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

I LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING MY SON TO SON TO SCHOOL. YOU CAN STILL STEER THE CAR BUT BARELY AND I AM A 200LB MAINTENANCE MAN. BROUGHT IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND IT IS GOING TO COSTS 1700 TO FIX. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER 2012 FOCUS OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. VERY SURPRISED IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER A SAFETY RECALL AS IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND MAKES MANEUVERING THE CAR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

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I'VE HAD MY FORD FOCUS FOR 6 MONTHS. I'VE EXPERIENCED RECALLS ON THE TRANSMISSION WHICH I HAVE FIXED. NOW MY STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT IS ON AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY WHILE TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN HORRIBLE ACCIDENTS. WHAT IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN TO ME AND MY CHILDREN? IT WOULDN'T JUST AFFECT OUR LIVES BUT ALSO OUR LOVED ONES. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS OR THERE IS AN ABILITY TO GET MY MONEY BACK ON THE CAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE RPMS ACCELERATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (FORD OF CLERMONT LOCATED AT 1101 E HIGHWAY 50 CLERMONT, FL 34711 800-313-9787) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE, AND CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS12559345 AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,691.

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WHILE STATIONARY, THE STEERING POWER ASSIST FAILURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ABILITY SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MESSAGE REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (JOE MILLER MODERN GARAGE IN MANKATO, MINNESOTA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MAY 13, 2017, BUT WENT AWAY AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

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VEHICLE LOOSES STEERING ASSIST WHEN BACKING UP OR MOVING FORWARD (INTERMITTENT PROBLEM). VEHICLE HAS ONLY 35,000 MILES. CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND LACK OF STEERING BACK UP SYSTEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY CHARGED US $2,000 TO REPLACE THE ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR. MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL/YEAR VEHICLE ARE EXPERIENCING SAME COMPLAINT AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL SAFETY AND EXPOSURE TO ACCIDENTS.

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HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY THE NHTSA HAS NOT FORCED A RECALL CONCERNING THE MAJOR ISSUES FOUND WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS? HAS FORD PULLED THE WOOL OVER THE EYES OF NHTSA JUST AS THEY HAVE WITH THEIR VERY OWN CUSTOMERS? MY CAR SITS AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IM NOT CONVINCED THE MECHANIC HAS DETERMINED THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE TRANS TO CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20-25MPH THE TRANS SEEMED TO SLIP INTO NEUTRAL BUT WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PED THE ENGINE WOULDNT REV NOR WOULD THE CAR GO ANY FASTER. I WAS 1/4 MILE FROM MY HOUSE & TURNED AROUND TO GO BACK, I SHUT THE CAR OFF & BACK ON, THE ENGINE REVVED & BACK TO IDLE, I PUT IN REVERSE & IT HESITATED TO MOVE BUT DID, I PUT IN FORWARD & IT REVVED UP 2X AGAIN WHILE I TO COAST TO MY DRIVEWAY. MY CAR HAS SHUDDERED AT TIMES & SEEMED TO HESITATE TO KNOW WHAT GEAR TO GO INTO ALTHOUGH I FIGURED IT TO BE NORMAL SINCE I OWNED THE CAR SINCE 9/2016 & THE MORE I DROVE THE MORE I ASSUMED IT WAS A TYPE OF TRANS THAT ACTED LIKE A MANUAL WHEN IT CHANGED GEARS, I HAVE ONLY RECENTLY LEARNED OF ALL THE MAJOR PROBLEMS WHILE DOING RESEARCH. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AFTER READING JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON WHEN I EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF POWER AND CODES P2831 P2832 & P287B WERE PRESENT. THE MECHANIC SAID THE "MECHANICAL MECHANISM" IS "STUCK" KEEPING THE CLUTCH APPLIED. HE MADE THIS ASSUMPTION WITH THE TRANSMISSION STILL INSTALLED & NOT CHECKING THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS; HE MUST BE PRETTY DARN GOOD TO DO ALL THAT! HE CHECKED THE TCM PER NOTIFICATION 14M02 WHICH SURPRISING PASSED. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE NOTIFICATION 14M01 WAS NOT CHECKED WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE TRANS BE REMOVED FROM WHAT I READ. TSB 15-0121 ALSO CALLS OUT A POTENTIAL CAUSE. THEY WANT ME TO PAY $2500 TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH JUST TO BE ABLE TO FURTHER DIAGNOSE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITHOUT FULLY DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. 78000MI

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE WIPERS EVENTUALLY SLOWED AND STOPPED FUNCTIONING INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST AS THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12V149000 (VISIBILITY). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70 MPH AND THE STEERING ASSISTANCE MALFUNCTION MESSAGE SUDDENLY SHOWED UP ON THE DISPLAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT TO TURN. RESTARTING THE CAR DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION SERVICE NOW" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ACADEMY FORD (13401 BALTIMORE AVE, LAUREL, MD 20707) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND TRANSMISSION CLUTCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MODULE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CLUTCH WAS NOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS "IN THE PROCESS OF BEING RECALLED" AND TRANSFERRED THE CONTACT DIRECTLY TO NHTSA FOR A "STATUS UPDATE." THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,500.

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MY CAR WAS PARKED. WHEN I TRIED STARTING IT UP. THE WHEEL LOCKED AND I RECEIVED A MESSAGE THAT STATED "STEERING ASSIST FAULT, SERVICE REQUIRED". I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR MANY TIME AND THE MESSAGE CONTINUED TO APPEAR,

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DRIVING (STRAIGHT) ON A HIGHWAY GOING 55. CAR SLOWS DOWN TO CRAWL, MAKING GRINDING NOISE, ERROR MESSAGE APPEARS "PARKING AID MALFUNCTION". WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD, PUT IN PARK AND CUT OFF IGNITION. WOULD NOT RESTART. DASHBOARD STILL SAYS CAR IS IN DRIVE.

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THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND WON'T TURN THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN I JUST START THE CAR. I CAN PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND ALL THE LIGHTS, RADIO, AND CHIME WORKS, BUT THE CAR WON'T START. I HAD IT CHECKED WHEN I GOT IT STARTED AND THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND THE ALTENATOR WAS FINE AND SO WAS MY STARTER. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS PLEASE HELP.

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TRANSMISSION BUCKING, POPPING AND REVVING HIGH WITH NO ACCELERATION WHILE IN MOTION IN 1ST GEAR CHANGING TO 2ND GEAR AND 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD TOTAL LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHILE TURNING ONTO A ROAD BY MY HOUSE FROM A FULL STOP. THE SPORT MODE ON THE GEARSHIFT LEVER DOES NOT LIGHT UP AND IS NOT ABLE TO USE. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ARE MOSTLY IN LOWER GEARS. THIS VEHICLE ALWAYS HAD SMALL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BUT THIS HAS GONE TO A DANGEROUS POINT. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY FORD DEALER, TODAY IS 6/13/17. THEY CANNOT GET ME IN TO SEE THE VEHICLE UNTIL 6/19/17. WHILE THE AC IS ON, THE VEHICLE ALWAYS HAD ISSUES ACCELERATING ON AN SLIGHT INCLINE. I JUST ALWAYS ASSUMED THAT IT WAS JUST THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS BUT IT APPEARS THAT IT WAS JUST A SYMPTOM OF AN ISSUE THAT HAS SHOWN UP LATER ON.

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WITH LESS THAN 21K MILES ON THE CAR AND THE ALTERNATOR, IT SEIZED UP, TORE THE PULLEY OFF, AND SHREDDED THE BELT AND LEFT MY CAR DEAD. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND HEARD A METALLIC GRINDING AND JINGLING SOUND. HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO EXIT WHEN I DID, I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAFELY NAVIGATE MY CAR TO A STOP. FORD IS REFUSING TO ADMIT THAT IT WAS THEIR MANUFACTURING THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. THEY DID NOT COVER IT UNDER ANY OF THE REMAINING WARRANTIES ON THE CAR. MY DAD WORKS IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND HE WAS TELLING ME THAT THEY TEST THE ALTERNATORS THAT HIS COMPANY MAKES TO LAST 150K MILES AND THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED THE WAY THAT IT DID.

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2012 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, SUNROOF LEAKAGE AND REQUESTS A REPURCHASE. *LD THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE VEHICLE FOR REPURCHASE OR REPLACEMENT. *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MIDWAY FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK COLLAPSED AND THE FUEL VALVE WAS DAMAGED. THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS12489026. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (PRECISION AUTO CARE IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT MULTIPLE CODES LEADING TO THE FUEL SYSTEM READER WERE INACCURATE; THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF FUEL. THE FUEL TANK NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

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TRANSMISSION CONTINUALLY FALTERS AND SENSORS GIVE OUT. LITERALLY GAVE OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAS FALTERED, BUT IT WAS THE MOST SEVERE INSTANCE. OTHER INSTANCES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ALSO. OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS AS WELL: HTTP://WWW.WTAE.COM/ARTICLE/INVESTIGATION-FINDS-HUNDREDS-OF-COMPLAINTS-ABOUT-FORD-TRANSMISSIONS-1/7464893 HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/FOCUS/2012/TRANSMISSION/ HTTP://WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/MK3-TSB-RECALL-PROBLEMS-ARCHIVE/411722-2012-TRANSMISSION-SHUDDER-ISSUE-EXPLAINED.HTML HTTP://WWW.LEMONLAW.COM/WORDPRESS/FORD-FOCUS-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEM/

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MY VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK IS COMPRESSING DUE TO A FAULTY VACUUM PURGE VALVE REQUIRING A NEW TANK, FUEL PUMP AND PURGE VALVE. THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO STALL IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC AND IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE FUEL TANK IS ALSO NOT ACCURATELY READING INCORRECTLY, YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO TELL HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE WITH THH INDICATOR. . FORD FOCUS- 2012, 58K MILES

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CAR WAS RUNNING FINE THEN TURNED IT OFF AND 10 MINUTES LATER WOULD NOT CRANK. CAR WILL NOT START.YOU CAN JUMP START IT AND IT STARTS. NOW CUT IT OFF WANT CRANK

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THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT. DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE IS A POWER STEERING ISSUE THAT COULD IMPACT SAFETY (STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN PARKING LOTS OR LOSS OF CONTROL AT SPEED).

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THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT. DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE IS A POWER STEERING ISSUE THAT COULD IMPACT SAFETY (STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN PARKING LOTS OR LOSS OF CONTROL AT SPEED).

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THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL, RESULTING IN BLOCKED TRAFFIC, AND DISRUPTION TO OTHER DRIVERS IN THE PARKING LOT. MANAGED TO DRIVE CAR (IN STRAIGHT LINE, BACK TO EARLIER PARKING SPACE). DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE IS A POWER STEERING ISSUE THAT COULD IMPACT SAFETY (STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN PARKING LOTS OR LOSS OF CONTROL AT SPEED).

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WENT TO RUN SOME ERRANDS AND WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY VEHICLE"PASSENGER REAR DOOR" ALARM KEPT BEEPING. DOOR DOES NOT STAY CLOSED.

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