Ford Focus 2012 problems
The Ford Focus is a compact car (C-segment in Europe) manufactured by Ford Motor Company since 1999. It was created under Alexander Trotman's Ford 2000 plan, which aimed to globalize model development and sell one compact vehicle worldwide. The original Focus was primarily designed by Ford of Europe's German and British teams. Production of the fourth generation Focus began in 2018 in Germany and China.
Naming
The decision to name the new car the "Ford Focus" was made in early 1998, as Ford's senior management had been planning to keep the "Escort" nameplate for its new generation of small family cars. A last-minute problem arose in July 1998 when a Cologne court, responding to a case brought by the publisher Burda, ordered Ford to avoid the name "Focus" for the cars in the German market since the name was already taken by one of its magazines (Focus). This eleventh-hour dispute was resolved, however, and the car was launched with the name Focus.
First generation (C170; 1998)
Ford of Europe introduced the Focus in 1998 to the European market as a replacement for the Ford Escort. The Focus Mk 1 was awarded the 1999 European Car of the Year award. The project manager for the Ford Focus at Dunton was Rose Mary Farenden.
Ford of North America began marketing the Focus in September 1999 for the 2000 model year, with some changes from the European version. The car was launched as a three-door hatchback, four-door sedan, and five-door wagon; a five-door hatchback debuted in 2001.
In 2002, Ford launched its highest performance version of the Focus, called the Focus RS. It came with a 2.0-litre turbocharged Duratec RS engine, a Quaife ATB limited-slip differential, an AP Racing clutch, and a revolutionary design front suspension strut system called "Revo-knuckle"- as marketed by Ford, Sachs Racing dampers Brembo brakes, 18” O.Z Racing alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport tyres and a host of other performance changes, combined with a much more aggressive appearance, and was available only in Ford's Imperial blue. Tickford Engineering won the engineering contract for the research, development and to oversee production of the Mk 1 Focus RS. Tickford made substantial modifications to the base unit, with up to 70% of the base components either updated, re-engineered or completely redesigned. Despite the development being carried out in the United Kingdom, Ford produced the Focus RS in the Saarlouis plant in Germany between 2002 and 2003 making a limited run of 4501 cars only. This original Focus RS was only available in Europe; just under half (2147) of these were sold in the UK.
For decades, in the U.S., small cars like the Focus were seen as a tool to draw in younger buyers looking for a cheap basic transportation and to increase auto makers' fleet average fuel economies to meet U.S. federal standards. Ford was said not to be concerned about losing money on the Focus so the company could sell gas guzzlers for big profits. However, recent sales of new Focuses have been able to maintain lower or overall discounting incentive rates than many competing vehicles in its class. Many industry insiders view cars like the Focus as 'compliance cars' because of their role in helping to bring up the corporate fleet average fuel economy to meet current fuel-economy standards.
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Common Ford Focus 2012 problems
Based on the complaints from owners of the 2012 Ford Focus, several common problems have been reported:
- Power Steering Failure:
- Another significant problem reported by owners is power steering failure during operation, which can make steering difficult and potentially dangerous. The NHTSA has linked this issue to crashes and injuries, particularly around 90,000 miles.
- Interior Electrical Problems:
- Owners have reported issues with faulty wiring harnesses leading to failures in interior electrical components like lights and power windows. The average cost to fix these interior problems is around $1,000.
- Reliability Concerns:
- The 2012 Ford Focus has been deemed the least reliable year model, with numerous complaints about transmission, power steering, and other reliability issues. This model year has over 5,000 NHTSA complaints and seven recalls, making it one of the most problematic iterations of the Ford Focus.
In summary, the 2012 Ford Focus has faced significant challenges related to its transmission, power steering, and interior electrical components, leading to reliability concerns and numerous complaints from owners. Ford has taken steps to address these issues through recalls and free repair programs, but it remains a model year with notable problems that potential buyers should be aware of.
Is 2012 Ford Focus a reliable car?
The 2012 Ford Focus is the first model year of the third generation with all-new styling, engines, and interiors. Reliability ratings are fair, according to J.D. Power, with more complaints than any other model year. Only one engine is available, and is a four-cylinder with average power for the class.
Does the 2012 Ford Focus have transmission problems?
As thousands of consumers who have purchased or leased a defective 2011-2015 Ford Fiesta or 2012-2015 Ford Focus have discovered, their transmissions and clutch assembly may contain a defect that causes, among other problems, transmission shuddering, slips, bucking, kicking, jerking, harsh engagement, premature ...
What is the most common problem with Ford Focus?
The Ford Focus' dual-clutch automatic transmission often causes problems. The most common Ford Focus problems include fluctuating engine revolutions per minute (RPM), pre-ignition at low speeds, and engine stalling. Many issues can also develop in the exhaust, fuel system, transmission, steering, and ignition key.
What is the recall on the 2012 Ford Focus engine?
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system. Tip: Recalls don't affect every vehicle of the same year, make and model.
Is 2012 Ford Focus a reliable car?
The 2012 Ford Focus is the first model year of the third generation with all-new styling, engines, and interiors. Reliability ratings are fair, according to J.D. Power, with more complaints than any other model year. Only one engine is available, and is a four-cylinder with average power for the class.
Does the 2012 Ford Focus have transmission problems?
As thousands of consumers who have purchased or leased a defective 2011-2015 Ford Fiesta or 2012-2015 Ford Focus have discovered, their transmissions and clutch assembly may contain a defect that causes, among other problems, transmission shuddering, slips, bucking, kicking, jerking, harsh engagement, premature ...
What is the most common problem with Ford Focus?
The Ford Focus' dual-clutch automatic transmission often causes problems. The most common Ford Focus problems include fluctuating engine revolutions per minute (RPM), pre-ignition at low speeds, and engine stalling. Many issues can also develop in the exhaust, fuel system, transmission, steering, and ignition key.
Is Ford Focus high maintenance?
The average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Ford Focus is $569, compared to an average of $526 for compact cars and $652 for all vehicle models.
Ford Focus 2012 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford Focus problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
- Steering problems
- Engine problems
- Electrical system problems
- Unknown or other problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Ford Focus 2012 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints Ford Focus 2012
The NHTSA has received 3715 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Ford Focus 2012. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Ford Focus 2012 vehicles.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-24
- VIN: 1FAHP3F21CL
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred a short distance from the residence. The vehicle was driven back to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission clutch assembly failure. The contact was informed that the transmission clutch assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. The contact stated that the transmission clutch assembly had been replaced in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and the repairs were covered under warranty. The contact stated that another Ford dealer had completed the previous repairs. The contact stated that in 2021 after the repair was performed, the contact was provided a discount if the failure reoccurred; however, the discount was not applied during the July 2024 repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 139,164.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-01
- VIN: 1FAHP3H29CL
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled and shuddered; the vehicle made an abnormal sound. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch assembly, lever assembly, along several other unknown parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact did research and was made aware of an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 28,139.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-01
- VIN: 1FAHP3F25CL
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start after refueling. The contact had to rev the engine to keep the vehicle running. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V515000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who used a code reader and determined that the failure was due to the purge valve and charcoal canister. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-27
- VIN: 1FAHP3N27CL
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving and exceeding 25 MPH, the steering wheel was seized. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the power steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-07
- VIN: 1FAHP3F28CL
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,242.
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-21
- VIN: 1FAHP3K29CL
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: the car steering wheel first said steering fault and then after parking and less than 10 minutes, car hood was still warm, after car turned back on it said steering loss stop safely. this is after over $1300 in repairs and new tires went into the car, same day with less than 2 hours of servicing. The steering wheel in the car can no longer move at all. Not sure what to do at this point. After a few hours of research learned this was a common issue but there has been no recall. Car no longer worth the money or time. Ford used to be reputable but now it has gone down the drain even Ford mechanics don't know what to think or do.This needs to be addressed and fixed.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-16
- VIN: 1FAHP3M21CL
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. While driving at various speeds, the contact had to manually shift the gear shifter to neutral and then to drive even though the vehicle had an automatic transmission. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that the transmission had failed and needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 78,971.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-26
- VIN: 1FAHP3F26CL
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: the transmission is stuttering/slipping when accelerating. it's dangerous when getting onto the interstate trying to get up to highway speeds of 70mph and your transmission isn't shifting the way a automatic transmission should shift. then when letting off the gas and gradually applying the breaks the transmission will downshift to many gears and increase your rpms dramatically, and then sometimes when you think your car should downshift going down a steep hill the car seems to stay in a high gear which then your car picks up speed and you have to heavily use your breaks to slow down hoping your car will downshift to a lower gear to help slow your car down to the safe speed limit. Ford says they'll have to diagnose the car first to see if it's the transmission control module. if it's not then I gotta pay $200.00 for the test. I find that [XXX] cuz im not getting the warning on my console about my transmission acting up or overheating. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-12-24
- VIN: 1FAHP3F22CL
- Components: POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: On highway with my 18 month old and as a cat merged on ramp I signaled and moved to left lane. I had to move and quickly so that another fast car would not hit me in the rear end where my baby was seated in car seat. In only the 3 seconds I had to make decision which hit would be better for me and my child, my car stuck in the lower gears and I could not speed up to move out of way or pass vehicle parallel my car was losing speed rather than gaining when I pushed in gas to floor
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-19
- VIN: 1FAHP3K28CL
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: Yesterday my air conditioner was working fine and today it only blows out hot air I truly believe somebody's tampering with my air conditioner as they were with my 2010 Ford focus also. So my question to you is what do I do and what can I do about the car a/c I truly believe someone's tampering with my cars the air conditioner from a computer program somewhere in yamhill county Oregon.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-03
- VIN: 1FAHP3F24CL
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Transmission becomes jerky and fails to shift.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-08-08
- VIN: 1FAHP3H21CL
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: UNKNOWN. I am aware of at least 2 recalls on my vehicle and took it to Long McArthur in Salina to have the recalls fixed in late summer 2023. As of this date, Long McArthur has not notified me the parts have come in to fix the recalls properly and I am still driving unsafely with many check engine lights on constantly and my vehicle making odd sounds. In summer 2023, Long McArthur said the parts were hard to come by and on back order and told me to highly consider buying a new vehicle.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-03-01
- VIN: 1FAHP3K26CL
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission clutch bearing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown class action lawsuit. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-06
- VIN: 1FAHP3K25CL
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: BCM failure due to corrosion. Windscreen wash pump faulty. Fluid leaks into electrical components, travels through wiring, and into the BCM (body control module)
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-08-07
- VIN: 1FAHP3F20CL
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), and after picking up the vehicle, the vehicle shifted into park and inadvertently stalled, almost causing a rear-end collision. The contact also stated that the navigation system and the lights were not working as needed. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-26
- VIN: 1FAHP3F20CL
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The vehicle shudders Jerks and feels like it shifts hard I’ve been doing my research I just bought a car with a defective transmission year 2012-2018 I would like it repaired it’s not fair that I’ve spent all my money on this car and it’s a lemon by ford
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-10
- VIN: 1FAHP3M27CL
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle and attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to immediately start. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the canister purge valve. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The VIN was included, but the vehicle had already been repaired. The failure mileage was 81,000.
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-05
- VIN: 1FAHP3H20CL
- Components: POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: There’s a recall for my transmission but my clutch which is also the cause of my transmission failing and overheating and also stopping in its own in the middle of traffic is a major safety issue that Ford says they don’t have a program for and stated that they can’t fix my transmission due to in the recall it doesn’t mention clutch being repaired. I have the paperwork stating that I need my transmission rebuilt but Ford couldn’t do it due to the clutch not being in the recall but of course I was out of $200 just to get a diagnosis and risk the chance of driving to the Ford company and back home to get my car diagnosed which my car stopped on me once going to the Ford dealership and had to pull to the side due to transmission overheating safety popping up on my dash and saying wait 5 minutes. Today 7/12/24 after picking my car up from Ford I had to manually reset my transmission in order to drive back home which is what I’ve been previously doing every since having this problem my car dash alerted me that my transmission was overheating within driving it for only 2 minutes and just automatically shut down on me in the middle of the intersection. There’s no way for me to put my hazard lights on due to car shutting I had to hurry up and jump out of my car to direct traffic to go around me. Had to wait at least 10 minutes then reset my transmission and tried driving back home but again my car shut off without warning me this time. I feel like Ford isn’t any help when it comes to an issue like this cause this really is a safety issue what if the car behind he wasn’t paying any attention and crashed my rear end even though they’ll be at fault. What if this situation would’ve happened on the highway when traffic is really busy going 70 miles per hour? This is something that needs to be added in the Ford recall program as well with the transmission. Now I’m stuck w/out a car with no job due to not having a reliable person to take me to and from work while my car won’t run
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-09
- VIN: 1FAHP3F27CL
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: Driver seatbelt is stuck and doesn't budge. I think I saw an old recall regarding this possibly... Since I've owned the car it hasn't came u jammed not at all a single time.not even moved an inch. I sprayed WD-40 down to it and nothing...
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-08
- VIN: 1FAHP3F27CL
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: 1) each and every time I pop it fuel into my car, even if I'm just topping it off, when I start it it like starts to bog down like it's clogged or something, then just like that clears up. 2) while car is off, and no keys in ignition at all, my cars dashboard makes this almost clicking sound and I notice the fuel tank and gauge both shot b up to the top then drop back downs, it's strange, 3) sometimes when accelerating from hear the car almost stalks... That's v the only way I'd be by able to describe it
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-06
- VIN: 1FAHP3H2XCL
- Components: ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: Car will stall and then completely shut down. And takes awhile to restart. This last time I was on the highway and cars were going so fast. Almost had a panic attack!!
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-01
- VIN: 1FAHP3H20CL
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated the while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. Additionally, while attempting to drive uphill, the vehicle rolled backwards. During the failure, the message "Transmission Overheated" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the clutch was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 199,152.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-09
- VIN: 1FAHP3H26CL
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the transmission hesitated and then jerked into the intended gear. In addition, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed clutch failure. The contact was informed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-15
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted but the vehicle was unable to be shifted into gear. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the clutch. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000. The VIN was not available.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-13
- VIN: 1FAHP3F22CL
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
- Summary: Vehicle won’t start on multiple occasions. Vehicle struggles to turn on and lag to turn off. Vehicle struggles to change gears to speed up
Ford Focus 2012 recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 7 recalls for different components of the Ford Focus 2012.
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
- Consequence: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
- Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 and 2017 Focus vehicles equipped with 2.0L GDI gasoline engines and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles equipped with 2.0L GTDI engines, previously recalled under 18V-735. The affected vehicles did not have the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) updated as intended. Therefore, the Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system.
- Consequence: The excessive vacuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began July 29, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S22.
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
- Consequence: The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
- Consequence: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
- Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: Ford is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus BEV vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured September 15, 2011, through May 6, 2013; and model year 2013 Focus ST vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured February 16, 2012, through May 7, 2013. Due to a wiring incompatability, the front side marker lamps may not function. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Consequence: Without the proper illumination of the side maker lamps, the vehicle may be less visible in night time conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the headlamp assembly wiring, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C04.
- Manufacturer: YAKIMA PRODUCTS, INC.
- Components: EQUIPMENT
- Summary: This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Yakima Products, Inc. for use on model year 2012 and 2013 Ford Focus vehicles. This recall is being conducted by Yakima, not by Ford. Certain combined Q-Tower and Q128 Clip rooftop rack systems, part numbers 8000124 and 8000728, do not fully contact the door frame.
- Consequence: Without proper contact of the rooftop rack clip to the door frame, there is insufficient clamping pressure and friction. The system may slide off the vehicle when loaded with accessories, possibly becoming a road hazard to other vehicles or causing injury to pedestrians.
- Remedy: Yakima will notify owners, and Yakima or a Yakima dealer will refund the purchase of the Q-Tower and Q-128 Clip system. There is no replacement system available for the 2012-2013 model year Ford Focus. The safety recall began on October 15, 2012. Only vehicles equipped with the vehicle rack system are affected. This recall is being conducted by Yakima, not Ford. Owners may contact Yakima at 1-888-925-4621.
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
- Summary: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 FOCUS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 2010, THROUGH OCTOBER 18, 2011. A SEAL IN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR MAY BE MISSING.
- Consequence: WATER OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS MAY ACCUMULATE IN THE CONNECTOR, RESULTING IN AN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR, REDUCING VISIBILITY AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND AS NECESSARY, CLEAN AND PROPERLY SEAL THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR CONNECTOR. ANY INOPERATIVE WIPER MOTORS WILL BE REPLACED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
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Positive Ford Focus 2012 car reviews
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I purchased this car for my daughter's college commute when it had 42,000 miles on it. She has driven it for 6,000 miles and is extremely satisfied with it. Although the automatic/manual transmission has some peculiar shifting issues, there are no oil leaks or other problems that have been mentioned in previous reviews. Recently, we went on a 700-mile trip to visit a college and the car got an impressive 34 mpg, which is much better than her previous vehicle's best of 24 mpg. The passenger seat was a bit uncomfortable for me, but I'm an old man. The stereo/sound system (sync) sounded great to me. As others have mentioned, the back shelf has dry rot around the vent holes. However, my wife has now taken over this car for her 40-mile commute on the interstate and the car is getting 35 mpg. We have not spent a dime on anything except routine maintenance. The car now has 120,000 miles on it and has started experiencing some strange electrical issues. Sometimes, loud static comes from the radio system for no reason at start-up. This issue has happened twice but goes away on its own. We are now looking to buy another car for my husband's commute.
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I've been driving the Focus long enough to give an objective review. Overall, the car has a premium feel to it. Even with the base model hatchback, it still has a really upscale feel. This is a far cry from the super cheap Focus Ford was making not so many years ago. However, there are two big cons that I see. Firstly, the automatic transmission needs help. Personally, I don't shift my car into the next gear when it's below 2000 rpm, but my Focus thinks that's a good idea. You know that sound a car makes when you shift up too soon? My car makes that sound every time I accelerate gently. I'm hoping Ford fixes this for 2013. Secondly, the inside door handles feel super cheap.
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I've had this car for a little over a year and it has been great! Although I have had 2 recalls since getting it, I just brought my car in and it was fixed for free. I don't mind the recalls as long as they are fixed for free. My car has never stalled, but it did hesitate a little when speeding up, but it doesn't happen too often. I got my car with a lot of miles, like 64000 when I bought it for 15 thousand. Although I wish they could have given me a better price, I still owe 10 thousand and the car is worth like 6 thousand now. Despite this, I've had no issues with my car and it works wonderfully! Sometimes it takes a second for the air to turn on, but I love my car and I know I'll have it for a while. I'll probably end up getting a Ford again after this...
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Not like any Focus I've ever been in before. The quality of materials throughout is outstanding. It looks and feels equivalent to a Mercedes -- no joke. It feels
Additional sources
More sources of information about Ford Focus 2012 problems:
2012 Ford Focus: Most common problems aside from the dual clutch ...
Nov 28, 2023 ... The clutch does not like heat so lots of traffic and high summer temps are a recipe for shudder. Also wet conditions with infrequently driving ...
2012 Ford Focus Problems: What to Look For If Buying Used - CoPilot
May 24, 2022 ... The transmission is the most common problem with used 2012 Ford Focus models, with owners reporting shuddering and jerking when changing gears.
2012 Ford Focus Review, Problems, Reliability, Value, Life ...
Jan 12, 2022 ... Decent car. Good gas mileage and fairly reliable. Main complaint is electrical issues. My Bluetooth works intermittently, I had 3 bulbs go out ...
2012 Ford Focus Reliability - Consumer Reports
Owner Reported Trouble Spots · Exhaust · Electrical Accessories · Transmission Major · Transmission Minor · In-car Electronics · Paint And Trim · Steering And ...
2012 Ford Focus Problems and Complaints - 3 Issues
Top 2012 Ford Focus Problems · Check Engine Light and Hesitation or Stumbling While Driving. 77 people have reported this. 16 · Warped Front Brake Rotors Can ...
Other years of Ford Focus
Are you having problems with your Ford Focus 2012?
Neil Braun 2024-10-25
Let's talk about the interior first. Although the fake brushed aluminum plastic parts on the interior trim may look decent at first glance, after about a year, the finish started peeling off. Unfortunately, this caused me to cut my hand badly around the steering wheel controls, which made driving to work quite difficult. However, during a dealer visit for this and numerous other issues, the dealer was able to cut away the metallic frayed section so it wouldn't cut me any longer. The infotainment system isn't as bad as people make it sound. You just have to realize it has its own personality and kind of does what it wants. While connected to Bluetooth, phone calls may be taken by the system or just on your phone, leaving you fumbling while driving to see where the caller can hear you. The gas mileage is decent, with mostly highway driving (80+%), I average almost 30MPG, which is slightly better than a 5.0 Mustang I had from 1990 with similar routes. Recently, my TCM went out, leaving me stranded and figuring out how to get to work to preserve my job. However, the dealer was able to fix it in a day once I was able to get the car up there under the TSB. Overall, I would recommend considering a competitor and avoiding this car, but be sure to find a reliable dealer.
Lincoln Larkin 2024-09-11
I've owned my car for four years now and it has clocked up 75,000 miles. Unfortunately, I've had a few issues with it. Shortly after purchasing it, I noticed some jerking when trying to take off. I contacted Ford and they initially said it was normal, but later issued a recall for the transmission. Another time, about a year after buying the car, I noticed a strange smell while driving and had to have it towed to Ford. They said it was due to an overfill of something, but unfortunately, the tow truck caused some damage to the front of the car. Despite some confusion over who was responsible, the issue was never resolved. More recently, the driver side window stopped working and, as expected, it was no longer under warranty. In July 2016, after owning the car for three and a half years, I had to replace the rear wheel and hub assembly, which was a costly repair. Then, in October of the same year, the water pump broke. Needless to say, I'm not very happy with all these repairs and expenses. I'm now considering selling the car before anything else goes wrong.
Doyle Harvey 2024-07-26
Final Update: Although I had a difficult experience with my previous car, I am happy to say that I have found a much better option. I recently purchased a Ford Certified used car, a 2012 SE Hatchback, with only 40,000 miles and a 100,000 powertrain warranty, as well as an extended 36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. During my test drive, I noticed a few issues, but the dealer assured me that they were normal. However, after driving it to work, I experienced some slipping and power loss. I contacted the dealer and they quickly addressed the issue, reprogramming the transmission with new software. Unfortunately, it turned out that the car needed a whole new transmission, which will take some time to fix. Despite this setback, the dealer has been helpful and even provided me with a loaner car. I would recommend being cautious when considering purchasing the previous car I owned.
Trever Keebler 2024-07-02
Hey there! I hope you're doing well. I just wanted to share my experience with my SE Sport with the Tuxedo Package. I have to say, it's a gorgeous car - black on black is just stunning! The first 25,000 miles were an absolute dream. The car handled like a dream and those wrap around Recaro seats were a real treat. Plus, I was getting an average of 33 mpg at 80 mph - not too shabby! However, I did run into some trouble at 25,000 miles when Ford had to rebuild my first transmission and differential. Unfortunately, at 32,000 miles, I had to have my transmission rebuilt again. Now, at 40,000 miles, it needs another one. Here's the thing - the automatics aren't true traditional automatics. They're manuals, but the computer has a solenoid that pushes the clutch for you. Yes, I said clutch. Even worse, the clutch plates are cast and not forged. I'm really grateful for the Lemon Law, but I just wanted to share my experience with you. Take care!
Magnus Bradtke 2024-05-20
Update: A lawsuit has been filed against Ford. For more information, please visit www.Fordtransmissionsettlement.com or call 18445406011. We have had a terrible experience with this car. Due to my wife's job, we buy a car every other year, and this car has left us stranded four times with only 70k miles. The dual clutch design transmission in this car has been nothing but problems. The car slips out of gear, sometimes won't even back up, and makes chattering shifting noise while sitting in park. We took it to two Ford dealerships. An AutoNation Ford technician in Katy said the best thing for us to do is to sell the car. (This is after the third transmission reprogram). Finally, we took it to Joe Meyers Ford, and they said it was a faulty shift solenoid and charged us $500 (even though we told them we didn't believe this was the problem because the car runs fine for about a week after re-program). While still in the shop, they said it was a faulty transmission computer. Ford replaced the computer under warranty. Now, one month later, the car has a roaring noise coming from inside the transmission (no, it's not the hub bearings). If Ford had left the hydraulic style transmission in this car, it would be a great car. Everything else is nice. A new transmission costs $3,101.02, which is ridiculous. We strongly advise against buying a 2012-2014 Ford Focus. Save yourself a headache and do not buy. We hope that Ford will improve their cars in the future. UPDATED as requested 01/14/07: We sold this car at a loss and bought a Hyundai Elantra, which is a good solid reliable car. We wish we could have bought an American car and felt good about it. 01/17/2018: It amazes us how many of these year model Focus's are for sale with low miles on Craigslist.