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

WHEN YOU GO TO START IT AS SOON AS YOU TURN THE IGNITION ON IT STARTS TO CRANK THE CAR OVER WHEN I DON'T HAVE IT TURN ALL THE WAY TO CRANK THE MOTOR OVER. AS IT HAS A SHORT I BEEN TOLD BY FORD BUT NOTHING BEING DONE THEY SAID IT SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST.IT CRANKS OVER LIKE A DEAD BATTERY WHEN THE BATTERY BRAND NEW.BUT THE KEY SWITCH SHOULD NEVER START THE ENGINE TILL YA TURN IT ALL THE WAY.IT'S LIKE IF I TURN THE SWITCH ON TO HEAR THE RADIO THE CAR STARTS CRANKING OVER AND STARTING WHEN IT SHOULDNT.FORD HAS NEVER FIX THE RECALLS THATS ON IT NOW AS WE TOLD THEM AND THEY SAY THEY ARENT IMPORTANT WHEN THE DOORS AND SWITCH ARE VERY IMPORTANT.THIS STARTING PROBLEM BEEN GOING ON SINCE WE BOUGHT IT FROM FORD.

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THE CAR CUTS OFF WHILE IN MOTION. AT TIMES IT WILL SHUT OFF AT STOP LIGHTS, IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR JUST STOP ACCELERATING. IT MAY START BACK AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE WIPER BLADES OPERATIONAL, THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER BLADE STOPPED OPERATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OBSTRUCTED THE DRIVER'S VISION AS THE WIPER BLADE FAILED TO STOP. THE DEALER (LONNIE COBB FORD, 1618 US-45, HENDERSON, TN 38340, (731) 989-2121) STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR COULD BE DIFFICULT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. *TT *JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE STEERING COLUMN SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

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POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING "IN AND OUT" FOR ABOUT A YEAR. RESOLVED TEMPORARILY TYPICALLY BY RESTARTING ENGINE. HOWEVER, POWER STEERING PERMANENTLY FAILED 9/24/18. T CALLED CUSTOMER CARE STATING FORD KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE (2017 DISMISSED LAWSUIT). THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT. MILEAGE @88,000. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ISSUES THEY HAVE WITH THEIR VEHICLES. COST TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION WAS $2,200!

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MY FOCUS WHEN BEING TURNED ON THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS IN PLACE AND DOES NOT WANT TO TURN IN ANY DIRECCION. THIS HAS HAPPEND MULTIPLE OCCASIONS FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. THE PROBLEM USED TO BE RESOLVED BY TURNIG THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON BUT IS NOT THE CASE ANYMORE. THIS LAST TIME THAT IT HAPPEND I WAS IN MOTION COMING TO A STOP SIGN AND IT SEIZED ON ME. LUCKYLY I WAS ALREADY STOPPING OR I COULD HAVE WRECKED. IT TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OF TURNING THE ENGINE ON AND OFF TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. FOR NOW WE ARE NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT IT IS DANGEROUS. THE WARINING THAT TURNED ON ON THE DASH READ "STEERING FAULT". THIS CAR IS A 2012 WITH 130 THOUSAND MILES.

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MY 16 YEAR OLD WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT MADE THE STEERING GO OUT FOR HER. THIS PART IS EXTREMELY PRICEY I FEEL THAT AS MANY COMPLAINTS THERE ARE ABOUT THIS PLUS THE HIGH COST THIS SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. VERY DANGEROUS

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THIS CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING IT AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE FOR MY DAUGHTER. THE STEREO WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES BUT FORD SAYS THE PROBLEM IS NOT BAD ENOUGH WHEN HOOKED UP TO THE COMPUTER FOR IT TO BE REPLACED UNDER THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH FORD HAS PUT IN PLACE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 MILES AND 7 YEARS. LASTLY TWICE WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS STARTING TO DRIVE THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. THE SECOND TIME THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE AND CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. ITS A GOOD THING SHE KNEW TO USE HER EMERGENCY BRAKE OR SHE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. NEVER BUYING A FORD AGAIN.

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THE HORN QUIT WORKING AT 90XXX MILES. I CHECKED THE RELAY, AND THE RELAY WAS NOT THE ISSUE. I LUCKILY PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT PAID FOR THE HORN. BUT I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALLED ISSUED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL ARE HAVING THIS ISSUES, FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND ONLINE.

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THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME, BUT MID-TRIP. MY SON WAS DRIVING AND HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING HOME.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT LATCH AND REMAINED OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHEN DRIVING, TURNING, AND SWITCHING LANES, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SPUTTERED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND CLUTCH FAILED. THE DEALER (ALLAN VIGIL FORD, 6790 MT ZION BLVD, MORROW, GA 30260, (678) 364-3673) STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

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POWER STEERING ASSIST STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING CAR. STEERING BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. TOOK TO DEALER, REQUIRED ENTIRE STEERING GEAR TO BE REPLACED.

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A WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAY WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY : "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONING, SERVICE NOW". CAR STOPS SHIFTING PROPERLY. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE FOR 1 HOUR , IT STARTS BACK AND THE WARNING MESSAGE DISAPPEAR. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. SCARY FEELING UNSAFE. THIS IS A DUAL CLUTCH SYSTEM (AUTOMATIC/MANUAL 6 SPEED).

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WHEN HARD BRAKING AND HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL TRAVEL FURTHER, ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND IT FEELS LIKE I WILL NOT STOP. FOR A WHILE AFTERWARDS THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL STILL TRAVEL FURTHER MAKING YOU FELL LIKE YOU WILL NOT STOP. TALKED TO THE DEALER (CREST FORD IN CENTER LINE, MI, MIKE) AND HE EXPLAINED THIS IS NORMAL. AFTER THE HARD BRAKE AND THE WHEELS LEAVE THE GROUND, THE ABS SYSTEM THINKS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND DOES A FULL DIAGNOSTICS, DURING WHICH TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL IS INCREASE UNTIL THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK IS COMPLETE. NO OTHER CAR I HAVE OWN DOES THIS AND DO NOT THINK THIS IS SHOULD BE THIS WAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES LAST WINTER, THEN WHEN IT HAPPENED ON DRY PAYMENT I CALLED TO BRING IT IN AND THEY TOLD ME NOT TO

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AFTER A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE IN NOVEMBER OF 2017. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,540.

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ALL OF A SUDDEN MY DRIVERS DOOR CLOSES, BUT WILL NOT LATCH SHUT AND THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. WORKED YESTERDAY AND TODAY WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE DOOR OPENED AND INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON WITH A DASH WARNING THAT DRIVERS DOOR IS OPEN. THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY.

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WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK AT ANY LEVEL WHILE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THEN LATER BEGAN RUNNING ON THEIR OWN. THIS INCLUDES WHILE VEHICLE WAS BOTH STATIONARY (0MPH) AND IN MOTION (73MPH). FIRST INCIDENT OF WIPERS NOT WORKING AT ALL OCCURRED IN THE MORNING AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED FOR THE FIRST TIME OF THE DAY, AND CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. LATER, DURING AFTERNOON COMMUTE (70MPH), WIPERS SPONTANEOUSLY STARTED RUNNING ON THEIR OWN BRIEFLY WITHOUT LEVER BEING PRESSED. ON THE SAME EVENING, WHEN VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (0MPH), WIPERS STARTED RUNNING ON HIGH SPEED AND WOULD NOT STOP RUNNING DESPITE ENGINE BEING TURNED OFF AND KEYS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION.

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POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING "IN AND OUT" FOR ABOUT 1-2 YEARS. RESOLVED TEMPORARILY TYPICALLY BY RESTARTING ENGINE. HOWEVER, POWER STEERING PERMANENTLY FAILED 9/9/18. TOOK MY CAR IN MULTIPLE TIMES PRIOR TO THIS WITH NO RESOLUTION. LOOKING AT A $2100 BILL TO REPLACE WHOLE STEERING GEAR. MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH CARS COMPUTER. CALLED CUSTOMER CARE STATING FORD KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE (2017 DISMISSED LAWSUIT)-- BUT WARRANTY WAS RELIED TO GET OUT OF THE COST RESPONSIBILITY. MILEAGE AROUND 94-96,000.

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WHILE SITTING STILL MY GAS HAND WENT FROM 1/2 A TANK OF GAS TO THE FULL MARK. FILLED IT UP EVEN THOUGH THE GAS HAND WAS ON FULL MARK. IT TOOK $20 TO FILL IT UP AND FOR IT TO KICK OFF. THEN WHEN I STARTED TO START MY CAR I HAND TO TURN THE KEY TWICE TO GET THE MOTOR STARTED AND THEN AFTER I TOOK MY HAND OFF THE KEY IT KEPT ON CRANKING AS IF TRYING TO START ALTHOUGH IT WAS ALREADY RUNNING. I DROVE IT TO LEXINGTON AND COULD FEEL IT REVVING THE MOTOR UP WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING. I TURNED AROUND AND DROVE BACK TO FRANKFORT AND TOOK IT TO BIG O'S. THEY PUT A HANDHELD TESTER ON IT AND SAID IT WAS EITHER THE OXYGEN SENSOR OR CONVERTER FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT THAT WAS ON. I INFORMED THEM THAT I HAD REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR JUST 3 WEEKS AGO. HE TEST DROVE IT AND SAID IT REVVED UP ON HIM ALSO WHICH HE SAID SOMETHING WAS GOING WRONG IN THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I LEFT FROM THERE THE LIGHTS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AND THE GAS HAND WAS STILL PAST THE FULL MARK. ON 9/7/2018 ALTHOUGH IT SAID THE TANK WAS FULL MY FUEL LIGHT CAME ON. IT ALSO QUIT ON ME ON 9/7/2018 GOING DOWN A HILL AND I HAD TO PULL OVER FOR A WHILE BEFORE IT WOULD START BACK UP SO I COULD GET HOME. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TCM VALVE WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE CLUTCHES IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.

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WHEN PLACING PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP YOU HEAR/FEEL A CRUNCHING SOUND. IT NEVER DID THAT BEFORE NOW IT DOES IT EVERY TIME YOU USE THE BRAKES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT GARAGES TO BE CHECKED AND GOT BACK THAT MY BRAKES WAS FINE. ONE GARAGE SAID IT COULD BE THE ABS SYSTEM MAKING THE NOISE. NO POWER TO CLIMB A HILL OR IF YOU GET UP THE HILL THE ENGINE/MOTOR DOES NOT SHIFT LIKE IT SUPPOSE TO. THIS ALL TOOK PLACE IN AUGUST OF 2018.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE STEERING SERVICE DEFAULT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORRIS FORD (901 MERRITT BLVD, BALTIMORE, MD 21222, (410) 285-0200) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

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THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT THE LIGHT AND I SAID FOR 30 MINUTES AND THEN THE CAR STARTED GOING IN REVERSE AND THE DRAFT STARTED BACK WORKING BUT IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS IN AND OUT. I HAD JUST GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. DURING THE FAILURE, THE "STEERING FAULT" MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (SAN TAN FORD, 1429 E. MOTORPLEX LOOP, GILBERT, AZ) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND ROLLED BACKWARDS EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTOMAX FORD (LOCATED AT 3301 E CENTRAL TEXAS EXPSY, KILLEEN, TX) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V523000 (POWER TRAIN). THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION PARTS THAT WERE USED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE WERE THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE CONTACT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED TWICE AND A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED ONCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.

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