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

AFTER I PUT FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK AND TRY TO START THE CAR HESITATES LIKE IT WANTS TO QUIT. I JUST GOT IT AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED FUEL PUMP, FUEL TANK, AND DID A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO THE PCM. AND ALSO REPLACED THE PURGE VALVE. AFTER FUELING THE CAR IS THE ONLY TIME THE HESITATION IS NOTICED AFTER THAT IT STARTS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT FUEL IS PUT IN. THE 2ND THING THAT IS HAPPENING IS THERE IS WATER IN THE TRUNK UNDER THE SPARE TIRE. IT HAS BEEN RAINING FOR 2 DAYS NOW AND THE WATER IS EVEN WITH THE SPARE. WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP WAS THAT FORD HAS BASICALLY WASHED THEIR HANDS OF ME AND MY CAR SINCE I SETTLED WITH THEM ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION. I AM HAVING AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO TRY AND FIND WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. BUT I DO THINK FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SUCH A LEMON. I STILL OWE OVER $8,000 ON THIS VEHICLE NOW I AM HAVING TO DO REPAIRS ON IT ALSO.

NHTSA ODI 11161756

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THE LIGHT WAS SOLID NOT FLASHING. FUEL GAUGE WAS AT 1/2 TANK. ITS A 50 MILE DRIVE TO WORK. FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 1/4 TANK WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK. ON THE DRIVE BACK FROM WORK HEADING STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER SHIP, FUEL GAUGE WAS DROPPING QUICKLY. STOPPED TO GET FUEL. FILLED TANK. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES BETWEEN ATTEMPTED STARTS, ON THE FIFTH ATTEMPT IT STARTED VERY ROUGHLY. THE DRIVE TO THE DEALER SHIP THE CAR DID NOT RUN CORRECTLY.

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FORD FOCUS 2012 SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 18S32 / NHTSA RECALL 18V-735 HELLO, ON OCTOBER 24, 2018 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. MY CAR ACTED AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO TURN OFF LIKE A ROUGH IDLE. WHEN I TRIED TO PULL OFF FROM THE STOP SIGN, MY CAR WOULD MOVE SLOW. THE RPM WAS RISING BUT BARELY ANY MOVEMENT. AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS, MY CAR JERKED AND STARTED DRIVING NORMAL. A LIGHT CAME ON AFTER. WHEN I GOT OFF, MY CAR WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING. THE ROUGH IDLING STARTED AGAIN WHILE I WAS JUST SITTING IN MY CAR. RIGHT AFTER THAT, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT I GOT MY CAR FROM. MY CAR WAS THERE FOR 2 DAYS. SO OCTOBER 28, 2019, I PAID 819.64. TODAY DECEMBER 14, 2018 I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL STATING MY CAR HAS A RECALL. THE RECALL IS FOR A STUCK CANISTER VALVE WITHIN THE FUEL VAPOR SYSTEM. I NOTICED THAT I HAD JUST REPAIRED MY CAR OVER A MONTH AGO FOR THE CANISTER PURGE VALVE. SO I WHEN TO THE FORD THAT I GOT MY CAR REPAIRED AT AND SHOWED THEM THE PAPER THAT I GOT IN THE MAIL. I ADVISED THEM THAT I ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE GUY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REIMBURSE MY MONEY BECAUSE I NEED AN ORIGINAL RECEIPT. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY IF THEY REPRINT ME MY RECEIPT SHOWING ME THAT I PAID FOR THE REPAIR. SO BASICALLY MY REPAIR IS IN THE SYSTEM OF FORD. AND I PAID FOR THE REPAIR ON OCTOBER 26, 2018. THE RECALL CAME ABOUT ON OCTOBER 22, 2018. BUT WAS NOT MAILED TO ME UNTIL DECEMBER.

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MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FIXED BY LOCAL FORD DEALER WHEN I THOUGHT MY TRANSMISSION WAS THE PROBLEM.THEY SUPPOSE TO FIX IT BUT WEEKS AFTER MY DASHBOARD WENT HAYWIRE AND MY RADIO STOP WORKING.I HAD TO PAY THEM CLOSE TO 200.00 FOR THE REPAIRS.

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THERE WAS RECALL I'M MY TRANSMISSION WHICH MY LOCAL FORD DEALER HAVE CLAIMED TO FIXED BUT I HAVE STILL BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT AND THEY SEEM UNABLE TO FIX AFTER ME TAKING IT BACK TWICE.NOW I'M THE PROBLEM IS HERE AGAIN AND MY CAR WON'T BACK UP AND MY TRANSMISSION LIGHT KEEP COMING ON AND IT DRIVES LIKE A STICK SHIFT.I HOPE THAT IT CAN BE FIXED WITHOUT COST CAUSE THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.IM STILL MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11161097

MY CAR STALLS AND SHAKES BADLY. WHEN I HAVE TO PUT GAS IN MY CAR, IT TAKES 10MINS FOR MY CAR TO START AFTER WORDS. IT CAN HAVE A FULL TANK OR HALF OR UNDER A HALF TANK OF GAS AND IT DOES ALL THIS. MY CAR HAS SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE TURNING ON A ROAD. MY CAR HAS STALLED REALLY BADLY WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. MY CAR HAS STALLED WHILE TRYING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT OR ANY THING THAT I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN FOR. MY GAS NEEDLE WILL BE AT 3/4 OF A TANK AND IT WILL SHOOT UP PASS AND OVER A FULL TANK OF GAS. I HAVE HAD TO RENT MULTIPLE CARS FROM MY LOCAL ENTERPRISE TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDMA TO DR APPOINTMENTS OUT OF MY LOCAL AREA. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A SHOP CAUSE IT SHUT OFF AND WOULDN'T START BACK WITH 50MILES TO GO TILL GAS WAS NEEDED. MY CAR HAS BEEN BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD 2 TIMES DUE TO THE GAS NEEDLE. NOW I HAVE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AROUND EVEN LONGER UNTIL THEY CAN GET THE PART FOR MY CAR. WHICH WILL BE 2 WEEKS FROM NOW. AND THEN ANOTHER 2-3 DAYS FOR THEM TO DO THE WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11161234

CAR WAS IN PARK. WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND STARTED TO BACK OUT I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF THEN BACK ON AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND IT WAS FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST YEAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RANDALL REED'S PARK CITIES FORD OF DALLAS (3333 INWOOD RD, DALLAS, TX 75235) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,078.

NHTSA ODI 11160895

7 YEARS AGO I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2012 FORD FOCUS FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 36,600 MILES ONLY, BUT SO FAR HAD 3 RECALLS(!). 1 FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES (GOT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT BUT TO THIS DATE IT IS STILL STALLING WHEN ACCELERATING), 1 FOR DEFECT DOOR LATCHES, AND 1 FOR THE FUEL PUMP. ON TOP OF THESE 2 DAYS AGO WHILE TRYING TO BACK OUT FROM A PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL WENT DEAD AND A WARNING CAME UP ON THE DASHBOARD SCREEN SAYING THE POWER STEERING IS OUT. TOWED IT AND TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP AND AFTER TWO DAYS I GOT THE NEW THAT RACK AND PINION NEED REPLACEMENT AND IT WILL COST $2,100 PARTS AND LABOR. CALLED FORD MOTORS COMPANY AND THEY SAID IT'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOW CAN PARTS LIKE THESE CAN FAIL AFTER ONLY 36,000 MILES??? AND WHY FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOESN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECT CARS LIKE THESE PLACED ON THE MARKET TO BE SOLD AS "NEW"?!

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STARTING MY CAR WHILE PARKED, POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION INDICATED ON DASH, I WOULD SHUT THE CAR OFF AND START IT AGAIN AND IT WOULD CLEAR, HOWEVER AFTER MULTIPLE TIMES OF THIS OCCURRING IT IS CONSTANT. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR AND WILL HAVE TO PAY CLOSE TO $2000 FOR THE REPAIR. MY CAR HAS 55000 MILES!

NHTSA ODI 11160777

I WAS GOING 60 MPH ON A FREEWAY IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO HYDROPLANE ACROSS 5 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND I HIT THE CENTER CONCRETE BARRIER HEAD ON AND THEN THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT CAUSED MY CAR TO SPIN AROUND AND THEN THE REAR OF THE CAR HIT THE BARRIER HEAD ON. NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. NOT EVEN THE ONE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING FAULTY WITH THEM BUT NO ONE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT FOR ME.

NHTSA ODI 11157336

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.

NHTSA ODI 11160519

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION LIGHT WENT ON AND POWER STEERING FAILED THREE TIMES ON MY FORD FOCUS 2012. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT WENT AWAY AND POWER STEERING RETURNED. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS IN A STATIONARY POSITION. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THE RACK AND PINION MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THANK GOODNESS MY VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION OR SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 35,000 MILES ON IT AND THERE IS NO REASON WHY THIS SIGNIFICANT OF A REPAIR IS NECESSARY ON A VEHICLE WITH SO LITTLE MILEAGE ON IT. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT PROBLEM AND NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE. FORD WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY UNLESS THIS PART IS SUBJECT TO A RECALL.

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WHEN GOING ABOUT 55 MPH MY CAR STARTS TO GET VERY LOUD, NOTHING SEEMS TO BE WRONG IT'S AS IF THERE'S A LEAF BLOWER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AS I SLOW DOWN, USE THE BRAKES, THE SOUND SLOWLY GETS MORE QUIET.

NHTSA ODI 11156522

2012 FORD FOCUS SE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT COMES ON. FIXED POWER STEERING HARD TOP STEER. SO REPLACED STEERING GEAR, STEERING WHEEL SENSOR AND REPROGRAMMING STEERING WHEEL. ALSO ALIGNMENT STEERING WHEEL SENSOR ASSEMBLY. TOLD HARD TO GET SENSOR AND REPROGRAM AFTER REPAIRS. SOP ADDITIONAL COST TO FIX.

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WHEN I STARTED MY CAR, THE STEERING FELT LIKE IT LOCKED UP, AND THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO TURN OFF MY CAR, AND TURN IT BACK ON BEFORE IT WORKED PROPERLY. IT HAS DONE THIS TWO TIMES NOW IN THE PAST THREE DAYS

NHTSA ODI 11156427

I WAS TURNING MY CAR (IN MOTION) ON A LOCAL STREET AND MY POWER STEERING ASSIST STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY, WITH MY THREE YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT. I WAS UNABLE TO TO MAKE THE TURN ADEQUATELY, AND EVEN PULLED A MUSCLE IN MY SHOULDER TRYING TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION.

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OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, AN INDICATOR WARNING MESSAGE KEPT COMING ON ABOUT THE POWER STEERING MANUAL ASSIST, WHICH TURNS OUT TO BE A DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF SOLVED THE ISSUE AT THE BEGINNING. BUT THEN WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND WOULDN'T GO OFF. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED FOR $2,200. THE COST WAS NEGLIGIBLE TO THE RISK'WE WHO OWN THESE CARS WERE RISKING OUR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD OUGHT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE BY FIXING THE PROBLEM FOR FREE.

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THE GEAR GETS STUCK IN REVERSE AND I CAN'T PUT THE CAR IN PARK. EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR READS PARK IT WILL STILL BE IN A DIFFERENT GEAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE BEGAN TWO YEARS AGO, BUT WENT AWAY AFTER AWHILE. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE BECAME WORSE OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS. 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 53,000.

NHTSA ODI 11154233

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR TO THIS DATE, MY CAR STARTED WITH A PROBLEM WHEN I GO TO THE GAS STATION I TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND FILL IT UP, WHEN I FINISH AND GO TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN IT DOES NOT TURNS ON, SEEMS LIKE HAS NO POWER, I HAVE TO DO IT SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO START IT, NOT ALWAYS HAVE AN EMPTY TANK WHEN I PUT GAS. IT HAPPENS IN ALL GAS STATIONS AND ONLY WHEN I PUT GAS.

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STEERING ASSIST FAULT - THREE TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE IT HAS DISPLAYED THIS MESSAGE. IT ALWAYS WENT AWAY AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. THE THIRD TIME IT HAS NOT GONE AWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER STEERING. 6 YEARS OLD/ BOUGHT NEW OFF THE LOT/ 92000 MILES.

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WHEN I START MY CAR AND GET READY TO DRIVE OFF MY STEERING WHEEL GETS STUCK AND WON'T MOVE. IT IS STARTING TO DO IT ALOT.

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TODAY'S DATE I HAVE CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SPOKE WITH MISS.CHRIS ID#2191199 AROUND 10:53 AM PST.WITH THE GIVEN RECENT OPENED NUMBER WAS # CAS16420379 TO STATE THE SAID PROBLEMS AND TO SE HOW WE COULD POSSIBLY SOLVED THE SAID CONCERNS WE HAVE.I HAVE TOLD, I HAVE BEEN DENIED OR REFUSED TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TO BE RE-SERVICED OVER AGAIN FOR THE REOCCURRING PREVIOUSLY FIXED AND SERVICED MECHANICAL OR ELECTRONIC PCM RELATED SOFTWARE OR THE HARDWARE FAILURES TODAY'S MORNING AND I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THEIR SERVICE ADVISOR NAMED AS FRANK THIS VEHICLE CAN NOT BE SERVICED ANY LONGER.BECAUSE,THIS VEHICLE RECORD'S SHOWING THAT THE VEHICLE IT IS BRANDED AND/OR SALVAGED AND THAT IT WILL VOID ANY KIND OF MECHANICAL WARRANTIES AND WHEN I SAID THIS VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY WAS SERVICED UNDER THE SAME CONDITION AND RECORDS AND WHY CAN NOT BE RE-SERVICED OVER AGAIN FOR SAID PREVIOUSLY FIXED AT YOUR DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENT ? WHEN I ASKED WHAT HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM BEFORE AND UNTIL NOW ? HE DID NOT GIVE ME A SUFFICIENT ANSWER FOR MY SATISFACTIONS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS OPERATING IN-PROPERLY AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTHORIZED LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IN THE CITY OF COSTA MESA,CA-92627.CHECKED IT IN TO THE SERVICE AREA AND REGISTERED IT WITH SERVICE ADVISOR#7217 TO MR.NED SHORTSLEEVE'S CARES FOR THE SAID PROBLEMS. AND THAT WE CLAIMED THE SAID ISSUES WE WERE EXPERIENCING.1-THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS SOLID ON AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED THE TRANSMISSION WON'T OPERATE PROPERLY 2-THEN THEY HAVE PLACED THE TCM THE SIDE DOOR LATCH IT MAY BREAK PER THE MANUFACTURER'S SAFETY RECALL AND WAS ASKED THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE SAID DOOR COMPONENT AND WE WERE TOLD THE PART IT IS NOT AVAILABLE AND NEEDS TO BE ORDERED SO CAN BE REPLACED. WE WILL BE CALLED WHEN THE PART IS ARRIVED BUT,WE NEVER BEEN CALLED.

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