NEW CAR ...... THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE 5/31/12 .......... FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND ACCELERATING TO GO FORWARD THE CAR WOULD JERK FORWARD, HESITATE AS IF STALLING ....... LAST TIME IT STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION .............. TOLD BY FORD TECH THIS IS DO TO THE TRANSMISSION BEING CONTROLLED BY COMPUTER CHIPS ............ CAR IS GOING IN FOR SERVICE TODAY. *TR
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 →
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. I STARTED IT UP AND BACKED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE. I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND BEGAN MOVING FORWARD. AFTER GOING APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET THE "I" SIGN ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE MESSAGE "STEERING MALFUNCTION, NEEDS SERVICE" CAME ON, ALONG WITH THE ALARM JINGLE. I TRIED TO STEER THE CAR OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVE LANE AND MANAGED TO GET IT OVER TO THE SIDE, BUT THE STEERING WAS PRACTICALLY FROZEN. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND LOOKED FOR ANY OBVIOUS SIGNS OF TROUBLE, BUT COULD FIND NONE. AFTER READING THROUGH THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND CHECKING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I RESTARTED THE CAR (ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER I SHUT IT OFF) AND NO WARNING SIGN CAME ON. I TEST DROVE IT IN THE PARKING LOT FOR A MINUTE TO SEE IF THE STEERING WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY AND THEN DROVE HOME AND EXPERIENCED NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD AUTOWAY DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS STEMMING FROM AN ABS "CORRUPTED" PROGRAM. THEY TOLD ME THE EPAS GETS IT POWER THROUGH THE ABS. THEY REBOOTED THE ABS PROGRAM AND I'VE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. *TR
NEW TITANIUM MODEL FOCUS ... AIR BAG LIGHT STARTING COMING ON WHILE DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE ROAD ... THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, UNTIL FINALLY THE LIGHT CAME ON AN STAYED ON. DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR FOR 7 DAYS NOW AND STILL UNABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TT
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. INTERMITTENT VIBRATES, BUCKS, HESITATES, SLIPS & JERKS. CAN'T RELY ON TAKE-OFF ACCELERATION WHETHER IT WILL ENGAGE PROPERLY, PULLING INTO TRAFFIC IS VERY DANGEROUS. STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT'S LIKE SOMEONE DRIVING A STICK SHIFT AND NOT HAVING THE CLUTCH & GAS IN SYNC, ONLY IT'S AN AUTOMATIC SO YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THE TECH LAUGHED AT ME AND TOLD ME IT WAS JUST THE "NEW" 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION. 2ND TIME, THEY REPLACED SOME PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION. 3RD TIME, THEY HAD THE CAR 4 DAYS & SAID THERE WAS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY HAPPENING. THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS TRANSMISSION, AND FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO FIX THEM BEFORE AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS.
WAS TOLD THIS CAR HAD "AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION". AFTER A FEW HUNDRED MILES ON IT, I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED SPORADICALLY AND WITH NO PREDICTION. ENGINE SHUDDERED, CAR LOST POWER AND WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE KEY HERE IS NO PREDICTION AS TO HOW THE CAR WILL REACT WHEN UNDER ACCELERATION. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD "THIS ISN'T AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - IT'S A COMPUTER- CONTROLLED MANUAL THAT HAS TO LEARN HOW YOU DRIVE". DEALER UPLOADED A COMPUTER UPDATE FROM FORD. THE NEXT HUNDRED MILES OF DRIVING ALMOST CAUSED NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS DUE TO LACK OF ACCELERATION AND UNEVEN PERFORMANCE. 6/4/2012 I TRIED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND CAR REFUSED TO SPEED UP. I ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT, BUT NUMEROUS DRIVERS SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND/OR SWERVED AND AVERTED MULTIPLE COLLISIONS. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER 6/5/2012 AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. WAS TOLD BY HEAD TECH "IT JUST HAS TO GET USED TO HOW YOU DRIVE". I TOLD HIM THERE WERE THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE DRIVING THIS FOCUS. HE SAID WE CAN'T, BECAUSE THAT WOULD JUST END UP TOTALLY "CONFUSING" THE COMPUTER. AS THE CAR IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, IT IS STILL AT THE DEALER. MILES ON VEHICLE ARE UNDER 800.
POOR SHIFT QUALITY 6 SPEED DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO ACCELERATE AS THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AS THE VEHICLE FINALLY ACCELERATED, IT JERKED FORWARD VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR AN UPDATE TO THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER THE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.
WHENEVER I DRIVE THE CAR AROUND 60 MILES SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STIFF AND STARTS TO WANDER. IT BECOMES REALLY HARD TO BALANCE THE WHEELS. I NOTICED THIS ON MY BRAND NEW FORD FOCUS SE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON MAY 25TH 2012, WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A TOLLWAY AT 60 TO 70 MILES SPEED PER HOUR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON MAY 24TH 2012. THIS CAR IS NOT GOOD FOR DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS ESPECIALLY FOR DRIVING AROUND THE SPEED 60 MILES PER HOUR. NOW I AM REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR ON HIGHWAYS. SO FAR, THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. GOING FORWARD IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, I WOULD BLAME FORD AND SUE THE COMPANY. FORD MUST FIX THIS ISSUE OR RECALL THIS MODEL. *TR
THIS IS A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY FOCUS. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE FOCUS'S AUTOMATIC DSG TRANSMISSION (IN D) WILL QUICKLY SHIFT TO A HIGHER GEAR IN AN EFFORT TO MINIMIZE FUEL CONSUMPTION. DURING A STOPPED TURN AT A INTERSECTION THIS LEADS TO A UNSAFE CONDITION WHERE COMMANDED ACCELERATION TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS TO HAPPEN. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS LIKE THIS: THE CAR ACCELERATES AT A STOP SIGN OR PARKING LOT. THE CAR ACCELERATES TO 10-15 MILES PER HOUR. THE DRIVER LETS OFF THE GAS DURING THE "TURN" PART. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO SECOND OR A HIGHER GEAR. THE DRIVER THEN COMMANDS A LARGE ACCELERATION - SAY DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC - AND NOTHING WILL HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS IS BECAUSE THE DSG TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO SHIFT SEQUENTIALLY INTO FIRST AND THIS TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS. ALSO IT APPEARS THAT THE POWERTRAIN IS DISCONNECTED WHILE THIS SHIFTING TAKES PLACE. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY SELECTS FIRST THE ACCELERATION CAN BE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES AND I BELIEVE IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. IT CAN BE AVOIDED BY MANUALLY SELECTING FIRST - THEN SHIFTING TO D WHEN THE TURN IS COMPLETE. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPROGRAMMED THE PCM, TCM AND ABS ON MAY 21, 2012. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN ROUGHLY WITH A JERKING MOTION FOLLOWING THE REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARD WHEN STOPPED ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,549. UPDATED 07/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON JUNE 5, 2012 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. UPDATED 07/09/12 THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXTENDED THE WARRANTY. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN LAYING ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEAD REST, IT WOULD FALL IN BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE HEAD REST HOLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD REST WAS DESIGNED THAT IT COULD NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN AND CONNECT WITH THE TOP OF THE SEAT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 513.
I JUST BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2012 FORD FOCUS AND I NOTICED SHUDDER OR VIBRATION WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE. I LOOKED AT THE INTERNET AND FOUND A THIS A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG FORD FOCUS OWNERS. PLEASE HELP US IN COMPELING FORD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY. WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT WHEN NEEDED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. CAR WILL ALSO ROLL BACK WHEN YOU STOP IF ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. THERE IS A VOLUNTARY RECALL BY FORD FOR THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE REMEDIES DO NOT WORK. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THESE REMEDIES PERFORMED ON MY CAR OVER A YEAR AGO. THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS REGARDING THESE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OVER A YEAR AGO BUT FORD HAS TAKEN THE STANCE AS TO IGNORE THEM. FORD HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THESE PROBLEMS AND OTHER PROBLEMS ON THESE CARS BEFORE THEY WERE EVEN INTRODUCED TO THE PUBLIC. FORD CHOSE TO PUT SALES BEFORE CONSUMER SAFETY. THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR THE NHTSA FOR THEM TO MAKE THIS A INVOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL, PEOPLE GETTING KILLED? I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR NEITHER SHOULD ANYONE ELSE WHO OWNS THIS CAR. *TR
WHEN CAR STARTED IT WAS AT A HIGHER IDLE THEN NORMAL, AROUND 1,200 RPMS.. UPON DRIVING 1 MILE AT 45 MPH I THEN CAME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT AND IT WOULD THEN REV FROM 700 RPMS ABOUT TO APROX 2,600 RPMS AND I HAD THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION SERVICE NOW LIGHT COME ON.. I ONLY HAD THE CAR REV WHEN ON THE BRAKES.. IN PARK AND OR NEUTRAL IT WAS WORSE.. I THEN WENT TO DRIVE ON GREEN. THE THROTTLE DID NOT RESPOND AT ALL AND THE CAR THEN SPEED UP ON ITS OWN.. IT TOOK ABOUT 20 SECONDS TO GET TO 15 MPH AND IT REFUSED TO GO PAST THAT.. I THEN TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 8TH TIME, THIS TIME THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT AS BEFORE THEY WOULD JUST RESET THE COMPUTER AND SEND ME OFF.. FORD DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN TAKING ACTION ON THIS BEWARE IF BUYING A FOCUS THAT COMPUTER RESETS WILL NOT FIX IT.. *TR
2012 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, DRIVE SHAFT AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD, HESITATE AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR FAST ENOUGH WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE RIGHT PASSENGER POWER WINDOW WAS SLOWER THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN PROPERLY. UPDATED 05/25/12
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CAME OFF (COMPLETELY). FORD IS BACK? I DO NOT THINK SO IF THEY OVERLOOK IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE CAR. *TR
I TURNED ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET THAT HAS A STEEP GRADE. AS I ACCELERATED UPHILL, THE TRUNK OPENED WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM MYSELF (DRIVER AND SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE). THE DOORS AND TRUNK WERE LOCKED AT THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE. THERE WERE A FEW ITEMS IN THE TRUNK WHEN THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE, NONE OF WHICH EXITED THE TRUNK. *TR
MY CAR HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT FORD INSTALLED IN THE 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CAR SHUDDERS AND HESITATES ON TAKE OFF TO THE POINT OF IT STALLING. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP SIX TIMES NOW. AT THIS POINT FORD IS INSTALLING NEW CLUTCHES AND I WILL HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 1,000 MILES UNTIL THESE NEW CLUTCHES BRAKES IN TO SEE IF THE ISSUE PERSISTS. I HAVE READ IN FORUMS AND ARTICLES THAT IM NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THESE ISSUES. PLEASE HELP IN ANY WAY YOU CAN. *TR
WHILE IN DRIVE, THE AUTO TRANSMISSION ALLOWED THE CAR TO ROLL BACKWARD AND HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME THEN LUNGED FORWARD AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE HILL WAS FAIRLY STEEP AS IT WAS AN OFF RAMP FROM FREEWAY AT STOP LIGHT. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I AM TOLD IT IS A NORMAL CONDITION. *JS
RELEASE BUTTON FOR EMERGENCY BRAKE BROKE AND CAME OFF. UNABLE TO SET PARKING BRAKE BECAUSE I WON'T BE ABLE TO RELEASE IT. FORD SERVICE INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS "TRIM ISSUE" AND WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I CAN NOT SET THE PARKING BRAKE, WHICH LEAVES THE DANGER OF THE CAR ROLLING WHILE PARKED AND INJURING SOMEONE. I WENT TO THE PARTS DEPARTMENT OUT OF DESPERATION TO ORDER THE BUTTON, AND WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE PARKING BRAKE ASSYEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OVER $1000! THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A TRIM ISSUE TO ME! JOE COOPER FORD TULSA OKLAHOMA *JS
ON THE DRIVE HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE DAY WE PURCHASED THIS CAR, WE WERE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE ROAD HAD SOME UNEVEN SURFACES. TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS FROM THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHUTTERING AS WE CAME TO A STOP. I WAS CONCERNED BUT WE WERE LATE AND COULD NOT GO BACK TO THE DEALER. WELL THE CAR DID IT MANY TIMES AFTER THAT, SOMETIMES ON ACCELERATION AND OTHER TIMES WHILE COMING TO A STOP. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR AS I ENTERED MY DRIVEWAY (IT HAS A SLIGHT INCLINE) AND IT WOULD SHUTTER ALL THE WAY UP. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY RAN AN UPDATE FROM FORD. THIS HELPED SOME, BUT IT IS STILL SHIFTING FUNNY AND MAKING A FUNNY NOISE WHILE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND. IT SHIFTS WAY TOO SOON AND IS GENERALLY IN THE WRONG GEAR. IF YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC THERE IS A HUGE DELAY. THE CAR SEEMS TO WAIT WAY TOO LONG BEFORE GOING DOWN INTO A GEAR THAT WILL ALLOW THIS TO NOT BE UNSAFE! I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR WAS GIVEN A 2012 FOCUS AS A LOANER, THE LOANER IS PERFECT! IT EXHIBITS NONE OF THE PROBLEMS MY CAR DOES. THIS TELLS ME THIS IS NOT A NORMAL ISSUE. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER, BUT I AM SURE THE SONG AND DANCE ABOUT MY CAR IS NORMAL AND MY ISSUES ARE NORMAL ARE COMING. I AM NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THIS EXPLANATION! I NOW KNOW HOW THIS CAR SHOULD DRIVE AND MINE IS NOT DRIVING NORMAL. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE DEALING WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM.THAT MEANS IT IS NOT JU
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTITOURING CONTACT TIRES, DOT NUMBER: A3D347PB, SIZE 215/55/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH UPHILL, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND REAR TIRES EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,086 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,098.
MY BACK WINDSHIELD IMPLODED WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR AND CLOSED THE DOOR. I LEASED THIS CAR ON AUG 30, 2011 AND THE MILEAGE IS ABOUT 7000 MILES. FORD SAID THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY THIS REPLACEMENT GLASS AS THERE WERE EXTERNAL CAUSES. I HAVE A WITNESS THAT STATES WHEN I CLOSED THE DOOR, THE BACK WINDSHIELD TURNED GREY, AND IMPLODED. ACCORDING TO MY WARRANTY, P.13, THIS SHOULD BE COVERED IN FIRST 12 MONTHS/12,000 MILES, NO MATTER THE REASON. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A LOT, NO INDICATION OF ANYTHING UNTOWARD HAPPENING TO IT. *TR
I BOUGHT A 2012 FORD FOCUS SEDAN A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED SLOW JERKY SHUTTERING ACCERLERATION WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP THEN TRYING TO ACCLERATE. I DID NOT THINK OF ANYTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL I RESEARCHED IT ONLINE FINDING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND NOW THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CURRENTLY HAVE IT. NEXT THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING SOUNDS AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE METAL TO METAL ON THE BRAKES IS THE SOUND AND LAST LOOSE MIRROR WHEN LIFTING THE TAB DOWN TO LOOK AT MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT THE WHOLE MIRROR GOES DOWN ISTEAD OF SLIGHTLY MOVING. *JS
JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER WE BOUGHT THIS CAR, I WAS COMING HOME AT NIGHT AND THE CAR FELT LIKE IT RAN OUT OF GAS!! THERE WAS A FULL TANK AND NO POWER. I PUSHED ON THE GAS AND NOTHING! THEN ZOOM IT SPED UP... WHAT THE HECK? HOW SCARY! I AM PISSED! I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID UNLESS I COULD GIVE THEM THE CODE (WHAT CODE) THERE IS NOT MUCH THEY COULD DO TO HELP. THANK GOD I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY OR IN TRAFFIC. I REALLY LIKED THE GUY WHO SOLD US THIS CAR, I WILL BE CONTACTING HIM AS WELL. THEN JUST A FEW DAYS AGO WHEN I BACKED UP I BARELY TOUCHED THE GAS AND I ZIPPED HARD! THIS IS A ISSUE! WHAT THE HECK! THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE TRAVELING 22 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. IN ORDER TO STOP THE ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO ACCELERATE AND THEN WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD WITHIN SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,900 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,300. UPDATED 04/25/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RPM'S TO 4,000 AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL. A FEW DAYS LATER, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE SAME OCCURRENCE HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IDLED AT 600 RPM WHEN BRAKING, THEN INCREASED TO 1400, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/02/12
MY FORD FOCUS SEL 2012 HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING SHUDDERING FEELINGS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP. IT FEELS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT TO STALL AND THEN IT KICKS BACK UP AND JOLTS MY CARS BACK AND FORTH FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE RESUMING NORMAL SPEED AFTER 10 MPH. THESE SEVERAL SECONDS ARE VITAL WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH FAST TRAFFIC IN CALIFORNIA OR ANYWHERE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER. THIS CREATED A DELAY IN THE ACCELERATION TIME, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE CONTACT SEVERAL FORD OFFICIALS ABOUT THIS AND THEY KEEP SAYING THAT IT IS NORMAL AND THAT THERE IS A BREAK IN PERIOD. WHY WAS I NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR? THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND FORD IS JUST EXCUSING IT UNTIL MY WARRANTY PERIOD IS UP. TWO OF MY FRIENDS BOUGHT THE SAME CAR AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PROPER ACTION FROM FORD TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PROFESSIONALLY. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING NEW FORD FOCUS SE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. FAILURE OF STEERING WAS ACCOMPANIED BY "STEERING ASSIST FAULT - SERVICE REQUIRED" MESSAGE IN DASH AND WARNING CHIME. ON RESTART OF CAR, STEERING RETURNS TO NORMAL OPERATION AND FAULT MESSAGE NO LONGER DISPLAYS. THIS HAS OCCURRED ONCE AFTER PURCHASE OF CAR. I SEE THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS BUT NO SOLUTIONS. WILL THERE BE A RECALL ISSUED BEFORE THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE AT SPEED AND CAUSES A WRECK RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS 5,800 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL AND HAVING TO RELEASE THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACK WARDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NATURAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO DO THAT. THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN STOPPED AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL POTENTIALLY FATAL OCCURRENCES RELATED TO LEFT FOOT BRAKING AND THE BRAKE OVER THROTTLE OVERRIDE SOFTWARE INSTALLED IN MY 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHEN BRAKING WITH THE LEFT FOOT AND IN A TURN WHILE FEATHERING THE THROTTLE WITH THE RIGHT FOOT, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO REV WITHOUT GOING INTO ANY GEAR. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED NO LESS THAN 22 TIMES. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN BUT THE NEXT WAS A LEFT HAND TURN. ALTHOUGH THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED CROSSING ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC, I WOULD NOT LIKE THIS CONDITION TO OCCUR CROSSING 2 OR 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND BECOMING A FATALITY. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD WHO BRAKES USING THE LEFT FOOT. NOW THAT I KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE, I CAN DUPLICATE IT EVEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED AND IN A STRAIGHT LINE. CAR HAS BEEN TO FORD AND HAD FLASHES OF THE COMPUTER INSTALLED WITH NO CHANGE. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM THROUGH EMAILS FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENT. THIS FIX FOR THE SO CALLED TOYOTA FLOOR MAT PROBLEM HAS CREATED AN EVEN MORE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY OF ALL THINGS BRAKING WITH THE LEFT FOOT. AT THE LEAST , I SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO OVERRIDE THE BRAKE OVER THROTTLE PORTION OF THE SOFTWARE BY TURNING IT OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD WHILE CHANGING GEARS. ALSO, WHILE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE VHEICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE INSTEAD. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND DIAGNOSED A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
WHILE STOPPED BEHIND RED LIGHT ALL SCREEN SYSTEM, SYNC SYSTEM, RADIO INCLUDING SOUND SYSTEM WENT BLACK. DID NOT START OVER TILL NEXT DAY IN THE MORNING AND AS SOON AS START THE CAR ERRORS AFTER ERROR CAME UP FOR NAV SYSTEM, PHONE CONNECTION. HAD TO RESET EVERY THING. THESE ERRORS ARE COMING UP EVERY DAY. THERE WILL BE RISK OF LOSING OTHER SYSTEM INCLUDING AIR BAG, POWER STEERING, BREAK AND OTHER IMPORTANT SYSTEM WHILE THIS SYSTEM GOING OFF. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AND SERVICE TRAINED SPECIALIST TOLD ME THAT IS MY PHONE PROBLEM!!! AFTER LONG DRIVE WHEN TRYING TO TAKE OFF CAR IS SHAKING, THERE IS BIG SAFETY ISSUE WITH SEAT BELT. WHILE DRIVING, IF FOR ANY REASON UNLOCK THE SEAT BELT THERE WILL BE NO WARNING LIGHT OR WARNING SOUND THAT SEAT BELT IS OFF. IF CAR IS RUNNING AND LEAVE THE CAR WHEN YOU ARE BACK AND START DRIVING THERE WILL BE NO WARNING LIGHT AND SOUND THAT SEAT BELT IS NOT IN USE AND CAN DRIVE ALL YOU WANT. AFTER LONG DRIVE WHILE TRYING TO TAKE OFF CAR IS SHAKING. *TR
THE FORD FOCUS 2012 HAS PROBLEM STARTING AT 556 MILES - THE ENGINE WOULD NOT EVEN TURN OVER. THE WARNING LIGHT "STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRE" COME ON, AND THE FRONT POWER WINDOWS DO NOT WORK TOO. HOPE THE DEALER WOULD FIX THIS SOON. *TR
AFTER MAKING RIGHT TURN OUT OF DRIVEWAY, TRAVELED STRAIGHT FOR APPROXIMATELY 300-400 YARDS AND POWER STEERING FAILED. WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO STOP AT STOP SIGN...COULD NOT STEER CAR - VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WITHOUT ASSIST. I MANAGED TO TURN IT AROUND, GOT BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY. POWER STEERING DID NOT RETURN. CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE - TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE CAR TO GET IT ON TRUCK...POWER ASSIST RETURNED. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE, RESEARCHED WITH FORD TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FOUND "NO CAUSE." THEY CALLED IT A FLUKE AND RETURNED CAR TO ME. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED IN SAME FASHION ON FEB. 14, 2012. AFTER RETURNING TO MY DRIVEWAY THE SECOND TIME, THE POWER ASSIST RETURNED TO FUNCTION. DEALER IS NOT SURE THAT BRINGING THE CAR IN WILL HELP THEM FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT STATED IN EMAIL THAT "IT COULD VERY WELL BE A FLUKE" AND IS NOT OFFERING ANY FURTHER SOLUTIONS. I NEED HELP IN GETTING THIS FIXED. *TR
THE WINDSHIELD IN MY CAR HAS DISTORTIONS IN IT. SOME ARE VERTICAL, SOME ARE HORIZONTAL. THE FORD DEALER AND FORD CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE HAVE BOTH TOLD ME THAT THIS IS STANDARD FOR THIS MODEL. SINCE ALL MODELS HAVE IT, THERE IS NO WINDSHIELD WITH WHICH IT CAN BE REPLACED. I THINK IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD DISTORTS WHAT I SEE OUTSIDE. I'D LIKE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO IT. *TR
FAILURE CAUSED CAR TO DROP SPEED AND POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHICH ULTIMATELY CAUSED A SAFETY ISSUE WITH FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. FORD CODE P0850:62-28-IPC. *TR
SHUDDERING ON TAKE OFF FROM COMPLETE STOP. *TR
I BOUGHT THIS CAR FORD FOCUS SE 2012 IN JULY 2011 AND THE DAY AFTER THAT I FELT AND HEARD WEIRD NOISES AND VIBRATION WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CHANGED GEARS. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS OPERATING WITHIN FORD SPECIFICATION SO IT WAS NORMAL AND AFTER A FEW MILES IT WILL DESAPEAR. IT CONTINUE GETTING WORSE. AT 2500 MILES I WENT TO THE DEALER AGAIN BUT THEY SAID AGAIN THAT THE CAR WAS OPERATING WITHIN FORD SPECIFICATION. AT 6500 MILES THE WEIRD NOISES AND VIBRATION WERE STILL THERE AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON SUDDENLY AND THE GEARS DIDN'T SHIFT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER DIDN'T RECORD ANY ERROR OR PROBLEM AND THAT THE CAR WAS OPERATING WITHIN FORD SPECIFICATIONS. AFTER SOME DELAY THEY CHANGED THE DUAL CLUTCH IN THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT WAS WORSE. AT THAT TIME THE CAR HAD THE SAME WEIRD NOISES AND VIBRATIONS AND SHAKES A LOT WHILE IDLING. I APPLIED LEMON LAW AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TESTED THE CAR AND SAW AND FELT THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE ARBITRATION IN BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THEY TESTED THE CAR TOO AND SAW AND FELT THE PROBLEM. THE PERSON FROM FORD DIDN'T GO TO THE ARBITRATION, THEY WERE ON THE PHONE. I WON THE CASE AND THIS NEXT MONDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2012 I HAVE TO GO TO THE DEALER TO RECEIVE MY MONEY BACK AND RETURN THE CAR. I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND I APPLIED LEMON LAW IN THIS CAR. THIS FORD FOCUS SE 2012 IS A LEMON CAR. ABOUT THE SEAT BELT PROBLEM, WHEN I'M DRIVING, IF I UNBUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, THE WA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NO LONGER FELT SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,106 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 4,160.
I WAS DRIVING AROUND 10MPH AND GETTING INTO A TURNING LANE WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR HIT THE MEDIAN WHICH WAS NO HIGHER THEN A CURB. AFTER HITTING THE MEDIAN THE ENGINE MOUNTS BROKE OFF AND PART OF THE ENGINE FELL OFF THE CAR. THE IMPACT CAUSED NO SEEABLE DAMAGE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR NEITHER DID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. THERE IS NO REASON WHY HITTING A CURB AT 10MPH WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO POP OUT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING STEERING FAULT SERVICE IMMEDIATELY AND AN EXCLAMATION MARK APPEARED ON THE DASHBORAD. AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR WOULD BARELY STEER AND I HAD A VERY HARD TIME GETTING IT OFF THE ROAD. I CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND BEGAN JERKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,500.
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILED, I ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND INTO A WOODED AREA. THE SYSTEM GAVE AN INDICATOR LIGHT OF STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE AND ALSO THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT ENGAGE. I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
HIT DEER ON MAJOR HIGHWAY COMING HOME FROM WORK. FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. WHEN TAKEN TO BODY SHOP,AFTER CAREFUL EXAMINATION,IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE FORD DEALER THAT THE AIRBAG SENSORS WERE NOT ON THE VEHICLE,DEALER CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY $10,0000.00 DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END FROM SAID COLLISION. DEALER REPORTS THAT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONTROLLED THE AIRBAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO DAMAGE FROM THE ACCIDENT. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED FROM THE ACCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE MOTOR MOUNT FRACTURED CAUSING THE MOTOR TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE IT WAS NOT A DEFECT AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED FROM AN IMPACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,300.
POWER STEERING FAILED, WITH DASHBOARD WARNING MESSAGES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 400. UPDATED 12/07/11 *BF
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING NEW FORD FOCUS SE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. FAILURE OF STEERING WAS ACCOMPANIED BY "STEERING ASSIST FAULT - SERVICE REQUIRED" MESSAGE IN DASH AND WARNING CHIME. ON RESTART OF CAR, STEERING RETURNS TO NORMAL OPERATION AND FAULT MESSAGE NO LONGER DISPLAYS. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE AT RANDOM TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE OF CAR. *TR
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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 →