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

UPON STARTING MY 2012 FORD FOCUS ON TWO OCCASIONS IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS, MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE "STEERING WHEEL ASSIST: FAULT" MESSAGE ALERTED ON MY STEERING WHEEL SCREEN ON BOTH OCCASIONS. THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE STREET AND UPON TURNING THE CAR ON AND SEEING THE MESSAGE, I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND COULD ONLY GO STRAIGHT OR BACKWARDS. AFTER FINDING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT MY SAME ISSUE, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THE DIAGNOSIS CODE IS U3000:49 - CONTROL MODULE INTERNAL ELECTRONIC FAILURE, AND THE INVOICE/TECHNICIAN'S OPINION CAN BE FOUND IN THE UPLOADED FILE BELOW.

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BEFORE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE THAT HAS A REBUILT TITLE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED BY MY LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPT. EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF REPLACING THE AIR BAG. AFTER THE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED (~$1000 LATER), THEY PROCEED TO TELL ME THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON AND THE SENSORS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WILL COST US ANOTHER $2000. IF THIS WAS KNOWN AT THE TIME OF THE DIAGNOSTIC, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER MADE THIS PURCHASE.

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A LOUD ABRUPT THUMP(S) AND/OR HIGH PITCHED SCREECHING SOUNDS COME FROM THE SOUND SYSTEM SPEAKERS. THIS OCCURS WITH THE RADIO IN THE "ON" OR "OFF" POSITION AND MAY LAST A FEW SECONDS UP TO MINUTES. THE SOUND IS VERY LOUD AND UNCONTROLLABLE. THE RADIO IS UNRESPONSIVE DURING AND AFTER THE NOISE (USUALLY REQUIRING AN ENGINE RESTART). THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE LEVEL AND SUDDENESS CAUSES AN IMMEDIATE DEFENSIVE POSTURE JUST AS IF I HAD BEEN STRUCK FROM OUT OF NOWHERE. NOT ONLY THAT, IT IS ABUSIVE. IT REALLY RATTLES THE NERVES. THE ONLY SURE WAY TO CONTROL IT IS TO DISCONNECT THE RADIO.

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BOUGHT 2012 FORD FOCUS ON 3/2016. 5/2016 TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR STUCK WINDOW D/T BAD MOTOR AND REPROGRAMMING OF TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. 7/2016 CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL, COMPLETELY STALLED OUT. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP AGAIN...TRANSMISSION COMPUTER/MODULE REPLACED. 12/2018 CAR STALLED YET AGAIN AND STEERING WOULD NOT WORK NOR WOULD SHIFTER...TRANSMISSION GARAGE STATED THEY FIXED ISSUE. 8 HOURS LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN AT ALL. TRANSMISSION PLACE REFUSED TO TOUCH THE CAR AGAIN. CALLED ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP AND OFCOURSE, THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. AND EXPECT US TO PAY FOR IT AGAIN THIS TIME! PLUS THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE CAR UNTIL MOST RECENT RECALL IS FIXED ON IT. LIKE HELL WILL I PUT MY 2 CHILDREN AND HUSBAND BACK IN THIS CAR WITH THE CHANCE OF IT TO STALL AGAIN AND CRASH. WE RESIDE 40 MILES AWAY FROM WORK SO A TOTAL OF A 1/2 TANK OF GAS AT ONE TIME IS NOT FEASIBLE IN WESTERN NEW YORK WEATHER. 5 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND HOW MANY RECALLS LATER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THEIR WRONGS RIGHT

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FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW MY POWER STEERING HAS BEEN NOT WORKING WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON SPORADICALLY. TO FIX THIS I HAVE BEEN JUST TURNING THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON A FEW TIMES AND THAT SEEMS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, NOW IT WON'T RESET AND I DO NOT HAVE POWER STEERING AT ALL. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND AFTER THEY CHARGED ME 140 THEY TOLS ME THAT IT NEEDS A NEW RACK AND PIN AND IT WOULD COST 2400!!! FORD ISSUED A RECALL ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT CARS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE HURT OR DIE BEFORE THEY ISSUE ONE FOR THIS? I JUST HAD THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL INFORMING ME THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED DUE TO THE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSING MAJOR PROBLEMS.

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING FAILED FORTUNATELY I WAS AT MY OWN STREET AND FINALLY GOT IT HOME BY GETTING MY GRANDSON TO HELP ME TURN THE WHEELS. TOOK TO AAMOCO THEY SCANNED FOR CODES AND UPDATED THE PCM/TCM. IT BROKE AGAIN IN 3 DAYS. I WAS FORTUNATE AGAIN I HAD NOT LEFT MY DRIVEWAY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF YO ARE ON A FREEWAY OR OTHER ROADWAY WHERE TRAFFIC IS MOVING FAST. THIS WHOLE ENDEAVOR COST OVER $2000 TO FIX. I AVERTED THE DANGER BUT WHOSE TO SAY OTHERS MY NOT.

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WHETHER THE CAR IS ON OR OFF THE SPEAKERS WILL MAKE A HIGH FREQUENCY PITCH SOUND AND A LOUD POPPING SOUND EVEN WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED OFF. OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS THIS IS DONE THIS THREE TIMES WHILE I'M DRIVING IT'S VERY DISTRACTING I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD. I AM NOW TO THE POINT I HAVE TO WEAR EARPLUGS JUST TO DRIVE MY CAR, SO I WON'T DAMAGE MY EARS. I HAVE TO VIDEO RECORDINGS OF THE CAR MAKING THE SOUND ONE WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND ONE WHEN IT IS OFF. HOWEVER THE FORMAT I HAVE THESE VIDEOS IS NOT ACCEPTED FOR ME TO UPLOAD TO YOUR SITE I WILL BE HAPPY TO SEND IT TO YOU ANYWAY I CAN.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.

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STEERING ASSIST FAULT; LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE

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RADIO MADE A VERY LOUD STATIC AND POPPING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE MY CAR WAS BEING SHOT AT AND THE WINDOWS WERE BREAKING WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 60MPH ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS LUCKY IT WAS VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING AND NOT MANY CARS WERE ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THE SUDDEN SOUND CAUSED ME TO SWERVE INTO THE NEXT 2 LANES. I TOOK THE CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT AUTO MECHANIC SHOPS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS FOR YEARS, AND THAT THE RADIO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS REVERSING, IT BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, BUT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CONTACT'S SON HAD TO ASSIST WITH PUSHING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ONCE THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, IT WAS DRIVEN TO LUBBERS CARS (944 N MAIN ST, CHENEY, KS 67025, (877) 326-6992), BUT THEY DID NOT ASSIST AND STATED THAT A REMEDY WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL LATER THIS MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

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STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION (UNABLE TO STEER). TURNED KEY OFF THEN BACK ON AFTER GETTING CAR STOPPED AND STEERING WORKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT INITIAL START UP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE IT. AT INITIAL START UP WE WERE UNABLE TO EVEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITH ENGINE RUNNING. ON ONE OCCASION I HAD TO RETURN HALF HOUR LATER AND IT DID FUNCTION PROPERLY. VERY UNPREDICTABLE. FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S THE STEERING GEAR AND COSTS ABOUT $2,000 TO REPLACE. DISPLAY ON VEHICLE SAYS PROBLEM IS ELECTRIC ASSIST FOR POWER STEERING. VEHICLE HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT. NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE IF LOSES POWER STEERING ASSIST. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. RUBBER DOOR GASKETS CONTINUE TO FALL OFF ON ALL FOUR DOORS. THE DUST COVER UNDER THE MOTOR IS NOTHING MORE THAN A PIECE OF CARDBOARD WITH SOME SPRAYED ON FUZZY FAKE MATERIAL COVERING ONE SIDE.

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STARTED CAR UP ,STEERING LOCKED UP,TURN CAR OFF,RESTART STEERING WORKED,CAR WAS STATIONARY

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURES UNTIL WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY CHAMPION FORD LINCOLN (140 SOUTHTOWN BLVD, OWENSBORO, KY 42303, (270) 684-1441). THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE IN THE AREA OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND RADIO. IN ADDITION, THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE RECALL REPAIR FAILED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V735000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED TO VERIFY IF FIELD SERVICE ACTION NUMBERS: 14M01 (TRANSMISSION CLUTCH SHUDDER/TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT SEAL) WARRANTY EXTENSION AND 14M02 (TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE) EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE WERE SERVICED BY THE DEALER WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 8 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING ABILITY AND THE STEERING ASSIST FAILURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STEERED. THE DEALER (VERNER-CADBY FORD, 1240 BLOOMFIELD AVE, FAIRFIELD, NJ 07004, (973) 575-0333) STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AGE AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1,700. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

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WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE WHOLE STEARING COLUMN STARTS TO VIBRATE THEN IT TIGHTENS UP AND THE LIGHT COMES ON SAYING STEARING ASSIST FAULT, SERVICE REQUIRED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE STEARING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND YOU CAN'T TURN. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN THREE TIMES, LUCKILY NOT IN A CURVE OR AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR, TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON TO RESET. I KNOW I WILL CRASH IF I AM GOING AROUND A CURVE OR DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WITH THE CAR STEARING LOCKED. I CURRENTLY HAVE IT AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

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"STEER ASSIST FAULT" ERROR MESSAGE WITH TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOW SPEED IMPACT INTO CURB IN NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS A KNOWN POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE AND YET FORD HAS FAILED ITS CUSTOMERS AND CONTINUE TO PUT THEM IN DANGER AND LIFE'S AS RISK. THIS IS MY 16YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CAR AND IT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE THAT THIS ISSUE HAS SIGNIFICANT DOCUMENTATION & COMPLAINTS CONFIRMING THIS FAILURE YET NO RECALL & FORD NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. IT'S EXTREMELY SAD THAT IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A HUMANS LIFE BEFORE THIS KNOWN POWER STEERING FAILURE ISSUE WHICH CAUSES DRIVERS TO LOSE ALL POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES! HEY FORD..DON'T EXPECT A MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE [XXX] FAMILY! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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2012 FORD FOCUS HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. MY CAR HAVE PROBLEMS CHANGING GEAR I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. NOW ITS STALLING AND PROBLEM STARTING. FORD SAY THERE NOTHING THEY CAN DO!

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70K MILES, STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. LEAVING MY 19 YO DAUGHTER STRANDING OUT OF TOWN. CAR WAS PARKED AND MALFUNCTION WOULD NOT RESET WITH RESTARTING OR DISCONNECTING BATTERY. $2000 TO REPAIR... I OWN FOUR FORDS AND MY PATIENCE IS WEARING THIN FROM ALL THE RECALLS ON ALL FOUR VEHICLES THAT I OWN.

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AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN THE LATCH DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE AND MY CAR STALLS I CANNOT TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE BECAUSE THE GAUGES DON'T WORK IT PUTS ITS DOORS OPEN I'LL BE ON 75 IT JUST SHUT OFF I NEED TO GO TO RED LIGHTS IS SHIFT SO FAR THEY GO TO STOP SIGN I SHOULD SOLVE THE RADIO ALSO JUST GOES OUT AND I HAVE SO LOUD STARCH SOUND SCREECHING NOISE VERY LOUD AND ANNOYING MY CAR ALSO KRANKS WHEN I WANT TO CREATE BATTERY DIED QUICK. *TR

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ELECTRIC ASSIST STEERING FAILED AFTER 116,000 DUE TO MANUFACTURERS PLACEMENT OF ELECTRONIC BOX LOCATION 3" (THREE INCHES) AWAY FROM EXHAUST MANIFOLD, THEREBY DESTROYING ELECTRONICS INSIDE SEALED BOX. MAKES STEERING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. FAILURE IN PARKING LOT AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT A PARKED CAR WHILE TRYING TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (GOSCH FORD ESCONDIDO, 1717 AUTO PARK WAY, ESCONDIDO, CA 92029, (760) 745-3361) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

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ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND NO POWER STEERING IS AVAILABLE. DOES RESET UPON RESTARTING CAR. THERE ARE OVER 10000 ONLINE FORUM COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME ISSUE. FORD WAS AWARE OF ISSUE AND CONTINUED TO SELL THE VEHICLE WITH THIS ISSUE AND THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL FAULT.

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TRUNK OPENS WHILE DRIVING - HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS.

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