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

MARCH 1, 2017 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER CAR STALLED, IDLE WOULD INCREASE AND THEN DECREASE AND THEN DIE. MADE APPOINTMENT AT FORD DEALER IN LAKE WORTH, FL. HAD TO LEAVE VEHICLE. AT SAME TIME 3 RECALLS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. I WAS TOLD FUEL LEAK IN GAS TANK, THAT IS GOING THROUGH A HOSE INTO AREAS IT SHOULD NOT GO, CAUSING READINGS TO CAUSE STALLING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW FUEL TANK, SENDERA?, GASKET, TUBE ASY FOR APPROX. $1,300 THEN $500 FOR LABOR FOR TOTAL OF $1,800. NEVER HEARD OF SUCH AS THIS EXCEPT IN VEHICLES OVER 20 YEARS OLD OR FROM ACCIDENTS. VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 90,000 MILES. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AS I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A CITY STREET, OTHER TIMES WERE SIMILAR OR STOPPED OR RIDING ON INTERSTATE HWY, IT WOULD JUST STALL.

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INCIDENT DESCRIPTION: ENGINE STOPPED AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS THE ENGINE CEASED RUNNING. IT HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, THANKFULLY APPROACHING STOP SIGN. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ALSO RESULTS IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CAR IS REGULARLY SERVICED, WELL-MAINTAINED, AND HAS APPROX. 94,000 MILES. VERDICT FROM FORD DEALERSHIP MECHANIC: VACUUM PURGE VALVE WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE VACUUM FORCE THAT RESULTED DAMAGED/WARPED FUEL TANK, AND DAMAGED THE FUEL PUMP. THE PURGE VALVE, FUEL TANK, AND FUEL PUMP ALL MUST BE REPLACED. COST: THE COST OF REPAIRS IS OVER $2000, PLUS TOWING THE CAR, AND THE NEED FOR MY FAMILY TO GET A RENTAL VEHICLE FOR A WEEK. MISC: THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ITEM AND THIS COULD PROVE EXCEPTIONALLY DANGEROUS IF IT OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU LOSE POWER STEERING WHEN THE ENGINE DIES SUDDENLY.

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I WAS DRIVING TO GET ON THE FREEWAY AND AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE IT WOULD NOT GO ANY HIGHER IN SPEED OF 25MPH AND THEN IT SPEEDS UP DRASTICALLY. I PARKED IT AND LATER THAT DAY CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER 15 MINUTES CAR TURNED ON WITHOUT PROBLEMS THEN I DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT AND DOESN'T TURN ON AT ALL. PUT IN NEW BATTERY BUT CAR STILL WOULD NOT TURN ON ON COMPUTER SCREEN SAYS TO CONTACT MANUFACTURE.

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2012 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE TRANSMISSION PROGRAMMING ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MODULAR SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, WHEN HE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *JB

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LOSS OF STEERING AT 55 MPH ON TWO LANE HIGHWAY. CROSSED CENTER LINE AND HIT BY ONCOMING TRUCK

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RECALL--TRANSMISSION CLUTCH SHUDDER/TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT SEAL WARRANTY EXTENSION---FIELD SERVICE ACTION NUMBER = 14M01 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HOMER SKELTON FORD IN OLIVE BRANCH, MS ON 2/27/17 FOR A TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE RECALL. THIS RECALL GOES UP TO 150,000 MILES WHICH MY CAR HAS 135,000 MILES SO IT WAS STILL IN EFFECT. THE SERVICE GUY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION (I LISTED IT AT THE TOP OF PAGE) THAT IT EXPIRED AT 100,000 MILES. WELL MY CAR HAD 98,329 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT AT CITY AUTO IN MEMPHIS, TN. I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING ABOUT THE RECALL AND I DIDN'T RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER---THE LADY AT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CHECKED THIS OUT AND TOLD ME THAT "NO" I WASN'T IN THEIR SYSTEM FOR THIS RECALL LETTER. SO NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS WANTING ME TO PAY $2033 FOR REPAIRS DUE TO THE 1ST RECALL. THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE (2 OF THEM) TOLD ME TO CALL THE SERVICE MANAGER AND SEE IF HE HAS ANY RESOURCES. I CALLED HIM TWICE YESTERDAY...NO ANSWER EITHER TIME. SO WHEN THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN CALLED ME AND TOLD ME MY CAR WAS READY, HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD TO PULL THE SERVICE MANAGER OUT OF A MEETING TO DESCRIBE MY DILEMMA, WHICH WAS TO NO AVAIL. THEY SAID THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WHOLE PAYMENT.

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 2/17/2017 MY FOCUS LOST POWER STEERING. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO DEAN SELLERS FOR REPAIRS. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE ($2100) I LEARNED OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE 2012 FORD FOCUS AND THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT.

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MY 2012 FORD FOCUS HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PIECE OF JUNK. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES. I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING, ACCELERATION, LUNGING FORWARD, HESITATION, AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE ISSUES ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE LAST TRANSMISSION ( CLUTCH SYSTEM ) WAS INSTALLED BY PAUL MILLER FORD IN LEXINGTON KY. I REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME ISSUES ON THE TRANSMISSION. EACH TIME I DROPPED MY VEHICLE AT THE SERVICE CENTER, I WAS TOLD "EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD, WE SHOW EVERYTHING IS WITHIN PARAMETERS, NO PROBLEMS FOUND." WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP. I TAKE IT BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND OOPS, "WE ARE SORRY BUT THE TEST WE RAN FAILED." YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE YOUR TRANSMISSION. WHEN I ASKED IT FORD HAS FIGURED OUT HOW IT FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, I RECEIVED NO ANSWER, ONLY THAT " WE ARE SO SORRY ABOUT MY TRANSMISSION. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE TO OPEN UP A CASE (#CAS11662039) AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD THE SAME THING, " WE ARE SORRY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROGRAMS THAT HELP PAY FOR FIXING YOUR TRANSMISSION, BUT HANG ON TO YOUR RECEIPT AND IF THERE IS A RECALL YOU CAN GET YOUR $ BACK." ALSO, PAUL MILLER FORD REFUSES TO PROVIDE ME WITH A LIST OF PARTS INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE EACH TIME TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THIER COMPUTOR WOULD BE HAVING PROBLEMS EACH TIME MY TRANSMISSION WOULD BE REPLACED. WHY HASNT THERE BEEN A RECALL ON MY 2012 FORD FOCUS IF THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION?

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); HOWEVER THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/02/17*LJ *CN

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER 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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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED TO THE LEFT OVER THE DOUBLE LINES WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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UPON START-UP A YELLOW WARNING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED, I.E. IT TOOK GREAT EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. CAR WAS SHUT OFF. LATER IN THE DAY, CAR WAS RE-STARTED AND THE POWER STEERING WAS AGAIN WORKING AND NO WARNING LIGHT (AMBER) WAS DISPLAYED. APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER WAS MADE TO ADDRESS ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); HOWEVER, 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 MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

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WAS DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AT 65MPH. RPMS SHOOT PAST 5 AND CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN UP TO 80MPH. CARS MESSAGE SCREEN READ "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION- SERVICE NOW". I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE LEFT - AS THERE WAS TRAFFIC. WAS ABLE TO GET OFF HIGHWAY BUT COULD ONLY GET MY CAR TO GET AS FAST AS 30MPH BEFORE THE RPMS WERE PAST 5 AGAIN. FORD REPLACED TRANSMISSION COMPUTER MODULE. DROVE CAR FOR ~HOUR AND A HALF NEXT DAY. CAR IS JERKING FORWARD WORSE THAN BEFORE. SHAKING IN THE TRANSMISSION. WOULD ACCELERATE ~5MPH ON ITS OWN. HAPPENED 5 TIMES DURING THE DURATION. DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE IN MOTION OR STATIONARY - THIS CAR HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I'M POSITIVE HAD SOMEONE BEEN IN FRONT OF MY ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN IT ACCELERATED TO 80MPH ON ITS OWN, I WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED THEM.

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON . TOOK TO DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED CAR . ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE AT THIS DEALER . SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT PROBLEMS WITH PURGE VALVE HAVE CAUSED FUEL TANKS TO COLLAPSE AND THAT WAS CASE IN MY CAR , CODE P 1450, CODE P144A . I ASKED IF FORD WOULD COVER THESE REPAIRS AS CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY 79318 MILES BUT OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURES DEFECT , FORD REFUSED TO COVER REPAIRS AND I PAYED UNDER PROTEST $ 1596. 55 FOR REPAIRS. CAR WAS STALLING AT STOP LIGHTS , AND FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FIRST CAME ON .

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STARTED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY AND THE STEERING ASSIST FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR HAS NO POWER STEERING. IT IS NOT DRIVABLE. I DRIVE 70 MILES A DAY ON THE FREEWAY AND IT WAS PURE LUCK THIS DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

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MY SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVING A 2012 FOCUS I GOT FOR HER TO GET TO SCHOOL HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE.THE TRANS RECALL,THE DOOR RECALL NOW THE CHECK ENG LITE CAME ON THE DEALER TOLD ME P144A CODE IS THE EVAP EMISSIONS PURGE LINE RESTRICTED/BLOCKED.THE CAR HESITATES ON TAKE OFF AND STALLS WHEN STOPPING.THIS IS UNSAFE FOR MY CHILD TO DRIVE.I HAVE AN APPT WITH FORD MONDAY TO SEE IF I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT TO GET FIXED OUR IF THE RECALL WILL COVER IT.NOT A HAPPY DAD!!!!

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"DRIVER ASSIST FAULT" AGAIN. THIS IS THE 4TH INSTANCE THAT IS HAPPENED IN 3 WEEKS - WHERE MY CAR SUDDENLY POWERS OFF WHILE I AM BEHIND THE WHEEL. THE LAST THREE TIMES IT HAPPENED WHILE MY CAR WAS IN REVERSE MOTION. TODAY, IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN DRIVE BUT STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IN DOWNTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC. SOMEONE HAD TO HELP ME PUSH MY CAR OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. OCCURRED ON MY WAY TO WORK AROUND 3:30 PM EST.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACTS STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. A WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STATING, "STEERING ASSIST FAILURE". THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE DEALER WITH THE ERROR MESSAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

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02 SENSOR READING WANT GO OUT AFTER 02 REPLACEMENTS AND TRANSMISSION ALL OF A SUDDEN WANT GO IN REVERSE.

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WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY HESITANT TO DRIVE ON A FLAT ROAD. THIS ISSUE GETS WORST WHEN ON A UPWARD HILL. ONCE THE VEHICLE GETS GOING, IT SHAKES AND SHUDDERS UNTIL IT PICKS UP ENOUGH SPEED TO GO. THERE SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING SCRAPING OR RATTLING INSIDE THE ENGINE. THIS IS A HAZARD WHEN MAKING ANY TYPE OF TURNS IN THE VEHICLE OR EVEN DRIVING.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO THE DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE POWER STEERING DEFAULT WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,600. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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IT USED TO BE THAT UPON STARTING MY CAR, A WARNING PROMPT READING "STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION" POPPED UP AND MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD BE VERY DIFFCULT TO TURN. USUALLY, I WOULD TURN OFF THE CAR, TURN IT BACK ON, AND VOILA--IT WOULD WORK FINE. BUT NOW, THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION HAS DEVELOPED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WITH NO PATTER OR WARNING OF IT HAPPENING. AGAIN I WOULD TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON ONCE I MERGED OUT FROM THE ROADS OF THE STREET OR FREEWAY. STEERING ALONE WAS REALLY DIFFICULT. NOW, MY CAR READS THE SAME MALFUNCTION PROMPT, AND MY NIFTY TRICK OF TURNING IT OFF AND BACK ON NO LONGER WORKS. THE ISSUE IS PERMANENT AS OF NOW. ALSO I HAVE LOTS OF VIDEOS DOCUMENTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON YOUTUBE.

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INTERMITTENT POWER ASSIST STEERING MALFUNCTION OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS. POWER ASSIST MALFUNCTION ON STARTING CAR WOULD RESET AFTER RESTARTING CAR. FORD GARAGE CHECKED AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WENT OUT TO START CAR TODAY AND POWER ASSIST STEERING NOW OUT COMPLETELY. UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. RESTARTING CAR DOES NOT HELP. FORTUNATELY CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WILL BE CALLING FORD TOMORROW.

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METAL ON AIRBAG ASSEMBLY/STEERING WHEEL COVER CRACKING AND PEELING. CAUSING MULTIPLE FINGER LACERATIONS WHILE DRIVING.

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