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

IN EARLY 2017 I STARTED EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. I WOULD TURN MY CAR ON SOME DAYS AND IT WOULD SAY POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND DRIVE. TURNING IT OFF AND BACK ON (SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES) WOULD GET RID OF THE ERROR CODE AND I WOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT LIKE NORMAL. A MONTH AGO AT 129,000 MILES THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME IT IS OUT FOR GOOD. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I RESTART THE CAR, THE ERROR CODE WILL NOT GO AWAY. THE COST TO REPAIR IS OUTRAGEOUS FOR A CAR THAT IS NOT WORTH MUCH DUE TO THE HORRIBLE REVIEWS AND UNENDING PROBLEMS THAT EVERYONE IS EXPERIENCING. ON TOP OF THAT, I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE CAR SHUDDERING CONSTANTLY WHEN I DRIVE IT. MY TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT A YEAR AGO AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT. I PULLED OVER AND I COULD NOT GET IT INTO REVERSE OR ANY GEAR. A FEW MONTHS AFTER IT WAS FIXED THE SHUDDERING BEGAN AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR (SAME SYMPTOMS AS LAST TIME BEFORE IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT), BUT FORD SAYS THAT THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER THE MILEAGE IT NEEDS FOR THE RECALL REPLACEMENT, SO IF IT GOES OUT AGAIN AND I KNOW IT WILL IN A MATTER OF TIME, THAT WILL BE ANOTHER $2,500 TO FIX. WITH THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON JUST THE POWER STEERING ISSUE AND THE CONSISTENCY BETWEEN REPORTS, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEAN SELLERS FORD (2600 W MAPLE RD, TROY, MI 48084, (888) 452-1292) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE DEALER'S STATEMENT AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,149.

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I HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2012 FORD FOCUS AND IT HAS THE CLUTCH PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS A WARRANTY FOR UNDER 100,000 MILES. BUT DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AFTER 90,000 MILES. SO NOW I HAVE TO PAY 1,500 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. FORD NEEDS TO FIX A PROBLEM THEY MADE

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WHEN I START THE CAR A MESSAGE COMES ON THE DASH THAT SAYS STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION AND THE CAR WILL NOT STEER. I HAVE TO TURN IT OFF AND WAIT A MINUTE AND TRY TO START THE CAR AGAIN.

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VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WITH MY SON DRIVING. TURNING LEFT AT A PROTECTED GREEN ARROW, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND THE WHEEL EFFORT SKYROCKETED. CAR WAS JERKED RIGHT, MY SON SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. STOPPED, LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD. NOTHING SEEN. RESTARTED THE CAR AND A "POWER STEERING ASSIST MODEL FAULT" WAS ILLUMINATED. TURNED THE CAR OFF. TURNED CAR BACK ON AND THE FAULT WAS GONE. DROVE CAR 1 MILE HOME AT LOW SPEED WITH HAZARDS. ERROR COMES BACK UNPREDICTABLY AND DANGEROUSLY.

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WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND THE ENGINE WILL RACE AND CAR WILL STOP.

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TWICE, WHEN EXITING CAR IN THE GARAGE, THE DOORS LOCKED AND THE ENGINE STARTED ON IT'S OWN. HAD TO USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE CAR, INSERT KEY AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. WITHOUT HEARING AIDS I WOULD HAVE JUST GONE IN THE HOUSE. DISASTER!

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STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED WARNING SIGNAL SHOWING ON DASH BOARD. STEER IS VERY HEAVY, CANNOT TURN. CANNOT MAKE RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. IF YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH, AND WANT TO TURN, YOU NEED ALWAYS OCCUPIED REVERSE ROAD. THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS. I'D LIKE TO SAY, IT LOST TURN FUNCTION, OUT OF CONTROL. DANGEROUS FOR MYSELF, AND OTHER VEHICLE. IF YOU GOOGLE THIS PROBLEM. A LOT OF FOCUS 2012 HAVE SAME ISSUES. BELOW LINK FOR YOUR REFERENCE. ALL OF THIS CAN SHOW IT'S DESIGN DEFECT. THIS PROBLEM CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. HTTPS://WWW.NYTIMES.COM/2015/12/25/AUTOMOBILES/FORD-FOCUS-STEERING-PROBLEM-PROMPTS-MANY-COMPLAINTS-BUT-NO-INQUIRY.HTML MY CAR HAVE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME, BUT NORMALLY WHEN I SHUT DOWN, RESTART, IT'S GONE. THIS TIME HAPPENED ON LAST FRIDAY NIGHT, MILE 48209, WITH HEAVY RAIN, FROZEN DAY. I CANNOT DRIVE IT TO HOME. IT'S VERY SAD AND FRUSTRATED. AND I BROUGHT IT TO DEALER, THEY ADVISE" FS27 RACK AND PINION-REPLACE" . COST 2200 USD. IT'S NOT FAIR TO ASK CUSTOMER PAY FOR THEIR DESIGN DEFECT. HIGHLY APPRECIATE IF YOUR EXCELLENCY CAN LOOK INTO THIS CASE, HELP ALL CUSTOMER SOLVE THIS POTENTIAL RISK.

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STEERING ASSIST FAILURE WHEN WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR LEAVING HER WORK SHE HAD A HORRIBLE TIME CONTROLLING THE VERTICAL TO MAKE IT HOME WOULD NOT TURN EASY WHAT SO EVER

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I STARTED ENGINE TODAY AND GOT NOTIFICATION THAT "STEERING ASSIST" NEEDS ATTENTION. I JUST RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR TO DEALER FOR RECALLS ON DOOR LATCHES, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, AND TRANSMISSION. THEY KEPT IT 2 WEEKS AND I HAD TO PAY $393.00 FOR REPAIR OF BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT AND WIRING DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE LINKAGE TO COMPUTER FAILED DUE TO SHORT. I HAVE ATTACHED THE DEALER INVOICE FOR THESE SERVICES. ON SEEING PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING ASSIST I LOOKED ON INTERNET AND SEE THAT FORD HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR MOTOR MOUNTS,STEERING ASSIST PROBLEMS, AND FAULTY WIRING ISSUES ON OTHER FORD MODELS BUT NOT FOR THE FOCUS. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED RECALL INFO FOR THE MOTOR MOUNT, STEERING ASSIST PROBLEM, OR WIRING ISSUES FOR MY FOCUS. SHOULD THEY NOT BE REQUIRED TO DO SO IF THEY HAVE ISSUED RECALLS FOR OTHER FORD PRODUCTS WITH THE SAME ISSUES?

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I WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE DOOR UNLATCHED ON IT'S OWN AND BECAME CRACKED OPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. I HAD TO STOP AND HURRY UP AND GET OUT TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR AGAIN. MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN HER CAR SEAT ON THAT SIDE. PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT 2 TIMES YESTERDAY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,200.

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TAKATA RECALL, FIRST OFF IS THE DRIVER DOOR COMES UNLOCKED WHILE DRIVING, ALSO HAD A DOOR LOCK AND WASN'T ABLE TO CLOSE. MY 2012 FOCUS FEELS LIKE IT'S GOT NO POWER ALOT OF TIMES OR WILL START TO SPUDDER FROM EVERY STOP. DOES SAME WHEN REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVE WAY. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL, I HAVE THE AUTOMATIC. IT REVS AT REALLY HIGH RPMS LIKE IT NEEDS TO SHIFT BUT DOESN'T. PROBABLY HAVE MORE ISSUES THE LONGER I KEEP IT, I BELIEVE THE HUFFINES DEALERSHIP, THE COMPANY THAT FINANCED AND FORD KNEW THESE THINGS COULD AND DID HAPPEN TO THE CAR I WAS SOLD. SINGLE FATHER WITH A 4 YEAR OLD SON JUST TRYING TO GET THIS FIXED NOTHING ABOUT THIS IS SAFE.

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POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES WHERE THE STEERING FREEZES AND THE VEHICLE HAS TO STOP, BE RESTARTED FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE RECTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION REVERSING OR JUST STARTED. IT IS NOW GOING INTO A FORD DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

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STEARING FAULT IS DISPLAYED AND ELECTRONIC POWER ASSISTANCE STOPPED WORKING. IT HAPPENED IN THE PARKING LOT DRIVING VERY SLOW.

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I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE IN 2016 WITH TAKING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION, ACCELERATING, SPUTTERING AND RANDOM STALLING WHILE DRIVING....WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER THE CAR ABRUPTLY STALLED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH ME AND MY SON, I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR TESTING. HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM THAT WOULD CAUSE THE STALLING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SPARINGLY AND CAUTIOUSLY IN 2017 AROUND MY COMMUNITY, EXPERIENCING RANDOM ISSUES WITH DROPPING DEAD AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IN MAY 2018, INCREASINGLY MORE CONCERNED, I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM EITHER. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, IN AUGUST 2018, THE CAR ABRUPTLY DROPPED DEAD AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION COMING EVEN CLOSER TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. UNLIKE PREVIOUS INSTANCES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALONG WITH AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED; NOT ALLOWING THE CAR TO STARTUP REQUIRING IT TO BE PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIC UNTIL TOWED. THE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH THIS CAR HAS PUT ME AND MY CHILD IN MANY UNSAFE SITUATIONS CAUSING TREMENDOUS STRESS AND ANXIETY NOT KNOWING WHEN OR WHERE THE CAR WOULD ABRUPTLY STALL AGAIN. WE'VE TAKEN IT THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND FIXED UNTIL THE LAST TRIP IN AUGUST 2018. THE DEALER INDICATED THE FUEL TANK HAD COLLAPSED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. MY HUSBAND SPOKE TO THE GENERAL MANAGER, FORD AND MANY OTHERS WHO REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. AFTER MULTIPLE CALLS AND COMPLAINTS TO FORD WE WERE LEFT WITH NO CHOICE, BUT TO PAY THE $1,300 REPAIR COST SINCE WE NEEDED THE VEHICLE THAT SAT AT THE DEALER FROM AUGUST 22, 2018 THROUGH OCTOBER 16, 2018. IT IS VERY DISCONCERTING TO KNOW FORD IS AND WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE SAFETY HAZARDS IT CAUSED AT THE TIME OF OUR COMPLAINT AND REFUSED TO DO THE RIGHT THING TO ENSUE CONSUMERS SAFETY.

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MY CAR HAS STALLED OUT 3 TIMES IN 2 DAYS. ONCE WHILE PARKED AFTER FILLING THE TANK WITH GAS. I HAD TURNED THE ENGINE OFF TO FILL THE TANK, AND THEN IT TOOK THREE ATTEMPTS WITH SLUGGISH TURNOVER TO START. THE NEXT TIME, I WAS IN IDLE AT A RED LIGHT AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE THIRD TIME, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN IN A DOWNTOWN AREA AND I LOST COMPRESSION AND NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER AND RESTARTED MY CAR. THIS MORNING THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY VEHICLE.

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THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY CAR IS STARTING TO LOCK UP WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE STEERLING WHEEL GETS STUCK AND ITS HARD TO CONTROL THE CAR,.

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RECALL # 16S30 SIDE DOOR LATCH REPLACEMENT REMEDY WAS NEVER PERFORMED ON VEHICLE IN 2016. I JUST PURCHASED CAR ON OCTOBER 27, 2018 AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR CLOSING WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE THE REMEDY WAS NEVER PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I DISCOVERED A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR.

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OPEN HOOD WARNING LIGHT COMES ON,AT RANDOM TIMES, WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE HOOD IS CLOSED SECURELY. ALARM SYSTEM GOES OFF, SEVERAL TIMES AT NIGHT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND ENGINE IS OFF. LOW BATTERY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE CAR ENGINE IS ON. BATTERY HAS BEEN CHECKED, IS GOOD!

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MY CAR HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT. I'M 6 MONTHS PREGNANT, DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION STARTS TO SLIP. DURING THE SLIP, A "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. SERVICE NOW" LIGHT COMES ON AND MY CAR PROCEEDS TO LOCK UP AND STALL AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. THREE DIFFERENT CARS ALMOST CRASHED INTO MY OWN BEFORE I COULD GET SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO A CAR LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD, AT 75,000 MILES?

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. BLAKE FORD LOCATED (1011 ARMORY DR, FRANKLIN, VA 23851, (888) 338-4988) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,496.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND A STEERING WHEEL ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HER TO CONTACT NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE IS UNDRIVABLE. *JB

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I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR THREE DAYS (10-28-18) WHEN THE STEERING ASSIST STOPPED WORKING WHEN IT WAS STARTED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND THE MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY SAID STEERING ASSIST FAULT. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IT WAS OK. THIS CAR HAS 71100 MILES ON IT AND WAS PURCHASED AS A FIRST CAR FOR MY SON WHO IS 17.

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ON 9/25/18, AFTER DRIVING TWO HOURS AND THEN MAKING A BRIEF STOP, WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING WARNING: "STEERING ASSIST FAULT. SERVICE REQUIRED." WHEN I STARTED BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, I DISCOVERED THE CAR HAD LOST POWER STEERING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON BUT RECEIVED THE SAME WARNING AND STILL HAD NO POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE TWO HOURS HOME VERY CAREFULLY BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS POSED A SAFETY RISK, ESPECIALLY IF IT HAD GONE OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING OR IF THERE WAS A NEED FOR ME TO MAKE A TURN QUICKLY. HERE ARE THE FACTS WE LEARNED FROM DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND CONTACTING OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP: SEVERAL OTHER FORD FAMILY MODELS WITH SIMILAR YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR STEERING ASSIST ISSUES AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM WHICH COSTS OVER $2100. IN CONCLUSION, WHY AM I NOW $2100 POORER AFTER REPLACING POWER STEERING IN A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES WHEN CLEARLY THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH FORD'S POWER STEERING THAT SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL ON THE FOCUS AS WELL? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS COMPLAINT.

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