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

FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS THIS CAR STOPS STEERING AND HAS AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT READS STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED. THE CAR STOPS STEERING WHEN IN MOTION AND WHEN PARKED AND FIRST STARTED. THE STEERING WHEEL IS CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEN THIS OCCURS AND IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN MOTION. I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE AT LEAST 6 TIMES REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND FORD WILL MOTOR CORP IS CLOSING MY CASE WITH NO RESOLVE. THIS IS RECALLED ON THE FUSION FROM THE SAME YEAR FOR THE SAME MALFUNCTION. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. IT NOW OCCURS DAILY. I ALSO STILL HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT DOES NOT COVER THIS ISSUE APPARENTLY.

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MY CAR IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, AND LOSES POWER AND HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING SOMETIMES. I GOT A RECALL NOTICE AT ONE TIME AND LOST THE PAPERWORK, AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO LOOK UP THE RECALL AND SAID I NEEDED TO HAVE THE PAPERWORK TO GET IT LOOKED AT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER HAD NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED BECAUSE THE INTERIM NOTICE INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOTIFY THE CONTACT WHEN PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE DEALER (OLIVER FORD LINCOLN, 1001 E JEFFERSON ST, PLYMOUTH, IN 46563, (574) 935-1001), WHICH TYPICALLY SERVICED THE VEHICLE, WAS NOT CONTACTED DUE TO THE PART DELAYS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

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SEVERAL MORNINGS IN A ROW MY WIFE SAID SHE EXPERIENCED HAVING TROUBLE PLACING THE SEAT BELT INTO THE CONNECTOR. IT HAD GOT TO THE POINT WHERE SHE WOULD TRY TO FORCE IT IN THERE SOMETIMES IT WOULD CONNECT SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T. NOW IT DOESN'T CONNECT AT ALL.

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POWER STEERING CUTS OUT WHILE VEHICLE IS ON. STEERING BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. SO FAR, IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHILE STOPPED. CONCERNED IT COULD HAPPEN WHILE MOVING.

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I DON'T KNOW IF MY FORD FOCUS 2012 IS INCLUDED IN THE TAMARA AIRBAG RECALL OR NOT. MY CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN STOPPED OR SLOWING DOWN.: IT'S THE POWERSHIFT TRANSMISSION. MY DOOR LATCHES WERE REPLACED PER FORD RECALL. NEW REAR ENGINE MAIN SEAL REPLACED 7/12/17. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 32,746 MILES ON IT. TIRES ALREADY HAD TO BE REPLACED.

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V340000 (STEERING) AND 17V024000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, IN WHICH THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

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STARTED WITH HORN AND TAIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING. THEN INTERMITTENTLY AS YOU ARE DRIVING THE CAR SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! EVERYTHING LOCKS UP AND YOU ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ALL DASH LIGHTS WORK BUT CAR WON'T START. FOUND SAME COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET AND YOUTUBE BUT NO RECALL. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE ISSUE. THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE DID NOT ISSUE A CODE. I EXPLAINED IN DETAIL THE ISSUE AND ASKED FOR DOCUMENTATION OF THE ISSUE. THE PAPER THEY GAVE ME SAID RUNS ROUGH WHEN AC IS ON. I SAID THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE. THEY SAID DON'T WORRY THE TICKET IS STILL OPEN IN THE SYSTEM. I ASKED IF THEY COULD PUT A READER ON THE CAR WHILE DRIVEN TO CATCH THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE AND THEY SAID NO. SO I AM IN SAME SITUATION AS OTHER OWNERS WHERE MY SAFETY AND OTHERS ARE AT STAKE EACH TIME THIS CAR SHUTS OFF. ALSO DEALER SAID THEY H HORN WITH A SCREWDRIVER TO MAKE IT WORK FOR NOW. SO NO HORN, TAIL LIGHT AND CAR SHUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY ARE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT!

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THE HANDS-FREE PHONE SYSTEM (SYNC) MALFUNCTIONS AND STOPS WORKING CAUSING UNEXPECTED DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER. WARRANTY IS EXPIRED, ALTHOUGH FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE SHOOK WITHOUT WARNING AND THE MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD THE CLUTCH REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL A YEAR AGO, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING ASSIST INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

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WHILE OUT OF TOWN AND ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE MY VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND GOT A MESSAGE SAYING "STEERING ASSIST FAULT. SERVICE REQUIRED". FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE AND RESTART IT WITHOUT THE ERROR MESSAGE COMING BACK. WHILE DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY THAT NIGHT, I FELT THE CAR WAS HAVING DIFFICULTIES WHILE IDLING, FELT IT WAS ABOUT TO STALL SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS EXTREMELY FEARFUL THAT THE STEERING WOULD GO OUT SUDDENLY AGAIN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO FORD THE NEXT DAY AND LEARNED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE HOME BEFORE A MORE THAN $1,700 REPAIR AND SAID THE STEERING COULD GO OUT AT ANYTIME. DUE TO SEVERAL OTHER RECALLS AND ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, I CONTACTED THE CORPORATE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASKED FOR A SOLUTION. THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST ME WITH ANY TYPE OF DISCOUNT OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE $1,200 PART THAT SHOULD NOT BE SUDDENLY GOING OUT IN A FIVE YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO TAKE ANY OWNERSHIP OVER THE MANY, MANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AND MY FEARS REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE OTHER RECALLS THAT FORD HAS HAD OVER STEERING CONCERNS IN RECENT YEARS, I AM EXTREMELY SCARED THAT MY CAR IS UNSAFE EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR DUE TO SEVERAL KNOWN PROBLEMS IN CARS AND PARTS THAT FORD MAKES.

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DRIVER WINDOW WAS SLOW TO GO UP AND DOWN THEN FINALLY QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP IN TALLASSEE ALABAMA. BEN ATKINSON FORD WHICH IS NOW TALLASSEE AUTO. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME $275. TO HAVE IT FIXED.

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LEFT REAR DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AND LATCH. I CAN PULL DOOR OPEN WITHOUT PULLING HANDLE. I ALSO GET WARNING FOR DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR AJAR. I NOTICED IT AJAR WHEN I WALKED BY IT AND TRIED TO CLOSE IT. IT WOULD NOT LATCH AND STAY CLOSED.

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CAR ALWAYS SHUDDERS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STATIONARY ZERO MPH. THIS CAR HAS A SEL OPTION AND IS DRIVEN ONLY IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NEVER USED THE SEL OPTION! THE SHUDDER CAUSES SLOPPY ACCELERATION DELAYS FROM ZERO STARTS, LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS, JUST LIKE A MANUAL SHIFT BEING DRIVEN BY A DRIVER UNSKILLED CLUTCH/SHIFT COORDINATION. THE SAME THING OCCURS WHEN BRAKING FOR A LIGHT, THEN AT LOW SPEED, THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND YOU CHANGE TO ACCELERATING INSTEAD OF COMPLETELY BECOMING STATIONARY.

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ON LONG TRIPS (OVER 160 MILES) WITH CONSISTENTLY HIGH SPEEDS, THE ENGINE TORQUE AND TACHOMETER GAUGE LEVEL RISES/WHINES, INDICATING A SHIFT SHOULD BE MADE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, BUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LAGS BEHIND, CAUSING THE HOVER/FORWARD STALL DUE TO ENGINE TORQUE, MUCH LIKE WHEN YOU INCREASE THE TORQUE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO "ROAR" BEFORE SHIFTING IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHILE ACCELERATING ON HIGHER SPEED ROADS AND HIGHWAYS AT HIGHER SPEEDS, USUALLY 40-70 MPH RANGE AND MOSTLY WHEN ON A LONG TRIP W/O STOPPING, EXCEPT FOR GAS. CAR IS ALWAYS IN MOTION AND THERE IS NO CHANGE IN ENGINE TEMP AND NO WARNING LIGHTS LIT.THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS. THE DATE INDICATED WAS THE MOST RECENT DATE.

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CAR SHUDDERS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES TAKEN TO FORD DEALER FOR RECALLS CLOTHES REPLACED FLASHED TCM MODULE MULTIPLE REPAIRS BY DEALER AND SERVICED BY DEALER ALSO PURCHASED SERVICE PROGRAM FOR VEHICLE ALL DOCUMENTED HAD TO GET TOWED TO DELEARSHIP BECAUSE OF STATIONARY FAILURE SAID NOT TO DRIVE

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CAR JERKS AND BUCKS WHEN PROCEEDING FROM STOP TO ACCELERATING. IT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO AND SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. I HAVE ONLY 25000 MILES ON THE CAR.

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I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE OF IT HAS BEEN NOT STARTING/HESITATING TO START WHEN IN PARK. I ALSO TRIED SWITCHING TO NEUTRAL AND ATTEMPTED TO START AND GOT NOTHING. MY MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND ITS COMING UP WITH A SECURITY CODE ISSUE STATING MY KEY DOES NOT READ BUT WILL START SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER ATTEMPT. THIS HAS JUST RANDOMLY STARTED HAPPENING AND I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS IN FORD FORUMS STATING THE SAME SITUATION. ALL LIGHTS ON DASH AND RADIO COME ON BUT CAR HAS NO NOISE AND REFUSES TO START. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY BATTERY OR STARTER AND MY MECHANIC HAS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS NEITHER. I TRIED CONTACTING THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THIS CAR AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. THIS MAKE HAS HAD MORE ISSUES THAN I HAVE EVER HAD WITH ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP BECAUSE THIS IS RIDICULOUS. MY HUSBAND HAS THE SAME VEHICLE AND HIS TRANSMISSION IS ALSO ON NATIONWIDE RECALL BACKORDER FOR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD A WARNING FOR CONSUMERS THAT THIS WAS A TERRIBLE PRODUCTION YEAR.

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MY CAR HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING SIGNS OF ANY STEERING ISSUES. I DROVE TO THE TANNING BED WITH NO PROBLEM AND WHEN I CAME OUT AND STARTED MY CAR THE "SERVICE ALERT" CAME UP SAYING "STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED." MY CAR HAD BEEN STATIONARY FOR MAYBE 20 MINUTES. I TRIED BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME- MY ARMS WERE VERY SORE BY THE TIME I PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY. I CALLED FORD THIS MORNING TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WAS ADVISED IT SOUNDS LIKE A LEAK IN MY STEERING SYSTEM BUT THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN, ASIDE FROM HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO COST ME, IS THAT THEY SAID IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE?! IF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING WERE TO PULL OUT IN FRONT OF ME OR I NEEDED TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY FOR ANY REASON IT WOULD LITERALLY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO.

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I OWN A 2012 FORD FOCUS I BROUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT IS STILL WORSE THAN DRIVING A MANUAL!!! I WAS NOTIFIED MONTHS AND MONTHS AGO THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE DOOR LATCHES. I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO FIND OUT THE LATEST INFO ON THE RECALL. NOT TO MY SURPRISE NO ONE FROM FORD HAS BOTHERED TO CALL ME BACK!!! I HAVE MY FAMILY IN THIS CAR AND I DO NOT WANT ANY OF THEM POPPING OUT!!! SHAME ON FORD FOR SELLING THESE CARS.

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 FORD FOCUS OUT OF TOWN WHILE I WAS AWAY FOR WORK AND THE CLUTCH WENT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GO OFF THE ROAD.

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STOP SAFELY NOW - FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC I HAVE HAD THIS FORD FOCUS SINCE NEW AND HAVE HAD AT LEAST 5 INCIDENTS OF "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING WHICH RENDERS THE CAR POWERLESS FOR AT LEAST A FEW MINUTES. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN SITUATIONS SUCH AS IN LEFT HAND TURN LANES WHICH IS A HAZARD TO ME AND OTHER CARS. FORD DID A RECALL -- CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 15N03 AND 15B23 WHICH WAS AN INSPECTION OF THE HIGH VOLTAGE WIRE HARNESS. THIS INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON 10/26/2016. THERE WAS ANOTHER OCCURRENCE ON MAY 1, 2017, AFTER THIS INSPECTION. MY WIFE WAS TURNING LEFT ON A BUSY STREET AND GOT THE MESSAGE "STOP SAFELY NOW". SHE COULD NOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I DON'T FEEL SAFE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE AND MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE IT.

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WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON. THE WIPER SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE WIPERS WOULD NOT STOP. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND THE WIPERS WERE STILL GOING. I HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO GET THEM TO STOP. WHEN I PUT THE FUSE BACK IN, THE WIPERS WOULDN'T COME ON. I DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES AND THE WIPERS CAME ON AGAIN AND I HAD TO STOP AND TAKE THE FUSE OUT AGAIN.

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I STARTED THE CAR THIS MORNING AND THE STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. I CAME INSIDE THE HOUSE, LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ON LINE AND FOUND A TERRIFIC AMOUNT OF HITS. I ALSO SAW THAT WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING CAN STOP ALL TOGETHER CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I ALSO SAW THAT SOMETIMES YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE VEHICLE AND START IT UP AGAIN AND THE STEERING PROBLEM MAY GO AWAY. THIS IS VERY ALARMING. WHAT IF I AM DRIVING AND THE STEERING GOES OUT? THIS, OF COURSE, CAN LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH TO THE DRIVER OR TO OTHERS INVOLVED IN A CRASH.

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