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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 10929946

I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. MY VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. MY VEHICLE WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT NOW. IT HAS LACK OF POWER AND IT JERKS AND LUNGES WHILE DRIVING ALSO IT LOST ITS REVERSE GEAR THIS ALL HAPPENED AT THE SAME TIME GET ON TO THE FREEWAY

NHTSA ODI 10929717

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH SHUDDER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL OTHER PARTS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,220.

NHTSA ODI 10929623

TRANSMISSION - TRANSMISSION ON LATE MODEL FORD FOCUS IS DANGEROUS. CAR SHAKES, SHUTTERS AND TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN GEAR AT TIME WHEN IN TRAFFIC. CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD THAT VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS WHEN OPERATING AND CONCERNING WHEN CAR HAS MOVEMENT ISSUES IN INTERSECTIONS AND AT STOP LIGHTS. CAR HAS BEEN TO SERVICE CENTER OVER A DOZEN TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION REPROGRAMMING OVER PAST 4 YEARS, CAR HAS RECEIVED THREE CLUTCHES AND NOW OTHER MAJOR COMPONENTS ARE FAILING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. CAR RECENTLY BROKE DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND STARTED MISSING GEARS, LURCHING AND SHAKING ON A ROAD AT 50 MPH. HAD TO PULL OVER. WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL 1 MILE TO GET HOME BUT CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP AND JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND HAD TO PUSH OUT OF ROAD UPON ARRIVING HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928979

'MY TWO SONS WERE DRIVING EAST ON I-10, NEAR SCHULENBURG, TX, AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 75 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE AND RELATED COMPONENTS SHUTDOWN (NO POWER STEERING, NO ENGINE, NO NOTHING), WITHOUT ANY PRIOR NOTICE. IT IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT THEY WERE NOT INJURED OR KILLED BY THE 18 WHEELER TRUCK BEHIND THEM WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, TOMMIE VAUGHN FORD, WHO DIAGNOSE THE CULPRIT PART TO BE A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. FORD HAS ISSUED A FIELD SERVICE ACTION (NUMBER 14M02) REGARDING SAID PART. HOWEVER, FORD NEEDS TO RECALL ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928990

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ODI 10929398

THE DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AFTER THE CLUTCHES BEGAN TO BADLY SLIP. HAD NOTICED THE TRANS SLIP SOME AROUND TOWN BUT CAR WAS OKAY TO DRIVE. ON A WEEKEND TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS IT BEGAN TO SLIP SO BADLY THAT I DID NOT KNOW IF I WOULD MAKE IT BACK TO TOWN. APPARENTLY THE STRAIN ON THE TRANS FROM ALL THE HILLY CITY DRIVING COMPOUNDED THE ALREADY EXISTING PROBLEM THAT WAS OF NO CONCERN BACK HOME ON REGULAR TERRAIN. NOW THE TRANS IS DISPLAYING SOME OF THOSE SLIPPING CHARACTERISTICS AGAIN. I WAS PLANNING ANOTHER MOUNTAIN EXCURSION BUT AM NOW AFRAID TO DO SO. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR NOR CAN I AFFORD TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MY CAR ON ANY SUCH TRIP OUT OF TOWN. THIS CAR SHOULD LAST ME MANY TROUBLE FREE YEARS OF OPERATION AT LEAST AS FAR AS THE TRANSMISSION IS CONCERNED. I AM TRAPPED WITH A CAR THAT WILL PROBABLY BE BACK IN THE REPAIR SHOP BEFORE LONG. NOT TO MENTION THAT I SEE WHERE MANY FOCUS OWNERS ARE HAVING MULTIPLE REPAIR JOBS FOR THE SAME REASON. I LOVE THE CAR BUT AM THOROUGHLY DISMAYED THAT A LONG TERM FIX DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ATTAINABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10929446

NO POWER STEERING AT ALL AFTER STARTING MY CAR. POWER STEERING FAULT ASSIST LIGHT ON DASH WAS ON. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE STEERING FAULT ASSIST LIGHT HAD COME ON SEVERAL TIMES A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING BUT WHEN I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES THE POWER STEERING WOULD WORK AND THE STEERING FAULT ASSIST LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 10928835

I STARTED GETTING THIS ON SCREEN ERROR "STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION" A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, BUT IT WOULD DISAPPEAR AFTER A FEW MINUTES. TODAY WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR THE MESSAGE APPEARED ONLY THIS TIME IT STAYED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND STILL HAD THE ISSUE. I HAD TO DRIVE MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WITH NO POWER STEERING. I'M FILING THE COMPLAINT BECAUSE AFTER SEARCHING THE ENTIRE DAY IT TURNS OUT THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2012 FORD FOCUS. SOME DEALERS LIE AND SAY THEY HAVE "NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE." THEY CHARGE ON AVERAGE $1700 TO REPAIR IT. THEY RECALLED SEVERAL OTHER FORD MODELS FROM 2012, BUT NOT THIS ONE. THEY SHOULD HAVE. HAD I ALREADY BEEN DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN WHEN THIS WENT OUT I WOULD HAVE WRECKED. HAD I NOT DRIVEN AN OLDER CAR THAT DOESN'T HAVE POWER STEERING I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN WHAT TO DO OR HOW TO REACT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE AND FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER FIVE MINUTES, THE VEHICLE BECAME OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE WORKLOAD OF THE DEALER. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.

NHTSA ODI 10928479

POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT. ERROR NOTIFICATION ON DASH SAYS "STEERING ASSIST FAULT." THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS THAT WAS FIXED MY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT. BUT IT HAS COMPLETELY GONE OFF AND IT WILL NOT RESET WITH TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON. REPLACED 80AMP MEGAFUSE THAT OTHERS ONLINE SAID MAY BE THE ISSUE, THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MY ONLY OTHER IDEA IS THAT IT IS THE POWER STEERING RACK THAT EVERYONE ELSE ONLINE HAS NEEDED REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 10928541

RANDOMLY, WHEN STARTING THE CAR, I RECEIVE A STEERING ASSIST FAULT ERROR CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO FREEZE. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO TURN THE CAR OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES, AND RESTART. THE ERROR SHOULD GO AWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL CAN EASILY MOVE.

NHTSA ODI 10928572

SINCE PURCHASING MY FOCUS IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE TRANSMISSION THAT HAVE CAUSED ME TO FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AS THEY HAVE RESULTED IN MULTIPLE NEAR-ACCIDENTS. I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT WITHIN THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP AND NOTHING WAS FOUND, I THEN TOOK THE CAR BACK IN WHEN SYMPTOMS PERSISTED AND GOT THE CLUTCH REPLACED WITHIN ROUGHLY A YEAR OF BUYING. THE SYMPTOMS SUBSIDED FOR A WHILE, BUT HAVE RETURNED AND ARE STILL AN ISSUE TO DATE. ISSUES ARE DETAILED BELOW: THE CAR OFTEN CHUGS WHEN IN MOTION, ESPECIALLY DURING ACCELERATION FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY AND UNPREDICTABLY REFUSE TO ACCELERATE IN A NORMAL FASHION. THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHILE MOVING AROUND 20-40MPH AND ALSO WHEN COMING FROM A STOPPED POSITION - SAY WAITING AT A RED LIGHT OR WHEN WAITING TO TURN LEFT AT A BUSY CITY INTERSECTION. THIS IS TERRIFYING AS I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE NORMALLY AND WHEN IT WILL NOT - AT LEAST TWICE IN RECENT HISTORY I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION, HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, BUT THE CAR STRUGGLED AND FINALLY MADE IT THROUGH TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT. OTHER TIMES, THE RPMS SEEM TO REV UP FOR NO REASON, AND THE CAR ACCELERATES VERY QUICKLY THOUGH THE PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL HAS NOT CHANGED. THOUGH THE HAS HAPPENED WITH LESS FREQUENCY, IT IS ALMOST MORE FRIGHTENING AS I FEEL LIKE I AM NOT IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLES SPEED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. TYPICALLY THIS HAPPENS WHEN COMING FROM A STOPPED POSITION AS WELL. ADDITIONAL ISSUES I'VE HAD INCLUDE IT ROLLING BACKWARD ON SMALL INCLINES - SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS SUFFICIENTLY DEPRESSED AND EVEN MOMENTARILY WHEN IN DRIVE AND GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928300

RECALL OF PCM/TMC RECALL 15B22 - I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IF A PART IS ON A RECALL TO BE REPLACED WHY IS A MILEAGE RESTRICTION PLACED ON THE VEHICLE? I TOOK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR A FAILED RECALLED PART AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE PART AND THE INSTALLATION!! I COMMUTE OVER A HUNDRED MILES ROUND TRIP EACH DAY TO WORK BY JULY 2016 I HAD ALREADY REACHED THE 150,000 MILE MARK. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN A FORD OWNER'S FOR OVER 35 YEARS. WE OWN 3 FORD VEHICLES TODAY. INCLUDING THE ONE IN REFERENCE. I PLEAD WITH YOU TO HELP WITH THE COST OF THIS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ANYTIME AT [XXX]. THANK YOU, [XXX] MAY YOU AND YOURS HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND AN ABNORMAL BURNING OF THE OUTLET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CHARGE CABLE AND CHARGE RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,160. UPDATED 01/04/17*LJ

NHTSA ODI 10927381

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

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POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WHEN DRIVING. NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE CAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK FORCEFULLY AND THE OVERHEATING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE DOOR TO SWING OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO PROPERLY CLOSE AND THE LATCH ALSO FAILED. THE TWO LATCHES WERE REPLACED BY A REPAIR SHOP. MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LINKS/LOCKS/LATCHES), BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER EXTENDED THE COURTESY OF A LOANER VEHICLE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO APPROVE THE LOANER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10927271

THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND HESITATING, FORD SAID ITS A DESIGN PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS TRANSMISSION. FORD CAN'T FIX THIS. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO BUY BACK THIS CAR BEFORE I GET INTO A BAD ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 10927063

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE SHUDDERING AND DELAYED ACCELERATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,842.

NHTSA ODI 10926808

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

NHTSA ODI 10926671

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ODI 10926680

FORD FOCUS RECALL FOR DUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY: WE HAVE HAD THE DUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED 3 TIMES AND CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NOT SHIFTING INTO THE CORRECT GEAR, DRAGGING, AND SHUTTERING.

NHTSA ODI 10926415

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH KIT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE PCM WAS UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

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