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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE WALKING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. HE INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE BY THE FUEL TANK AND NOTICED FUEL ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ODI 11056382

2012 FORD FOCUS HAD INTERMITTENT STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNINGS. SINCE 12/24/2017 THE FAULT WARNING DOES NOT GO AWAY AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING. I CALLED 2 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS, THEY BOTH DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF ANY KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DID A TINY BIT OF RESEARCH AND QUICKLY FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT YOUR AGENCY HAS HAD COMPLAINTS AND ARE OR DID INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. IS THIS CAUSED BY AN EXPOSURE TO EXTREME HEAT FROM OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS? THE FAULTS ALWAYS STARTED UPON STARTING THE CAR AND I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON,IT WOULD GO AWAY BUT KNOW IT WON'T GO AWAY AND I CANNOT DRIVE IT WITHOUT POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI 11056591

STEERING FAULT FAILURE BEGAN AS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AT 55,000 MILES. THE ISSUE COMMENCED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND PRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. STEERING THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT BEYOND DESCRIPTION. NOW THE PROBLEM IS CHRONIC, REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM FAIR OAKS FORD IN NAPERVILLE, IL WAS $2,400.00. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA AND EVIDENT ON A NUMBER OF OTHER SITES THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR SAFETY REASONS ALONE.

NHTSA ODI 11056147

A NOTICE ON THE DASH APPEARED AT STARTUP(STATIONARY) , STATING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED. THIS MAKES STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE BUT THE WARNING WOULD GO AWAY ON NEXT START UP. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT NO CODES WERE SHOWING. I HAVE HAD MY CAR AT A FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS OR BULLETINS.

NHTSA ODI 11055100

ON 12/8/2017 I DROVE ME CAR DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE FROM MY HOUSE. PARKED IT IN THE GULTCH AREA. WALKED TO A RETURN. CAME BACK TO MY CAR AND THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT CAME ON. IT SAID CONTACT DEALER. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN WITH GREAT EFFORT, HOWEVER I WAS PARALLEL PARKED AND THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GETTING THE CAR OUT OF THE POSITION IT WAS IN WITHOUT NEEDING A TOW TRUCK. SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. ONCE THERE IT TOOK THEM 5 DAYS TO TELL HOOK IT UP TO THE COMPUTER AND TELL ME THAT I NEEDED ALMOST $2,300 WORTH OF REPAIRS. SO BASICALLY WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED, IT BROKE. I DECLINED SERVICE AT THE MOMENT AND AM ACTIVELY SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSTIC WAS AS FOLLOWS: "FOUND U3000-49 PSCM INTERNAL FAILURE. FOLLOWED PINPOINT TEST B AND FOUND NEEDS RACK REPLACEMENT." THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JAN 2013 FROM A CAR MAX. I PAYED FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT THEY SOLD ME AS 100,000 MIES "OVER THE PURCHASE MILAGE", TO WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO INFORM ME ACTUALLY MEANT 100,000 MILES TOTAL. I'M RIGHT AT THE 113,500 NEIGHBORHOOD. I HAVE EXACTLY TWO PAYMENTS LEFT. SO NOW NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO BORROW OR RENT A CAR ($$$) I WILL LOOSE MONEY IF I TRADE IT IN, I HAVE TO BURDEN SOMEONE ELSE WITH THE USE OF MY CAR TO WORK. WHICH HAS AFFECTED MY ABILITY TO EARN A LIVING AND PAY MY BILLS. TOP THAT OFF WITH THE SERVICE CHARGE OF AND EXTRA $2,300 OUT OF POCKET. FORD, WE NEED TO TALK.

NHTSA ODI 11054888

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING AND MADE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. IF I WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO FORCE THE WHEELS TO TURN, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN WHILE BEING STATIONARY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL OF THE FOCUS AND FORD SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO REPLACE ALL POWER STEERING WITH MORE RELIABLE PARTS FOR THIS MODEL OF THE FOCUS.

NHTSA ODI 11054652

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSIST IS FAILING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RANDOMLY LOSE POWER STEERING. THIS MAKE THE VEHICLE VERY HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL. THE CAR IS A 2012 AND ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED YET OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSIST HAS BEEN RECALLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS STATIONARY AND WE DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR. SEEMS THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND NOW WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, WE DON'T WANT IT TO FAIL WHILE WE ARE DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY.

NHTSA ODI 11054396

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SZOTT FORD (8800 E HOLLY RD, HOLLY, MI 48442, PHONE: (248) 634-4411) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS13724060. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,700. *TT UPDATED 9/18/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11054576

TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS.... GENERAL RECALL INQUIRY -- ELECTRIC STEERING LOCKED UP IN DRIVEWAY BEFORE LEAVING HOUSE TWICE WITHIN THE LAST WEEK... CONTACT CALLED DEALERSHIP AND DEALERSHIP STATED ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CLUTCH WAS REPLACED TWICE ALREADY. 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN CB

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POWER STEERING DOES NOT ENGAGE AT START UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES NOW OVER THE LAST MONTH; MOST RECENTLY THIS EVENING WHEN I WENT TO MOVE IT IN THE DRIVEWAY (AND ONLY AN HOUR AFTER ARRIVING HOME FROM A 40 MINUTE COMMUTE). THIS HAS NOT YET HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, BUT IT CONCERNS ME THAT IT COULD. THE STEERING WHEEL IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEN THIS CONDITION EXISTS.

NHTSA ODI 11054060

WASHER FLUID NOT DISPENSING.

NHTSA ODI 11053744

MY STEERING LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN MY WHEEL WHEN DRIVING. THE ALERT "STEER ASSIST FAILURE" APPEARED ON DASH. I HAD MY CAR TOWED INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY POWER STEERING WHICH COSTS $2000. THEY IMPLIED THAT IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD AS NO POWER STEERING VERY WELL WOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THEN CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS OF DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PURGE VALE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,433.

NHTSA ODI 11052245

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CODES INDICATED SOMETHING WRONG WITH PURGE VALVE AND SMALL EVAP LEAK. WHILE DRIVING AT 55+MPH ON A 6 LANE HIGHWAY, MY CAR STALLED AND MY BATTERY LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BEFORE THAT HAPPENED, CAR WOULD JUST REV AND THEN JERK ME FORWARD. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY MULTIPLE VEHICLES. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!! I MADE IT TO MY MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY PURGE VALVE GOT STUCK OPEN CAUSING THE VACUUM SYSTEM TO SUCK MY FUEL TANK IT, ALSO CAUSING IT TO COLLAPSE. MY FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP, CHARCOAL CANISTER, AND PURGE SOLENOID ALL NEEDED REPLACING. REPAIRS COST ME $1700 OUT OF POCKET, NOT TO ALSO MENTION RENTAL CAR. THIS WAS RECALLED ON FORD FUSION...WHY NOT FOCUS?! THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES OR FATALITIES!! I EXPECT REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL EXPENSES!!!

NHTSA ODI 11052299

GOT STEERING ASSIST SENSOR FAULT. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE USED. THIS HAPPENED WHILE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND IN MOTION IN A PARKING LOT AT FIRST THEN ON THE ROAD. WAS ABLE TO TURN CAR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL. IT HAPPENED THE LAST TIME AS I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND WOULDN'T UNLOCK. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND IT COST $2000 TO FIX A SENSOR. I LOOKED UP HOW TO FIX IT MYSELF AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH NO LISTED FIX OTHER THAN TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A STEERING GEAR REPLACEMENT. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE PRIOR TO HITTING ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI 11052091

LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE WHERE IT WORKS AND DOESN'T WORK. CHANGED THE BULB AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. DISCOVERED THE PLUG IN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES TO THE BULB LOOKS CRACKED. THE BULB TESTS OK. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY DAMAGE TO THIS VEHICLE RELATED TO THE HEADLIGHT ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS A DIPPED BEAM FAULT COMING UP ON THE CAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, AND THE FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO D & D FORD (13655 E WADE HAMPTON BLVD, GREER, SC 29651, (855) 505-1172) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF DTC CODE: P0785 (TIMING SOLENOID MALFUNCTION) AND THAT THE CLUTCH ACTUATORS AND SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH MOTOR #2 WAS SWITCHED TO CLUTCH MOTOR #1 AND THE TCM MODULE WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,230.

NHTSA ODI 11051568

STARTED GETTING RANDOM STEERING ASSIST FAULTS WHEN STARTING CAR. WOULD SHUT CAR OFF AND RESTART CAR AND EVERYTHING WOULD BE FINE. STARTED CAR AND TO WORK ON MONDAY MORNING WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. WENT TO START CAR AT LUNCH TIME AND GOT THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT AGAIN. TURNED OFF CAR AND RESTARTED - PROBLEM STILL THERE. NO POWER STEERING AT ALL NOW. HAD TO CAREFULLY DRIVE CAR TO DEALER WITHOUT ANY POWER STEERING. CAR IS PRESENTLY AT FORD DEALERS AWAITING SERVICE. CAR HAS ABOUT 84,000 MILES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRONIC RACK AND PINION.*JS

NHTSA ODI 11050912

TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH THIS CAR HAS STOPPED RUNNING, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE MOST RECENT TIME, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING BACK TO SCHOOL IN LUBBOCK, TX GOING 80 MPH WHEN IT SHUTDOWN. SHE TRIED TO PULL OVER BUT ALMOST WRECKED DUE TO THE FACT SHE HAD NO POWER BRAKES. I HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS ON THE INTERNET AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS DOCUMENTING THE SAME THING SHE HAD HAPPEN TO HER. WHEN SHE TOOK IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THEY OF COURSE COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE AND THEY WOULD NOT GIVE HER A LOANER OR RENTAL CAR DURING THE TIME IT TOOK THEM TO LOOK AT IT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE WITH FORD NOT HAVING A FIX. AT THIS POINT, IF I WASN'T UPSIDE DOWN ON THE CAR, I WOULD TRADE IT IN ON SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND IT WOULDN'T BE A FORD. I DIGRESS.

NHTSA ODI 11048740

NOV 27, 2017. GOT IN MY CAR AFTER WORK AND STEERING ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON. PUT HANDS ON STEERING WHEEL AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. CALLED A MECHANIC HE SAID IT WOULD BE $1800 TO FIX IT. SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO FIVE OTHER PEOPLE HE KNOWS.

NHTSA ODI 11048801

I SAW A WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD SAYING 'STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION' . POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING, IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. IT WAS IN CITY, GLAD I'M NOT ON HIGHWAY. HELP ME IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE AND ALSO PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF IT COVERS UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY !

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRANDON FORD (9090 E ADAMO DR, TAMPA, FL 33619, (813) 246-3673) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO COLLAPSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11047696

MY POWER STEERING ASSIST IS COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONED VERY HARD TO STEER. VERY HARD TO TURN AND STEER WENT OUT ON ME WHILE I WAS AT THE STOP SIGN IN TOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11047844

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS ON ONE FOURTH OF A TANK. LATER, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED A FULL TANK WHEN THE CONTACT HAD NOT FILLED UP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED AAA WHO STATED THAT DUE TO THE INDICATORS ILLUMINATING, THE CONTACT SHOULD ADD FUEL. THE CONTACT ADDED FUEL AND THE VEHICLE STARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. WHEN THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, IT RESPONDED AS IF IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CONTACT CURRENTLY ADDS FUEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IDLING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.

NHTSA ODI 11046998

THE METALLIC TRIM ON THE COLUMN IS PEELING, EVER SO SLIGHTLY, BUT ENOUGH TO HAVE LEFT MY KNUCKLES AND FINGERS BLOODY AND IN PAIN ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHEN I TURN. I ASKED THE FORD DEALER FOR HELP, HOWEVER, WAS TOLD I NEED TO SPEND $500 FOR A NEW CONSOLE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD I THINK FORD SHOULD FIX. I REALLY LIKE MY CAR, BUT I AM NOT HAPPY THAT MY CAR IS CUTTING ME WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. I HAVE TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL AND I HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL. I PRAY I DON'T GET INTO A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY FINGERS ARE BEING SLICED WHILE I TURN. I FIRST WAS CUT IN JULY, AROUND THE 4TH AND I WASN'T SURE HOW IT HAPPENED. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 15 AND THEN SEPTEMBER 26. THEN AGAIN A FEW DAYS AGO. I HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS WHILE MY CAR IS IN MOTION.

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