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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STUTTERED AND ROLLED BACKWARDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND FAILED TO TURN, AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE "TRANSMISSION READY" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (CAMELBACK FORD, 1330 E CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014, (602) 635-7551) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11124402

OCCASSIONALLY WHEN FIRST STARTING THIS VEHICLE AN ALERT WILL APPEAR ON THE DASH, SAYING POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS FAILED, CONTACT FORD SERVICE DEALER AND THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT WORK. IF I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART THE POWER ASSIST WILL WORK, SO FAR.

NHTSA ODI 11124039

IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR I STARTED THE CAR FROM THE GARAGE AND THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING AS IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL,MANEUVER, AND STEER THE CAR. I MANAGED TO GET IT TO MY LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY ASSESSED THE SITUATION. THEY FOUND FAILURE WITH THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. IN ORDER TO FIX IT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WHICH CONTAINS THE STEERING MODULE. THIS COST $3,377.56. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN THE HOPES THAT IT PROMPTS A RECALL AND THAT I MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME FORM OF REFUND FOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY FAILURE AND EXPENSE FOR A CAR THAT IS NOT THAT OLD WITH LOW MILEAGE. I KEPT THE REPAIR INVOICE WITH ALL THE DETAILS BUT DO NOT WISH TO POST IT AS IT CONTAINS MY PERSONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI 11123981

THE TRUNK LID OPENS RANDOMLY. IT OPENS WHENEVER THE CAR IS STARTED OR TURNED OFF(WHILE THE KEYS ARE TAKEN OUT), WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS, AND WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST SET INTO MOTION. IT HAS NOT OPENED WHILE DRIVING AT FULL SPEED BUT WORRIED THAT IT COULD HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11123887

IM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE 2016 THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT I TOOK IT BACK A CONTROL MODULE WAS PUT ON IT, THAN I TOOK IT BACK THE END 2017 A CLUTCH WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE BEEN PUT IN IT. NOW ITS 2018 AND ITS BACK ACTING UP AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11123606

ENGINE TEMPERATURE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS AND SAYS ENGINE IS OVERHEATING WHEN IT IS IN FACT NOT AS WELL AS WHEN IT IS.

NHTSA ODI 11123784

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION LIGHT COME ON LOSE REVERSE AN DRIVE CLUTCH STICK ITS AN AUTO

NHTSA ODI 11123345

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND EXITED THE FREEWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER UNLOCKED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. PAUL CERAME FORD (11400 NEW HALLS FERRY ROAD, FLORISSANT, MO 63033, (314) 838-2400) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,550.

NHTSA ODI 11122976

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SWITCH FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AND THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE WIPER SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V149000 (VISIBILITY). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,133.

NHTSA ODI 11123076

CAR LOST STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING MAKING THE CAR HAD TO STEER TO AVOID COLLISION. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, ALARM CAME ON THE STEERING ASSIST FAILED.

NHTSA ODI 11122844

RAN OUT OF FUEL IN THIS VEHICLE, ONCE WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD SAY THERE WAS BETWEEN 75-100 MILES BEFORE EMPTY. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE HAD A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER DIAGNOSIS THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID SOME VALVE REMAINED OPEN CAUSING THE GAS TANK TO CRACK AND IN TURN GAS FLOWED BACK INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE COST TO FIX WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $3100. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, BUT FORD REFUSES TO RECALL OR EVEN PAY FOR THE WORK. I EVEN HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT EITHER.

NHTSA ODI 11122102

I HAVE 2012 FORD FOCUS TITANIUM WITH HANDLING PACKAGE. EARLIER THIS YEAR IS WHEN THIS ISSUE STARTED. I PULLED UP TO GAS STATION TO PUMP FUEL INTO MY CAR. AFTER I WAS DONE I GOT BACK INTO MY CAR AND PUSHED THE PUSH START BUTTON. THE CAR STRUGGLED TO TURN ON AND STAY ON AND EVENTUALLY STAYED ON WITHOUT ANY ISSUES SO THIS LASTED MAYBE 5-10 SECONDS. EACH TIME I STARTED UP THE CAR I HAD ZERO ISSUES WITH GETTING CAR TURNED ON. THIS ISSUE ONLY OCCURS WHEN I HAVE JUST PUT GAS INTO THE GAS TANK AND I'M STARTING UP THE CAR. FILLER NECK HAS BEEN REPLACED, FUEL SENSOR AND HAVE EVEN HAD A EVAP TEST DONE FOR LEAKS AND THE ISSUE IS STILL AROUND. I'VE HAD A DIAGNOSTIC DONE AND THE CODE CAME BACK AS THE CAR IS RELEASING TOO MUCH FUEL. I DON'T REMEMBER THE CODE OR THE EXACT WORDING BUT THAT WAS WHAT THE CODE WAS SAYING.

NHTSA ODI 11121937

FUEL PERG VALVE STUCK IN CLOSED / OPEN POSSITION. RESULTING IN TANK DEFORM AND SENDING UNIT FAILER.

NHTSA ODI 11121257

2012 FORD FOCUS SEL HATCHBACK STARTED TO DEVELOP STUTTER AND STALL ON LOW LOAD. COULD BE UNDER COASTING AT 60MPH OR SLOWING TO STOP. THE REVS DROP AND ENGINE STALLS. WHILE COASTING, PUT THE CAR IN N AND RESTARTED ENGINE. WAS OK AFTER THAT. CK ENG LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED CODES, REPLACED EVAP PURGE VALVE AND ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE O2 SENSOR. UNABLE TO REMOVE OLD ONE AT THIS POINT. CLEARED CODE. CK ENG LIGHT CAME BACK ON BUT CAR SEEMS TO BEHAVE LIKE NORMAL. WILL HAVE TO PULL CODE AGAIN. WILL BE EXTREMELY UNHAPPY IF FUEL TANK HAS COLLAPSED. THE GAUGE STARTED READING FAULTY BUT BASED ON REFUEL DATES AND MILES DRIVEN THE TANK SEEMS TO TAKE THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF FUEL. RAN OUT OF GAS WITH INFO CENTER STATING 10 MILES LEFT. EACH TIME THE CAR STALLS IT HAS NO ISSUE RESTARTING. IT ONLY HAS TROUBLE RIGHT AFTER FILLING UP. IT CRANKS FOR A WHILE. THEN IT TURNS OVER AND DOES FINE. CAR WOULD ALSO IDLE AT WRONG LEVELS. ALWAYS USED TO IDLE AT ABOUT 750RPM, WHICH IT DOES AGAIN NOW THAT EVAP PURGE VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED. BEFORE THE EVAP PURGE VALVE REPLACEMENT THE CAR WOULD FEEL LIKE IT'S ENGINE BRAKING WHEN COASTING INSTEAD OF JUST ROLLING LIKE A NORMAL AUTOMATIC. THE CAR HASN'T BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALERSHIP YET. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HERE.

NHTSA ODI 11121044

THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION SEVICE NOW WARNING CAME ON. CAR SHUDDERS AND LURCHS WHEN ON INCLINE, SLOWING AT INTERSECTION, DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING 60 MPH ON EXPRESSWAY. CLUTCH HAD BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES: THE FIRST AT 3,543 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAD SHUDDERED,LURCHED FORWARD I OFF/ON FOR FOUR YEARS WHEN STOPPING,SLOWING DOWN AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI 11121068

2012 FORD FOCUS WITH 55,000 MILES. DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND 84. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT HIT AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE. STEERING AND BRAKES WORKED FINE. CAR WILL NOT RESTART. TURNING THE KEY IS UNEVENTFUL, NO NOISE OR ACTION OF ANY KIND. THERE IS ELECTRIC, AS I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE WINDOWS DOWN. WAITED 3 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK. I LOST A DAYS WAGE, HAVE A TOW BILL AND A CAR THAT WILL NOT WORK. THANKFUL THAT MY TEEN WAS NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11120485

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11119269

DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AND LATCH. THEREFORE IT WILL FLY OPEN WHEN DRIVING IF IT IS NOT TIED TO SOMETHING ELSE IN THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED SPONTANEOUSLY WITH AN ACCIDENT, BUT DURING REGULAR USE.

NHTSA ODI 11115839

VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS OR HESITATE WHEN STARTING TO GO. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO LOSE POWER DURING NORMAL OPERATION AND IF IT STALLED OUT IT WOULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES OR LONGER TO START, CAUSING TRAFFIC ISSUES. FUEL GAUGE WOULD READ 3/4 OF A TANK AND BE EMPTY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND HAD COMPUTER RESET TO FIX ISSUE BUT DID NOT FIX IT. THEN ANOTHER DEALERSHIP ADVISED THEY HAD ANOTHER FOCUS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND HAD TO REPLACE FUEL TANK, PURGE VALVE AND FUEL PUMP BECAUSE THE FUEL TANK HAD COLLAPSED INWARD. THEY CHECKED THE FUEL TANK ON MY FOCUS AND IT HAD ALSO COLLAPSED INWARD. HAD FUEL TANK, PURGE VALVE AND FUEL PUMP REPLACED AND NOW IT RUNS LIKE IT SHOULD AND GAUGES WORK. WAS ADVISED THAT THIS ISSUE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO INTO LIMP MODE WHICH CAUSES CAR TO STALL. THIS REPAIR COST ME $1586.02! THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND A HAZARD TO THE OCCUPANTS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT THE LAST 4 YEARS AND IT TOOK THIS LONG TO DISCOVER WHAT WAS CAUSING IT. I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 5 YEARS NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11115691

WHILE DRIVING, STEERING WHEEL ASSIST MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING. LOOK ONLINE AND THERE ARE RECALLS TO OTHER FORD MODELS, BUT NOT FOR THE FOCUS ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING AND A SERIOUS CAR CRASH COULD HAPPEN BECAUSE OF IT.

NHTSA ODI 11115745

2012 FORD FOCUS, SEL. THE CAR WOULD FLUTTER AND DIE OUT, NO POWER, AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND OR DURING DRIVING ON THE ROAD OR INTERSTATE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I WOULD TRY TO RE-START, AT TIMES IT WOULD RE-START AFTER WAITING ABOUT FIVE MINUTES OR SO. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHICH TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A INFO OUT ON THAT AND THAT THE FORD COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR IN THE TUNE OF $2200.00 AT THIS TIME. IT SEEMS THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH CARS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. TO THIS DATE I KNOW OF 106 VEHICLES WITH THE PROBLEM. IT'S SAD THAT SOMEONE HAS TO DIE FROM THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING GETS DONE.

NHTSA ODI 11115469

THE CAR LOSSES STEERING ASSISTANCE ON THE ROAD OCCASIONALLY. THE LIGHT SAYING "STEERING ASSISTANT FAULT" ALSO COMES ON. THEN TYPICALLY AFTER 1DAY OR 2, THE SYSTEM RESUMES ITSELF. WHEN IT HAPPENS, WHEEL BECOMES REALLY HEAVY AND NOT POSSIBLE TO TURN AT 60-79MPH ON HIGHWAY. AT LOWER SPEED, IT NEEDS VERY HARD PULLING TO JUST MAKE A NORMAL RIGHT OR LEFT TURNING. I ALSO HAVE TO DECREASE SPEED WHEN MAKING THE TURN AND CAUSING VEHICLES AFTER TO DECREASE SPEED ALSO. THE FORD MANUFACTURER MECHANIC HAVE MADE FULL DIAGNOSTIC OF THE STEERING PART. THEY COULDN'T FIND A REASON AND ALSO SAID THERE COULD BE NO REASON. THE ELECTRICITY SYSTEM OF RELATED PART COULD JUST BE OUT OF ORDER SOME TIME AND THEN BECAME NORMAL AGAIN--TOLD BY THE MECHANIC. IT'S ALSO CONFIRMED SUCH DISORDER IS NOT CAUSED BY CAR WASH OR COSMETIC DAMAGE ON CAR'S SURFACE. THE PART IS ALSO NOT REPAIRABLE BUT HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO SOLVE THE ISSUE, WHICH APPEARS TO BE A FAULT OF DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OVER HUNDREDS OF SUCH ISSUE FOR FORD FOCUS 2012-2014, DISCUSSED ON FORUM AND ALSO REPORTED BY MEDIA. TODAY, BEFORE WRITING THIS, THE FAULT JUST HAPPENED ON MY CAR AGAIN. I THINK IT BEGINS TO HAPPEN MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY EVER SINCE THE FIRST TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS MAY 13TH, 2018; SECOND WAS JULY 19TH, THEN TODAY: AUG. 1ST. IT IS TERRIFYING HOW FREQUENTLY IT MAY HAPPEN ON ROAD IN FUTURE. AND WHAT'S MORE, MY CAR'S ODOMETER IS ONLY 44K MILES. HOPE THE COMPLAINT COULD BE VALID AND MEASUREMENT DONE TOWARDS FORD. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11115216

STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVE AND BEEN LOCKED UP FOR SOME DAYS NOW AND IT IS HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL AND DONT HAVE THE MONEY FIX IT HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW THIS JUST A SHAME.

NHTSA ODI 11114401

TAKATA RECALL. I WENT TO TACOMA DODGE TO PURCHASE MY FIRST VEHICLE. IT WAS PRE OWNED WITHOUT WARRANTY. THIS WAS AROUND OCTOBER 2016. NOT EVEN A YEAR INTO MY FIRST CAR AND IT STARTED SHOWING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION AND HAS DIED ON ME MORE THAN FIVE TIMES. SOMETIMES ON THE FREEWAY WITH PEOPLE GOING OVER 60 MPH PUTTING ME AT RISK AND FAMILY MEMBERS. IT'S BEEN STATIONARY FOR ALMOST A YEAR LATER AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PRINTED A LIST OF FAULTS FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS THE DAY I SIGNED FOR THE VEHICLE OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN IT.

NHTSA ODI 11114089

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND WHEN DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED QUIRK FORD OF AUGUSTA AT (888) 468-2307 (LOCATED AT 7 WATER ST, HALLOWELL, ME 04347), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

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