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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION SERVICE IMMEDIATELY" MESSAGE POPULATED IN THE MESSAGE CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PLAZA FORD (1701 BEL AIR ROAD, BEL AIR, MD 21014) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ODI 11174548

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED DURING DRIVING. UNABLE TO MAKE TURNS. POWER STEERING RACK MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA ODI 11174377

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH CLOSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOOR NEEDED TO BE HELD CLOSED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KINGS COLONIAL FORD (3565 COMMUNITY RD, BRUNSWICK, GA 31520, (912) 264-6400) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK MONDAY TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11173484

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TRANSMISSION TO THE WHEELS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING AND SERVICE TRANSMISSION WARNING APPEARING ON CONSOLE. VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP, PARTIALLY OBSCURING RIGHT LANE OF HIGHWAY. VEHICLE NARROWLY AVOIDED LIFE-THREATENING COLLISIONS WITH VARIOUS PASSING VEHICLES UNTIL EMERGENCY PERSONNEL ARRIVED IN RESPONSE TO 911 CALL TO BLOCK TRAFFIC AND ALLOW TOWING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. UPON RESTART OF VEHICLE, POWER TRANSMISSION TO WHEELS WAS RESTORED, THOUGH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SERVICE TRANSMISSION WARNING REMAINED ILLUMINATED. FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) AND REPLACED TCM UNDER FORD FIELD SERVICE ACTION 14M02. FORD HAS KNOWN OF FAULTY TCM ELECTRICAL SOLDERING DESIGN WITH POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCE OF INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER TRANSMISSION TO THE WHEELS SINCE AT LEAST 2015 WHEN 14M02 WAS ISSUED, BUT INEXPLICABLY NO TCM SAFETY RECALL OCCURRED AT THAT TIME. AS PART OF FORD "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM" 15B22 ISSUED IN 2015, VEHICLE RECEIVED A TCM COMPUTER REPROGRAM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO DETECT IMPENDING TCM FAILURE SO THAT TCM COULD PROVIDE WARNING ABOUT THE NEED FOR TCM REPLACEMENT, IF NEED BE, PRIOR TO HAZARDOUS EVENTS OCCURRING. THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE PROVED TO BE INEFFECTIVE, AS VEHICLE'S TCM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING IN HIGHLY DANGEROUS SCENARIO. A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR ALL UN-REPLACED TCMS IN ALL VEHICLES REFERENCED IN FORD FIELD SERVICE ACTION 14M02, AS STOP-GAP SOFTWARE REPROGRAM LEVIED BY FORD "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM" 15B22 HAS PROVEN INSUFFICIENT TO DETECT IMPENDING TCM CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. WAITING TO REPLACE THE TCM UNTIL IT SHOWS SIGNS OF FAILURE WILL (AND PERHAPS ALREADY HAS) LEAD TO FATALITIES.

NHTSA ODI 11173439

STARTED MY CAR TO LEAVE PARKING LOT. I WAS IN FORWARD MOTION AND TRANSMISSION LIGHT COMES ON WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK. CAR IS RUNNING BUT WON'T REVERSE OR DRIVE FORWARD. THIS COULD'VE HAPPENED TO ME ON THE FREEWAY AND I WOULD'VE BEEN IN GREAT DANGER. I JUST PICKED MY CAR UP FROM FORD DEALERSHIP GETTING A RECALL ( 18S32/NHTSA RECALL 18V-735) COMPLETED.

NHTSA ODI 11173553

STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WHEN I START CAR, FORD DENIES ANY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11173628

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE WAS POWERED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WITHOUT POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ODI 11173333

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITHOUT POWER STEERING ABILITY TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ODI 11173105

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT INCREASE IN SPEED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS STUCK AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAPITAL FORD (3660 S CARSON ST, CARSON CITY, NV 89701, (775) 882-5353) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE NOT AUTHORIZING ANY RENTAL VEHICLES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 987,038.

NHTSA ODI 11172869

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN ADDITION, THE POWER ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ODI 11172472

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. WHILE STEERING, THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED FREQUENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT "SERVICE STEERING" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KOONS FORD (2540 RIVA RD, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401, (410) 224-2100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW POWER STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11171585

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS FAULTY AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY WENT IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE. ALSO, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE STREET, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS DUE TO THE PARKING POSITION. FURTHERMORE, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, THE DOOR LATCHES WERE LOOSE AND IN DANGER OF BECOMING DETACHED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TED RUSSELL FORD (9925 PARKSIDE DR, KNOXVILLE, TN 37922, (865) 444-6467) AND SERVICED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR EACH FAILURE; HOWEVER, EACH FAILURE REMAINED EXCEPT FOR THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11171480

CAME ON AFTER I WAS ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR THE HEAT/AC FAN AS IT HAS FAILED AFTER UNHOOKING THE BATTERY POST TO ATEMP TO RESET COMPUTER TO SEE IF THE CODE WOULD RESET IT DID NOT. STEERING IS HARD AND UNSAFE IF IT HAPPENS TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT ON INTERSTATE OR PARKWAYS. IT MAY CAUSE POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS IF NOT RECALLED AND A FIX HAPPEN. STATIONARY WHEN THIS ISSUE HAPPEN

NHTSA ODI 11171531

I NEED MY 2012 FORD FOCUS REPAIRED PER MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 18S32 AND NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 18V735.

NHTSA ODI 11171251

I PURCHASED A USED 2012 FORD FOCUS THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST STEERING. AT ABOUT 116,500 I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE TURNING THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. AN "POWER ASSIST MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE APPEARED, BUT AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR IT "SOLVED" THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AT AROUND 118,000 IT CAME ON PERMANENTLY WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN CAUSING ME TO HIT A GRANITE CURB PUTTING A DENT IN THE RIM.. I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED (01/05/2019) AND IT FAILED THE SAFETY PORTION OF THE INSPECTION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I UNDERSTAND IT WILL COST ME OVER $2,000 DOLLARS TO HAVE "FIXED". THIS TYPE OF "STEERING UNITS" HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY FORD ON PREVIOUS MODELS OF THEIR VEHICLES, BUT NOT ON THE 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHY? THIS PUTS LIVES AT RISK BECAUSE OF THEIR FAULTY DESIGN AND REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT IS DRIVEABLE BUT EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN WHEN AT SLOW (5MPH TO 15MPH) SPEEDS, BUT STILL, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PARK IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ODI 11170885

TAKATA RECALL. FIRST THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WAY TO FIX IT. THEY RANDOMLY CUT OFF AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING. NEXT, THE CAR WILL SHUTTER AND CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WILL NO LONGER START. ALL THE INCIDENTS WERE ON A HIGHWAY IN VALDOSTA GEORGIA.

NHTSA ODI 11170926

TRIED TO START CAR THIS MORNING AND COULDN'T TURN STEERING WHEEL WHEN TRYING TO BACK OUT WITH WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. HAS HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME. WORRIED IT WILL HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AND I HAVE TO DRIVE DAILY ON A ONE LANE HIGHWAY THAT IS OFF THE EDGE OF MOUNTAIN. AFRAID OF GOING OVER EDGE IF IT HAPPENS WHILE ON IT. WILL BE CALLING DEALERSHIIP ABOUT IT. CAR HAS 135,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11170364

I HAVE HAD THE A/C COMPRESSOR GO BAD. I HAVE RECENTLY FIXED 2 COOLANT ISSUES REPAIRED. THE TCM ON TRANSMISSION REPAIRED YESTERDAY U WAS ALMOST IN A COLLISION WHEN THE CARS TRANSMISSION QUIT. THE CURRENT PROBLEM IS I NEED A TRANSMISSION CLUTCH NOW ACCORDING TO FORD BUT BECAUSE I AM 7000 MILES OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY REFUSE TO FIX . I ALSO HAVE MY STARTER GOING OUT NOW AND THAT FIX WITH FORD IS 729.00 .

NHTSA ODI 11170426

TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACING. MY VEHICLE WAS HESITANT WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11166778

THE ELECTRONIC RACK AND PINION FAILED WHEN DRIVING. THE CAR STARTED DISPLAYING A POWER STEERING ASSIST ERROR ON THE DISPLAY. ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOST AND CAR NEARING LOST CONTROL AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. SPEED WAS 55 MPH ON SHUG JORDAN. AFTER DIAGNOSING THE ISSUE, A REPLACEMENT POWER STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. FORD MADE A DEFECTIVE PART.

NHTSA ODI 11166206

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME. STEERING ASSIST WARNING CHECK MANUAL CAME ON THE DASH AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. LUCKILY I WAS STOPPED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND IT WORKED. KIND OF SCARED TO DRIVE IT NOW THOUGH, WHAT IF THAT HAPPENS WHEN I'M IN MOTION????

NHTSA ODI 11166208

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WAYNE AKERS FORD (2010 10TH AVE N & I-95, LAKE WORTH, FL 33461, (561) 582-4444), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED VIA MAIL AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. *TT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11166301

WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY THE POWER STEERING FAILS AT STARTUP. I TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, SEEMS TO BE A QUICK FIX, BUT I WORRY SOMETHING IS ACTUALLY BROKEN.

NHTSA ODI 11166399

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A FUEL ODOR ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LANCE CUMMINGHAM FORD (4101 EAST CLINTON HIGHWAY, KNOXVILLE, TN 37912. 866-591-3943) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL NECK HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-16784641. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11166035

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11165144