WHEN I START THE CAR INITIALLY I CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL OF THE CAR. I HAVE TO TUG ON IT TO GET IT TO TURN EVENTUALLY. I'M AFRAID THAT I'LL BE DRIVING IN THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT. ALSO HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. THEY SAY MY CAR HAS TOO MANY MILES TO QUALIFY FOR THE CLUTCH RECALL THAT FORD HAS PUT OUT. I DON'T SEE WHAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH A MALFUNCTION SAYING I'VE HAD TROUBLES WITH IT SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ARE SAFETY ISSUES. I HAVE NO MONEY TO REPLACE THIS STUFF. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD WON'T WORK WITH PEOPLE ON THIS THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE STEERING AS I SEEN MANY OTHERS COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. AND THEY NEED TO SUCK IT UP AND TAKE THE EXPENDITURE OF REPLACING ALL OF THESE CRUTCHES THAT THEY HAVE A RECALL ON REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. SOMETIMES MY SEATBELT COMES LOOSE AFTER I CLICKED IT. I HAVE TO LATCH IT WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE. I'M TIRED OF THIS CAR. I'LL NEVER BUY FROM FORD AGAIN. I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT. AND HAVE INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY CLEAN THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT PERIOD AFTER TAKING IT TOO BUT IT'S GOING TO COST ME $3,000.
2012 Ford Focus complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2012 record →
CAR TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL 16S30 TO REPLACE 4 DOOR LATCHES PER NHTSA WEBSITE. WHEN CAR RETURNED TO CUSTOMER ONLY STATED 1 LATCH REPLACED.
THE PURGE VALVE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS STUCK OPEN CAUSING THE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL TO CRUSH THE FUEL TANK BECAUSE OF THE VACUUM EFFECT. ALL OTHER PARTS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM HAVE BEEN OVERHEATED BECAUSE OF THE INCONSISTENT FUEL FLOW SO THEY ALL HAVE TO BE REPLACED.THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM INCLUDING GAS TANK. THE CAR WOULD STALL OR WANT TO STALL WHILE DRIVING ON STREETS, STOPPED IDLING, AND DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAUSING VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. THIS WOULD OCCUR EVERYTIME YOU WOULD DRIVE VEHICLE.THE PROBLEM STARTED IN SEPTEMBER WITH NO WARNINGS AND FINALLY WAS SO BAD ON OCTOBER 13TH I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE FORD DEALER TO GET EVALUATED THE CAR COULDNT BE DRIVEN ANYMORE.
WAS BEGINNING TO GET STEERING FAULT WARNING LIGHTS BACK IN LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. IT WOULD CORRECT AND WOULDN'T COME ON TILL LATER IN TIME. PROBABLY HAD 6-8 OCCURRENCES. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO I HAD NO STEERING AT ALL. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST HAS FAILED AND THE ENTIRE RACK & PINION NEEDED REPLACE. THE COMPLAINTS ARE SIMILAR ESPECIALLY WITH IN THE LAST YEAR. ATTENTION NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TO THIS SINCE EVEN OTHER FORD CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND BEING RECALLED. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL OR NECESSARILY THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE WITH MY CAR. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE IT 'PROPERLY DIAGNOSE' TO DETERMINE IF 'MY' ISSUE CORRELATES WITH THE COMMON ONES OUT THERE. THAT ALSO WILL COST ME MONEY FOR DIAGNOSTIC. IF THEY READ ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA THEY WILL SEE IT IS COMMON. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME IT IS GOING TO COAT ME $1900 TO REPLACE. THE PART AT FORD ALONE IS $1200. WE SHOULDN'T WAIT TILL SOMEONE GETS HURT TO SEE THE OBVIOUS THAT IT IS A PROBLEM. I NOTICED 3 MORE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE CHECKED IT AT THE NHTSA A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. FORD, CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES IF THIS ISN'T PROPERLY ADDRESSED.
4/01/2017 - STARTED UP THE CAR AND GET A WARNING MESSAGE THAT "STEERING ASSIST FAULT. SERVICE REQUIRED." LOST POWER STEERING, NEED A LOT OF EFFORT TO STEER WHILE DRIVE IS PARK. TURN ENGINE OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN, POWER STEERING RESTORED, WORK NORMALLY. THEN HAPPEN AGAIN 9/23/2017 (TURN OFF AND ON ENGINE TO RESOLVE). BUT TODAY (10/16/2017), THE SAME SYMPTOM AND THIS TIME, TURN ON AND OFF ENGINE DOES NOT CLEAR THE PROBLEM. FORD DEALER SAID NEED TO PAY $2600 TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK TO FIX THE ISSUE.
STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MOVE AND WHILE DRIVING IT LOCKED UP, I HAD TO USE ALL MY FORCE TO GET WHEEL TO MAKE A SLIGHT MOVEMENT. THE CAR LEFT ME STRANDED DUE TO UNABLE TO DRIVING, STEERING WHEEL IS STUCK. IT HAPPENED IN A BUSY MAIN STREET.
WHEN I GO TO TURN MY CAR ON THE DASH READS STEERING MALFUNCTION AND THE WHEEL WON'T TURN. ONCE I HAVE RESTARTED MY CAR THE STEERING WORKS AGAIN. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS AND THERE IS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE IT COST ME $197 TO GET MY CAR REPROGRAMMED SO IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. SEEMS LIKE A WASTE OF MONEY JUST TO GET IT REPROGRAMMED SO I DON'T GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.
STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION WHEN STARTING THE CAR, RENDERING POWER STEERING UNUSABLE. HAPPENS RANDOMLY. PREVIOUSLY WENT AWAY WITH RESTARTING OF THE VEHICLE, BUT IS NOW PERMANENT.
THE POWER STEERING TO THE VEHICLE JUST WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED DUE TO WAIT TIME. DURING THIS TIME I STRUCK AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD THAT WAS A DEAD DEER BECAUSE I COULD NOT MANEUVER TO AVOID HITTING THE DEER. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON AFTER IT WENT OUT.
RECEIVED SPURIOUS STEERING ASSIST FAILURE ALARMS UNTIL IT FAILED COMPLETELY AT START UP. SEVERAL OF THESE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS FOR MY DAUGHTER. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 32K MILES. TOOK TO TALLAHASSEE FORD AND WAS QUOTED $2154 TO REPAIR. AFTER NEGOTIATION, FINAL PRICE WAS STILL $1830.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, "STEERING WHEEL FAULT" DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RANDY MARION FORD LINCOLN (1011 FOLGER DR, STATESVILLE, NC 28625 (704) 235-6214) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR MODULE ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
STEERING ASSIST FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES-ONCE IN THE STREET, ONCE IN OUR DRIVEWAY, AND ONCE IN OUR GARAGE. IN EACH INSTANCE, FRESTARTING THE CAR RETURNED OPERATION TO NORMAL.
POWER STEERING FAULT VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM ELECTRONIC STEERING FAULTS AT RANDOM. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT WITH THE MODEL YEAR 2012 AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE FROM A STATIONARY POSITION, THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT ENGAGE. POWER CYCLING THE CAR A FEW TIMES WILL INITIALIZE THE STEERING CONTROL FOR THE TIME BEING. I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE AT SPEED AS OF YET, BUT AM CONCERNED.
MY 2012 FORD FOCUS SE ONLY HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT AND THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT MULTIPLE TIMES. LUCKILY SO FAR IT'S ONLY GONE OUT WHILE PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE AND AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED BUT I'VE READ HUNDREDS OF REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT POWER STEERING SUDDENLY LOSING POWER WHILE AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED. I HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD SON AND THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE. THE 2012 FORD FUSION WITH THE EXACT SAME POWER STEERING SYSTEM WAS RECALLED. WHY WASN'T THE FOCUS RECALLED? WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO HAVE SOMEONE TAKE CARE OF THIS? WILL SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FOR SOMEONE TO DO A RECALL? THE AVERAGE FIX FOR THIS PART IS $1500. AS A SINGLE MOM PLEASE TELL ME HOW I'M SUPPOSED TO AFFORD THAT AND EVEN IF I GET IT FIXED WHO'S TO SAY IT WON'T GO OUT IN ANOTHER 50,000 MILES? FORD NEEDS TO SUCK IT UP AND RECALL THIS PART BEFORE THEY HAVE A MAJOR LAWSUIT ON THEIR HANDS.
I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO FORD MULTIPLE TIMES SAYING MY STEERING FELT "TIGHT" OR I WOULD HAVE TO JERK IT BACK INTO TURNING BECAUSE IT WOULD GET "STUCK" WHILE TURNING. MY STEERING ALSO "FREEZES" IN COLD WEATHER. MY STEERING WHEEL WON'T MOVE AT ALL WHEN TEMP DROPPED BELOW 42 DEGREES. I WOULD HAVE TO WARM CAR UP TO GET IT TO UNFREEZE. MY STEERING TOTALLY STOPPED WORKING 2 NIGHTS AGO. NO LIGHT CAME ON, NO CODES, IT JUST STOPPED TURNING. LUCKILY I WAS ON MY STREET GOING 25MPH, BUT TRYING TO GET IT TO TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY WAS VERY HARD. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP I GOT A WARNING THERE IS A STEERING FAILURE AND TO STOP SAFELY. I NOW HAVE A CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY THAT I CAN'T MOVE BECAUSE STEERING WON'T MOVE. I HAVE TO GO TO FORD AGAIN AND SEE WHAT THEY SAW, THEN HAVE IT TOWED THERE. I HAVE HEARD IT IS $1200 TO FIX. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. I AM ON SSDI, AND ONLY CAN WORK PT. I CAN'T SELL IT BECAUSE OF NEGATIVE EQUITY, AND NO GAP INSURANCE. FORD, PLEASE RECALL THIS! SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE. I USE HIGHWAY EVERY DAY, AND I COULD'VE SERIOULSY HURT STRANGERS. THIS IS THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO A CAR.
WHILE DRIVING ON SURFACE STREETS @ 25 MPH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TRANSMISSION SHUDDERING, ROUGH SHIFTING, OVERHEATED AND NEEDED TO STOP DRIVING TO COOL DOWN. AFTER PARKED OVERNIGHT, CAR WON'T START. TRIED THREE TIMES AND THEN HOLD KEY AND CAR RESETS AND STARTS. WAITED NEXT DAY, CAR WON'T START. TRIED THREE TIMES AND THEN HOLD KEY AND CAR RESETS AND STARTS. DROVE CAR TO DEALERSHIP. NEED NEW CLUTCH, BATTERY IN TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND OTHER PARTS. CAR HAS ONLY 118K MILES ON IT.
TRANSMISSION FAILING UNSAFE TO DRIVE
I OWN A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARYING SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS THIS PAST WEEK, HOWEVER, THEY SIMPLY BLEW ME OFF, STATING THAT THERE WAS RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY PRIVATE MECHANIC YESTERDAY AND HIS DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE ELECTRONIC EPAS MODULE WITHIN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD THE FOUR TIRES REPLACED ALSO YESTERDAY AND I GOT MERELY SOME RELIEF FROM THE STIFF STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING FAST, AS OPPOSED TO WHEN I DRIVE SLOWLY. IN FACT, THE STEERING STIFFENS COMPLETELY WHEN MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM A PARKED POSITION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE REVERSING AT 4 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, FAILING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRASER FORD SALES LTD (815 KING ST W, OSHAWA, ON L1J 8N5, CANADA), BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER FLUSHED THE BRAKE LINES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO FRASER FORD SALES LTD, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE LINES, AND CALIPERS, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
MY SON WAS STOPPED BEHIND ANOTHER STOPPED CAR ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY, AS A CAR 2 IN FRONT OF HIM WAS PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE PERSON TRAVELING BEHIND MY SON, WAS LOOKING INTO HIS REARVIEW MIRROR AT HIS CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT AND FAILED TO STOP. INSTEAD, AT FULL SPEED (45-55MPH) HE REARENDED MY SON IN THE FORD FOCUS THEREBY PUSHING HIM INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK CAUSING MY SON TO PLANT HIS FACE IN THE STEERING WHEEL.
I STARTED THE ENGINE OF MY FORD FOCUS AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION. AT THIS TIME, I NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. MY CAR WAS IN PARK. I THEN TRIED PUTTING MY CAR IN REVERSE AND TURNING THE WHEEL. IT ALSO WOULD NOT TURN. I THEN PUT MY CAR BACK IN DRIVE AND RETURNED TO MY PARKING SPACE. I SHUT THE CAR OFF. A BIT LATER ON, I RESTARTED THE ENGINE TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WOULD REOCCUR. NO WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL JUST FINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE SAME EVENT OCCURRED FOR HIM ONE TIME, BUT THEN NEVER AGAIN. HE ALSO WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING DURING HIS INVESTIGATION OF IT. I WOULD LIKE THIS MATTER LOOKED INTO BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO, THERE MUST BE A MALFUNCTION SOMEWHERE IN THE STEERING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. UPON ATTEMPTING TO LATCH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT, IT FAILED TO LATCH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000.
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN MY STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT CAME ON ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD NO CONTROL OF MY STEERING IN MY CAR LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO RUN OFF THE GRASSY PART OF THE ROAD TO STOP. I HAVE BEEN READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT FAULTY POWER STEERING PROBLEMS IN 2012 FORD FOCUS. I'M THANKFUL I WAS ABLE TO STOP MY CAR SAFELY BUT SOMEONE ELSE MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. PLEASE RECALL THIS PROBLEM BEFORE MORE PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIFE'S OVER SOMETHING CAN NEEDS TO BE FIXED CAUSE THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ON MANY OCCASSIONS WOULD NOT LATCH, WAS DIFFICULT TO LATCH, AND/OR BECAME STUCK AND WOULD TAKE A GREAT AMOUNT OF FORCE TO UNLATCH. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY ON CITY STREETS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN MARCH OF 2017 FOR A RECALL ON THE DOOR LATCHES AND THE SEAT BELT PROBLEM WAS REPORTED THEN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED, BUT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE FAILURE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, IT COULD BE CORRECTED BY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ABILITY WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. PHIL LONG FORD IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC EPAS MODULE WITHIN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION, CAN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FAIRWAY FORD (2322 LAURENS ROAD GREENVILLE, SC 29607) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE YEAR BEFORE, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER AN UNKNOWN FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN FOR THE SAME COMPONENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,431.
NO POWER STEERING. CONSTANT "STEERING ASSIST FAULT. SERVICE REQUIRED" MESSAGE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE WHILE DRIVING AT A LOWER SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MORE FORCE WAS NEEDED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED (LEGACY FORD, 27225 SOUTHWEST FWY, ROSENBERG, TX, 77471, 281-342-5611) AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER, 2015, WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK I FIRST SAW THE "STEERING ASSIST FAULT - SERVICE REQUIRED" MESSAGE WHEN I STARTED MY CAR. TURNING THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON AGAIN, REMOVED THE MESSAGE, AND POWER STEERING WORKED FINE. I WOULD GET THIS MESSAGE ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH, ONLY WHEN STARTING THE CAR, AND NEVER WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE CAR OFF THEN ON AGAIN ALWAYS RESOLVED THE ISSUE. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE STAFF AVAILABLE ON THE WEEKEND TO FIX IT, THAT I'D NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT DURING THE WEEK TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. BUT THE FACT THAT IT WAS ONLY HAPPENING OCCASIONALLY, IT WAS DRIVING OK AND THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED WHEN RESTARTING THE CAR, I WAS TOLD IT WASN'T URGENT AND THE NEXT TIME I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. SO IN JANUARY, 2016, WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE AND I MENTIONED THE ISSUE, THEY LOOKED FOR THE ERROR CODE BUT COULDN'T SEE IT, SO THERE WAS NOTHING TO FIX. I KEPT GETTING THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT MESSAGE ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH, ONLY WHEN STARTING THE CAR, AND IT WOULD RESOLVE WHEN RESTARTING THE CAR. IN AUGUST 2017 I BROUGHT MY CAR TO FIRESTONE FOR INSPECTION, AND I MENTIONED IT THEN. THEY LOOKED FOR THE MESSAGE BUT COULD NOT SEE THE ERROR CODE, SO THERE WAS NOTHING TO FIX. 2 WEEKS LATER, SEPTEMBER 2017, I STARTED THE CAR, GOT THE MESSAGE, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON, AND GOT THE MESSAGE AGAIN. I TRIED RESTARTING MY CAR 6-7 TIM
ON JULY 13, 2017 MY SISTER AND I WERE ON VACATION AND I PULLED IN TO FILL UP WITH GAS. GOT THE GAS, STARTED THE CAR AND A MESSAGE CAME UP STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION -SEE TECHNICIAN. TRIED TO DRIVE THE THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT STEER. NO PREVIOUS WARNING AT ALL. CAR WAS STEERING GREAT UNTIL THEN. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. WAS IN A SMALL TOWN IN PA. WITHOUT A FORD DEALER. NEAREST FORD DEALER WAS HALF HR AWAY AND COULDN'T LOOK AT IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WE WERE 5 1/2 HRS FROM OUR HOME. HAD TO CALL MY SON AND BROTHER TO COME AND TOW US HOME. IT SCARES ME TO DEATH TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. TOOK IT TO MY DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING RACK AND MODULE ASSEMBLY. WANTED TO CHARGE ME $2300.00 BUT I COMPLAINED AND THEY FINALLY CHARGED ME $1900.00. CALLED FORD BUT GOT NO WHERE WITH THEM. SAID IT WAS A CUSTOMER BILL. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE FORD RECALLS THIS PROBLEM.
MY POWER ASSIST STEERING FAULT LIGHT CAME ON A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES AND THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. I HAD TO RESTART MY VEHICLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER SHIP AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING GEAR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1850. THE CAR ONLY HAS 77,000 MILES ON IT. A REPAIR LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND REALIZED THIS IS A VERY COMMON SAFETY HAZARD MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THE FORD FOCUS. I ALSO FOUND OUT FORD HAS RECALLED SEVERAL SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT THE FORD FOCUS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS LUCKY IT ONLY HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. FORD NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT BY THIS. MY CAR IS NOW OUT OF COMMISSION BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD THE STEERING GEAR TO BE REPLACED AND I AM TO SCARED TO DRIVE IT. AT THIS POINT I HAVE NOT IDEA WHAT I AM GOING TO DO.
I HAVE 2012 FORD FOCUS WITH ABOUT 85,000 MILES. SINCE 2014, I'VE HAD MY TCM REPROGRAMMED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN REPLACED IN DEC 2015 UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AFTER IT COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO FORD AGAIN IN JULY 2017 BECAUSE MY STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP IN A PARKING LOT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE EPAS SYSTEM, AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1,800 TO REPLACE SINCE IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AT THEIR INSISTENCE, I PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I ALSO MADE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AT THAT TIME. SINCE JULY, I'VE HAVE BEEN BACK TO THREE FORD DEALERSHIPS - FIRST TWO TIMES BECAUSE OF A GRINDING NOISE (THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE IT THEN BUT HAVE SINCE SAID IT IS MY CLUTCH) AND A SECOND TIME THIS PAST TUESDAY (9/12) AFTER MY CAR BASICALLY SHORT CIRCUITED IN A PARKING LOT ON MONDAY AND IT STARTED LURCHING FORWARD WHILE TRYING TO REVERSE...SIMULTANEOUSLY MY BREAKS LOCKED UP AND MY STEERING LOCKED UP AGAIN (MY SOUND/RADIO DISPLAY/FRONT BUTTONS WERE ALSO INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING). JC FORD DID SOME "REPROGRAMMING" BUT SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUES AND TOLD ME MY CLUTCH WOULD NEED REPLACED EVENTUALLY BUT FORD WOULD NOT COVER IT UNTIL IT GOT WORSE. THEY TOLD ME THESE PROBLEMS WERE UNRELATED DESPITE ME INSISTING THEY ALL FELT SIMILAR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. YESTERDAY (WEDS, 9/13), WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN ONTO A HIGHWAY, MY CAR AGAIN "STALLED"/SHORT-CIRCUITED (NOT SURE WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED - BUT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, A WARNING MESSAGE "STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION" SUDDENLY DISPLAYED AND THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (AUTO FORD IN HAVERHALL, MA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR AND STEERING RACK AND PINION WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
I HAVE A 2012 FORD FOCUS THAT WITHOUT WARNING LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL, I HAVE CONTACTED FORD, WHO BASICALLY TOLD ME IT'S MY PROBLEM. LUCKILY, WE WERE NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME BUT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 70MPH? HOW IS THIS SAFE FOR MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD NEAR ME? WHY IS FORD NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM? IS IT BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN KILLED YET? THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THE STEERING WAS FAILING, ONE DAY IT'S FINE AND THE NEXT DAY IT WAS GONE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN SUBJECTED TO A RECALL AS OF YET?
AT 48,000 MILES MY HORN STOPPED WORKING
2012 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LATCHES MALFUNCTION. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR DOOR LATCH RECALL REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH THE LEFT PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCHES BROKE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 09/12/2017*JS
SHUDDER WHEN TAKING OFF, SEEMS TO BE FROM 1ST TO 2ND....OR 2ND TO THIRD. I DONT REALLY KNOW. AUTOMATIC GEARBOX. AS WELL, MY RADIO WILL CRACKLE AND POP THEN "FREEZE" NO SOUND OR CONTROL OTHER THAN A VERY LOUD AND DISTRACTING STATIC AND POPPING FROM THE SPEAKERS. THIS HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE.
THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE, WHEN THIS HAPPENS THIS IS A SUDDEN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK STATIONARY AND ALSO WHILE IN DRIVE MOVING. IT OCCASIONALLY WOULD HAPPEN. AFTER THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME, THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND POWER STEERING LOSS REMAINED DESPITE TRY TO RESTART CAR, THIS FINAL TIME IT DID NOT SHUT OFF PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE INTO FORD WHERE I HAD TO PAY FOR A COMPLETE NEW STEERING RACK AND CBM. COST $2,000 AT FORD DEALERSHIP.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON 9/8/2017, MY POWER STEERING GAVE OUT, NO WARNING AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HARD AND IT MADE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR.
TAKATA INFLATORS: THIS VEHICLE IN THE "DRIVE GEAR" LUNGES WHEN GAS IS PRESSED AND QUICKLY TAKES OFF AT THE SLIGHTEST PRESS OF GAS MAKING FOR A DANGEROUS TAKE OFF FROM STOP LIGHTS AND TRAFFIC SIGNS WHILE ON MAJOR ROADWAYS. THIS VEHICLE WHEN PLACED IN THE "PARK GEAR" JERKS WHEN PLACED IN PARK AND FEELS AS IF IT WILL ROLL BACKWARDS WHILE IN PARKING LOTS OR HOME DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES TO FORD DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT AND/OR REPAIR AS "SHAKING" AND "SHIMMIES" WHILE DRIVING, TO PREVENT THIS FEELING, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS USED OFTEN. ONCE, THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY ROLLED BACKWARDS IN THE THE "DRIVE" GEAR BUT WAS IDENTIFIED AS A DEFECT AND REPAIRED BY A FORD DEALER. WHEN PLACED IN "DRIVE" AT THAT TIME IT WAS SHOWING ON THE DASH AS IN "PARK". THIS TOO WAS CORRECTED BY FORD DEALER BY REPLACING TCM. ALTHOUGH REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE, IT CONTINUES TO OFTEN SHAKE AND SHIMMY APPEARING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES. AS OWNER, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE LATEST RECALL PART PRIOR TO MY WARRANTY EXPIRING WHICH MAY HAVE FURTHER RESOLVED SOME OF THE LINGERING ISSUES. TCM HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE CLUTCH REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE,OR TCM REPROGRAMMED DURING MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE FORD DEALER.
I STARTED MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND I WAS ALERTED TO THE MESSAGE "STEERING ASSIST FAULT, SERVICE REQUIRED" AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER MY CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, IT WAS VERY HARD TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW. I'LL HAVE TO PAY A HEFTY $1000-$2000 FOR THIS REPAIR. FORD SHOULD DEFINITELY RECALL THE STEERING ISSUE IN THE FORD FOCUS AS THERE HAS BEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. IT IS SO UNFAIR TO HAVE CUSTOMERS PAY THIS OUT OF POCKET WHEN CLEARLY IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT AT ALL CAUSED BY THE ACTIONS OF THE DRIVER. MY 2012 FORD FOCUS HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM IN THE 2 YEARS I HAVE HAD IT. SO FRUSTRATED AND UNHAPPY WITH THIS CAR.
MY COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE POWER STEERING GEAR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN MY 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL WHILE PARKED AND DRIVING WHICH PUT ME INTO A COUPLE VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHILE DRIVING. I AM REQUESTING A RECALL BY FORD OF THE POWER STEERING GEAR.
THE POWER STEERING JUST QUITS WORKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVE. WE HAD TO PARK THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT JUST ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE, WE ARE EITHER GOING TO GET INTO A HEAD ON COLLISION OR DRIVE OFF THE ROAD IF WE DRIVE IT LIKE THIS. THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND FORD WON'T FIX IT SINCE IT IS PAST WARRANTY, WE ONLY HAVE 45,000 MILE ON THIS CAR, IT SHOULD BE SAFER THAN THIS.
ENGINE STARTED GROWLING AND BECAME VERY SLUGGISH. AT STOP LIGHTS OR EVEN IN TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF CAUSING FOR A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED IN APRIL AND NOW THE SAME TROUBLES ARE STARTING TO APPEAR AGAIN.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF, THE DOOR SENSORS KEEP RINGING, AND THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AMD ROOLS BACKWARDS WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES
TAKATA RECALL WHILE DRIVING MY SEAT BELTS LOCK SO TIGHT I HAVE TO UNBUCKLE THEM BECAUSE THEY WON'T COME LOSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, WAITED TEN SECONDS, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAC HEIK FORD LINCOLN (LOCATED AT 7201 N INTERSTATE HWY 35, GEORGETOWN, TX 78628, (512) 930-3673) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS12222912. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,225.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR OPENED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WOULD NOT SHUT. THE PASSENGER DOOR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WRAPPED THE SEAT BELT AROUND THE DOOR TO KEEP IT SHUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,697.
WHILST IN MOTION AND ON A CITY STREET, I COULD NO LONGER CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY VEHICLE. IT RESISTED MY CONTROL LIKE IT HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN, AND I HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE TO GET IT TO TURN WHERE I WANTED IT TO AND PULL OVER. SEEMED TO DRIFT EVEN WHEN GOING STRAIGHT. WARNING LIGHT THEN APPEARED ON SCREEN THAT SAID SOMETHING LIKE "STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION". THIS MALFUNCTION CAN OCCUR AT ANY MOMENT, AND NOTHING IN PARTICULAR SEEMED TO TRIGGER IT. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, IT SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD WITH POWER STEERING AND HAS PUT MANY IN DANGER.
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2012 Ford Focus → · Every Focus year → · How the figures are calculated →