR AFTER DROPPING IT OF AT STAR FORD LINCOLN WE HAD TO JUMP START THE CAR BECAUSE IT NO LONGER TURNED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WOULD TURN ON BEFORE WE DROPPED IT OFF. THE CAR ALSO STARTED LEAKING WATER FROM THE RADIATOR EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS NOT ONE OF THE REASONS WE LEFT THE CAR THERE. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR FRO THERE IT HAS BEEN REMAINED PARK BECAUSE WE CAN NOT MOVE IT.

NHTSA ODI 11283165

Nov 30, 2019Steering

VEHICLE ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL FAILED AND POWER STEERING LOST

NHTSA ODI 11283056

Nov 30, 2019Steering

WHILE DRIVING, LOSS OF ABILITY TO STEER. ALSO, WHEN STARTING THE CAR, TROUBLE TURNING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI 11283054

Nov 29, 2019Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STEER AND SWERVE IN AND OUT OF LANES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JD BYRIDER AUTO SALES (3700 W BROAD ST, COLUMBUS, OH 43228, (614) 456-1717) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. OUT OF CONSIDERATION, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

NHTSA ODI 11282847

Nov 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

P073E DTC DEALER RECOMMENDS NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER CHANGING SHIFT MODULE. DAUGHTER WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED WHEN VEHICLE APPRUPTLY LOST POWER ON MAJOR ROADWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11282938

Nov 26, 2019

POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE TRAVELING.

NHTSA ODI 11282413

Nov 22, 2019Steering

ONE DAY I WENT TO START MY CAR UP, AND TRIED TO TURN MY WHEEL AND IT WOULDN'T TURN. SOMEBODY WAS ABLE TO LOOSEN IT UP FOR ME THAT TIME. TWO DAYS AFTER THAT I ATTEMPTED THE SAME THING AND IT WOULDN'T NOT LOOSEN UP AT ALL. THE WHEEL IS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. I'VE DONE A LITTLE RESEARCH AND SEEN THAT THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH A NUMBER OF THESE MODELS.

NHTSA ODI 11281818

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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 →